So after several weeks, I shot some images of the Lehigh & Western that I am building with great help from forum member Jovilla and son. Layout size is 29x49; I am using 2x4 as its a fraction of pine here in Seattle....
The focus is on a steel operation, the peninsula where the plants will be measures 8x24---should be a lot of fun!
Track: ME code 125 with turnouts from BSK... Will be wiring for DCC (nce).
Enjoy!
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Great start. Keep us posted!
I like what I see. Is that being assembled from a prior layout or as a support for modules?
Matt,
Thanks---all new construction other than the one section of track that was handlaid and provided for use. Should be fun---curves are going to be gentle and wide---
More pic's next week!
Very nice....
Looking good, I like the space that you have. Keep us posted.
I have two overland Brass bascule bridges; one I have placed crossing the river into teh steel mill area--its painted black [convienient eh?]. May sell the other to finance turnouts---mistake or not?!--its unpainted
Wow! You are really diving in there. It is great to see. I was wondering for a while if you were just collecting stuff. Keep the fire going.
N&W,
Thanks---yes I have been building a decent collection of models; however I always intended to operate them! I have been fortunate to find a CLS Trainmaster and several RS-11's. All will be run and improved to DCC. My Yoder S-12's are in paint and DCC upgrade at this time as well. I have always wanted a realistic layout focused on steel production with its attendant industries as well as a logging operation.
The layour will have the following:
on one end: raw materials such as coal, ore/stone, logging and farmland [for reefers]
middle: yard for car distribution, reefer service
steel mill: coke oven, ore yard, attendant steel complex and off to the side a slag dump
other end: finishing industries:
furniture builder, port, food processing, town etc.
Thus, there should be realistic movements of cars and materials amoungst the layout to simulate accurate use of cars and motive power and provide visual enjoyment!
My concern is that there will be a bit of visual compression as the space is 29x49....
Stay tuned!
Wow Brad this is really looking great!
Brad,
Looking good! I haven't seen 2 x 4's that straight in ages! Tell us about the space where your layout is, please.
Simon
Looks like the perfect spot!
Simon
I haven't seen 2 x 4's that straight in ages!
Simon
I am curious, where are you shopping for lumber and what grades are you looking at?
Here in the Pacific Northwest we are fortunate to be in a region that is a supplier of lumber. The variety of lumber that is available is broad. You can find lots of cheep junk and you can buy very nice products at reasonable prices if you know where to look and what to look for.
There are a variety of plywood products on the market today that can be used for benchwork. While hemlock and pine are widely available here in dimension lumber Douglas Fir is the preferred species.
No. 2 or Better Kiln Dried fir is a favorite. It is a standard grade of structural lumber recognized in building codes. It is widely available and reasonably priced. From the pictures I can't tell if brads 2x4s would make the grade as No.2s. I see many knots in what looks to be from 2nd or 3rd growth small trees. However, I have seen very little "or Better" in recent lots graded No. 2 or Better.
No.1 fir is less common but nicer still. It is strong lumber and has a fine appearance.
Clear Vertical Grain Fir or CVG is the cats meow of structural soft woods. Around here the price is certainly premium but the lack of defects like knots and pitch pockets makes for very strong lumber and a beautiful appearance. It is ideal for L-girder or open grid benchwork where 1x4 is the largest size needed. Going to a higher grade in smaller dimension lumber can make this a cost competitive technique with lighter weight but equal or greater strength than a system using larger dimension lumber.
Ted--would love to have you join us this tuesday night!
Buncha lota big train room for sure! No real obstacles to boot. Nice.
Would that be C/? 1/2" plywood on 24" spans?
Brad
I'm booked up on Tuesdays. If you are looking for experienced help talk to Dave and see if he or his crew are available.
Would that be C/? 1/2" plywood on 24" spans?
Tom
I thought it. You said it. 
Dan
Beautiful! I love seeing benchwork without corners.
Its a little frustrating that we aren't further along... but, when you have one night a week---its going well!
Wow, you have progressed a lot. Great work!
That is looking really good.
I agree. It is coming along really nicely. Did you have a track plan prior to starting? It is really cool to have a space that large. What's your minimum radius?
Hudson,
I didn't have a hard paper track plan. I started with a plan from the Penn& Western; adjusted/removed aspects and then started building. One fellow told me not to do anything prior to having a scale drawing---I told him I would never get the thing started!!!
I don't care about perfection---cause it doesn't exist! I wanted some realistic scale, proportion for movements of materials and trains and a visually fun layout; as a result, we are being careful not to add too much rail so that there is a sense of distance etc. We only work one night a week---if I had more time, we might be running already!
Its a little frustrating that we aren't further along... but, when you have one night a week---its going well!
I've been building a much smaller sized layout alone for the past 7 years, progress comes very slowly, and milestones are memorable. Your fortunate to have capable assistance. It's looking good Brad.
Bob
Fantastic looking. The the space available to you.
Hudson,
I didn't have a hard paper track plan. I started with a plan from the Penn& Western; adjusted/removed aspects and then started building. One fellow told me not to do anything prior to having a scale drawing---I told him I would never get the thing started!!!
I don't care about perfection---cause it doesn't exist! I wanted some realistic scale, proportion for movements of materials and trains and a visually fun layout; as a result, we are being careful not to add too much rail so that there is a sense of distance etc. We only work one night a week---if I had more time, we might be running already!
Brad, I was just curious. Whatever works for you is the right way to go. For me whenever I didn't plan stuff out it always seemed to equal more work and benchwork is the phase of this hobby I like the least. I haven't started my layout yet but I think I will be doing something similar to you. I will plan out the main lines carefully without worrying exactly where the rest of the track will go. At this point it looks like I will go with a 54" radius curve for the main line. Good luck with your layout. I'm glad you have help. I wish I had some help.
Hudson,
Our min radius is 80; we planned to insure that any large articulated can operate properly and that passenger cars move in a gentle authentic fashion thru curves.
I will be totally stoked to run on the main line in Feb---looking like a reality.
Hey Fellas,
We are laying track! The elevated portion of the mainline is double tracked; we have 2/3 of the road bed down and I expect within two weeks, we will have the track laid for all of it. Then we can finally run a continuous loop.
Stay tuned...
Looking good Brad. Lot of work eh 
Dan
you are not kidding--- very glad to have the help from capable and enthusiastic pals!
Last night we finished the roadbed for the upper level---the East end has all its track and most switches in; we will lay track for the west end next week. Switch work will be a little more complicated as we need a 22* crossover at one point.
We did run an MTH s-4 (very nice!) and a RS-3 as well as my new Sunset Santa Fe. However, we won't have a full stretch until wiring is done due to isolating the switches.
Stay tuned!
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