GOAL MET!
Mainline in through Riverton, connecting all the way to Hudson. A loco and a few cars were run back and forth to test the new line.
Photos and maybe a video to follow tomorrow, after I have a chance to clean up most of the construction debris.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Pruitt YES!!! GOAL MET! Mainline in through Riverton, connecting all the way to Hudson. A loco and a few cars were run back and forth to test the new line.
We were never in doubt!
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Pruitt YES!!! GOAL MET! Mainline in through Riverton, connecting all the way to Hudson. A loco and a few cars were run back and forth to test the new line. Photos and maybe a video to follow tomorrow, after I have a chance to clean up most of the construction debris.
Rich
Alton Junction
Here are a few screenshots / photos of the first train to traverse the entire finished track from Casper to Hudson.
Our train in Casper yard:
The view from the locomotive pilot:
The train making its way up the grade on the peninsula:
And our train after it arrived in Hudson.
Some of the wiring is jury-rigged right now, but permanent wiring will be installed in the next few days.
I posted a video of the first train trip:
Pruitt:
Looks good so far, keep us updated!
Well done, Mark. That brief scene beginning around 6:50 is spectacular. How long is that CNW run?
Thanks ATSFGuy and Rich!
The run from Casper to Hudson is about 130 feet, or a bit under two scale miles in length. When the line gets all the way to Lander (the end of the line) it will add about another half scale mile.
Impressive, Mark. Well done.
richhotrain Well done, Mark. That brief scene beginning around 6:50 is spectacular. Rich
Well done, Mark. That brief scene beginning around 6:50 is spectacular.
Ray
Hi Mark,
That is an impressive run! It really gives you a feel for how large the layout is and how effectively you have used the available space.
Happy New Year!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I really like the brief overhead view of Casper, towards the end.
And when the train comes around the final curve, the backdrop is quite successful.
Inspiring.
Ed
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks David, Ray, Dave and Ed!
Bear, we can always count on you for a good laugh!
Believe me, nobody questions Mark's abilities more than Mark does.
3 January 2022
I just uploaded my latest layout update video:
I enjoyed both new videos very much. The scenery looks great.
- Douglas
Thanks Douglas!
12 January 2022
And... work continues.
I finished the fence to the top of the peninsula:
By the 5th I had the approach to Thermopolis worked out and the subroadbed installed.
I also replaced the alligator-clipped temporary wiring at Powder River with the permanent wiring. I'll add cable clamps as necessary to keep the wire up under the Riverton deck. When I get secondary trackage installed at Riverton, feeders will connect to this barrier strip.
I took a couple of days and cleaned up, inventoried and organized all my flextrack. Some has been used on at least three layouts now, and probably more than that in some cases. On this set of shelves, top to bottom, is: ME Code 55 - just a few sticks; Peco code 70 - about half a scale mile, and a couple sticks of ME code 70 behind the Peco; Atlas code 83 - about 2 1/2 scale miles; and on the bottom shelf is a ton of Atlas code 100 - around nine scale miles (that will be used for most hidden track on the layout, but I'm sure I have much more than I'll need)!
On the 6th I laid the roadbed on the Thermopolis approach, and on the 9th I laid the big turnback curve:
On the 10th I tested the new curve with a train.
I really like how the superelevation looks.
Mark it's coming along beautifully. At this pace I hope you don't run out of gas. I'm enjoying watching your progress and can't wait to see what is next. Who stole the bell on 6302?
Joe
Mark,
When I visit here to see how you're doing, it always inspires me to "get back to work". I know that's a crude way of putting it.
That said, it is not your job to do that for me/us. I hope you know that, and are doing this wonderful work for your own benefit. Mostly.
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to share what you're doing.
Thanks Joe, Ed!
Joe, the bell disappeared during a move sometime in years past. My rolling stock has gone from New Jersey to South Carolina back to New Jersey and then to Wyoming. I'll have to look carefully in the Axion Technologies rolling stock boxes I use to carry all the finished equipment, but I have the feeling I'll just have to find a new bell.
Ed, the thing that motivates me to get off my butt in front of the TV and down to the layout room sometimes is knowing that I have another layout update video coming up. Even though I produce those videos for me as much anyone else, I still want to have some decent progress shown in each subsequent month.
29 January 2022
Even with a mild bout of Covid delaying me for a few days last week, I've still accomplished a few things since my last update.
I bought a sheet of 1/2" plywood ($60 for one sheet! Geez!!), cut it into two sections lengthwise, trimmed the far end of the section section and installed the subbase for Thermopolis:
And laid out the track arrangement.
While I was in the middle of doing that, I installed a couple more throttle ports, one at Shobon (pictured) and one at Thermopolis.
I also ordered and received a 250' roll of six-conductor flat cable and began making my own throttle bus wires and stringing them through the benchwork. The custom lengthcables are much neater than coiling up all the extra length of standard cables (not to mention much cheaper, too!).
Then it was back to Thermopolis, where I installed cork sheeting over the plywood, with the help of quite a few folks' suggestions in this thread on the forum: https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/291177.aspx (sorry, for some reason I can't make this a live link).
I also laid out track components to get an idea of what I would need in the way of flextrack. I still need to build two more turnouts.
And finally, yesterday afternoon I extended the trackwork around the last curve into Thermopolis from the Wind River Canyon and began laying the mainline through town.
Loving the thread, Mark. Excellent photographs. Thanks for posting.
Here is a live link to the plywood/cork gluing thread:
https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/291177.aspx
Glad you are getting past the Covid.
Thanks for the link, Dave.
BTW, how do you do that? When I'm writing a post links appear to be clickable, but they don't work when clicking on them after the post is finished.
PruittThanks for the link, Dave. BTW, how do you do that?
MRR has not made posting a link particularly easy, but okay, you asked for it! Here is how I do it:
First, highlight the link and right click it. That should bring up a menu that offers a "Go To.....(the link)" option. Left click on that and it should take you to the desired thread or post. Copy the post address.
Now things get strange! (What else were you expecting?). Go back to your post and finish it. Next, place the curser where you want to add the link, and click the 'Submit' icon. (I find it easier to place the link in a new paragraph instead at the end of a sentence). When the link shows up in your new post it will still not work! (Are we surprised?). Click on the 'Edit' icon to go back to your post. Then add the following to the beginning of the post link:
"[" followed by "url" followed by"]" without the quotation marks, no spaces.
Then go to the end of the link and add "[" followed by "/url" followed by "]", again without the quotation marks.
The reason that I can't just post the 'url' entries without splitting them up is that they are not seen as simple text. The computer reads them as commands so they will mess up the whole text if I don't separate the brackets from the letters.
Then hit the 'Update Reply' button.
When the post comes up again the link should be highlighted in blue.
I hope that works.
Cheers!!
Thanks, Dave! Seems a bit over-involved, but next time I want to add a link, I'll try it!
And David, thanks for your earlier comment.
3 February 2022
I posted my latest layout update video today:
Mark, your latest video, like all the ones before it, is excellent. Not only do you do excellent work on your layout, but the quality of your videos is also outstanding.
I have one complaint. You put my layout and me to shame.
Another great video Mark!
I didn't realize that you were planning on having the canyon scenery going all the way to the ceiling. That will be awesome!
I also got a good look at how you do your superelevation and grade changes with 1/4" masking tape. I understood the process but it is nice to see it in application.
Glad you are over the Covid stuff. I hope your wife recovers fully very soon (tell her I like her hat).
Keep up the good work!
Thanks Rich, Dave and Bear!
Rich, the videos only show what I want them to. What they don't show is the aggravation and frustration involved with doing some of this stuff. I've managed to not throw any rolling stock against the wall recently, but it has been close. I'm sure your work is nothing to be ashamed of!
Dave, we're pretty much over the Covid stuff now, but I still have a little bit of a cough. But I get a lingering cough every time I get a cold anyway!
Now that the plan for the ceiling height canyon walls is out there, all that's left is to figure out how to do it, and then actually execute it. Right now I'm just looking and going "Hmmm...."
Bear, I'm glad both you and the missus enjoy the videos. Even my wife doesn't watch them!
12 February 2022
I started re-installing ground throws in Casper and removing the too-troublesome over-center springs from all the turnouts. I finally got back to that and finished Casper early this month. Using panel nails (ring-shank small nails designed for wood paneling) secures the throws solidly to the foam.
On the 6th I finished up the north end of Thermopolis. In this shot all trackwork is complete and all wiring has been done, too (even better- it actually works!). The only thing left when I took this picture was to install the north end ground throws. I did that after I took this shot, which completely depleted my supply of ground throws.
I was going to build the code 55 turnout for Riverton's industry spur, but after building seven turnouts for Thermopolis in January, the thought of building another one just wasn't at all exciting. So instead I started on the fascia for the Riverton area. Here two of the last three sections of fascia for the CNW line are temporarily installed. The third section, a shorter piece, goes at the far end. I removed all of them and began painting them yesterday.
Today, with my wife's help, I got the curved fascia around the Casper engine facility temporarily installed. Over the next few days all the Casper fascia will be removed and painted, then reinstalled permanently.
Over the last few days I started messing around with JMRI's Operations package. I inventoies all my rolling stock and entered it into the database, then added all the tracks and industries in Casper, Powder River, and Thermopolis, plus the ones that will be in place soon in Riverton. I ran a few test cycles with the software, and it seems to be building trains properly!
One thing I haven't figured out yet - Casper has a classification yard and a bunch of industries as well. How do I get the program to take available cars from the yard and switch the local industries? Right now that isn't happening, but cars coming back from Thermopolis do get switched to the industries...
PruittNow that the plan for the ceiling height canyon walls is out there, all that's left is to figure out how to do it, and then actually execute it. Right now I'm just looking and going "Hmmm...."
Do you have any pictures of the actual canyon? I'd be curious to see them.
PruittToday, with my wife's help, I got the curved fascia around the Casper engine facility temporarily installed. Over the next few days all the Casper fascia will be removed and painted, then reinstalled permanently.
All the fascia looks great, painted or not. The layout looks so much more attractive and professional with it in place (not that it wasn't good looking before!).
Dave, ask and ye shall receive! Here's a few shots of the canyon:
In the 1940's. Rail tunnel to the far left...
December 1995, near the north end of the canyon...
One of the tunnel portals near the south end, ca. 1995...
Bear, you're right. Chicken wire with plaster of paris would be messy! But that may well be the best way to go.
17 February 2022
Most of the fascia is painted and installed in this shot. One section, out of sight behind the engine terminal, is painted but not installed until it has another day to dry.
I spent a couple hours mounting the turntable control in the fascia. This was a bit of a pain since Walthers really didn't make any provision for mounting the thing. There are a couple holes in the back of the housing, but those are pretty useless. I wound up cutting a rectangular hole in the fascia that the circuit board would fit in, then deepening the screw holes in the controller back cover so that the screws would protrude far enough through the 3/16" hardboard to screw into the faceplate.
I finished building a code 55 turnout using my code 83 Fast Tracks jig. It was surprisingly easy! That code 55 rail files down very quickly. This is the first code 55 turnout I've built, and I was almost surprised it worked. I installed it and the secondary tracks at Riverton. The two left tracks are code 55, and the main track to the right is code 70.
Then I created space holder labels for the industries in Riverton and placed them along the industrial siding.
I did that last bit because, after over 20 years of building and then tearing down and rebuilding - in short, waiting, I'm finally ready to host my first operating session! Sort of. Next Tuesday a friend will be coming over for an inaugural operating session on the finished parts of the railroad (well, none of it is finished. But a few locations are ready to roll, if you ignore the lack of structures and scenery). We'll be making up some local trains in Casper and taking them out to Thermopolis, and out to Riverton and Hudson, switching the industries then returning.
Lastly, when I was in Basin a month or so ago, the guy I met who used to work for the BNSF gave me a train orders hoop that had been used at the Lovell, WY station. What a cool gift! I mounted it on the wall at the bottom of the basement stairs. This view greets visitors as they head down into the train room:
So wish me luck on the operating session / test! If successful I'm going to try to do more as the layout expands further.