My Experience Upgrading my layout to O54 with Gargraves and Ross track

Hi Art,

I enjoyed your video.  Seeing the layout diagram, might I suggest adding an left hand  054 switch at the point where the two  tracks come so close together on the new loop, You then can run straight through as you have it now and also reverse direction on the loop.  Think of all the switching and running scenarios this will add.

Earl

Part 2 of my Layout expansion - I rebuilt the front side of the layout, adding about a foot and put down the new track.  Of course I ran into issues with the switches

@Conductor Earl posted:

Hi Art,

I enjoyed your video.  Seeing the layout diagram, might I suggest adding an left hand  054 switch at the point where the two  tracks come so close together on the new loop, You then can run straight through as you have it now and also reverse direction on the loop.  Think of all the switching and running scenarios this will add.

Earl

Thanks for the feedback, I played around on Scarm for a while to see if I could get your idea to work but I wasn't able to.  Not sure if I mis-understood, but the way I changed the layout with the switch allowed for one direction change but I couldn't reverse back.  I am also trying to make that section where the two track come close together be a lift out so I can get into the corner closet so I'm concerned about putting switches on that section.

I included my scarm drawing if you have any ideas.

Episode 3 of my layout O54 expansion, I go through some of the issues I had to work through and show how I finished the main loop!

Layout update #4, I have finally started on the new section in this video and show how I plan on laying out the track using a mock up based on Lionel Fastrack.

Art, this is the first I have seen your thread and videos.  The videos are really nicely done.  Your layout expansion is nicely thought out.  I noticed the Christmas layout in the early videos and was going to ask about it, but you addressed that in the last on, using the materials for the expansion.  I'm with you, Who want's to spend more money on wood, when it can be used for track ad trains?? I'll be watching for the next update when you have time to get more done.

Update #5 - I have the track down and wired up!  Some buildings temporarily placed.  I would like if I could get some feedback on how to "prop" the lift section up, I haven't quite solved that one yet.

Art, very nice!  My lift ups are two bridges at different levels..  I used 12 VDC linear actuators to lift my bridges, one being double track, 40” long.

https://youtu.be/yZcN93XFEs0?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/oF9OIYUJSrA?feature=shared