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RE-Building The CB&Q in Wyoming

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  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, October 27, 2019 10:38 AM

Best of luck with the move. I am also looking forward to more updates.

.

I read along a lot on layout building threads, but do not reply to them much. I do appreciate you posting newsy material.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, October 27, 2019 10:30 AM

Good luck with the move Mark!  I'll be waiting for version 4 updates, this time, actually located in Wyoming!  Yes

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Sunday, October 27, 2019 9:38 AM

Congratulations.  Looks like the hiatus will be for about only six months, for what I hope is a more favorable situation for you.  Looking forward to following the coming installation and future build out.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, October 26, 2019 10:07 PM

Hi Mark,

The new house looks like it has tremendous potential for a great layout! I'm glad that the old layout came apart so easily. I look forward to following your progress in your new home!

Dave

By the way, I'm so glad to hear that the tanning bed is not yours!! Dianne and I both have skin cancer issues from too much exposure to the sun. I can't understand anyone deliberately tanning when the results can be so devastating.Dunce

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Saturday, October 26, 2019 10:01 PM

I wish you safe travels, a successful move, and much happiness in Wyoming, Mark.

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Saturday, October 26, 2019 9:04 PM

26 October 2019

The layout is disassembled, the house is 99% packed, and we load up this coming Tuesday (29 October). We close on our new house in Casper Wyoming the following Friday, 8 November.

Here's the final video update on the now-a-memory CB&Q in Wyoming version 3. Updates at the new place will start in December.

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 4:43 AM
My kindest regards to your Good Lady and Yourself. Hope things work out fine.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, August 5, 2019 7:46 PM

Hi Mark,

Too bad about your new house deal falling through. I hope you get your deposit back.

We will keep an eye on things. I'm sure we will have lots to look forward to in the future.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, August 5, 2019 11:02 AM

If only life wasn't so much of a struggle.  It seems like we have finally gotten out from under a cloud and....poof...another one takes its place.  At this point, Mark, all we can do is wish you the greatest of ease and of success.  This will be VERY stressful for your wife, if only because she knows how stressed you are.  Be resolved to keep an even keel through this trial.  Be strong for each other, and you'll both come out okay on the other end.

Sorry it is happening this way, but I suppose it's better that it happened before you were both fully settled and had built a strong community around you.  Or, that you have to move away from one already established. Tongue Tied

-Crandell

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Monday, August 5, 2019 8:13 AM

5 August 2019

Thanks for the feedback and well wishes, everyone!

Unfortunately the house we were going to have built has gone the way of the dodo. Builder turned out to be a bit unethical in their contract language, which came out in a contract addendum prior to start of actual construction. When I asked for a clarification of a term in the contract regarding the contingency that we had to sell our house first, they balked and terminated the contract (and are now trying to keep our deposit anyway!!).

Oh well, there are lots of other places out there to build or buy.

Meanwhile, here's the latest layout update:

  • Member since
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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, July 19, 2019 3:49 AM

CryingCryingCryingCryingCryingCryingCryingCryingCryingCrying

Hope the move goes well, Mark.

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, July 18, 2019 12:15 AM

Hey Mark,

I'm sorry that you will have to abandon your current layout given the incredible amount of work that you have done on it in the past year. Moving is supposedly one of the most stressful things a person can go through, especially when you have to tear a layout apart. You have our support!

However, I see many positives!

First, you have just given yourself $18,000 per year to spend on your layout!!! Of course that's not realistic. I'm just joking, but I can see some additional funds being available for the new layout.

Second, you have a chance to correct any of the issues that you created for yourself in the current layout.

Third, you will be in a brand new space! You now have the opportunity to deal with the backdrops before putting benchwork in front of the wall. I also suspect that dealing with the ceiling will be easier.

Fourth, you can have power put wherever you want it along the walls or in the ceiling, and you can wire the basement circuits specifically to match your needs for the layout. For example, you can have a master power shut off switch at the entrance to the room. I'd give some thought to that.

Finally, given that I am a nature lover, I see Wyoming as being a pretty attractive place to live!

We will stay glued to your progress in your new home.

Good luck with the move.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 8:28 PM

Mark does not seem to have many issues getting going in designing and building a large layout at a great pace.  For many of us, this kind of move might be a problem.  For Mark, I'll bet its just a minor hiccup.

Overall, I'd expect a basement in a newly constructed house to be a better overall environment than maybe what the New Jersey basement was, so I see it as a potentially positive change in addition to an adventure.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 7:18 PM

Mark, that is sad news for us who are following your layout build. You have put a lot of time and effort into that new layout. 

I wish you well on your relocation to Wyoming. Sounds like a neat adventure. 

Stay with us and keep us posted if you will.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    October 2018
  • 117 posts
Posted by Bigjim7 on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 1:02 PM
Well your one of thousand fleeing certain states to escape crazy taxes. Hope it works well and good luck. I will miss your post for awhile. You always took great pic.
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 12:51 PM

Well, big changes coming again.

Note: I'm not talking politics here; just hard data. So please don't anybody get upset.

When I moved to New Jersey last year, I intended to spend the rest of my days there, and started building what I thought would be my last layout (hopefully spending many years building and operating it). But it is not to be. Property taxes for my New Jersey home jumped significantly since May 2018, forcing me to begin looking at options.

I compared costs in New Jersey vs. costs in Wyoming (where I grew up) and found that the minimum reduction in taxes associated with moving to Wyoming will be nearly $18,000 a year! Pretty significant.

So earlier this month my wife and I went on a house hunting trip to Wyoming.

We wound up ordering a new house to be built in Casper. It will be finished in about six months.

That means, of course, disassembling the layout - again - and reuilding in an as-yet-undefined new configuration in the new house.

So the current layout will be disassembled in the next month or so, and everything salvageable packed for moving.

I know the rough configuration and size of the new basement, so I'm going to continue this thread, and my monthly video updates, focusing for several months on redesigning the layout into a somewhat smaller space. 

This will be an iterative process, and much will be based on input from folks who comment here on both the good and the crappy ideas I come up with. I'll also consider and incorporate many comments I receive on my monthly videos and from other sources. 

In a few days I'll post the new basement configuration, followed shortly thereafter by my list of givens and druthers. The ONLY things not open to "adjustment" (even in the givens) are the basement walls, the railroad modeled (CB&Q) and the general location (Wyoming).

So get ready, everyone - I'm asking for your help!

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 4:50 AM

Here's the July construction update video:

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Saturday, June 29, 2019 7:47 AM

Aw gee, guys, you're making me blush Embarrassed! Thanks for the compliments!

Rich, before I was building my own turnouts, I used Peco and Shinohara. While I liked the way the Shinohara looked better than the Peco, I started going with the Peco because I really liked the over center spring on the Peco points. 

Dave and Crandell, I was very surprised by how much of a difference the fascia made. Somehow it just really says "progress!"

29 June 2019

I've painted all the track outside of Casper.

First I prepped the layout by hanging newsprint over the backdrop and putting painters tape over all the switchstands to protect from overspray. I also laid newsprint over the end of Casper yard. I spray painted the track with a Rustoleum brown. Before the paint hardened I cleaned the top of the rails, first with a paper towel wrapped around a 2X2 block, then with a brightboy to remove the more stubborn stuff. I painted all the track I've laid outside of Casper yard - all in all six switches and around 40 feet of track. It took about half an hour to clean off all the rail tops afterward - not much of a pain at all! Here's what it looked like before I removed all the newsprint:

Here are a couple shots of the finished track. You'll see some bits of paper towel in a few places on some switches - I hadn't picked those out before I took these pictures.

Casper switch to westbound tracks (towards Powder River. Paper towel-wrapped 2X2 cleaning block in the upper left corner):

And the Orin yard throat:

After waiting a few hours for the paint to dry, I went back and ran my crankiest locomotive (from an electrical contact perspective - a Bachmann ten wheeler) over all the newly painted track to make sure it was clean. It had no problems.

Finally, I placed several chunks of foam that will act as scenery base around Powder River and behind Orin:

The next step is to fill in the space between Powder River and Orin with scenery base. Then will come Celluclay over the foam.

  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 8:59 AM

Wow!  I would have thought the addition of the backdrop elements would signify a major advancement, but it wasn't until I saw the fascia images that I got my own 'gee whiz' moment.  They really do change the whole impression of where you are and what you are doing for me.

You're on a torrid pace, Mark! Stick out tongue

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 4:54 AM

Pruitt

Thanks Carl!

I know what you mean about the ground throws - for appearance I much prefer the tall stands. But these (Caboose Industries 202S) are much more robust (not mention easier to install) than the tall ones, and since I don't use remote controlled turnouts except in the hidden staging yards, they're the compromise I've decided to make.

I think that those ground throws look just fine, Mark. On my last layout, I used them extensively in my yards and sidings and spur tracks. At one time, I tried the Caboose Industries hi-stands, but they are hard to build and install and they do not perform reliably over time.

On my new layout, I have almost entirely eliminated the manual ground throws by moving to Peco spring loaded turnouts. A flick of the finger throws the point rails.

In my downtown passenger station, I rely on Tortoise-controlled Atlas turnouts operated by toggle switches on a control panel. However, when I first installed the turnouts, for testing purposes, I drilled two small holes next to each throwbar on the Atlas turnouts. I used a track nail to hold the point rails in the staright through or divergent route by moving the nail from one hole to another. Worked like a charm and no need for manual ground throws. I did that because I did not have room on the station ladder for installing ground throws.

Anyhow, I think that your manual ground throws look just fine.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 1:40 AM

Fascia looks good Mark!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 11:31 AM

Thanks Carl!

I know what you mean about the ground throws - for appearance I much prefer the tall stands. But these (Caboose Industries 202S) are much more robust (not mention easier to install) than the tall ones, and since I don't use remote controlled turnouts except in the hidden staging yards, they're the compromise I've decided to make.

25 June 2019

The last few days I've been installing fascia at the "bottom" of the Casper / Powder River aisleway:

And doing my favoritest of all layout building tasks - installing replacement ties at track section ends (ugh!). It does make quite a difference in appearance, though - here the before and after shots of the Orin yard throat:

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Posted by carl425 on Friday, June 21, 2019 1:29 PM

Nice turnouts, Mark!

I know you've been using the Fast Tracks all along, but these are the first photos that made me take notice.

I've never been a big fan of those ground throws though.  An HO scale brakeman operating one would look like he's flipping over a refrigerator.

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.

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Friday, June 21, 2019 11:10 AM

21 June 2019

This past week I've been back working on the Orin end of the Orin / Frannie Interchange Yard, which I'd left in early May to work on other parts of the layout.

First I installed the ramp from the mainline into the yard ladder:

Then I installed the first ladder turnout. The elevation transitions right through the turnout. I have never had any issues doing this. Also, the rail transitions from code 83 at the end of the mainline turnout to code 70 in the ladder turnouts and all body tracks:

And I was off to the races! After a few days' work, yesterday I installed the first section of track on the last body track:

And this morning I finished installing feeders. A short while later I cleaned the rails and tested the track and turnouts with a loco and a few cars, including my John Allen track cleaning car to wipe dust off of unused rails on the run up to Orin:

Here's a trackside view of the Orin yard throat:

Obviously the tracks will get longer at some point. But all track is now finished in the Orin throat area and Powder River, so as soon as missing ties are replaced and tracks are painted, scenery can commence in this area! I hope it turns out better than my efforts at the end of Casper yard did!

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:08 PM

Hi Issac,

No, I didn't add any new pick-ups. With the keep-alive, there was no need. 

I also have a newer 0-8-0 with the tender pick-ups, and a couple of 0-6-0 (they were ALL made with the tender pick-ups). None of them has any sort of problem with stalling. But I like the new sound so much, I may upgrade them over the next year or so!

  • Member since
    April 2019
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 780 posts
Posted by SPSOT fan on Saturday, June 15, 2019 3:13 PM

A very nice video Mark! The change is very significant! Did you add tender pickups when you switched out decoders?

Nice to see the progress on the backdrop!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Saturday, June 15, 2019 10:53 AM

Thanks Dave and Mike!

15 June 2019

I've mostly been doing non-photogenic stuff the last few weeks - installing ceiling in the train room and building turnouts for the Orin / Frannie yard. But I've also been working on the Powder River / Shobon and Greybull (back side) backdrops. Here's where I was with them on June 1st:

Since then I cut several new sheets of styrene to width, installed them, and joined them to the first piece behind Powder River. They're now painted. This is the Powder River side:

And here's the Greybull side:

Early in the month I also put a new sound decoder kit in one of my Life-Like Heritage 0-8-0 switchers. This was a first run loco with no tender power pick-up. It struggled with stalls even on my #6 yard ladder switches. Ran much better after I added the new decoder with a keep-alive circuit - TCS kit # WSK-WAL-1, which is made especially to fit these 0-8-0 and 0-6-0 locos. Here's a video of the before and after:

  • Member since
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  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 6:18 AM

Moving along nicely Mark! Yes  The room is filling up!  I like the white ceiling and the lighting, it seems to light up the room nicely.

Mike.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, June 3, 2019 11:40 PM

More great progress Mark! Thank you for taking the time to produce the very interesting videos.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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