layout table for my Std. Gauge- construction very much underway!!

Sounds like it's going to be a nice piece of furniture when done. I like the idea of tile on the corners to give it that finished look.

Nice progress. Keep it coming.

When I laid down the track loop, the measurements were too tight on the length-EEK!!! Adding another four inches to the total tabletop length, two inches on each end piece. That way the track tie edge will be 3" to the wood edge on all four sides.

Finished tabletop size will now be 5'6" x 8'10".

Calling Ace and others, 

For now I have a simple loop with 42" curves and straights.  I'd like to add a second level this summer- on wood piers, using the 8- piece 42 curve circle I am going to incorporate in our upcoming wedding reception.

What other track additions and switches would work with my parameters? I'm not going to be adding any real large tinplate structures- (though 2 or 3 roundhouse sections are always in the fantasy tinplate layout version in my head).

The layout will have of course, some Barclay folks, a few tin litho structures that I already have.  A 1/24 car or two. Someday a 116 station and its 129b terrace, a villa or two and a bungalow may find there way to this layout at some point down the road.

Ideas of a more intricate track plan are very welcome. 

Oh, where this will be positioned in the house- a long 6.5 inch wide of track x 28' long will eventually be attached against the house wall. Running a 408E engine and a string (maybe 6) of 400 series passenger cars. One long side of this layout table will butt up to it.

How about switches at the top of one side and the bottom of the other. Not so they connect in a crossover, but are parallel dead end spurs, coming from alternate directions. A tInplate passenger/freight station between the two, and suddenly you are a "transcontinental railroad" even though the two ends of the line are inches apart.

Carey,

   If you have the space I would go just a might larger with the platform so I could add a 305 Hellgate Bridge along one side of your layout.  After purchasing one I got to tell ya, they are a fantastic addition to any Tin Plate layout, I do believe the 305 will accommodate STD Tin!

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Carey,

   If you have the space I would go just a might larger with the platform so I could add a 305 Hellgate Bridge along one side of your layout.  After purchasing one I got to tell ya, they are a fantastic addition to any Tin Plate layout, I do believe the 305 will accommodate STD Tin!

PCRR/Dave

 

 

How LONG are these big ol' puppies from edge of pier to edge of pier? I only have 4 -14" straights on each long side... I do dig the smaller #101 bridge with ramps too.

I do like the green Lionel 280 and the red Dorfan 413 also. I did recently buy a black AF trestle bridge with the little yellow shed on top.

A Hellgate bridge traditional #300 is a straight sections long.

99% sure it will fit on your board.

Carey,

    The HG 305 is a BIG Bridge, right now it is stored away and unfortunately there is no way to give you the exact measurements maybe somebody who has one on their layout can help with the exact measurement.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Carey,

    The HG 305 is a BIG Bridge, right now it is stored away and unfortunately there is no way to give you the exact measurements maybe somebody who has one on their layout can help with the exact measurement.

PCRR/Dave

for my little house, and not really big area in the front room where the layout will be in  - I think the 305 would be way be too big and too much of a good thing. Like the big power station would be.  

From this thread:

The "original" 300 Hellgate Bridge is 28-1/2" long overall, 10-3/4" wide, and 11-1/2" high. The clearances of the bridge opening are 5-7/8" wide and 7-1/2" high at the center point of the arch (7" above tubular track rail).

The re-issue 305 Hellgate bridge is 30" long overall, 12" wide, and 11-1/8" high. The clearances of the opening are 7" wide and 7-1/2" high at the arch center point - still 7" above the track rails.

Greg Nagy posted:

How about switches at the top of one side and the bottom of the other. Not so they connect in a crossover, but are parallel dead end spurs, coming from alternate directions. A tInplate passenger/freight station between the two, and suddenly you are a "transcontinental railroad" even though the two ends of the line are inches apart.

As Danny Kaye would say, "I like it!" Maybe make one side completed as a siding, the there a spur with a bumper.

I do want some sort of passenger shed, such as the Lionel 155, or the glass top one from Pride Lines.

It would be swell to get both a 129B terrace and a 116 station down the road for this layout.

This layout in particular, among the many members' layouts I have seen here are my inspiration. 

Mine would be running Std. Gauge trains, but many similar pieces of tinplate seen in this terrific layout could be also used on mine.

https://youtu.be/3q56yEuYZjM

the latest: found 4- 12"x12" black with heavy white veining marble pieces for the four table corners. Currently the short edge wood pieces are 4'x9", these will be replaced by 4'x11" pieces to add two more inches on each side at the track edge.

Carey, for a bridge, you might want to consider making one from Erector Set pieces. You can then make it any length and width you want.  I made mine as a 57" curved piece, but straight would be much simpler. It still has that wonderful tinplate look.

Steve

Carey:

A layout-built-as-fine-furniture is one of the techniques I'll be using on mine.  I think what you'll come out with will look sharp as all get-out and I look forward to seeing your progress.

I do, however, get the willies when I see track that close to the table edge.  Will you be putting up some sort of plexiglass guardrail?

Nice job.  Please keep us posted as you go.

Steven J. Serenska

Serenska posted:

Carey:

A layout-built-as-fine-furniture is one of the techniques I'll be using on mine.  I think what you'll come out with will look sharp as all get-out and I look forward to seeing your progress.

I do, however, get the willies when I see track that close to the table edge.  Will you be putting up some sort of plexiglass guardrail?

Nice job.  Please keep us posted as you go.

Steven J. Serenska

SJ.S, we have mentioned plexi...

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Carey, for a bridge, you might want to consider making one from Erector Set pieces. You can then make it any length and width you want.  I made mine as a 57" curved piece, but straight would be much simpler. It still has that wonderful tinplate look.

Steve

Papa, the idea of Erector Sets being used and featured intrigues me. I have just bought this little AF baby, so I'll have to see it in situ on the layout table first- and go forward from there.

Carey TeaRose posted:

Serenska posted:

Carey:

A layout-built-as-fine-furniture is one of the techniques I'll be using on mine.  I think what you'll come out with will look sharp as all get-out and I look forward to seeing your progress.

I do, however, get the willies when I see track that close to the table edge.  Will you be putting up some sort of plexiglass guardrail?

Nice job.  Please keep us posted as you go.

Steven J. Serenska

SJ.S, we have mentioned plexi...

Carey:

Here are some things that might surprise you:

1. There is no other mention of plexiglass in this post.
   
   
2. I normally don't read your posts.  This is the first one I've ever looked at.
   
   

I wondered why you chose to respond to my compliments with a tart little dust-off, but then I didn't.

"Baby, you've arrived."

Baby, I've departed.  Have fun.

SJS

OH dear SJS! you have sooo misconstrued what I said! 

 When I said "we have mentioned plexi..."- it was NOT directed at you.

The "we" I posted about meant Tom and myself-and the many discussions that are flying around here regarding the building of this very unique SG layout table. It was soley (sp?) and completely in reference to other conversations between myself and my woodworker/builder fiancé' Tom. 

Very sorry you took this the wrong way.

It was simply meant as a quick reply to let you and folks know that I saw what you replied and that we also have thought of this. Rather than not acknowledge your reply, I dashed back an answer to you. I had not much time to contribute as much as I'd like at the time last night/this morning too as I am under the gun last night and today on a deadline for two involved papers for the university classes I am taking. 

Adding plexi to layout is a heated topic here, for any and all of our layouts (this one makes five) - along with among the many other unique ideas I have come up with for this project! My fiancé' is a master woodworker and house builder, and he often has to find interesting and challenging ways to make my fanciful ideas that drift in my brain become wood-and-screws reality.

update: fluted castered black gloss painted legs are on, top is glued together, marble corner pieces cut to size.

Very unique and nice project.  We don't come across too many std gauge layouts here so there is bound to be much interest in your project on this forum.  For ideas you may want to check out pictures of Tom Snyder's std gauge layout, that now resides at the home of the NJ Highrailers in Patterson NJ.   That layout was professionally done and about the size of your layout.  Pictures can probably be found on the NJ Highrailers website.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

Very unique and nice project.  We don't come across too many std gauge layouts here so there is bound to be much interest in your project on this forum.  For ideas you may want to check out pictures of Tom Snyder's std gauge layout, that now resides at the home of the NJ Highrailers in Patterson NJ.   That layout was professionally done and about the size of your layout.  Pictures can probably be found on the NJ Highrailers website.

I've watched the TM Tom Snyder video, and now DVD for years! It has kept the little buzz deep in my brain about Std. Gauge tinplate all this time. This is the year to finally take the plunge into the cool, deep waters of Standard Gauge... so much I never knew about, or knew existed. Its such a fun learning curve

Update: table in situ, table top pieces glued together, marble pieces cut to size, castered legs painted and attached to the table, extra support bracing added around the table legs.