A chronology of a simple build

Here is a continuation of the build

Hey guy - very nice - liked the way you presented it - lots of good shots.

Very nice job on the shelf layout near the ceiling, Ron!  That is a very nice photo essay of your progress in building!  On the tables, I noticed in one photograph it looks like you fastened one leg to the floor.  Did you do that elsewhere?  

Mark, I used L brackets and locked the legs to the floor, this makes it hell for stout, I have a 115 pound dog (He is like a bull in a china closet at 10 months) and when he gets to jumping around, even he can't move the benchwork. I climb on the benchwork when needed and it holds my 250 pounds easily.

For the space I have, this works well, I eventually would like to add a level above when the time and energy happen at the same time.

Ron, It is a smart idea, especially when it is fairly easy to do on the wooden floor!  Your dog sounds like he could move a lot of layouts with that much weight, energy, and momentum he can generate!

I am finding energy is another variable in layout construction as I move towards mid-60s.  At one time, it was money, space, and time.  Now there is that 4th dimension!

Well done!

Peter

Very cool, you've done a lot in a short time.  I'm going to get to run trains on mine someday, really!

Mark,  He has the energy I wish I did, and thinks I should be playing all the time. He can only take about 30 minutes of the track noise before he slinks downstairs and pesters the Boxer girl to play. As for time, which I have plenty of, money which comes and goes, the energy is the wild card anymore. Arthritis, injuries and scar tissue add to the lack of energy at times. In my 30's I thought I was indestructible, in my 40's I felt like a million, in my 50's it slowed down and when turned 60 it began sliding even more, now over social security age it is how do I feel that day whether spend it in the train room, at the work bench, at the club, grandkids or socializing. 

John,  I made sure to have the shelf completed before tackled the main layout, that way I got to hear and watch trains as I worked on the layout, wiring was one headache I am glad is over with. I put in 5 main blocks, with separate blocks for accessories and one for switches. I also used picaxe boards to run the Pennsylvania block signals with IR sensors in the tracks, a trick a club member showed me then helped me get it programmed. There is always something to be done or add to it, I just added the wood cutting vignette 2 weeks ago, and a cemetery and funeral procession for my wife, whose family is mainly funeral directors. She loves it, so guess it is a win-win.

I am currently working on a camera engine with one of the wifi mini cams, along with improving the interiors of my baggage, RPO and combo cars on my NP Passenger consist. 

Peter, I am enjoying it, but constantly toying with new ideas for additions or reworking sections. I would love to do a helix but that is a project to ponder.