Life & death of a layout. 2-15-11 to 6-18-23

Wow, I wish I could have made it down before you started demo. Hopefully I can find time when you get it done. Nice Layout.

Your small loop around the roundhouse, is that O-72?

It can be helpful to still have toggle switched power blocks for trouble shooting and storage of conventional powered units when running command control.

Ralph, Thanks. You are still welcome to come by and help with the layout.
Zett, The loop around the roundhouse is 82.
Tom Tee, I have been using DCS and TMCC since about 92 but since everything originally went back to the transformer location there is a lot of wasted wire. I do have toggle switches on the storage tracks that I plan to keep. It's good to store the command stuff off power as well.
Steve C.

Worked on extending into the next room today.

Well at least all those tools are getting put to good use.

.

....Great, its coming right along.

Steve, I live across the Delaware in New Hope,PA. Your layout looks great! Reconstruction is developing nicely. I still have a carpet central. I do need someone with experience to help me with the transition to an around the wall layout off the floor. I have some ideas thanks to this forum. Unfortunately, I am very inept with many of the wonderful skills illustrated here. Also my age has crept up on me. Plus that withdrawal creeps in when I can't run the trains. Would you mind if we can meet to talk? Or maybe I can call you via the ph# on your weathering site? Thanks,Fred.

Thanks Jeff.
Fred, I sent you an e-mail.
Steve C.

Extended 2nd part of the table into the other room last night. This will hold a 7' double track wood trestle and various industries for switching.





I also took 2 display cabinets that were mounted high on another wall and dropped them down to counter height. It will get a 22" x 96" counter and double as a work station.



Most importantly the 2 main lines got reconnected (temporarily) so the trains are running again!



Steve C.

Looking good Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair29:


I also took 2 display cabinets that were mounted high on another wall and dropped them down to counter height. It will get a 22" x 96" counter and double as a work station.





Steve C.

Are you going to take out the glass doors? It looks dangerous and uncomfortable for anyone to be sitting there with knees up against the glass. A deeper countertop would help a lot.

Mark, the cabinets are only 15" so the counter will overhang about 7".
Steve C.

Steve,

Nice work so far. The TT facilities looks great.

I'm in the process of re-doing my layout as well and its no walk in the park. I needed to eliminate the last duck-under as its taking a toll on my knees.

Keep up the great work!

Cesar

Thanks Cesar,
For the longest time it was hard to get motivated to work on the layout. I think subconsciously I knew there were too many things that just weren't right and I couldn't see putting time into finishing any one part. Hopefully the new track plan and rewiring will alleviate most of the annoying things and let me get back to having fun working on it. It was hard to tear out the two spots that were the most finished, but once I saw how the new track plan flowed so much better than the old one there was no looking back.

Steve C.

Steve,

Can you post more photos of the layout (finished areas) when you get a chance, I am admiring the bunch that you have posted.

Thanks in advance,

Cesar

You're making nice progress. Willyou be keeping the roundhouse? I hope so. I agree, the wiring has to be done right to alleviate future problems. I keep saving notes on wiring from this forum.

Cesar, unfortunately the areas that were the most "finished"are the areas that I had to demolish. Yours is looking great!
Luvtrains, The roundhouse and turntable were transplanted from one part of the layout to the new location.
Still working on the new parts of the table, not much to take pictures of yet.
Steve C.

Looking real good Steve. I like your track plan.

Looking good Steve!

Steve,

That's quite the expansion! When Walter told me you tore into the layout and blew out the wall, he wasn't kidding!

Dave

Wire, wire & more wire!!! So far re-wiring the layout allowed me to get rid of a garbage bag full of extra wire from under the layout. About 90% of the track & 75% of the switches are done. Haven't even thought about signals yet. Started getting things together for the round house so that area can get finished first. Also stared making a shopping list for York.



Steve C.

Nice work, Steve.

Looks like we're at the same stages in layout overhauling, you just gave me some idea's for the RH.

Cesar

Installed most of the switches I picked up from Ross at York. Still a lot of wiring to do.
Here is the 6 track yard entrance.



A couple of double slips.



The round house used to occupy this space and is now transplanted to the other side of the layout.



The new area will contain a small refinery, a pipe factory, a singer sewing factory and a two level coal facility.



Back to the endless wiring.

Steve C.

Great layout!! I have to ask, who built the round house?

...keep the rails polished...

Thanks NCT. The roundhouse is a Korber kit.
Steve C.

Very impressive. Great layout.

Steve, weekend project?

Thanks Don.
RDMAP, I had to leave York on Friday so I had Sat.& most of Sunday to work on it.

I just read RCSSTEVE post at the top,(better late than never) and realized he touched on most of the reasons I tore the layout apart. The last layout was fine but I was getting bored just watching trains run around the tracks. The new track plan allows people to put trains together, get an engine from the round house, pick up a train, grab a caboose and head out on the main lines to drop off cars at various industries. A friend of mine spent almost 2 hours just moving cars around the yard. I'm really looking forward to getting all the wiring finished so I can get to the scenery.

Steve C.

Progress has been stalled lately due to lack of time.
I added two caboose storage tracks and put a few MTH buildings together to make a power station. Still a lot of wiring to do.









Steve C.

Man your layout looks like fun.

Zett, It is. Or it will be. That was the biggest reason for redoing it.

Steve C.

Looking good steve!

Steve looking very nice. What is the grade on the tracks going around your refinery area? Thank you.

Thanks Rich.
Popsrr, It's a little steep (about 3/8" per foot) but I only run the smaller engines on it.

Steve C.

Steve,

Your very operational and good looking layout certainly is coming along well. And the 3/8" per foot, just over 3% grade, is not too bad. Thanks for posting!

Alex

Man Steve, keep the dust off those beautiful weathered engines!!! Great job, Joe

Progress has been slow but work has been crazy.
Today's rain gave me some time to start on the trestle. I've always wanted to build one and I've gathered some great reference from you guys on this forum. Thanks OGR.





Steve C.

Hi Steve,

I know you are on a large job so have not bothered you to ask how progress is. Glad to see the trestle. Wish I was as lucky. Just cannot seem to get anything done.