Nice work George! Every time I see that bridge I think about home. At this point are you able to run trains around the layout? I really have only seen the section of your layout with the bridge. Of course if this is your plan I understand and will wait patiently. However, it would be great to see a train through the bridge.
Dave
Hi Dave! Thanks for the comments.
Unfortunately, at this point track extends roughly only the 47' length of the back wall (the backdrop). The Staging Area is done as well, but I am nowhere close to driving the "golden spike". Here's what's done (circled in red). The only video of a train passing (partly) through the bridge can be found a few pages back in the thread.
At this point, I can only get a train partially through the bridge in either direction. I am constructing this layout in a very different way than Panhandle 1 (hopefully a lot better way, too). It's not a matter of building all the bench work, followed by all the track, and then finishing with all the scenery. There are areas between the track and the backdrop that must be completed first, before they become (relatively) inaccessible. We are getting those sections done - the bridge was the largest - but the area behind Steubenville remains. Once that is completed, I am hoping to make much faster progress on the rest of the layout. I expect that to be built in the more traditional way.
At present, I am waiting on those Albion Catalog houses (HO) to arrive before tackling the Steubenville area behind the station. And with the interlocking signal completed, I am focused on finishing the eastern approach and installing any last access holes under Weirton Steel.
George