New Layout 2021-24......Update, August 12, 2024

Great News ! It will be really cool to follow your progress!!

Have you ever thought about a layout ?

Congrats Peter. Looking forward to your build.

Bob

That's great Peter, I'll bet this will be a doozy!   Looking forward to the progress pictures.

WOW Peter, that's a wonderful wife! I hope she set aside some extra funds for all the new train items your going to need to fill such a big room! I cant wait to see the new layout build in progress!

@Putnam Division posted:

My current layout is about 10 years old....

It is 6x16' on 3 levels of Mianne Benchwork. The Top level is a 2x16' engine  facility.

You can expect regular updates.....I intend to finish this new layout!

Peter

“I intend to finish this new layout!” - I believe that phrase will be carved on all of our tombstones

I do have one question about your old upper level, Peter... does it connect to the main level or does it require the use of the flying five-fingered crane to move serviced engines onto the mainlines???

I am looking forward to seeing your progress.

if anyone deserves a bigger train room, it's certainly gotta be you.  Glad to hear it.

= walt

Looking forward to your updates Peter.

Breaking down your beautiful current layout has got to be heartbreaking but building a new one will be great fun.

What will happen in the old space? Will you be salvaging parts of the current layout? What did you learn and will do differently on the new layout?

Pete,

I am so pleased for you.   This is great news!!!   

Some unsolicited advice:

• Don't be in a hurry to "get trains running"
• Get it right the first time - do-overs are demoralizing

Best of luck.  I will watch this thread with great interest.

Again - congratulations on your retirement.  I hope this brings you much joy.

George

Awesome news Peter! Can't wait to see what you will create in your new space.

Dave

Peter, I have enjoyed watching trains run on your present layout, but am really looking forward to seeing what you build in the attic.  Now that you are retired, you should be able to move along at a very quick pace!  Oh!  I'm retired, and my layout progress is crawling along at about the same speed I was taking down Christmas lights and Nativity display this warm (35 degrees) afternoon. 

Just kidding, follow George's advice and don't get in a hurry!

Excellent, Peter! Nice size room you are getting. I'm jealous! I second (or is it third) George's advice. And be certain to leave room for visitors!

Chris

LVHR

@Apples55 posted:

“I intend to finish this new layout!” - I believe that phrase will be carved on all of our tombstones

I do have one question about your old upper level, Peter... does it connect to the main level or does it require the use of the flying five-fingered crane to move serviced engines onto the mainlines???

I am looking forward to seeing your progress.

......the flying 5 fingered crane......it was great conceptually......if, I did it again, I would plan on better lighting underneath......I used battery-operated LEDS, and they weren’t enough.....

Peter

@Lionelski posted:

Looking forward to your updates Peter.

Breaking down your beautiful current layout has got to be heartbreaking but building a new one will be great fun.

What will happen in the old space? Will you be salvaging parts of the current layout? What did you learn and will do differently on the new layout?

The old space will be basement living space.....and one wall will eventually be built-in shelves with a library ladder......I have a huge history book collection (separate from my collection of books on railroad history and model railroading).

The Mianne Benchwork will be reused and I will get with Tim for an expansion.

I believe that I will switch to all Ross track and switches. I am toying with a few plans.....

The big changes are that I will try to leave more room for viewing and have at least one O72 loop.

Peter

@G3750 posted:

Pete,

I am so pleased for you.   This is great news!!!   

Some unsolicited advice:

• Don't be in a hurry to "get trains running"
• Get it right the first time - do-overs are demoralizing

Best of luck.  I will watch this thread with great interest.

Again - congratulations on your retirement.  I hope this brings you much joy.

George

Agreed.......I’m not going to finalize a plan until I see the room......then I will make sure it doesn’t overpower the space......

I have no deadline for getting trains running since I will have the modular group layouts to run on......

I am re-reading Dennis Brennan's wonderful book from about 10 years ago. I am reading the new Jim Barrett book now. I will be reviewing certain OGR and TM videos, especially those that deal with urban cityscapes.

Congrats Peter, on both retirement and new layout space.  Good luck with obtaining your dream layout, whatever that may be.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Peter, I have enjoyed watching trains run on your present layout, but am really looking forward to seeing what you build in the attic.  Now that you are retired, you should be able to move along at a very quick pace!  Oh!  I'm retired, and my layout progress is crawling along at about the same speed I was taking down Christmas lights and Nativity display this warm (35 degrees) afternoon. 

Just kidding, follow George's advice and don't get in a hurry!

Mark.....I'm also going to have helpers from the Modular Group.....

Peter

Peter,

This is a tremendous opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

MELGAR

Let's look at the space.....the attic is approximately 30x40 at the 5' knee wall.

A stairwell cuts off a 6' cedar closet on the right end.

This leaves approximately a 30x30' space, plus the stairwell area. 10x20' is reserved for storage and the HVAC unit.

What have I been doing? We moved here 17 years ago......besides the train boxes, we have ben putting "stuff" up there ever since......plus, the stuff we brought over from the other house. My job this month is to move it out.

I rented a 10x20' storage unit to put everything in during construction. I have been moving train boxes down to the basement and am slowly packing trains...

The rest of the stuff: Legos, Rokenbok, American Girl Dolls, blocks, Beanie Babies, etc is being carted to storage along with multiple GoodWill trips.

I found some old friends

The storage area is 2 adjacent 10x10 units.....this is the kids stuff. The trains will be just next door.

This project has also showed me how "healthy" model railroading is as a hobby......since I retired, I am doing over 20K steps a day.......90% of them in the house, going up and down the stairs, carrying loads......

Once I clear it out, the contractor and I will go over the plans.....

Peter

Congratulations Peter.

This will be fun to watch.

J

With that much space you may be able to fit a nice version of the New York Central, New Haven, Amtrak and Norfolk & Western Railroads! Maybe Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac, too! Model railroads are great retirement projects.

MELGAR

@Putnam Division posted:

Mark.....I'm also going to have helpers from the Modular Group.....

Peter

With help from the Modular Group, you will be able to make great progress and bounce so many ideas off each other planning and while under construction!

What an attic!!!!!!  Tremendous!

Peter,

Congratulations on your retirement, after 41 years, well deserved.   Look forward to your new layout.  That’s the best fun, building the layout.

Craig

Oh what fun you will have! Can't wait to see your plan(s) and construction dailies. Congrats on your retirement.

Congrats, and much success and enjoyment with the layout.

Congratulations!!!.   Look forward to seeing you progress as you build the new layout.

its,"up up and away we goooooooooooooooooooooooo.retirement isn't what its cracked up to be,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's BETTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congratz

@terry hudon posted:

its,"up up and away we goooooooooooooooooooooooo.retirement isn't what its cracked up to be,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's BETTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congratz

Yes indeed!!  You tell him Terry!

Peter, Congratulations on your retirement and new space! Like everyone else, I look forward to the new layout.

Andy

Peter,

Congratulations on retiring and on the new train room.

I retired 6 years ago and keep so busy I don't know how I ever had time to work! 

Looking forward to what you'll be doing with that space - what an opportunity!

When I originally saw the pics of the space, I was concerned about temperature extremes.  Reading further, I see that you've lived there for 17 years, so I'm sure you'll have that covered as part of the construction. 

@Putnam Division posted:

......the flying 5 fingered crane......it was great conceptually......if, I did it again, I would plan on better lighting underneath......I used battery-operated LEDS, and they weren’t enough.....

Peter

But you do get to do it again! Have a great time.

What a space! How nice to have an attic with some height. I have to walk around hunched over in mine as it's not even 6' at the ridge.

Hi Peter,  Your space is enviable, soon I will start a similar but much smaller project. Here is something to consider before you insulate, as I recently got a smaller space ready ready for a permanent layout.

I rough wired multiple locations for 2 circuit tracs, running 14-3 type nmb  (romex). I treated each Trac as a home run (single 14-3 cable between each Trac and J box)  I ran the Home Run to a hidden but accesible junction box that also had a 15Amp 14 Gauge 120VAC power circuit.  Using multiple and amiable Trac heads with LED spot and floods I will be able to do many different lighting scenes. The many different scenes can then be programed into Lutron Caseta switches with unlimited possibilities such as simulated dusk using your cell phone to control the out of sight Caseta switches.

I also installed  2each  4" flexible ducting from high points on the ceiling  to a Panasonic 300 cfm remote fan exhausting to the outside.

Before I retired I had installed a lot of like equipment for my customers.

Anyway good luck you appear to have the talent and the space, I wish I had the same.

kevin

@Fast Mail posted:

Hi Peter,  Your space is enviable, soon I will start a similar but much smaller project. Here is something to consider before you insulate, as I recently got a smaller space ready ready for a permanent layout.

I rough wired multiple locations for 2 circuit tracs, running 14-3 type nmb  (romex). I treated each Trac as a home run (single 14-3 cable between each Trac and J box)  I ran the Home Run to a hidden but accesible junction box that also had a 15Amp 14 Gauge 120VAC power circuit.  Using multiple and amiable Trac heads with LED spot and floods I will be able to do many different lighting scenes. The many different scenes can then be programed into Lutron Caseta switches with unlimited possibilities such as simulated dusk using your cell phone to control the out of sight Caseta switches.

I also installed  2each  4" flexible ducting from high points on the ceiling  to a Panasonic 300 cfm remote fan exhausting to the outside.

Before I retired I had installed a lot of like equipment for my customers.

Anyway good luck you appear to have the talent and the space, I wish I had the same.

kevin

Thank you....

Peter

Take down continues.....I am still mostly clearing out the attic and packing trains up.

I curtailed my weight training temporarily......I am doing plenty of lifting......

I'm averaging 18-22K steps (up and down the stairs) daily.....no need for my 3 mile walks right now!

Peter

Peter,

Congratulations on your retirement and your new train room! It should be a winner!

Anymore photos of your subway station before demolition?

Peter, hope you and your bride enjoy many wonderful days of retirement.

I too have my trainroom upstairs.  I think the most exercise I've gotten in years is in carrying things up and down, especially the lumber when building out the tables.

All the best!

More progress.....I am leaving the main layout level together to run trains. The upper level engine yard is coming down and the lower subway is disconnected. The attic continues to be emptied so that room construction can begin in February.

Peter

You need a bugler playing TAPS for this operation Peter.