The Beginning of the Tennessee & Western

[TN_Trainman]

Hello to the Gauge, well I finally got to start on the Tennessee & Western benchwork tonight, and I am soooooooooooooo pleased . The TN & W is being built in a 16 ft x 9 ft shed I decided on an all the way around track plan with a bridge and river section that will raise so you can enter and exit the building.

Tonight my sons and I manged to build 1/3 of the layout bench work, and if the weather is bad this weekend hopefully we can get the long section of the layout up (10 foot x 3 ft section) along the back wall.

Anyway here is the first pic.

All I can say is WOOOHOOOO:thumb: :thumb:

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

That looks like some sturdy benchwork

 

[TN_Trainman]

Well I used 1x4 for the benchwork and 2x4 for the legs, the only reason I used the 2x4's is because I had them as surplus ,as I am a GM of an Elect & Plumb and Remodeling Company sometimes we have ruff 2x4's that will not cut it in a home so I get to go through the scrap pile for anything I can use. I was worried and in honesty still am at the heigth I have placed it (48 inches) but the more I look at it the more I like it, so I hope it works out.


TN Trainman

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

I have a mix of 2X2 and 2X4 for the legs on my layout and mine is also at 48". I like the height of mine but I'm also above average height so I can reach everything. I've actually toyed with the Idea of raising the layout another 6" but I'll hold off of that for now.

 

[Russ Bellinis]

If you ever have to access that electrical control box on the wall in back of the layout, you'll wish the layout was higher than 48 inches, but as you are crawling under the layout to get to the box you will definately be glad it isn't any lower!

 

[TN_Trainman]

Yep that Breaker Box was and is a thorn in my side, but that is why I left that open area to crawl under and be able to reach it. I had MUCH rather used that open area for another foot of operating space :thumb: . But hey we have to give and take right?

 

[TN_Trainman]

More Pics of the Tennessee & Western

Hello unto all, well the weather was SUPER here today in the low 60's, and it gave me even MORE incentive to work on the T&W (like I needed any!!) My sons and I compleated the back section today and got the river section cut in. Next weekend I hope to get the final benchwork done if at all possible.

Take a look and let me know what ya think!!!

 

[Nomad]

Tn, I don't know where you live, but I will be glad to trade. It did not get above 30 here today. Anyhow, your layout looks good. It is nice to see somebody using cookiecutter. One thing I would like to suggest. All screws from the bottom. The first time you have to rip up half your scenery to get at one screw, you will be glad you did.

Loren

 

[CCT70]

This is a VERY nice beginning to what is shaping up to be a VERY nice layout. I'm envious and can't wait to see more.

 

[berraf]

Wow, what a progress on what seems to be a very interesting project

 

[Ralph]

Looking good TN! I see a river taking shape there but that's not the section that lifts out, right? I'll be interested to see how you create that lift out section. Nice work!
Ralph

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

The surveyors are going to have their work cut out for them with that river in their way!
How thick is that plywood? From here it looks like you could curl up and take a nap in it!

 

[TN_Trainman]

Thanks, for all the complements guys, if the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise I hope to get the last section in next weekend. Ralph to answer your question, you are correct that is not the section that will raise up, that section of the layout will be right in front of the door that enters the shed. I have several ideas for the design on it but I will just have to mock a couple up and see how they work.

Glen the thickness of the plywood and the Particle board is ½ inch thick, I know several books suggest using ¾ but I could just not see using that thick of a board. We use ¾ in sub floors in remodeling and that withstands people who weigh considerably more that a locomotive and cars. So I went with ½ which I believe will work fine.

This is the bridge I am considering to build by the door entrance; the actual bridge is about 25 miles up the road from me on the old L&N Sparta branch line, which now is owned by the Caney Fork & Western Short line.

 

[Cannonball]

Looking good! Should be a great layout! :thumb:

 

[TN_Trainman]

Hello All, well the last part of my benchwork for the Tennessee and Western is in, we finished the 28 in by 9ft section this afternoon, we also applied the first layer of foam to the layout.

I also pinned some track to the foam to give me an idea of how the yard and engine service area would look.

The first picture is of the latest section of the layout, this area will rise 10 inches above the lowest area of the layout.

The second picture is of freight yard and roundhouse area along with the 2nd part of the layout I done a couple weeks ago.

Third picture is where the King Lumber and Sawmill will be placed, the single stall enginehouse is for their Shay.

Fourth Picture is of the yard area as well.

Fifth picture is where the removable section of the layout will be, I will be working on it either tomorrow or next week.

Let me know what ya think.

 

[TN_Trainman]

Well work yesterday was a little slow, but we managed to figure out how we wanted the mine to set, and how we could wrap the main line behind the mine..(I know it dont seem like much of a task, but it was) here are a few pictures...hope to do more next week.

Thanks to all for the comments and help

George

 

[radar]

Looking real good like minds think a'like

 

[TN_Trainman]

Radar, yep it seems that we are on the same track (no pun intended) my hope was to include several city blocks in the layout but I dont think it is gonna happen, (or not as much as I envisioned anyway) I was pretty pleased with what we done Saturday, but the trackplan for the freight yard and engine service area is stilll giving me some trouble. but I hope to work that out tonigt or tomorrow if its not too cold (only have a space heater in the shed for now)

Anyway thanks for the look and the comment!

George

 

[TN_Trainman]

Update 04/17/07

Hello unto all, well it has been a while and I just wanted to post a few pics of where the Tennessee & Western is at. I am concertrating on working it 3 to 4 feet at a time as well as getting the hardest area to reach done first, which is the Coal mine area.

Tonight my sons and I did the plaster paris and paper towels to get the river bed and banks started, we also set the Coal mine in place and laid out how the track that will service it, then the best part we ran the K-4 on the short amount of track I have laid.

It was NICE to see it run, let me know you thoughts as allways and Happy Rail Roading!!!!

 

[Gary S.]

Wow! Great progress. This is shaping up to be a really nice layout. All the work is paying off.

Did you consider moving that electrical panel. All the wiring looks fairly small, you could put a junction box there and extend the wires to get the panel in a better location?

I haven't let on yet, but my shelf layout actually goes in front of an electrical panel, the shelf in that area is a section that can be removed if I need in the box. I can still get to the breakers without removing anything. The shelf in front isn't exactly meeting Code requirements for workspace and access, but what the hey, the authority having jurisdiction on the project (me) gave it a thumbs up!