Thank you all for your support on my grand project!!! It is the next best thing to having visitors. As always there is a standing invitation to all forum members. All you have to do is drop me an email and let me know when you'll be in town.
I suspect that my post, with all of its photos and videos, was the largest in forum history. I spent about 8 hours at dialysis gathering everything into a folder, writing the opening text and grabbing the permalink URL's, in prep. Then it took another 5 hours last night to upload everything and write the captions. You may have noticed I had a number of different fonts and a couple different colors. That was not my intent, but the forum was resisting my attempts to go back to normal from the red headings. Probably wasted an hour there. Oh well.
So frequently on my monthly reports, you guys comment on how much I've accomplished. Most of the time, I just have to take your word for it, because when I'm doing it, it just feels normal, like nothing special. This review was different, a real wake up call. Now I get it, and it feels good.
The next big push is for scenery. I need to have some photo worthy scenes by April, and even more by Labor Day. I think that when the layout tour committee revisits me in April, they will be sufficiently impressed, and I'll be on. That doesn't mean I'm going to take my foot off the gas though. I may stomp it down harder through the summer. I'm open to suggestions as to which scenes to tackle first. They all need to be done. For variety, it was decided years ago, that each aisle would be a different season. Aisle 1 winter, 2 spring, 3 summer and 4 fall, Red Wing will also be fall, to add more color, and give a visual transition from aisle 4 back to 1. I see it all in my head, and I'm constantly mulling over materials and techniques, especially the winter scenes.
Mark - I hope you got to see the entire post, I edited it three times before it was done. I was worried about all those pictures. You were Johnny on the spot when I put up the first section.
Roman - Always great to see you, almost like clockwork. Sorry I was running a bit late. I was done at midnight Pacific not Central like normal.
Chad - Hope you got to see my shout out to you. I do so love that sign. It's perfect!
Matt - That's a great way of putting it. Of course I do edit what you see, but not because there's anything to hide, more that I don't want to bore you. Keeping it interesting, keeps you coming back. As for my health and the layout, they are more closely related than you might think. Working on the layout keeps me out of the refrigerator, gets me moving around a little, and improves my mental outlook. All good things.
Art - Thanks, I really had a good time doing it. The diligence of treating the layout like a job really pays off. It's still fun, even though it's work. Aren't those the best jobs in life?
Keep plugging away on yours. It's great to have you back. Say Hi to Jim.
Mallard - I know I've answered all those questions in the past, but there's no point to digging for them, I'll just do it again. The track plans for all 3 levels mainline only:
I couldn't find a good closeup of the track, let me explain what it is and why I do it. The material is Luan mahogany plywood. I cut the sheet into strips of specific widths, 4 different sizes depending on the situation. Two sizes for the bottom layer and two for the top. On curves, the first strip goes down on the inside of the curve, laid to a line drawn with my "vertical compass" that pole on the left, which has an arm, not shown. When screwed down, it forms a perfect bending jig. That is followed by the spacer strip, which results in perfect 4" spacing. Then cap strips of the correct widths go over the tie ends to lock the track down. No screws in the track itself.
Technically, that foil isn't tape, it's just kitchen foil, mounted with spray adhesive. Its purpose is to form a ground plane for TMCC, keeping the stacked tracks from interfering with each other.
Bob - Thanks. I think I'm in pretty good shape deadline wise. There will be lots to get excited about in 2018.
Mike - Thanks I have always enjoyed sharing my work with all of you. It was a lot of fun putting that together.
John - Thanks for all your help. I'm anxious to see what you build in your new train room.
Paul - I've enjoyed reading about your progress. I like your style.
Brian - Thanks. Looks like you have quite the space to fill yourself. I'm anxious to see it take shape.
Pete - Thanks. Stay tuned, it should be another good one.
Milwrd - 28 x 30 is no small space. The main reason I have the space that I do is, my ex wife and I bought a 2.5 acre lot and built our dream house. My part of that dream was to have the same sized space that I had at Mall of America.
Prrhorseshoecurve - Probably about 40% of the track was purchased for the mall layout 25 years ago, prices were a little better back then. At least 5 cases were picked up second hand from forum members. The rest was bought new from dealers, whoever had the best price. The last few from Trainworld. To have gone with Atlas, which I love, probably would have added between 30 - 50%. Yikes! I addressed your other question in my response to Mallard above. I only do that treatment in hidden spaces. I do have some intermodal yards that I plan on paving. I'll probably use 1/4" Masonite for that.
Nessmuck - Thanks, but I'm not sure that title is uniquely mine. There are a lot of great train people out there, many better than me. But I try.
Ray - The big hidden yard holds exactly 25 trains, five on each of five tracks. The small holds 7, one on each track. The yard under Dayton's bluff can hold three. The rest of the layout can probably do another 25, like 60 trains floating around. I don't find running trains particularly relaxing, like many here do. My layout isn't the kind where you can "set it and forget it". You have to pay attention to the throttle, and throw the switches, just to complete a loop. I think what you saw was the retaining wall on the upper deck. That's another leftover from enterTRAINment. That thing has been kicked around and beat up almost as badly as the roundhouse. I thought about tossing it, but people seem to like it. So I found a place where it would fit. It needs a little work, add some more rows to the top. You know what it's made of? GarGraves ties!
Doug - Thanks, I have no plan on quitting. A new one every month.
RTR12 - As I mentioned above, I got a good head start on this post while I was sitting for four hours at dialysis. I spent the better part of three of those sessions gathering stuff. I'm constantly having to dream up stuff to do to fill that time.
Ameentrainguy - That's quite the compliment for me to wrap my head around. If there was a model railroading hall of fame, John Allen would be in it. My modeling skills are not really on that level, and my style is much more simplistic. Your comparison raises an interesting question in my mind; if the technology of today were available back then, would he have partaken?
Thanks again to everyone for all the wonderful comments, questions and well wishes. I sorry it has taken so long to reply today, a bit of a rough ending at dialysis. Removing more than 10 pounds of fluid is pretty harsh. The big problems are cramping and dizziness from low blood pressure. Got home, had dinner and crashed for 3 hours. It's kind of the new normal.
IN EVERY WAY 
I wonder what that cost would be with Atlas O track!
Usually, I just chill and watch TV.
Clock's tickin'.
Don't feel so bad about your mishap at the club. I once smoked an engine when it split a switch. It wasn't on fire, but it was close! Smelled nasty for a long time. When I took the shell off, almost all the insulation was burned off every wire. That one was an important lesson. It was never repaired. Now, a similar engine may have a bad motor, so the burnt one will be a donor if that's the case. Bottom line, keep a fire extinguisher handy, and hope you never need it. My space is so big, I invested in four, and not just any ABC class, but specifically CO2. They're more expensive, but what they protect has greater value. My theory is, why add insult to injury? Who wants to clean up more of a mess from dry chemical?
