Looks pretty good, Mark. I see you are using foam risers. How do you like them? You usually see them for HO layouts. Are they adequate to support the weight of O scale trains?
George
Mark:
Your layout progress is really good!!!! I cannot wait to see the finished scenery. Bravo!!!!
Mark,
You have worked hard to get to this point and for me, this is where the fun starts. Looks like you got a new supervisor to make sure things are all cleaned up after work sessions.
Dave
Mark, I like it! 
Nice to see the wood finally getting covered up Mark. This is the fun part now, besides running trains of course. 
Bob
Mark things are looking good! You will have grass trees in no time! I am sure Bentley will help keep you on track! Keep us posted!
Very cool Mark. Been a long while since I got my eyes in here. Great work with the lift bridge solutions.
Thank you, George, Randy, Dave, Leandro, Bob, Mike, and Dave!!
George, The Woodland Scenics risers are plenty strong enough for the two Premier H9 Consolidations (my heaviest engines I think) plus several Atlas die cast hoppers (my heaviest cars I know). It was a bit of a challenge to get the vertical easements done for smooth transition to level with the table top. I used 4% grades, but tapering to 1% still didn't cut it, so I had to shave some foam off even after I had put roadbed down. That doesn't look so hot, but it will be covered up.
Everyone who mentioned the fun scenery, I agree. My favorite parts of the hobby are building scenery and running trains!
Mike, Bentley is warming up to us as a 5-year old rescue. There is still something he doesn't like about me using the drill. I'm glad I have drilled the bulk of the holes I will need. He is okay with the shop-vac, but always comes to check it out. He makes me sit down on the roll around stool and scratch his ears. He doesn't bark at the running trains like Annie did. He just looks up with interest. In short, he keeps me in line! If I get too near his stuff, he attacks my shoe. Good thing I am in the habit of wearing old but sturdy shoes in the house. 
My wife wonders if someone kicked him at one time. We will never know, but he certainly does show his appreciation to us.
Dave NYC, That lift-up bridge assembly is copied from Mike's installation with modifications to fit my benchwork. It was tricky for me to get all of it lined up right. I discovered yesterday that one of the power contacts on the upper bridge failed, until I pressed down with my hand, so I will have to rework them. Once I get that resolved, I should be good to go. Knock on wood!
@Mark Boyce posted:It was a bit of a challenge to get the vertical easements done for smooth transition to level with the table top. I used 4% grades, but tapering to 1% still didn't cut it, so I had to shave some foam off even after I had put roadbed down.
Mark
I'm experiencing the same thing. I have 4 transitions from rising to levelling out. 1 of 2 that I've tackled looks good, although I haven't run anything on the track. The other one had a hump. 
Rather than rip up the foam roadbed, I used lots of track screws and pulled the track down into the roadbed. I cut reliefs into the foam roadbed around the ties, to remove some of the stress on the track. 
The other 2 will also need tweaking. 
Keith,
What you did makes sense also. I hope you get this smooth fairly easily.
I used the Woodland Scenics because I wanted to reuse the wood from the bookcase. The only feasible way was to make a flat tabletop and them put in risers. I was going to cut blocks of 2x4s and place them at varying positions to support the roadbed as I had done on my upper level where the wye and engine house are. With just a hand circular saw, I had trouble getting them all square and the some height. I had to shim some of them. I thought it would be harder on the grades. In retrospect, I could have used that method on the grades, but would have still had trouble with the vertical easements. If I build another layout, I will go back to the plywood cookie-cutter method I use on every layout I built dating back to my early teens in the late '60s when I built a 4x8 figure 8 layout. The plywood bends to make nice easements.
Mark
Like you, I had plans to make risers in different heights, but decided the WS risers would be easier. I thought I had this nailed, but no. Here's where the hump occured.
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Keith, Yes I see what you mean! I remember you showing me before the layers you cut and fit together to get the transition. I did less layers then on the top of the grade I just started shaving off material until I got it to work out. On the bottom, I shimmed it. I'm ashamed to show a photograph, they are so messy. However, they are solid and smooth enough that the lowest pilot doesn't hit the rails anymore. 
@Mark Boyce posted:However, they are solid and smooth enough that the lowest pilot doesn't hit the rails anymore.
That's all that matters.
'I had been thinking of how I could add a siding or two ever since I had to remove the switch going to a siding to make room for the lift-up bridge project. Since I am so cramped for space, the switch was cut short just to fit on the layout between the access chasm and the curve. I started playing around with the SCARM plan and came up with this.
Please note that the tracks on the layout don't exactly line up with the footprint of the benchwork on the SCARM drawing. There is plenty of room for the tracks, I just need to add little triangles under the curves on the layout. Also, don't try to figure out what is going on in the upper right corner. When I added the wye and tracks to the enginehouse, I ended up with lower tracks above the upper tracks and in one place the upper and lower tracks looking interwoven. I know what it is, and that's good enough for me. Someday, I can look up how to fix it.
Last week I bought two Ross 042 LH switches, took a hiatus from scenery, and installed them this past weekend. First, I needed to upgrade the table top with some of the last of my 5/8" plywood. The switches are screwed down to the table, but the track is just sitting there for some roadbed to even things up to the two sides. I already wired it and ran an engine through the switches, and it did fine. Running at slow speed, I didn't notice any noise to speak of. I think I will jut lay it all on the wood, since I am almost out of Homasote.
Back on Plan C, we designed a spot for putting cars on and off the layout using cassettes with a couple tracks for cars. Here on Plan D, I don't know if I will make single track cassettes or just put cars on by hand. Probably the latter since there is no room for a second track. The cars could go on and off at the shorter right hand siding. I could then use a switcher or just push the cars over to the longer left hand siding for the road engine to pick up. Scenery wise, I think a rock cut would look better than a long retaining wall between the siding and the mainline track.
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I like it Mark. One can never have enough sidings and car storage space. Exactly why I'm adding the third siding on my layout.
It looks like it will give you lot's of switching opportunities. Cars that "arrive" on the right hand spur can be picked up and delivered to the yard under the engine house.
Bob
Mark, your track plan reminds me of Chicago's spaghetti junction - a place where several interstates and main roads come together. Its usually not too busy between 2am till 4am. This photo (I am guessing) looks from the 70s. Ramps have been re-configured since then. Top of the photo is westbound toward the suburbs,
To keep this in the spirit of railroading - the "L" Green Line runs between the in and out bound lanes of the "Ike" (top right) see blue platform cover. Heading inbound (toward the bottom of the photo) the "L" ducks under the road way and becomes a proper subway.
Amazing who owns rights to photos. Citation follows:
By Banalities from Shanghai, China - Chicago, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...x.php?curid=73976985
Thank you, Bob, Jeff!
Bob, I thought of your yard expansion project while working on this.
Jeff, I always knew there was a reason I never went to Chicago. This is the worst I have to deal with. 
https://pghroads.tumblr.com/po...bridge-lane-surprise
This is the bridge that crosses the Allegheny River between PNC Park and Heinz Field on the Northside. The outbound lanes are over top of the inbound lanes. If you want to go to the Airport, as soon as you get off the bridge in Dahntahn, you get on the Fort Pitt Bridge to cross the Monongahela River. On that one, inbound is on top and outbound is on the bottom. Watch out for the correct lane to go in the Fort Pitt Tunnel!
Mark... Getting it DONE! I love the blocks, shims and ingenuity!!!! If only I could be as neat as you are!
Mark, Chicago is actually a pretty great city. As much as we could, we would take the Metra (run over BNSF track) into the city and either walk or cab over to where we wanted to go. If you do a Google Earth of the junction, it is now a construction "nightmare" but no traffic since the lanes are closed. The construction has been ongoing for years. I cannot imagine having to drive that everyday. If you ever get out there, at least take a drive on LSD - really spectacular - not unlike the drive along the river heading into the tip of Manhattan along the river - but much longer and IMO much prettier. Look up the song.
Funny about the lane markings. In typical traffic there is no more than 3 or 4 feet between cars, regardless of speed and in rush hour which now is 2pm till 8pm traffic moves so slow you would have plenty of time to know which lane to get into if there were overhead signs. Anything on the road may as well be invisible - unless you can see through cars. Moving over is another matter. Driving a beater with rust and dents is best, most people realize they have more to lose than you for not letting you in.
Living in Champaign I do not miss the Chicago area traffic. I think I have driven that bridge in your photo, certainly got a ride up the Incline. Interesting city and area.
Mark
Pre-cut Homasote roadbed is making a come back. That could be an option for your new sidings.
Thank you Dennis, Jeff, and Keith!
Dennis, I think this part looks better than the rest because most of the rest of the layout is old wood.
Jeff, I was in Mattoon, Illinois twice about 10 years ago, my only times in your state. My company was purchased by Consolidated Communications which is headquartered in Mattoon. My supervisor said they went to Champaign for shopping and such. I drove in from the country to Pittsburgh for my first two years of college and have gotten around now and then ever since. It is a good thing I have a good sense of direction, it certainly isn't like a gridwork of streets like cities in flatter country.
Keith, Thank you. I saw that topic that CA John started. I got some HO samples from Homabed several decades ago, but never bought any. Central and Western Homaroad looks like a nice product, and the HO items are reasonably priced. I found a small piece of Homasote hidden under some foam and have some Midwest cork left over also. Still, this Central and Western looks great and is supposed to be available in O soon.
I decided not to wait on C&W for such a little bit of track. Finding enough Homasote scraps under a pile of Styrofoam, I pulled up my sidings I started putting in last weekend and put in the Homasote on top of the plywood base. I also added some cork roadbed to make up the difference in height to match the wood. That is tacked down with the glue drying. I'll post a photograph once that project is a little farther along.
@Mark Boyce posted:I decided not to wait on C&W for such a little bit of track. Finding enough Homasote scraps under a pile of Styrofoam, I pulled up my sidings I started putting in last weekend and put in the Homasote on top of the plywood base. I also added some cork roadbed to make up the difference in height to match the wood. That is tacked down with the glue drying. I'll post a photograph once that project is a little farther along.
Necessity is the mother of scrounging. I just made that up
@Oman posted:Necessity is the mother of scrounging. I just made that up
Excellent saying, Keith!! This layout is certainly a lesson in scrounging, that is for sure. I guess I would rather spend my money on trains, than layout materials!
Mark, looks like a great plan and as Bob said it will give you extra car storage! As for scrounging, I keep all my scraps never knowing if I will ever need them again! LOL
Thank you, Mike!! Yes, it is even more storage than before I had to take the switch out to make room for the lift up bridge to pivot.
The scrap pile has been diminished to a small amount other than the Styrofoam for scenery. But that is a good thing. I am almost done with the heavy construction, and I don't have a good storage space for much scrap either.
Ah, now that I read more, I gotcha. I tried reading this morning before starting work Mark, but I didn't have enough time. Sidings are always one of those things that you could use more of, and are usually a good thing too. Question for under, are you going to have storage(whether shelves with or without tracks) or is that area delegated for other such things that you haven't gotten to think about yet?
Dave, Thank you for giving it another try!!! I may have not worded things right, or left out an assumed detail.
Good question about underneath. I put in 4 shelves under the layout as you walk into the room, before the lift-up bridges let you in the center of the layout. I have engines sitting on that now.
I also have these shelves in the adjacent family room. There are a couple engines don’t run well, and the GG1 takes 072 curves which I didn't fit in the train room. The rest will run on the layout.
The area under where the lift-up bridges hinge has power, TIU, and power feeds on one side and the power for the lift-up bridges and future needs pluss space for 2 AIUs I have on order.
Yes, I plan to have shelves underneath, but I need to keep the space open for bigger items since I don't have a workshop. I have seen some guys make shelving that swings out on hinges to get underneath the layout to get to wiring and storing boxes, tools, etc. I was thinking of doing something like that.
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Love the shelves underneath. Great idea I may have to borrow.
Thank you, David! By all means borrow the idea. I borrowed it from someone else myself. I don’t know if it shows up well enough on the photograph, but make sure the shelves are recessed back enough from the table edge so you don’t drop something on the top row or bump an engine with your knee.
I should have said two engines in the family room don’t run well, not that they are broken. Someday I’ll dig into them to see what’s going on.
@Mark Boyce posted:Dave, Thank you for giving it another try!!! I may have not worded things right, or left out an assumed detail.
.
Yeah, I read real fast sometimes and skip about half of sentences. This is something we all do because our brains can intuit what some words are or will be without actually reading them. My problem was time, and I didn't have enough to fully focus on everything I was reading, thus I needed more time to focus on everything that was being said.
Also Mark, great steam on the shelves. Regardless if they are big or small, steam tickles me pink, lol. That little building in the first picture, what is that? It reminds me of the old chicken coops that we used to have on the farm, granted they were painted white, but just as faded.
Second picture, love the Western Maryland art on the wall. It just fits perfectly there. If you had bigger engines or something taller it would obstruct it. Art is something I need to get for myself one of these days. Problem is being such a big fan of steam, the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads, there is so much to choose from. I know that NYC has to have a Hudson, Dreyfuss or otherwise. For Pennsylvania, it could vary between the T-1, any number of K4's or some of the streamliners. Call me crazy.
I read things the same way, Dave. I did go back and change one phrase that I thought wasn't clear for anyone else who reads it.
Thank you. Only one of the engines was purchased new. That is the RailKing Pacific in front of the heavyweights. It is the only semi-scale I have except for a 2026, my older daughter found in a thrift store. The Pacific is the right proportion to the RailKing heavyweights.
The little building does remind me of a chicken coop. Someone sent me that as a throw-in when I bought some used cars or engines. I take it to be a rundown small yard office or a tool shed, but I don't know for sure.
I bought the print from the original artist at the Monroeville Greenberg show. The price for unframed was reasonable for me. He had framed ones, but I wasn't willing to spend the money at that time. I need a frame for it. I just have it there so it doesn't get damaged or lost in a pile of other stuff I have. I agree, there are tons of items available for the NYC and PRR. Both were in Western Pennsylvania. Maybe I go for the underdogs WM and B&O which were both here too.
Thank you for commenting!!!
B&O is the oldest railroad, and for sure one of the great stars of railroads. Can't think of the east without mentioning the B&O.
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:B&O is the oldest railroad, and for sure one of the great stars of railroads. Can't think of the east without mentioning the B&O.
Very true, Dave!! My comment didn't do the B&O justice, But when compared to the 'Standard Railroad of the World' that had one of about every engine imaginable, I thought the variety of models isn't there.
Yeah that's true, need more B&O.
The Blackwater Canyon Line has progressed to the point, I was able to run the coal drag I have envisioned for many years. Here is a video of 10 2-bay hoppers (the first 5 Atlas die cast, and the last 7 MTH Premier plastic) pulled by PS3 #734 and PS2 #830 and pushed by PS2 #844, followed up by a Premier caboose. I consider this a major success!!
I had three PS2 H9 Consolidations, but had the opportunity to purchase the #734 with little run time from a local TCA member. I sold one of my PS2 H9s to a forum member who we have traded with before. The #734 is a model of the #734 at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. It looks to be just a bit more shiny than the others or the one I sold. Also, the PFA announcements are passenger announcements from Cumberland and Frostburg as on the WMSR, where the others are typical freight announcements. I don't really use PFA other than to make sure it works.
One thing with the lashup no matter which order I select, the last engine starts out smoking as soon as I start up. I have to turn it off with the remote. I don't run smoke in the house. Another thing, I can only get sound out of the middle and last engine, even thought all three have the sound on. Still I think the train sounds great with sound from the front and rear. It is really effective when standing in the center of the layout, but I think the videos are more effective standing in the doorway.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed suggestions, questions, and encouragement since January 2017. I couldn't have done it without you!!!!!!
WOW Fantastic Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That had to put a huge smile on your face. Great Job!
Mark, My friend that is just OUTSTANDING! I love the sound and the speed was just perfect! I really need to get me a PS2 or PS3 steam engine. They are so cool, I know I dont model that era but it can still be a dinner train or something! LOL Once again what a wonderful layout Great work!
Mark,
I'm so very happy for you and the wonderful progress being made on your railroad. Your patience is an inspiration as I remember the very beginning of this thread. The coal drag runs beautifully and you have a lot to be proud of.
Dave
Very nice Mark. I envy your WM steam engines. I have the 821, which I believe you just sold.
Charlie
