TBA Railway construction started!

[seanm]

Finally!!

A corporate move required I dismantal my layout and and move into a new home. That was 2 years ago and I am finally ready to start buinding a new layout in the garage.

I am a veteran N-Scaler with lots to learn. I plan on posting updates as I contruct the new layout in this thread.

Here is the current plan.

Details about the plan are in the Track Planning section. Look for TBA listed there.

I have completed the basics of the benchwork, skyboards and lighting. No valance or skirt yet and no ply or track yet. Very soon!

 

[jesso]

Wow! It is looking great! Will be watching with great interest!

 

[TruckLover]

AWESOME Sean!!! Im going to be watching this thread for sure!!! Look forward to some more pics of your progress :thumb: :mrgreen:

 

[RonP]

What a great start,

Good job on getting the backdrop done first too. Now thats good planning.

 

[steamhead]

Looks like an awesome RR..!!! That's quite an undertaking...

Just my $2.00 (inflation...:mrgreen- I presume those are incandescent light bulbs....I have 3 things against them....HOT, EXPENSIVE, and EYESORES. I had a set-up similar to yours and wound up tearing it down and installing fluorescents - better lighting at a fraction of the cost...Trouble was I did this with most of the benchwork & trackwork done...so I was on the edge of disaster happening (I even had to STAND on the layout to get to a spot...). You're still at the point of being able to do it (if you were to do it...) without much trouble.

Good luck & keep us posted..!!! :thumb:

 

[seanm]

Gus,

Good point! Actually I used what I had on hand from the last layout. I do plan on converting over to compact flourecent bulbs. I don't particularly like flourescent long tubes because of the flat lighting... but I agree these bulbs do get hot and cost a bit to run. I will convert them all over to compact flourescent once there is a big sale (happens a couple otf times a year) I need about 30.

 

[Cannonball]

WOW! That is a ton of track in that yard!
Just imagine the hours you'll spend switching! :twisted:

 

[seanm]

Cannonball,

Yes, it is a very large yard. I had a short time where I belonged to large club with a huge yard and had a GREAT time switching and making up trains... That is why I included it. Plus it gives me the space to buy more rollingstock!! I built a layout just before I had to relocate that had a large curved yard and I REALLY liked the look of it. I expanded it a bit as I have a little more space and am looking forward to it!

 

[TruckLover]

Plus it gives me the space to buy more rollingstock!!

Now thats ALWAYS a good thing, it was the same for me, i started work on my yard and relized, whoa, i wont have nearly enough rolling stock to fill it, so i went on a rolling stock shopping spree and now i have to much rolling stock to fill the yard lol

I built a layout just before I had to relocate that had a large curved yard and I REALLY liked the look of it. I expanded it a bit as I have a little more space and am looking forward to it!

Large Yards are very fun and they also look really cool. My yard is going to be a medium to large sized yard when i finish it.

cant wait to see some more pics Sean :thumb: :mrgreen:

 

[Mountain Man]

Looks like quite a project. I'll look forward to watching it grow.

 

[Biased turkey]

Looking great SeanM, I admire you for tackling such a big project.
Now just pray for not being relocated by the company you work with.

Jacques

 

[seanm]

Finally some track is down! Lots of building clutter in the background.. ops:

I have started with the lowest level of the layout. This is a small staging area where I can have 3 or 4 trains made up and waiting and two through tracks. I modified the plan a little (see the first message n the thread) and it allows constant running of two trains, one passenger ad one freight, and switching the yard or any of the local switching areas.

http://www.pegnsean.net/pics/trains/TBA_SAC/tn/P1010321.med.JPG


I am using Atlas C55 and have used it in the past. It works well, but is a bit more delicate to work with. On long runs I solder two 30" pieces together before laying the track. If I lay these two tracks on a curve I put the presoldered joint on the curve. Always easier to attach tracks on the strait sections!

I actually hooked up the Digitrax and ran a train back and forth a little this evening. Very gratifying!!

The helix is double track and will be aprox a 1.7% grade... 22" outside radius. To make sure the grade is constant I figured out that 3/8" in 24" is about 1.7% (Hope the math is right this time)... I put a 24" level on a level table and lifted one end 3/8". I then got a line level (little guy) and put a tapered shim under in leaning the opposite direction. Made the line level level!! I glued the line level to the shim and now I have a 1.7% level I can use to make my grades constant!! Easy and cheap!

I am hooking the 1/2" ply sub road bed together with biscuits and glue. Works really well and make an almost seamless transition.

Next step is wiring and switch machines. Here is a series of pictures on how I am Sung Atlas HO twin coil switch motors under the sub roadbed.



Thats it for now! More pics as I progress.

 

[SD90]

Great progress! I'll be watching this thread!

 

[seanm]

Got side tracked when I realized my staging yard would might be a problem in the making with too many S curves I moved the switches to the other side and have the through tracks at the back. Mave the helix up two turns and now only need 1/2 more to be up to layout height and I can start working on the main.

Chaged the plan some what as well. (see back a few messages).