Makes all the difference in the world, Mark: looks great!
Mark
Nice purchase. What clearance do you currently have? I think mine is 5.5"; maybe less. I don't plan to run double stacks or any other modern rolling stock.
Thank you Pallalin and Keith!
Mine is only 4 5/8" from the top of the rail to the roof of the tunnel. I can gain another 1/2" putting it at 5 1/8" if I take out the Homasote. I'm not going to run any modern rolling stock either, but I think I would like a little more clearance!
Backdrop looks great Mark! Keep up the great work!
The backdrop looks great, mark. Enjoy the new engine. It's because of surprises like that,That it's better not to cut your clearances too close.
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you Pallalin and Keith!
Mine is only 4 5/8" from the top of the rail to the roof of the tunnel. I can gain another 1/2" putting it at 5 1/8" if I take out the Homasote. I'm not going to run any modern rolling stock either, but I think I would like a little more clearance!
Mark
I have a passing siding that runs under an overhead mainline. It will only have 4 1/2" clearance. I just bought an MTH 44 tonner that should clear.
Mark, I've been following your methodical progress. The backdrop came together nicely. It really sets the mood and tone for your pike. You are working through the elevation and grade details.
You brought home a whole lot of fudge-factor here 
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@Mark Boyce posted:Andy, Thank you!! It would be nice to buy all new top of the line wood products, but then I wouldn't have the cash to buy the rest of the track I need! It will all be covered with scenery, so as long as it is structurally sound, it doesn't matter if it is a mix match. I am rather OCD, but after 35 years married and raising 2 daughters, all far messier than me, I can live with the mix match!
Your layout is coming along nicely, and I like your backdrop (being the native of the Alleghenies that I am). And I absolutely agree about the structural supports and roadbed that will eventually be hidden by scenery: as long as they are well-engineered, solid, and built to last, does it really matter what they look like?
Love that new steamer Mark. The backdrops really change the look of the room. Good to find any hidden clearance issues now.
Bob
Thank you, Pat, Keith, Lew, Bruce, Bob!
Yes the backdrop does add a lot! I purchased it from OGR Forum member George 'G3750' who is building his PRR Panhandle Division 2.0. George had this backdrop painted by an artist for his 1.0 version. In conversing with him, I determined it would just about cover my space. I have a 40-inch section of brick wall between the big window that was the back window of the house before this addition was built and the door. I have a big sheet of hardboard primed white and will get my artist daughter to help me pick colors. I will work on that one myself. Since it will be separated from the rest of the backdrop by 48 inches whatever difference in style and texture shouldn't be noticeable. This photograph from 3 years ago shows the section of wall between the window and door I will still need to cover. Yes this project has been going on for over 3 years.
Keith, I agree the 44-Tonner should be fine on the passing siding. None of my diesels are over 4 inches and they are all scale.
Lew, Yes I need a whole lot of fudge factor!! With no precision tools and with arthritis and tendonitis, I can measure a hundred times and still cut wrong. For precision cuts, I have reverted to the old hand saw and take it very slowly. I can't control the circular saw or saber saw like I once did. They are okay for rough cuts.
Bruce, There is one place I want to put another brace under, but everything else won't budge no matter how hard I put my weight on it. Fortunately, I am almost done with the scratch-built benchwork. I have Mianne like you see in the photograph with the cedar shims to use for the brick wall and other extension into the room to get to where the lift up bridges will be.
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@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Pat, Keith, Lew, Bruce, Bob!
I can't control the circular saw or saber saw like I once did. They are okay for rough cuts.
Me too. 
My youngest son cut most of the 1/4" ply sub-roadbed. 
I did the marking, as he didn't understand the layout. He's great to work with. Very patient; let's me lead, even though I kept saying Wait, No, Um, not sure, etc. 
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; the OGR Forum, that is!
When I last communicated, I was going to undercut the lower level track through my short tunnel before doing anything else. Well last Monday my wife was working on cleaning out a bunch of items we had saved for my recently deceased aunt, memorabilia from our girls' youth, and other items. She got herself into a corner with boxes everywhere, so I decided to finish disassembling the Blackwater Canyon Line Layout C I had started in the adjacent family room to give her a sorting/transition area. That however left me in a bind, with so much material, I was afraid the 11x11 room would burst. I took all week moving plywood, Homasote, hardboard, dimensional lumber, foam, etcetera, etcetera....
I decided I had better build as much of the Mianne benchwork against the brick wall as I had parts for, cover it with plywood, put in a plywood shelf, store material on the shelf, and get the rest of the hardboard backdrop in place before tackling the undercutting in the tunnel. Here are the results. I do need a few more Mianne parts (1 40-inch leg, several 24-inch I beams, and some hardware), but the bulk of it is ready. The section of Mianne with the shelf storing material is complete. The side that shows in the second photograph is incomplete, in need of the parts above, but gives a good idea of what space the layout will take.
Yesterday, I had the time to remove the Homasote from under the track in the tunnel, and now I have plenty of headroom; I hope.
There is also plenty of side clearance for my longest engines, the two H9s and cars, the Heavyweights.
Flash forward to today. I'm minding my own business, and MrMuffin sent me a 'Make an Offer' email. He has never had anything I wanted in those, but today he had one Legacy Western Maryland 2-6-6-2 from the 2018 C1 Big Book available. I made what I thought was a ridiculously low offer, and shortly received a counter at only $100 more than my offer. My wife said since I got money from my aunt's estate, why not buy it? So I did. I know, purists would say that isn't exactly the locomotive Western Maryland had. I don't care! I like it!
So now besides revisiting the side clearance once the 2-6-6-2 arrives, I need to make a variation on the SCARM plan D. I was going to stick with H9s as the largest locomotive thinking I wouldn't buy anything larger. There are three 042 curves that need widened to 054. There is actually room to do this as I lay some 054 track on the layout. I have a bunch of lightly used Ross 064 track that I think I got when I bought the Ross 054 used. I never noticed that half of what I thought was 054 was actually 064. Maybe whoever I bought it from didn't notice it either. So I have a bunch of 042 and 064 I won't need, but need more 054. I think I got it right. It's a good thing the telecom company I last worked for pushed the early retirement my way. I get so mixed up anymore. 
On the other hand, it is all good! It makes me work my mind more. Yea! That's it! 
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Mark
Congrats on the new loco purchase. After 3 years or so of no new motive power, I bought 2 in the last month and another on the way; supposedly in June. I'm sure it will be a month or two late.
Mark,
I really like your backdrops. I only remember seeing just one section and didn't realize you had more. They look wonderful together. Now you have the task of matching them with great scenery which I'm sure you will do. Keep the progress coming.
Dave
Keith, Thank you and congratulations on your recent purchases!
Dave, Thank you!! I put some of the backdrop up last weekend, and the rest yesterday, As the one photograph shows, I need to fill in some painting that wasn't needed on the original owner's layout. I also have a 24-inch wide section on the other side of the room to do. I'll get my artist daughter to help me select colors and brushes, then I'll have a go at filling in what is needed. It won't be much since I will have hills and buildings in front of those two sections. Then you are right, I will need to match things up with the three dimensional scenery. Those things will be fun for me. I don't really like the construction of the benchwork and alligning everything up for the roadbed. Scenery is much more free flowing.
I agree with Dave. I like the backdrops that you are using Mark.
Mark - how about a SCARM drawing so we can see what you are up to? You might find you can intersperse the 054 and 063 so you don't need to buy more track and get a more sweeping curve.
ScoutingDad, I was working on a SCARM drawing update before supper. I figured out to easily make the 042 curves into 054. I’ll Try to post The latest tomorrow. Thank you!!
Awesome news on the loco Mark! Sounds like you got a great game plan on the curve swap.
By chance are the 042 Gargraves? I may take them off your hands if you don’t need
Mark- Congrats on the new loco. Should be right at home pulling a coal drag. Nice to see more layout progress too.
Slow and steady wins the race!
Bob
