Alan
Freelancing the LK&O Railroad
Alan:
I just want to say thanks for sharing your excellent switch stand design. The fact that it doesn't rotate makes things a whole lot simpler, and much cheaper too. I need about 25 switch stands for my yard and other areas. I was looking at commercially available operating stands with a bit of trepedation because of the cost and the sensitivity of the mechanisms. You have eliminated those concerns.
Dave
P.S.
Your progress is excellent even if you were off for a while. Your workmanship continues to impress! I am very interested in your track modules because I will have to do something similar when building my layout. Better reinforce that river gap though (as if you weren't planning on doing that already).
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Made great progress this weekend including prep for a river.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/connector-4/
The mess is (was) in the workshop. That's why I build them outside the train room and then transport them in when finished. Train room stays clean.
I just caught up on your work over the past year. Incredibly well-planned and detailed. But where is all the mess that all (most) of us fight to control? I clean up the layout room every now and then but my workshop seems to stay a total disaster.
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
Module 5 complete and reinstalled on the benchwork.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-5-complete/
After a long summer of almost no work on the railroad, I am back at it. Module 5 is built, wired, and tested. After replacing the removed ties and a quick shot of camo brown foundation color paint it will be ready for placement back on the layout.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-5-in-progress/
Also made my very first offset Tortoise linkages. They work great and cost almost nothing!
Brittain Yard track work finished.
Complete post: http://www.lkorailroad.com/connectors-1-2-3/
Views from each eand of the yard:
Another module built and installed. The east end of the yard.
http://www.lkorailroad.com/module-4/
Long overdue for a post here on MRR about my layout building progress. A lot has been accomplished. I am actually getting track laid and wired. Have a peek at http://www.lkorailroad.com/
A view from underneath my yard throat area:
And I made my own lighted switchstands: http://www.lkorailroad.com/switchstand-fun/
Alan, I spent the better part of last night reading through your site. I must say, I've never seen better planned nor executed model railroad construction. I want to say workmanship, since you're at the benchwork / subroadbed stage, but I have to use craftmanship to describe it - it's at a level I can only dream about. Makes me want to start over!
If anyone reading this thread has not seen his build website, you owe it to yourself to visit. Just allow some time!
Ed
Quite the compliment. You make me blush. Thanks!
rrinker Bless those who can work in a totally linear fashion. It just bores me to death. After some roadbed was down,. I'd lay some track. Then extend the roadbed, then more track, etc. After some track was down, I'd wire it up and test run over it. Etc. --Randy I'm with you Randy, but this guy's work is above reproach!
Bless those who can work in a totally linear fashion. It just bores me to death. After some roadbed was down,. I'd lay some track. Then extend the roadbed, then more track, etc. After some track was down, I'd wire it up and test run over it. Etc.
--Randy
I'm with you Randy, but this guy's work is above reproach!
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
Looking forward to your progress.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
I for one got a good laugh at your link. I've just been tossing my trackplan printouts when I am done with them, guess I am just insensitive!
I'm impressed with your workmanship!
Sub-roadbed and cork roadbed all finished! I am ready to lay track. Unfortunately, it came time to say goodbye to my old friend.
See the roadbed results and read the eulogy here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/goodbye-to-a-dear-friend/
Bob, that is a very good suggestion. In fact you jogged my memory. I actually did something very similar on a slot car track many years ago to keep flying cars to a minimum. For the slot car track I went to Kinkos and had them run laminate through the machine with no paper inbetween. The result was a flexible, yet not floppy, very tough clear plastic sheet that I cut into strips. Thanks ever so much for reminding me. It is now the new plan.
www.lkorailroad.com/slot_car_track_2010_010.jpg
lifeontheranch 10 Mile Tunnel... or so that is what I am calling my hidden track that connects the north staging helix with the upper deck at Kitzmiller. Finished constructing the sub-roadbed this past week. The full story and many more pictures are here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/10-mile-tunnel/ The hanging end you see is where the north helix will connect once I get it built. In this first picture the track is under scenery. I took the foam out temporarily so you can see the track below. The track is making the final curve before entering the visible layout through a tunnel portal on the opposite side of the backdrop. In this second picture the hidden track will be inside cardboard web mountains. Finally in this picture the hidden track is below the benchwork and will be behind a drape. After I get track laid, hardboard short walls will be put in place on each side to prevent possible plunges to concrete.
10 Mile Tunnel... or so that is what I am calling my hidden track that connects the north staging helix with the upper deck at Kitzmiller. Finished constructing the sub-roadbed this past week. The full story and many more pictures are here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/10-mile-tunnel/ The hanging end you see is where the north helix will connect once I get it built.
In this first picture the track is under scenery. I took the foam out temporarily so you can see the track below. The track is making the final curve before entering the visible layout through a tunnel portal on the opposite side of the backdrop.
In this second picture the hidden track will be inside cardboard web mountains.
Finally in this picture the hidden track is below the benchwork and will be behind a drape. After I get track laid, hardboard short walls will be put in place on each side to prevent possible plunges to concrete.
Alan, nice work and building technique. Like to make a suggestion to those masonite guard rails on the lowered track. The masonite is fine for the backside, however, 1/8" plexi or better yet 1/8" Lexan strips screwed to the subroadbed sides will allow for sighting to see the track for derailment or debris. Makes easier track inspection and cleaning w/o awkward viewing .
This Lexan is used for temp guardrails as scenery progresses, it is set inside the long tunnel, has made track inspection in that dark underside so much easier..
Lexan works far better as it is less likely to crack as will happen w/ Plexiglas (especially in such thin strips).
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Randy, there is a method to the madness and a reason why all roadbed has to be completed before laying track. All of the sub-roadbed is modular-like. It can be removed section at a time and taken to the workbench where I will lay track, install switch machines, wire, etc. Track laying won't actually be done on the layout. If the entire cork roadbed were not in place then there would be great risk of misalignment during track laying.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Keep the progress pics coming. I've pulled a few structures and track off my layout in preparation for an expansion and new track plan.
wow great job after looking at your pictures i feal that my benchwork is lacking something
Cork and glue have been a big part of my life for a while now. Nearing the end of the roadbed installation. I may actually get to lay some track before winter is over!
http://www.lkorailroad.com/cork-roadbed-part-iii/
Ringing in the New Year with cork and pushpins!
"blend seamlessly with the terrain and scenic details"
Yeah, that was a tough one. I tried to think it all the way through during the design phase. While I am not yet at the scenery stage I believe I have solutions that will work in my particular instance. They were incorporated into the basic construction. My solutions by location are: 1) fence and gate on the seam; 2) curb on road; 3) structure wall. I know that is not enough information to visualize the final product and it is yet to be seen if it works out properly but at least that's my plan. The corner angle seams of the benchwork were positioned with these solutions in mind.
Four sheets is not too bad. Lots of carving to come though and I bet you will end up buying more.
Since we are thinking alike I am eager to see how you manage your removeable corner pieces. I have to make two removeable pieces for center access panels and still haven't decided how to do it so that they will blend seamlessly with the terrain and scenic details. Getting started on this is slowly rising on my priority list.
HObbyguy Wow your pics look familiar. 1:1 scale XtrackCad printout on ply subroadbed with 2" pink foam on both sides. You may have 10X the layout area but some of our methods are certainly alike. I bought a pack of carbon paper, slipped it under the printout and quickly transferred the centerline of the track to the ply by tracing with a pen. It was easy and eliminated all questions about where the center of the roadbed and track should be. Of course with your sweeping long curves precision may not be quite the issue that it is for me. Also I found that the "waste" foam came in very handy when I started building the terrain. Curious- how many sheets did you use? As always, great work!
I bought a pack of carbon paper, slipped it under the printout and quickly transferred the centerline of the track to the ply by tracing with a pen. It was easy and eliminated all questions about where the center of the roadbed and track should be. Of course with your sweeping long curves precision may not be quite the issue that it is for me.
Also I found that the "waste" foam came in very handy when I started building the terrain. Curious- how many sheets did you use?
As always, great work!
We are even more alike... carbon paper trace is exactly what I will be doing too!
I used 4 - 4x8 sheets total with a little left over. I still have to make 3 triangular corner fill pieces so that will use up the last. Have to build the corner frames first. They are removable for access to the lights in the corners (bulb change, etc.). The arrangement allows me to stand up behind the benchwork in the corners.
"what do you do for a living?"
Thanks for the compliment Bob. I work as Marketing Communications Mgr for a large chemical company. While I would like to take credit for the web site design it is not mine. It is actually a free WordPress theme. Glad you like it. As for all other graphics used on my site, yes I consider myself an accomplished Abobe CS user.