Iron-Bridge-Rails (The I.B.R.) (Update #10))

T-Bone1214, That does look slick.  I was thinking a day or two ago, I could still leave the fob sitting on the wrong side of the down bridges.  I always have my phone in my pocket.  I have never controlled anything with a phone app, but do have the DCS WTIU on preorder, so I will be using my phone for that.  Thank you for the link!!  Smart thinking to look into it further!

No problem Mark, hope it helps you out!
Apparently I violated the T.O.S. here and I am truly sorry for that! Just trying to help out another O-Gauger. I will be more mindful in the future!

@T-Bone1214 posted:

No problem Mark, hope it helps you out!
Apparently I violated the T.O.S. here and I am truly sorry for that! Just trying to help out another O-Gauger. I will be more mindful in the future!

Whoops!  I knew better myself, but didn’t even think of it to mention it last evening when I saw your post.  🤦‍♂️

Hope everyone is doing well! I'm still around and I'm still building! I was out of commission for a bit with needing another knee surgery but all is well once again!

Here are some pictures to show the progress I've made over the past couple months. I have to get more pics of the electrical work under the layout and I actually have a bunch of track down.

Great progress! Hope the knee is healed up for good this time!

Thanks! The knee is doing better than the first time! I tore the meniscus again. Clumsy me goofing around with my great dane and slipped. I'll get some more of the pics up later tonight.

I’m glad the knee is doing better.  Yes, I had torn meniscus surgery as well when I was about 50.  I was surprised how long rehab took.  
The layout is looking great!  I like the painted plywood.  I never did that thinking I’ll cover it with scenery, but I look at a menagerie of wood for years until I cover it!

Thanks Mark! I've been keeping an eye on your progress as well and your layout is looking good! I also painted the ceiling so the eye focus is on the wall and layout. Painting the plywood black will put the focus on the track and other items making it easier for me during the build to visualize next steps. Probably just because I'm a little goofy...LOL.

You are no goofier than a lot of the rest of us; me included!  😃

I think the painting is a good idea that I have never taken the time to do.  The ceiling is a good idea too.

Things are starting to come together with the layout with a lot of work still to do! This first level will be ready to run an engine on once I get the roadbed down and the power drops connected to the electrical that I have started running under the layout for the first line. This level will have 3 lines on it the 2 outer will be for passenger and freight with the 3rd being for local freight, trollies and switching. There are also 2 staging areas, one for the passenger cars and one for freight. 

@T-Bone1214 posted:

Things are starting to come together with the layout with a lot of work still to do! This first level will be ready to run an engine on once I get the roadbed down and the power drops connected to the electrical that I have started running under the layout for the first line. This level will have 3 lines on it the 2 outer will be for passenger and freight with the 3rd being for local freight, trollies and switching. There are also 2 staging areas, one for the passenger cars and one for freight.

Wow, nice progress !  Will you have enough reach to the turntable area if things need tweaking ?

Rich

Thanks @trestleking! Where you see the turn table now is where a hole will be as the turn table will be on the next level with a roundhouse, so I'll have to crawl under to access it.

Looks great, T-Bone1214!  What materials are you using for your hills and rock faces?

That’s coming along Nice. The one thing I noticed in your tracklaying was the earlier Gargraves with the varied colored ties. About 1/4 of my layout was done with these over 30 years ago. Then they switched to just a blackened tie. Probably I’m sure more cost effective. I always liked the look of the earlier version better. Especially on a more rural type setting.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Looks great, T-Bone1214!  What materials are you using for your hills and rock faces?

Thanks @Mark Boyce!

I'm using Styrofoam insulation from HD. Just the cheap white panels that I think come 6 in a package and since they are cheaper then the pink insulation and I won't be pressing on them I figured I'd give them a try. Each sheet is 1" thick x 3' long and I take several stack and glue them together with liquid nails then cut them to shape with a hot Styrofoam wire adding the vertical cuts with it.

I then take a steak knife and do the horizontal cuts and gouges that's when you get all those Styrofoam balls but no worries! Next I take my heat gun and run it over the areas with all the Styrofoam balls and they quickly melt and gives a really cool rock formation look to them. I'll be covering the tops of the hills with batting and adhere it with the paint I selected sort of a brown/green color.

With the heat gun you can easily add small nooks and cavern entrances but don't hold it there too long or you can have a mess on your hands...LOL. YUP... I did that a couple times but learned really quick to use the heat gun in quick passing motions.

@Dave_C posted:

That’s coming along Nice. The one thing I noticed in your tracklaying was the earlier Gargraves with the varied colored ties. About 1/4 of my layout was done with these over 30 years ago. Then they switched to just a blackened tie. Probably I’m sure more cost effective. I always liked the look of the earlier version better. Especially on a more rural type setting.

Thanks @Dave_C! I was able to get that track almost for free. I don't have a lot of it but only use it on straightaways since you can't bend it. I will however be painting all the track rails and ties so they match.

I've made some progress on the layout since the last post. Tile board for sound dampening and road bed. I now have the two outer main lines powered up (Finally)!

I'm actually looking forward to winter time as all the other work outside will stop and give me more time to focus on the layout.

Your track looks great, and I really like your clouds!  I wish I had room for a yard the size of yours.  It looks great!

Yes, the clouds really do look great!  Interesting choice on the tile board.  It should help reduce sound.  The layout is really coming along well.  Thanks for the update.

Thanks @Mark Boyce & @SteveH!

That section is actually going to be the passenger train station lower level as the Building for the station will be above that. There will be another level added, it will cover a lot of the circular section to the left and above passenger tracks. With a mountain to the right and the train yard, turntable, roundhouse, diesel shop to the left. If I can squeeze it in without it looking stupid, there will be a transfer table for tge diesel shop.

I was at the depot and had seen some ceiling tiles out of the box and I thought, maybe. They are sound deadening, easy to cut but can be messy. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you for the positive cloud comments! My wife said she could do the painting of the clouds and I was happy to hear she had some interest in this project. I let her know and she was happy to hear, she can be her worst critic.

I was able to complete the wiring for 2 of the lines and the engines ran perfectly! So I wanted to share my excitement with you all, so here's the video on my grandsons TikTok channel.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFfAQwC8/

Congratulations, Tom!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Congratulations, Tom!

Thanks @Mark Boyce! I dug out that WM for you as I know you're a big fan!