@gunrunnerjohn posted:For the curious, this is the process of bending the fascia on the tight bends. I soaked the end of this in hot water for around five minutes, then it folded right around the point. I'll leave it to dry, and I'm going to have a fan blowing on it to hurry the process. Then I'll remove the formed piece and glue and clamp it in place permanently.
Awesome John! Did you use door skin for this material?
Joe Gozzo
@Ron_S posted:John, I have never been able to unpack all of the trains, there always seems to be just ONE more closet or nook with boxes, so your lucky if your room and shelves will handle your collection and let you peruse them with a cup of coffee and a remote in hand.
I harbor no illusions that everything will be on the shelves, only that I'll be able to get a lot of stuff out. 
Of course, I'll have some of it parked in the new freight yard!
John, Your new yard extension has me sketching simple plans, I don't even know what my future train room dimensions will be yet and I know a large, maybe 2 yards are happening in the next iteration of my playroom. That and keeping possible expansion without major demolition are my priorities.
I'm just about out of room for "major expansion".
@Trainlover160 posted:Awesome John! Did you use door skin for this material?
Joe Gozzo
Door skin? What's that?
it's 1/8" plywood and the first layer is 3/8 Lauan plywood. Both are very flexible and will bend around a tight curve, especially with a little water in the mix. Tom calls it "wiggle wood".
John, Not even a little bit
Well, you never know... 
John, You still have a lot of room left! The entire other side of the yard room then under the landing, behind the mechanical units and into the back work room 180 degree turn and through the door then across your electronic repair area then reconnect to the main RR by the industrial chimney.
Trust me, I have lots of future plans for you!
@Tom Tee posted:Trust me, I have lots of future plans for you!
Yep, plans. Don't count on all of them turning into reality! 
It sounds like Tom is running this project now John! Repeat after me, “Yes Tom, whatever you say. Yes Tom, whatever you say.” 😆😆
@Mark Boyce posted:It sounds like Tom is running this project now John! Repeat after me, “Yes Tom, whatever you say. Yes Tom, whatever you say.” 😆😆
You bet, I'm not an idiot! When the expert speaks, I listen.
He told me to buy spring clamps, so I did. I even have leftovers! 
Good think they were on sale at Lowe's when I needed them.
Here's the whole addition.
John, I really like the bottom photo. It shows our work quite well. Love the way it is turning out. Thanks for having me join you on this journey.
John is there space between the main layout and the wall? it appears that way or isit an illusion created by the bridge from main to yard?
@coach joe posted:John is there space between the main layout and the wall? it appears that way or isit an illusion created by the bridge from main to yard?
No illusion, that's why I need a lift-out bridge. That aisle is access to the window, dehumidifier, and my sump pump.
To paraphrase another saying, "The layout expands ro fill the available space." And then some.
Jan
Well, I'm trying to keep "some" space for other things. My wife slipped a "fridge" in my train room, but I can keep it stocked with beer, soda, and water for guests, so it's not all bad.
The main benchwork being done, I got to looking at my proposed yard track spacing of 3.5". OOPS! The last track hangs over the edge over half an inch at the end! That will never do! I cut my spacing blocks down 1/10" to make the track spacing 3.4" and tried again. Now the tracks all fit on the bench, and the spacing between the two locomotives in adjacent tracks is 3/4", looks good enough for me! 
@gunrunnerjohn posted:The main benchwork being done, I got to looking at my proposed yard track spacing of 3.5". OOPS! The last track hangs over the edge over half an inch at the end! That will never do! I cut my spacing blocks down 1/10" to make the track spacing 3.4" and tried again. Now the tracks all fit on the bench, and the spacing between the two locomotives in adjacent tracks is 3/4", looks good enough for me!
We found that two bay window cabooses had the most overhang. Might be worth testing out. Looks great!
Ingenious way to keep them all spaced appropriately!
-Greg
Track spacing is simple enough on straight track but less so on curves. In John ArmStrong's TRACK PLANNING FOR REALISTIC OPERATION, he proposes that every layout builder create a table of standards for their layout and he give the formula or framework for each measurement--like distance between tracks under different circumstances. Creating that table was a valuable exercise for me. And it saved me from many mistakes. Worth your time.
Don
This was just a trial fit,I was curious if my 3.5" spacing was going to fit in the real world. Good thing I tried it, no go!
When I do it for real, I'll space them all out, put a couple of screws in them and then move up the table for the next set. The first three sections of track will be perfectly straight, when you get to the right hand side here, those will have some bends to mate up with all the switches.
@Don Merz 070317 posted:Track spacing is simple enough on straight track but less so on curves. In John ArmStrong's TRACK PLANNING FOR REALISTIC OPERATION, he proposes that every layout builder create a table of standards for their layout and he give the formula or framework for each measurement--like distance between tracks under different circumstances. Creating that table was a valuable exercise for me. And it saved me from many mistakes. Worth your time.
Curves here in the freight yard will be less critical than on operating tracks. Most of the curved sections will not be operated at the same time. Also, the intent of the yard is mostly freight cars. I won't try to park anything that doesn't fit in here.
As far as creating a table of standards, I think that ship has sailed for me, the track laying is done for the main platform. Whatever mistakes I mad (I'm sure there's one or two), I'll have to either live with or fix. One of the reasons for not rushing things like ballast is to get enough running to see if there are things that have to change before chiseling stuff in stone.
Miss by a hair breadth or a mile, it only matters that it works John
@SuperChief posted:We found that two bay window cabooses had the most overhang. Might be worth testing out. Looks great!
I just won't park them side by side. I certainly want the ten tracks, so the exercise was really just seeing what spacing would work to fit them all on the table.
Or you could leave the tracks at 3.5" spacing and make a stream washout scene over the fascia edge under that track at the front corner. You can still park a car there without a problem. Put a few orange cones there and a PennDOT guy leaning on his shovel. You're all set! 
Are you using a snapped chalk line or the wall for the base line?
We could easily add a tapered filler on the side of the fascia at the end of the yard.
I think Tom might be on the right track (no pun intended).
The spacing between the wall and the first track might not need to be as great as the spacing between all the other tracks; especially if you use it to stage only your narrowest freight cars.
The extra space saved there could then be used to expand the spacing between all the other sidings.
@Tom Tee posted:Are you using a snapped chalk line or the wall for the base line?
We could easily add a tapered filler on the side of the fascia at the end of the yard.
Tom, this isn't the "final" fit, only a trial run to see if everything fit. It served it's purpose, I found out that the very tail end of the benchwork is a bit too narrow for the 3.5" spacing. I just put 1" blocks to push the track off the wall that far, when it's time to actually fasten down the track, I'll indeed do a chalk-line to make the starting line consistent.
No need for the filler, the 3.4" spacing still leaves plenty of space for any normal cars or locomotives, so I'll just go with that. Those tracks look so small there, hard to believe they're three feet long.
Note that all the clamps are gone, we have finished benchwork!
@Richie C. posted:I think Tom might be on the right track (no pun intended).
The spacing between the wall and the first track might not need to be as great as the spacing between all the other tracks; especially if you use it to stage only your narrowest freight cars.
The extra space saved there could then be used to expand the spacing between all the other sidings.
I couldn't cut the wall to first track spacing enough to make up the difference, I looked at that. I really do want a bit of extra room at the wall anyway.
Got it - that kick-out looks like it could be the perfect place for a yard tower.
@Richie C. posted:Got it - that kick-out looks like it could be the perfect place for a yard tower.
We'll think of a use for the extra space, that's for sure.
JOHN - Planning ahead is the way to make perfect use of that area.. Great use of your excess basement space. I hope you saved a little for storage.
Keep us posted on your progress.
Jim, the good thing about the freight yard is it will be storage under it, that's part of the attraction.
I'll also be putting display shelves on the 18 foot wall opposite the freight yard, that will give me around 250 feet of shelves. The display shelves over the freight yard will give me another 72 feet of shelves. That should allow me to get a bunch of stuff out and on display.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:
I would watch that light switch at the end John. A wayward sleeve or shirt cuff could catch a car on the outer track and send the string of cars to the floor. Loving the creative juices flowing on this thread.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:I would watch that light switch at the end John. A wayward sleeve or shirt cuff could catch a car on the outer track and send the string of cars to the floor. Loving the creative juices flowing on this thread.
Good point, but that switch gets used about once a month. However, it's a valid warning. 
Sharp eye Bob. That could cause a string line collapse of the whole siding. A Piece of acrylic can be used to guard cars. I use a band of it next to my engine tracks. Lowe's will cut handy sizes.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Good point, but that switch gets used about once a month.
An engine shed would work too
I'm an electrician so I always look at stuff like that.
I actually have a bunch of Lexan that I could break out to make guards if that's deemed appropriate.
Cut the fascia for the bridge section, but I think I have to wait until I come back from vacation for much more progress, soon!
Hinges, locating pins, and support structure added to my freight yard access bridge. After the adhesive dries, I will add the front fascia, fill all the screw heads, etc. and paint it. I'll finally be ready to start laying track on the yard for real!
Yes, my consulting carpenter was on the scene, who knows what I would have ended up with if that was not the case! 
John, I forgot to mention...while you were upstairs I measured for the new engine servicing facility on the other side of the room.
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