I didn't find Waldo, but I did find 4 trains....
michaelrose55 The room including the 2 staging areas is 41 x 28'.
The room including the 2 staging areas is 41 x 28'.
I have a basement space that measures 42' x 25', but I actually only use about half that space in an L-shape and I run HO scale. The rest of the space is taken up by the furnace, water heaters, and laundry facilities.
So, a dedicated 41' x 28' space for N scale is simply huge, but you already know that, and I am envious.
Rich
Alton Junction
michaelrose55 Here's a shot across most of the layout. Can you spot the train?
Here's a shot across most of the layout. Can you spot the train?
Are the double track truss bridges in the foreground of this picture built from a kit? If so, which one?
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
carl425 michaelrose55 Here's a shot across most of the layout. Can you spot the train? Are the double track truss bridges in the foreground of this picture built from a kit? If so, which one?
That's 2 Walthers kits combined.
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
I somehow managed to lay about 35 feet of branch line track this afternoon:
All the track work is done! I've completed the branch line as well:
Later today I will start to work on the return loop in the staging area, soon I will be running trains !
Michael, when you get the trains up and running, you should do some videos.
Now that all the track has been laid I will start on the west staging area. I have decided that at the moment I'm too lazy to build another staging yard. For one, I don't really know how long we're going to stay in this house, and secondly, I don't have enough trains to fill the existing east staging yard so I really don't need it at this time. What I need is a return loop and that's what I'm going to build.
This is how the area looks like today - surprise, surprise, the H0 staging yard is still there (just in case...). That will have to come out first.
It took less than 30 minutes to remove all the track:
After taking off the old H0 track and carefully sanding the glue the surface is still too uneven as a base for the staging yard so I decided to glue another layer of 5mm foamboard on top. This will give me a clean surface to work on.
Ready for the second staging yard:
I started work on the staging yard area by drawing long, long lines for the yard lead and 17 staging tracks:
I've reached the staging yard:
I spent the afternoon laying more track for a total of 21 pieces of Atlas flex track which amounts to a little over 51'. The return loop is almost complete:
I have closed the loop!
I have installed a temporary DCC bus and connected all the blocks that make up the main line. Now I can run trains! The first passenger train made it all the way from the east staging yard to the west end of the layout:
No pictures today but I did run some trains. I found three turnouts where cars want to derail so I will have to look into that. Otherwise the layout runs just fine. The City of Los Angeles takes about 30 minutes for a full loop .
michaelrose55 I found three turnouts where cars want to derail so I will have to look into that.
Only three eh?!? Given the number of turnouts that you have installed I'd say you are doing pretty good!
Cheers Michael!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
michaelrose55 The City of Los Angeles takes about 30 minutes for a full loop .
The City of Los Angeles takes about 30 minutes for a full loop .
Now if this were me, construction progress would grind to a halt as every time I went into the train room, I'd run trains instead of work on anything...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Now if this were me, construction progress would grind to a halt as every time I went into the train room, I'd run trains instead of work on anything... --Randy
Mike
Water Level Route rrinker Now if this were me, construction progress would grind to a halt as every time I went into the train room, I'd run trains instead of work on anything... --Randy Copy that!
Copy that!
What do you think I'm doing right now???
The day I finished the liftout across the entrance on my previous layout was it. Now traisn could run from one end of the line to the other (not far - it was only in a spare bedroom). The only things that got done after that were installing switch machines, painting all the pink foam with an earth brown paint, painting abou 20 feet of track, and ballasting about 10 feet. And the only reasont he switch machines got installed and the foam all painted was because I had friends come over a couple of nights to help. Oh yeah, the missing ties at joints int he flex track got placed. Every time I walked in with the intention of painting some more track and ballasting, I'd run a train, make a few pickups and setouts, and next thing you know, it was time to quit for the night. This next one at full basement size is going to be a challenge. I'm thinking I need to do things liek put in the A/D tracks for the yard as the main goes past but not do the ladder and class tracks, because should I ever get the yard operational I will spend hours making an breakign trains. Maybe install the turnotus for sidings int eh main, but hold off on the sidings themselves - anythign to make it more difficult to operate until I get further along!
Congratulations. A little Golden Spike on the reverse loop is probably appropriate. Thanks for sharing you build adventure!
To answer your question I had to power up the layout and run a train - in the morning while I'm supposed to work. You made me do it!
The City of Los Angeles runs at about 50 mph for the 30 minute loop. That means that my loop is about 25 scale miles long !
"Now if this were me, construction progress would grind to a halt as every time I went into the train room, I'd run trains instead of work on anything..."
Same here. Thats why after 20 years the layout looks almost the same.
Michael: You absolutely amaze me. About two weeks ago I hosted an operating session. During said session a design flaw came to light.I needed to move two turnouts and three pieces of flex track to correct the flaw. I am still working at it.You must be the most organized gentlemen I ever "met". I would like to see you work. Must be something there I can learn from.
Old Fat Robert
Old Fat Robert Michael: You absolutely amaze me. About two weeks ago I hosted an operating session. During said session a design flaw came to light.I needed to move two turnouts and three pieces of flex track to correct the flaw. I am still working at it.You must be the most organized gentlemen I ever "met". I would like to see you work. Must be something there I can learn from. Old Fat Robert
I'm trying to stay focused and be organized. Doesn't always work...
As to meeting me, my door is always open. Anybody vacationing in Florida?
Something to celebrate...
Today this layout is exactly 6 months old. Here's what it looked like on April 24th, 2017:
I have had a very busy work week and all I accomplished today was installing a single tunnel portal: