New 14 minute "train ride" video

Wow!  That is totally awesome, Elliot.

Art

Unbelievable. I would hate to have to ballast all of that track. Did you have to clean the track 1st. before this run?

Elliot, are you going to detail the tunnel area? Wish you could post a detailed plan. Don

Elliot, You have a very nice layout. Thanks   Scot

Elliot,

 That was an amazing ride, your track plan and entire layout is fabulous. Thanks for posting.

Alex

Thanks Guys!

Spence - I ran the dry track cleaning car (Scotch Brite) around a couple times. It really helped. The backdrop sanding left a lot of dust, in spite of our best efforts to contain it. Ballasting is going to be a huge project. I have 300 lbs of roofing granules, but I figure I'll need another 700. That's a half ton.

Don - The insides of the two helixes will be left as is. They aren't really tunnels. The outsides will have backdrop wrapped around them with a vertical viewing slot, so you can see the trains going around. I was working from a plan that I drew 15 years ago, but in that time there have been changes and additions. I need to sit down and draw an accurate updated plan.

This is the main level plan.



Scot - Some people here are inspired by what I have done, but I am inspired by what you accomplish given your health challenges. Your story hits home for me, as I've been a diabetic for more than 20 years. I'll keep workin', you keep workin'.

That's a big time railroad. 

I may have mussed it......what is the reason for the decking the same level as the rail top in hidden trackage??? Help in case of derail?? Also looks like another level above....will that be the mileage running??

Nice work.

Thanks for the fun ride, Elliot. Figuring that 1000' is about half the finished potential, January's "Loop Train Ride" video with run 28 minutes.

Dave - The main function of those Luan strips is track spacing. I cut them so the tracks have 4" centers. The curves have a second function, as they serve as a bending jig. A second layer is applied to hold the track down. Cutting strips on the table saw is a simple process, and the material is cheap enough. I thought it would help to rerail the trains, but that's just not the case. In practice, the trains don't really derail much down there, and if they do, it's 90% operator error.

When complete, the layout will represent 60 miles of BNSF, CP and UP mainline from Red Wing, MN to Fridley, MN. The compression is about 10:1.

MAP

Thanks sir.......I'll keep watching!!!!!

Yeah dude, thats pretty cool

Very impressive. Nice broad curves, too. What's the diameter of that helix?

Wow!! I have been "lurking" and not commenting for some time, Elliot. That is a fantastic job!!

Let's see, 1000lbs of ballast, 100 gallons of glue, 250,000 trees, maybe 10,000 rock molds, untold gallons of paint... Sorry, my brain just seized up!

But seriously, outstanding workmanship and planning. I am looking forward to seeing more as you keep on working!

Regards, Bruce

Matt J. - The mainlines are 072 minimum with some 084, and a little 096 (all approximate because I use flex). The large helix, the one right at the beginning of the video, is 0120 outside 0112 inside. That translates to a grade of 2% and 2.5% respectively. The small helix is 096, about 3%.

Bruce - Fortunately, the material requirements aren't quite as grim as you've painted them. I already have many of the scenic materials, including trees and ground foam. I don't use molds for rocks.  I mix Durabond 90, and carve rocks when it is mostly set.

I may have to take stock in Elmer's though.

Elliot, your layout is beyond simple words.  Your video reflects just how much work you have put into planing and construction of this fabulous layout.  It looks like a lot of fun to run trains on.  Thank you so much for posting.  I will keep my eyes open for future updates.  Nice work.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Awesome layout!   Thanks very much for the train ride.   Look forward to more updates, meanwhile, I'll watch this again.  -Ken

Wow neat!

How much did that cost you? I have a friend that knows someone that has a much BIGGER and BETTER layout...

( https://ogrforum.com/t...me-fun-with-this-one&nbsp   )

I'd love a bigger layout........not that big

I've enjoy all of your past updates, and look forward to seeing things progress. Impressive Elliot!

In my head:

 "Man, theres more track in Elliots helix than I've got in my whole **** layout"

WW

WOW! Great layout. Thanks for posting. I'll keep looking for updates.

Great video.  Love the helix.  Who's the guy in the yellow shirt?  

Larry

That's cool, and even better with the big curves....great job Elliot.

Elliot,

I have noticed that you have some postwar accessories on your shelves.  Do you plan on installing some of these on the layout?

I think Holy Crap! Sums it up nicely. LOL!  

Impressive!

Peter

Please keep posting Video's.  I can not add to the comments above.

I have never seen anything quite like this.  Great job.

Many thanks,

Billy C

I am absolutely speechless!  And, to think I may get to see this next week!!!!!!!!!!

Very impressive trip around the layout, Elliott. Lots and Lots of hard work to get to this point.

Very impressive Elliot. I think Marty's Holy Crap is the same think I was thinking.

Larry

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. As always it is my pleasure to share it with you. I guess it is time to tidy up a bit, company's coming.

The invitation is always open. Just let me know when you're coming to the Twin Cities.

Nick - No, I won't be using those accessories. They are part of the never ending pile of stuff that was used at enterTRAINment. I need to have a monster liquidation sale.

Oh my...I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto! 

Simply amazing!  Thanks for the ride!

WOW!!!!   Absolutely amazing!!! One of the most amazing layouts I have ever seen. Thank you, so much for posting the video.  Tom

Impressive amount of work done.  The question I have is how to landscape it with all the superstructure.  It seems the trains will be hidden a lot, or will be a shelf view under structure above.  Is that so?

.....

Dennis

That was one long ride!

Thanks Elliot.

Dennis - Both yards that are at the bottom of the two helixes will not have scenery. They are staging/storage. The helixes themselves will have no scenery, and will be covered with backdrop.

The three tracks on the far left will be hidden under a bluff.


The track against the wall will be hidden under a different bluff.


Finally, the track climbing up the wall will be behind the backdrop.


Everything else on the main two levels will be visible and have some form of scenery.

Incredible! My kind of layout! Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your progress!

Ricky

Mind boggling for sure.  Thanks for the ride.

.....

Dennis