Old Fort Road Subdivision

Impressive progress Rick !   And it's so much larger in-person. 

Rick, We started at about the same time.  I first posted in January 2017 for ideas concerning a layout design.  You have done a lot considering you have a much larger room than I do.  Is that desk where you work from home?  If so it is handy to the trains!!    Is that a plan for a roundhouse under some of the tracks off the turntable?  I'm looking forward to seeing it in person someday.

Loved watching the progress Rick,

Thanks for taking the time to post them all

@Mark Boyce posted:

Rick, We started at about the same time.  I first posted in January 2017 for ideas concerning a layout design.  You have done a lot considering you have a much larger room than I do.  Is that desk where you work from home?  If so it is handy to the trains!!    Is that a plan for a roundhouse under some of the tracks off the turntable?  I'm looking forward to seeing it in person someday.

Mark yes the desk is where I work from and the template is a 6 stall Korbor round house that will have a big boy extension. You are always welcome anytime you are up to taking the ride just drop me a line and we can set something up. As far as the design I made a drawing of the table and then just started laying track until I found  something I like. Still making changes going to add another siding since plan a at the TT did not work now have an extra turnout I need to use somewhere somehow. Wanted to limit to two mainlines, last layout had four mainlines and it is to much to keep track off. When we meet in two weeks I will need to pick 10 or 12 sections of Gragraves Phantom Rail Flex Track. Running out of straight track 3 cases so far.

Thanks everyone for your comments greatly appreciated and will try to keep posting updates.

Looks like it's going to be a really nice railroad.

Rick, it’s very helpful to see the metamorphosis of your ongoing effort. Overall that is an impressive creation.
Did you install any sound deadening material?

Jay

Love to see layouts come together.

Looks good!

Jay: Yes I did  the entire layout is covered with homasote and the volume of all locomotives is turned down to 50% can hold a conversation while running two trains and that includes Post War Lionel.

Everybody Thank you for the comments.

I always run my engines at 50% sound or even down to 30%.  Of course my room is much smaller than Rick's so I don't need the sound very loud.

Very impressive. I'm jealous. It looks like one of those layouts that's big but not too big. Just make sure you pronounce "Old Fort" clearly.

@D500 posted:

Very impressive. I'm jealous. It looks like one of those layouts that's big but not too big. Just make sure you pronounce "Old Fort" clearly.

Now is pronounced “Old Fort” or “Old Fart”?

I think the "Old Fart" Railroad would be the name I would have to use.  That way, visitors would be fore warned of certain risks in visiting my layout.

Here in Austin, I would have to call it the Lactose Intolerant Railroad to be compliant with our "no hurt feelings" and politically correct code.

Have not posted on this string in a long tie so it is time to update the progress. A friend scratch built a girder plate(I think) bridge for the layout. After a long time we finally got it installed and he even stenciled the name of my pike on it. Almost got all the wiring done just need to finish the turntable/whisker tracks. He and I ran some trains tonight just to make sure we had no issues with the bridges or track work. Video file was too big will make a shorter one and update this string. We had 4 trains running on two main lines at the same time.

Congratulations Rick, that’s impressive progress. It’s great to have someone with insights and skills that complement your own. That’s called a great day on the railroad.

Jay

Jay Thank you I will pass that on to my buddy that made the bridge. The installation took a lot longer then we thought as we needed to pick up an addition 1/4 inch of vertical clearance so we had to pull up a lot more track to create a gentlemgrad up to the new height.

Rick, the bridge and track look great!!

This is my first time seeing this post Rick. Amazing work! Thanks for sharing!

Mark and Rich Thank You for the compliments greatly appreciated. Still got some wiring to finish up on the whisker tracks and can then start construction of the roundhouse 6 stalls with 3 extensions.

That sounds great, Rick!

Rick love the new bridge and progress that is being made. Roundhouse construction… that will be a fun challenge to tackle. Please keep us up to date as you move ahead.

Very cool, Rick!

Most impressive!

Peter

I saw the title and was thinking the loops at Old Fort, NC, an amazing piece of track!

Been along time since I updated this post so I thought I would add a video of where my progress is to date.

Rick,

This looks like a bunch of fun and it was nice to see your progress after what looks to be a couple of years. The turntable and whiskers WOW! I like the nostalgic town scene as well. This layout is already telling a story. Along with the visual of your progress and the country music, I would be in the mood to do some work. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Dave and all who liked Thank You. The country music is almost always playing in my basement. The nostalgia look Plasticville mostly belonged to my parents and I had to incorporate it some way even picked up more which I will give the Warrensville touch to. The Isley and Pittsburgh Brewing and other Western PA stuff is because I am a “Yinzer” and wanted those childhood memories also. The turn table I am no longer picking up locomotives moving between shelves and layout. I will try and do a better job posting updates. Mark progress get me motivated to make progress on mine along with finally retiring.

Rick, thank you for posting the layout video.  It is really looking great.  I agree the turntable area looks great with all you engines.  I agree it is great to include childhood memories on a layout.  Yes, we Yinzers have our own special memories!!  I hope to see more of your layout features in the future.

Mark Thank you and now that I am retired I hope to make progress with the layout. In the process of setting up a second shop/work space for doing kit work ( Kober  Roundhouse and Sanding House) along with a bunch of other kits for my WWII Military Train and Ameri-Town Building Fronts.

I’m glad you are now retired, Rick.  It sounds like you have some great projects to work on.  The Korber roundhouse and sanding house are very nice structures.  Military trains are so interesting.  I have only bought two Menards flatcars with Jeeps since the Jeep was first designed and built here in Butler.

Mark: I have been collecting WWII 1/48 Scale Military model kits for almost ten years with no time to build them.Now I will.  I purchase a case of the Menards flat cars with jeeps and several each of all the MTH flat cars with WWII Loads and just got a case of Menards Flat cars as I dont think I will have enough flats. I am looking to build a train 15-20 cars. I like long trains. Yes us Yinzers need to stick together.

That will be an impressive train, Rick!

@RJT posted:

Mark Thank you and now that I am retired I hope to make progress with the layout. In the process of setting up a second shop/work space for doing kit work ( Kober  Roundhouse and Sanding House) along with a bunch of other kits for my WWII Military Train and Ameri-Town Building Fronts.

Congratulations on your retirement Rick; may you collect long and often. In the near future you will be amazed at how you ever found time to go to work. I know at this point I would have a lousy attendance record.

Jay

Just came upon this one Rick!  Wow, now you r retired and really working.  The layout looks great!  Must be nice to have so much space and now you have the time too.  Congrats on a great layout.  I have been going the other direction, my carpet central is picked up and in boxes now, not sure what I will do next.   At 78 I just can't get up and down so much to work on the floor.  I did not even have a train under the Xmas tree this year.   Keep on motoring on and best of luck, sure looks terrific so far.

@pennsydave posted:

Just came upon this one Rick!  Wow, now you r retired and really working.  The layout looks great!  Must be nice to have so much space and now you have the time too.  Congrats on a great layout.  I have been going the other direction, my carpet central is picked up and in boxes now, not sure what I will do next.   At 78 I just can't get up and down so much to work on the floor.  I did not even have a train under the Xmas tree this year.   Keep on motoring on and best of luck, sure looks terrific so far.

Dave: You are still young I am 72 hang in there. You can always bring anything you want to run over here at anytime and we can ran your trains, you still use the App correct? I have my WiFi unit set up just not using it but you can or you can use a spare remote I have that belongs to Frank he leaves it here so he can run his trains when he brings them over.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Congratulations on your retirement Rick; may you collect long and often. In the near future you will be amazed at how you ever found time to go to work. I know at this point I would have a lousy attendance record.

Jay

Jay thank you and already wondering when I had time for work and the last ten years I worked from home 4 days a week. If it was not for wifes doctors appointment or vet appointment (16 year old dog not as young as she was at one time) not sure I would even remeber or care what day of the week it is. Need to look at my pnone or watch to tell me!!

Just catching up with this thread.  Very nice work and terrific progress, Rick!

I may have missed it but what are the dimensions of the layout? Are you using command control or running conventional?

Thank you for sharing!

@Traindiesel posted:

Just catching up with this thread.  Very nice work and terrific progress, Rick!

I may have missed it but what are the dimensions of the layout? Are you using command control or running conventional?

Thank you for sharing!

Thank you. Roughly 15 x 45 and I use DCS and conventional for my Post War when I run them.