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

Wow, now things are really progressing and hopefully, with the weather turning cooler, your probably going to have more time for working on the railroad. Maybe you might have a train running by Thanksgiving time. Beautiful train room, awesome layout in progress. Happy Railroading Everyone

Looking great, Peter!

Sorry I missed you at York. I did wait around the layout for a bit, but you were off elsewhere. Maybe next time.

Chris

LVHR

The layout will need a lot of custom-cut sections. So, I have started to lay track, roadbed and wire feeders on the outer loop. This sets the clearances that the rest of the layout will play off.

The funny thing is that it doesn't look like I've done much since the last update.....but it's been another 8 hrs of work to get here!

You know how it goes Peter. Some of the most progressive parts of work sometimes look like almost nothing is done. They only really seem to show when the next set of step come into play and everything starts coming together. You'll get there before you know it.

Peter, laying track carefully is the key for reliably running trains for the rest of the life of the layout. I took my time with this step and I never regretted it. It’s a big boost to see the layout come alive, but it’s ok to work at your own pace. You’re the boss, if it doesn’t meet your standards, rip it out 👍🏻. What you’ve done so far looks great.

Andy

The track laying is coming along.......

I need to finish the sidings; cut the track for the Mianne Lift Gate (which I will only do with an experienced chaperone). Then it will be the Ross Transfer Table.....followed by wiring. Before ballasting, I will superelevate the curves.

I am very pleased with the design. I have lots of space for structure building, which I really enjoy.

The place where I will put the TW TrainWorx New Haven switch tower.....

You can see two sidings where I bring the track down to table top height......the Brennan's Oblong Box Company and the TW Tranworx' Rock Island freight house work better with the track lower (off roadbed).

The parallel tracks approximate the engine house on the other side of the transfer table.

You can imagine the transfer table's spot from this view.

I am very happy with my progress!

Have a great day, everyone.

Peter

IT does look like good progress, Peter!  That TW Trainworks tower will look great at the wye!!

Lookin' good Peter!

Cranking along, Peter!!!

Well done.

George

Fun Stuff Peter!  Wondering where the track at the end of the siding is going. Looks like a narrow ski slope... 

@Former Member posted:

Fun Stuff Peter!  Wondering where the track at the end of the siding is going. Looks like a narrow ski slope...

Small siding for an industry.....a 6x6 Korber building ....or , just a small team track.

Peter

Peter, are you using one of the pool devices to grab things(pool meaning the game, not what you jump in when it's hot) or is that some crazy garden tool? Progress looks great. Now, when you get way, way, way down the road, are you going to have Gilly and company lend a hand with the scenery? I do know Gilly would ask if he could run some great N&W trains on the layout once completed.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Peter, are you using one of the pool devices to grab things(pool meaning the game, not what you jump in when it's hot) or is that some crazy garden tool? Progress looks great. Now, when you get way, way, way down the road, are you going to have Gilly and company lend a hand with the scenery? I do know Gilly would ask if he could run some great N&W trains on the layout once completed.

Dave......the areas where I need a step stool to get to, will have static sceney and buildings. If I discover that I need a hatch, I will do that later.

Gilly has already helped me tons. I rely on his expertise (and also of my modular group friends Kanawha and RickS) for their carpentry, electrical and trackwork skills. I suspect that I'll do most of my own scenery work......with the added fact that I will constantly consult them for advice and skills. For example, I'm getting close to the point where I need to cut the track on the lift gate....I won't do that by myself......

Peter

Looking good!!!

Everything is looking great Peter. You must be very excited.

Andy

Peter,

I believe we are going to see trains running very soon. Looks awesome.

After a month of almost continuous public displays......I asked some of the gang to join me in a work session on the new layout.

My goal was to cut track for the lift gate and plan the next step. This would be a minimal work and a maximal think and plan session.

My thanks to Tom, Ken, PeterM, Dexter and Jerry.

We got a lot done. The lift gate track is cut and we planned the wiring. The Ross Transfer Table is out and we planned for its installation. An improvement to the engine yard lead was discussed and planned.......The  next session will be to motorize the lift gate and actually install the transfer table.

Here are a few pics!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, folks!

Peter

Hey!  The lift-up fits!!  I see the meeting of the minds while the transfer table rests on the couch.  It all looks great, Peter and gang!!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Hey!  The lift-up fits!!  I see the meeting of the minds while the transfer table rests on the couch.  It all looks great, Peter and gang!!

Mark.......I figured today would be a lot of "brainstorming" for the Transfer Table.....now, we have a plan.

I'll shoot some close-ups on the lift gate span....Tom did a magnificent job cutting track. I asked him to do it because it needed to be perfect, and, it is!

Peter

One more from Peter’s thinking session today.

Fill in the caption contest.

My tag is: FROM TWO OF THE BEST MIND’S IN RICHMOND.

                      “I THINK IT IS WOOD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

(REMEMBER, be nice)

I don't know, what do you think it is?????....this stuff is boring. I'm gonna turn around and enjoy the view on the wall behind us.....👍👍

Think we should read the directions???

Peter, nice photos and good progress.  I sure wish I had more people near me that were into trains!

Good luck on the transfer table.

Wow! That amount of talent put together at once can only produce a wonderful result.

Looking great, that's going to be a really fun layout to run on!

@Putnam Division posted:

For example, I'm getting close to the point where I need to cut the track on the lift gate....I won't do that by myself......

Surprisingly Peter, that was very easy, and it came out great.  What I did was lay the track like the liftgate wasn't there, and then used my Dremel with the 90 degree attachment to cut at a slight angle so they just drop in.

The bigger issue is to make DOUBLE SURE the liftgate is perfectly leveled and mated with the adjacent benchwork, that took more work in my case. Time spent leveling everything is time well spent as I discovered.

I also strongly recommend my mod for the lower limit switch, you'll thank me later.

Mianne Lift Bridge Lower Limit Switch Enhancement

@Mike g., Mike, I’m like you, we need more folks in our areas that share our interest in model trains, so many of my friends have passed away. Yes, Peter, you’ve come a long way with your layout, and you have some great help, a lot to be thankful for in a big way. ( I can see the meeting of the minds helping you figure out how to install the wonderful lift gate, Wow )… It’s going to be nice.
Keep the pictures coming, we learn from your ideas. It’s going to be a fun to run railroad. Merry Christmas.
Happy Railroading Everyone

One of the things the group decided at our "meeting/workday" last week was to extend the lead-in to the Transfer Table.......I re-arranged about 5" of track.

Next step is to paint the Transfer Table an "aged concrete" color.

Have a great New Year's weekend folks!

Peter

@Apples55 posted:

Think we should read the directions???

They went in the trash with the packing peanuts.  Isn't that always the first step in unpacking?

@Putnam Division posted:

Mark.......I figured today would be a lot of "brainstorming" for the Transfer Table.....now, we have a plan.

I'll shoot some close-ups on the lift gate span....Tom did a magnificent job cutting track. I asked him to do it because it needed to be perfect, and, it is!

Peter

@Putnam Division and/or @Gilly@N&W, how does he cut track that it's "magnificent" and "perfect."  I'm serious, of course.  What tool(s) does he use and what does he do from start to finish.

And I'mserious because with our club's traveling layout, we need to replace a fair amount of Gargraves and Ross track that's been damaged.  And we need to do it soon since our next show is the Greenberg show at Hampton (VA) Coliseum, 2/4 and 2/5/2023.

So please; how do you do it?

@Putnam Division posted:

Lots of progress with infrastructure......

I took advantage of the Spring-like weather this past weekend to get all the RossBed spray painted.....

In addition, Tom (Gilly@N&W) came over today to put up my shelving.....hopefully, one more day and we'll be done!

Progress is being made!

Peter

Thought I'd pull up Peter's post from 1 year ago (12/28/21). You've accomplished a lot in the past year Peter.

Trains should be running soon.

Happy New Year!

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Thought I'd pull up Peter's post from 1 year ago (12/28/21). You've accomplished a lot in the past year Peter.

Trains should be running soon.

Happy New Year!

Bob

Thank you, Bob.......it has been a big year. It doesn't look like much as you go through it.....but, when you see the pictues......Wow! That's a lot accomplished (with all the other stuff I'm doing!).

I am privileged to be blessed with many talented friends.

Thanks to all you you for your encouragement and support.

Peter

@Pingman posted:

@Putnam Division and/or @Gilly@N&W, how does he cut track that it's "magnificent" and "perfect."  I'm serious, of course.  What tool(s) does he use and what does he do from start to finish.

And I'mserious because with our club's traveling layout, we need to replace a fair amount of Gargraves and Ross track that's been damaged.  And we need to do it soon since our next show is the Greenberg show at Hampton (VA) Coliseum, 2/4 and 2/5/2023.

So please; how do you do it?

Here is the machine Tom used, my Ryobi 7" saw.

I trust Tom's skill and judgement much more than mine. I made 90% of the cuts for the layout. But, I did some "do overs"......

No option for "do overs" here.......

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Here is the machine Tom used, my Ryobi 7" saw.

Peter

Peter;

Your reply begs the question - what type of blade did you use in the saw??? I once tried cutting some track with my standard chop saw carbide blade to less than satisfactory results

Thanks for the explanation and photos, Peter.

@coach joe posted:

They went in the trash with the packing peanuts.  Isn't that always the first step in unpacking?

@Apples55 posted:

Peter;

Your reply begs the question - what type of blade did you use in the saw??? I once tried cutting some track with my standard chop saw carbide blade to less than satisfactory results

This is it....got a pack of 6 from Amazon on Tom's advisement.

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

This is it....got a pack of 6 from Amazon on Tom's advisement.

Peter

Well, that explains why you trust Tom and why my using a regular blade was such a mistake!!! That blade looks like it makes a nice clean, smooth cut. Thanks for the detail.

@Apples55 posted:

Well, that explains why you trust Tom and why my using a regular blade was such a mistake!!! That blade looks like it makes a nice clean, smooth cut. Thanks for the detail.

The right tool for the job......

I have a variety of blades for my circular saw and miter saw on hand.

A cutoff wheel in my Dremel does a good job for an occasional cut too.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

The right tool for the job......

I have a variety of blades for my circular saw and miter saw on hand.

A cutoff wheel in my Dremel does a good job for an occasional cut too.

Bob

I also have a hard wired and rechargeable Dremel, but I’ve never been able to get a good straight 90 degree cut, especially across all three rails Have to look into a 10” cutoff wheel.

Peter congratulations on all of the progress this year. You have made tremendous progress and are doing it in a quality manner that will certainly pay dividends in the future.

We look forward to seeing trains running in 2023.