Start of new layout - Update3/1/25

Looks like a nice start to some rigid/solid bench work. The shelving looks great too. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Orange Track = O72     I don't see any orange on your track plan.

It looks super solid. 3/4 inch plywood is over kill but it is your railroad. If any of your engines  require 072, you will be unable to move e them to the inner tracks

Not sure but, unless there's room around the outside of the layout, it looks like some of the reaches will be over 4 feet, which is a long distance. Will there be pop-ups ?

Looking really good!

The benchwork can double as a fallout shelter it’s so strong.

I’m looking forward to your updates.

@SantaFeJim posted:

Orange Track = O72     I don't see any orange on your track plan.

Yeah, the Orange track was "hidden" on this screen shot. Will be an elevated loop in the future after main benchwork is complete.

@bigtruckpete posted:

Looking really good!

The benchwork can double as a fallout shelter it’s so strong.

I’m looking forward to your updates.

Haha! It is way stronger than it ever needs to be, but the 2x4 and 4x4 material was significantly less expensive than the 1x material.

@brewcrew posted:

Haha! It is way stronger than it ever needs to be, but the 2x4 and 4x4 material was significantly less expensive than the 1x material.

LOL! Yep, I hear ya on the wood cost. I just picked up some 1x4s and it was ridiculously expensive.
Either way your craftsmanship looks really good, especially compared to my hack job.

Got a lot further this weekend. Got a good portion of the bench work completed and added some LED lighting under neath to help when wiring or anything else under the bench work.

@brewcrew posted:

...Benchwork is a L girder style made from 2x4s.  1x4 material was way more expensive and super crooked; even for “quality” grade. Surprisingly the 2x material has been super straight.

Top will be 3/4” plywood topped with 1/2” homasote. Ballast will be done with Brennan’s Better Ballast when the time comes.

While the 2x4s are overkill, if they were cheaper and straighter, then it's the way to go.  These days, you never know what you'll find at the lumberyard.  Looks like good workmanship on the L-girder.

The plan looks good.  Very similar to a plan I had in mind for my 11 x 11 room, but decided to go with one size wider curves and went with around the room plan instead.  Rich always does a nice job with his plans.

If the 2 x and 4 x was less expensive and straight, then you made a wise choice.  I think I see one pop up hole and am assuming there will be more.

What do you have in mind for scenery, structures, etc.?

@Mark Boyce posted:

The plan looks good.  Very similar to a plan I had in mind for my 11 x 11 room, but decided to go with one size wider curves and went with around the room plan instead.  Rich always does a nice job with his plans.

If the 2 x and 4 x was less expensive and straight, then you made a wise choice.  I think I see one pop up hole and am assuming there will be more.

What do you have in mind for scenery, structures, etc.?

Thanks Mark! I’ll probably make a pop up in each corner. I’ll cut those in a bit later. I actually mis calculated my OSB so I’ll need to make another trip to Menards this week.

Not too sure on scenery and things yet. I Have probably 15-20 Menards building in my storage part of the basement I plan to incorporate.

I also plan to add various Lionel operating accessories with push buttons mounted to the fascia so the kids can have some fun with that  

I think to get things rolling quickly, I am going to cover the bench work in the cheap Menards green turf. I’m actually thinking with a bit of work and scenery cover and paint, it should make a decent base to start off of.  I plan to just lightly spray adhesive that down so I can peel out areas when needed  

I would like to get a somewhat functional track work sooner than later so my 5 and 3 year old (and the grown up kid-me) can start running some trains at home.   Right now we are regulated to the ceiling layout that is pain to switch trains out on, and my local club - Lionel Club of Milwaukee- is about 1.5 hr drive each way.

Got a few hrs today to finish the bench work.

Instead of homasote, I glued down some rubber 1/4 commercial carpet pad I had left over from work (I work in Project Management for a flooring company). We would use this in commercial settings and should do a very good job at damping the noise.

I then found some very low pile turf on clearance at Menards for $.39 a square foot. I will glue this to the pad underneath.

This provides instant ground cover. I am going to experience “weathering” and scenicing on top. I’ll cut the turf out where and when needed for roads, and anywhere else I don’t want.

This will at least provide a good starting base to put some of the Menards building and start track work so myself and the kids can start running trains.

I plan to glue the turf tonight or tomorrow. Currently letting it relax and acclimate to room temperature from sitting in our cold Wisconsin garage.

Very resourceful!

Close up of the turf. I like this as it doesn’t seem to out of “scale”.

I ordered some road bed that I have used in the past from; eBay-sparks90033. I will then ballast with Brennans better ballast on top.

I’m going for a look similar to Sean’s trains on YouTube where it’s a mix between super realistic, yet traditional Lionel layout

Looks good so far. Good idea to go with the padding and carpet for a scenic base. With 2 little ones in the house, detailed scale scenery would not be advisable.

Looking forward to seeing some trains running.

Bob

@brewcrew posted:

Got a few hrs today to finish the bench work.

Instead of homasote, I glued down some rubber 1/4 commercial carpet pad I had left over from work (I work in Project Management for a flooring company). We would use this in commercial settings and should do a very good job at damping the noise.

I then found some very low pile turf on clearance at Menards for $.39 a square foot. I will glue this to the pad underneath.

This provides instant ground cover. I am going to experience “weathering” and scenicing on top. I’ll cut the turf out where and when needed for roads, and anywhere else I don’t want.

This will at least provide a good starting base to put some of the Menards building and start track work so myself and the kids can start running trains.

I plan to glue the turf tonight or tomorrow. Currently letting it relax and acclimate to room temperature from sitting in our cold Wisconsin garage.

Nice use of economical materials.

As a heads-up, I used the same artificial turf from Menards on a previous layout.  It generally worked pretty well, but pieces of "grass" would come loose and sometimes stick to things due to static electricity.  Since the pieces are soft and relatively large, they never damaged any gears - just an annoyance.  The bits also got tracked into other parts of the house.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Nice use of economical materials.

As a heads-up, I used the same artificial turf from Menards on a previous layout.  It generally worked pretty well, but pieces of "grass" would come loose and sometimes stick to things due to static electricity.  Since the pieces are soft and relatively large, they never damaged any gears - just an annoyance.  The bits also got tracked into other parts of the house.

Thanks for the heads up! I did notice a lot of loose pieces coming when cutting. I plan to vacuum really well, and eventually topping with some loose woodland scenics turf from the shakers and spray with wet water and glue mixture. Hopefully this will “lock” everything in place. Plus I’ll have the track on top of roadbed and ballast so that should help some vs track directly on turf for gears to pick up.

@brewcrew posted:

Thanks for the heads up! I did notice a lot of loose pieces coming when cutting. I plan to vacuum really well, and eventually topping with some loose woodland scenics turf from the shakers and spray with wet water and glue mixture. Hopefully this will “lock” everything in place. Plus I’ll have the track on top of roadbed and ballast so that should help some vs track directly on turf for gears to pick up.

You should be OK with that approach.  Just don't vacuum too often, as you'll end up with little more than a bare piece of backing cloth - there's a reason why it's 39 cents per foot.

Small Sunday evening update. Turf is all glued. Roadbed has been ordered and wiring arrived today. Should be able to start some track work next week. I just need to take some inventory of what I need for straight sections yet, vs what is left in the case from the previous layout.

Well you got one heck of a start on your new layout! I agree with you on the price of lumber! Here in S.W. Missouri the 1x4 was just a little cheaper than the 2x4, or else I would have gone with the 2x4 also!

I also am just starting a new layout but your well ahead of me as I picked up lumber yesterday. I will be watching your build to get ideas, but then again if I get to many in my head, I could get lost! LOL

I hope you're up and running soon, I know you and your sons are going to have a blast!

Looks like it'll support a battleship!   Nice craftsmanship, nothing to complain about there.

One recommendation is to consider more sidings.  I started my layout with three 12 foot sidings and quickly realized that I should have done a lot more!

It’s been very slow progress in the last month. Between taking the kids to Disney and a trip to the Daytona 500, and also being sick for 3 weeks, not much got done until this morning.

I was able to dry lay some of the curves and switches. I also took an inventory of what I’ll need for Gargraves straights. Hopefully I’ll be able to lay some road bed in next few weeks and get some wiring done and trains running!

My son and I did take a trip (1.5hr drive ea way) to our local club- Lionel Club of Milwaukee- to run some trains including 2 of our new Atlas Berwick boxcars last night