layout updated 4/22/2015

the layout is 3 levels the main reason I went higher was because the room has 3 attic doors with the top of them being at 48 inches so I wanted to be able to still open the doors x-mas stuff is in one of them. so I wanted to be able to go under the layout to get in to remove the x mas stuff. my old layout limited the opening of the door which made it hard to get the tree out this year. lower level is at 37 inches but not in front of any doors the next level is at 48 inches over all 3 doors then the 3rd level is at 55 inches. I'm 5' 9" so not tall well at least in my family all my uncles and aunts are 6 ft+ my father is 6' 2" milk man I guess LOL. heck my 13 year old son is almost taller than I am but anyways so far I have been able to build the layout to plan and open the doors. one in the back I can only open about 20 inches or so but it has the train boxes in it so not to worried about that door. tonight I added the main level to one part of the layout and so far I like it there is going to be some hurtles I need to over come one being wiring with the way I am building the tables. I think I have some ideas that will work for it like running a few pvc pipes with the wires hidden in them and then hide the pvc with Masonite facing. tonight I kind finished the scarm file with the bench work needed  I'll attach it. I did change the lower level a little to make it a reversing loop in 2 spots so that I can run a train on the lower level. Kind of a folded dog bone style. so far though it has all laid out to the plan.   this scarm file has the walls removed for better viewing.

Very nice work. Have you thought about making either a wooden L girder or using a piece of 1" aluminum angle and getting rid of those center posts? Maybe even some of the posts along the front if you ran the angle parallel? Will make it easier when you have to reach in and grab something.

HMM that's a thought.

I took the upper level board off so I could work on the yard. I really like the idea of metal L channel to add support to the upper level it would also give me a place to mount the Masonite on the edges to make them look finished off . and also hide wires  behind. so what I was working on is ballast for the yard. there are many companies out there that supply yard ballast. and in reading about he topic old yards are black oily places, never been to one. then I read where someone used a product called black beauty for there yard looked it up can't find it anywhere near me . but did find a product called black diamond basically the same as black beauty it's coal slag. and at $8.98 for 50 lb bag why not give it a try. I bought 2 bags yea 100 lb's 2 different grades fine and course. didn't know which one to get so got both. I have been using the course for what I did tonight. funny back story on it was as a kid I grew up in a small town in Il. named Coffeen my father working in the coal mine there and with all the coal slag everywhere I grew up basically playing in the stuff. there was a area just outside of town that it was mounded and people had made a motor cycle track through the woods  using the slag mounds as jumps. we use to take our Bikes out there and jump our bikes on the slag mounds too. well My father and I were in the garage tonight talking about my latest purchase of the coal slag and I read on the bag manufacturing sites and there was about 6 one being coffeen Il. so the coal slag I am putting on my layout could be the same slag I played on as a kid doubtful but cool to think about.   

finally able to move forward have the lower level at a point I can move forward with the rest of the layout. here's the results.

Looks like a good job.  I think that is plenty of scenic elements to give the look of a hard working area under your upper level!  The night shot is great!

Thanks for another excellent update and photos.

Jhainer,

I read back through this post and may have missed it...but what material are you using for the tabletop?

Thanks

all of the table tops are 1/2 MDF. Drill and screw LOL today I ran lights I got the other end of the reversing loop done and screwed down then started building the MDF supports for the ramp between levels . but I think the best part was once the other end reverse loop was done I could run a train around the lower level. then would drop off the cars and switch engines and pull them with a different engine. and every lap it was going a different direction which was also kind of cool. I pulled the worse cars I have for my layout there modified spline cars designed for 054 I have them on some 031 and if they can make it around the layout almost anything can they have some serious overhang on 031 but still a cool train.  here's todays progress. need to get out the shop vac and vacune the mess I made today but by the time I finished the kids were in bed. this layout has more to offer than my last one this lower level I should be able to do some flats and building fronts to make it like a little town on the lower level. we will see haven't made up my mind yet on what to do down here.  and this train does do the incline. yea had to test it the Lionmaster Challenger does it also. it wasn't happy about it tho with all those heavy cars but it will normally pull passenger cars 5 of them so it will be alright

haven't updated in a few days not to much progress until yesterday and today. I am real close to having all the bench work done . on a scarm file you don't realize how big something is going to be. one area is just shy of 4 ft wide but is 16 ft 10 long I knew I build it in the drawing like that but was shocked when I seen it built . heres some photos. it did get the grand daughter test she climbed up and was playing on the bench work .

Hi jhainer, on March 16th you posted photos of your nakid train room.  I have a very similar room which I will build a layout. May I ask you what is the footprint of your room, what is the dormer height, and the access door height on the dormer panel?

I too have to make a decision as to the layout height.  I am not concerned at this time with lower window height.

Thanks

Tommy

the room is 199 inches wide and 157 deep the dormer is 37 inches wide by 79 inches the walls are about 58 in height with the door trim top at 48 inches. attached is the scarm file with the dimensions.

After the bench work was mostly done I laid track in the planned layout and didn't like the function of it. went back to scarm came up with another plan and also noticed when running it was a lot louder than I wanted so up came all the track on the main level quiet Brace went down and then the new track plan started getting put together after buying 63 new track pieces so I had enough to finish the layout put it all down and ran trains tonight for about 2 1/2 hrs no issues at all to speak of. the quiet brace worked real well at keeping the noise to a minimum and I was going from one level to the other with no issues a few engines might have issues the small Railking f3's one with 7 passenger cars the other with 9 didn't test them out yet. still need to screw down some of the track in places but for the most part it worked good. I would like to add a few more power drops. but here's the pics I just took when I finished up tonight. one photo you will see the tracks are really close I haven't gone back and adjusted the plan for that so that will happen in the next day or so  the plan had 2 4 1/2's on the outside loop so that there was clearance but for some reason it was off the table if I did that so I can just adjust the two loops to get better clearance . for one train at a time tonight had no issues .

The spacing of the power drops looks good. I would say one more on the straight in center next to aisle. That run between drops is 17 feet.( heading to the alcove)

It looks good. Do the trains look cool moving from one level to the next?

I have to admit it was pretty cool watching them go from one level to the other the part is found really interesting is I only have to switch 2 switches on the main lines the rest the running train does the path changes every time. changing one switch makes the rains go from the lower to the upper and back I should make a small video  it was really cool. I still need to find a space where I can park 2 long trains so that there not sitting on the track blocking paths. right now there parked on the lower level back loop. but I will figure it out

started placing building and such in there respected placements

also my wife started painting buildings for me really more of a touchup and finish I also made 2 more sidings for more train storage. then played with camera a little hope you enjoy

this is just more around the layout playing with the camera focusing on different things getting different perspectives.

here's an update and video

built a mountain/tunnel and mounted my station.

J,

That's a nice run. Did you eliminate the yard in the alcove?

yea I did it looked good on paper but in construction it limited the running of trains. so far this layout has been 500 more in track but haven't had to buy a single switch I have had enough switches only piece I haven't been able to incorporate is a 45 degree x here's the track plan as of now. also need to figure in 4 bridges 2 truss and 2 under arch. and need to add a ground plane to one area its where the engine stopped on the lower level didn't have an issue until I ran power to the upper level.

I just discovered this thread and I'm amazed at how much you've accomplished is so short a time. Your layout looks very good and I bet it's a lot of fun to operate. I will be following your progress. Please keep us updated.

Country Joe with you saying that I was wondering when did I start this layout it was only a month ago . time fly's when your having fun.

Jhainer,

A remarkable Job! You gave me plenty of idea's for my limited space!

still working on figuring out the 3rd level ceiling is the limit LOL .

started working on the bridge module for the layout. it will consist of 2 under arch bridges and 2 trestle bridges. total of 7 3/4 inches high and 86 inches long.

here's some photos of todays progress.

here's the very little I got done. had to do the work thing all weekend so didn't get much time