To start adding in the scenery. I have finally completed the track work, and test-run for functionality.
Since I just received the (2) new, Atlas premier, SD70Mac locos (I had forgotten that I ordered them) and was eager to test them out, I thought I’d share a quick video of them, and my layout progress.
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It looks great, hope you can post more pictures.
Looking great!!
Very cool start - and in an attic. Boy, does your attic remind of my father's attic, inside a Victorian home, perfect place for trains underneath the sloped rafters.
Basements and attics - the fellowship of the forgotten places 
@Paul Kallus posted:Very cool start - and in an attic. Boy, does your attic remind of my father's attic, inside a Victorian home, perfect place for trains underneath the sloped rafters.
Basements and attics - the fellowship of the forgotten places
Lol….yea, this is the upstairs area over our detached garage. Our home turns 100, in July ‘25…we have since learned the garage was added in ‘39.
The pitch of the roof is insanely steep, (wouldn’t be surprised if it is close to 12-12), so workable layout area was reduced to 16’x33’ 🤣🤣🤣
@harley rider posted:It looks great, hope you can post more pictures.
I’ll post some pics, and more video clips as I get it cleaned up some…👍🏻👍🏻
O.K. Now you have our attention, so let's see your track plan and construction details. The layout is a great use of space.
I'm curious about the loop. What is the diameter and grade. It looks good. I'll enjoy following your progress.
Earl
@Conductor Earl posted:O.K. Now you have our attention, so let's see your track plan and construction details. The layout is a great use of space.
I'm curious about the loop. What is the diameter and grade. It looks good. I'll enjoy following your progress.
Earl
LOL…..Earl, the only ‘plan’ that I had was, that I wanted to have a Tehachapi-esque loop, with enough rolling stock to loop over oneself, while there are still cars in the tunnel. I really wanted to also have a Horeshoe-esque curve, modeled into the layout, but space available simply didn’t permit it.
The inside track (which is entirely Atlas product) of the ‘loop’ is the 49.5” radius, while the outside is the 54”. The ‘rise’ is roughly 7.5” from the lower track, and that ‘platform’ that the ‘loop’ rests on is approx. 10’x14’ (the 49.5” radius also makes up the curve leading to the ‘loop’ tunnel).
The ‘upper deck’ track is essentially nothing more than a slightly rectangular oval shape, (think Indianapolis Motor Speedway) made with 40” flex track. I added in some ‘interest’ by creating a roughly 18’ siding (which I hope to use for the creation of a coal loading silo) on one side, while I implemented multiple crossovers on the opposing side of the ‘upper deck’ for switching trains from the lower deck track to upper deck, and vice-versa.
I used Atlas 7.5 turnouts for all switches (7 in total) and did my layout drawing on engineering graph paper (I’m old school, I don’t have any layout software..LOL).
I’ll try to keep updated photos of my progress, and be happy to answer any questions or take criticism on the chin…LOL !!!!
Wow! Very impressive layout progress so far! That BNSF coal drag is great. I need to find an H1 dash 9 for my collection. You mentioned the Tehachapi as the inspiration for the loop, are you going to make scenery similar to the prototype a la Southern California or will it be something different? I wish you luck in the endeavor and will be following along closely looking for future inspiration!
Department of "It's probably too late to do this, but...." Department:
Since you have that nice ramp + loop down to a lower level, I think I would suggest adding two tracks that run all the way around under the upper level on three sides, but neck down to one track at each end, which then tie into the main line "in the tunnel". That would give you hidden staging for two trains, elephant style, in each direction. The tie-in turnouts might have to be custom made with the 49.5"radius for the diverging side. Looking at the riser construction in your movie made me think of this. Of course there may be factors that rule all this out, and you would have to rework some things -- so would it be worth it ? I think so in the long run: I've assumed that you will be buying more locomotives and cars as the years go by, unless you have more willpower than most model railroaders [ or of course the budget doesn't permit it.]
SZ
@bigboy25 posted:Wow! Very impressive layout progress so far! That BNSF coal drag is great. I need to find an H1 dash 9 for my collection. You mentioned the Tehachapi as the inspiration for the loop, are you going to make scenery similar to the prototype a la Southern California or will it be something different? I wish you luck in the endeavor and will be following along closely looking for future inspiration!
Thank you. I plan on making the scenery So-Cal-esque but, because I’m a stickler for detail, and my ’loop’ is FAR from accurate, I’ll do my best to make it look somewhat ‘similar’….such as soil color, and some vegetation….but that’s about it.
The H1 BNSF loco was the very first 2 rail ‘O’ loco that I purchased, (after getting out of the G scale hobby). Currently, I’m running it as a ‘dummy’. I purchased it used and, I believe, the owner may have changed wheel sets, and/or some other function, in addition to having incorrect axles installed, (I determined this AFTER getting a proper, six axle, 2 rail loco), and it apparently ‘fried’ something….so I disconnected everything and it just rolls around, for now.
I've always enjoyed the sight of a 1:1 SF, or BNSF, engine….so I had to have several, of course, and a SF Warbonnet was a must, and I’ll be adding the three new Atlas Premier Warbonnet offerings, I think I have a disorder…LOL)
@Steinzeit posted:Department of "It's probably too late to do this, but...." Department:
Since you have that nice ramp + loop down to a lower level, I think I would suggest adding two tracks that run all the way around under the upper level on three sides, but neck down to one track at each end, which then tie into the main line "in the tunnel". That would give you hidden staging for two trains, elephant style, in each direction. The tie-in turnouts might have to be custom made with the 49.5"radius for the diverging side. Looking at the riser construction in your movie made me think of this. Of course there may be factors that rule all this out, and you would have to rework some things -- so would it be worth it ? I think so in the long run: I've assumed that you will be buying more locomotives and cars as the years go by, unless you have more willpower than most model railroaders [ or of course the budget doesn't permit it.]
SZ
DEFINITELY great ideas, and certainly ideas worthy of when I’m ‘expanding’….I really like your ideas. Once my ‘scenery’ is underway, and I see how I’m performing with that outcome, I’m hopeful to create an ‘outdoor’ layout also.
One thing I enjoyed with G scaling, was running LONG trains…..I had 1480’ of ‘mainline’ track, when I ran that set up. My health, primarily, and a move had me abandoning the G hobby though.
I have a Pennsy J1 2-10-4 that I’m currently unable to run but, because of the radius limitations in my space (the roof pitch on my old garage is VERY steep), it leaves me too tight. I thought I could pull it off, (even cut a cardboard 7’ radius template, to lay the curve), but the front drive wheel continually rides to the top of the rail. So, my idea is to try to set up something in the yard, and make THAT area for what I’d LIKE to model.
On confronting scenery for the first time ...
As a boy with AF trains and decades later as an adult with Lionel trains, my train layouts were "naked" with little or no scenery, which was satisfactory to me. The "scenery" of my current layout is merely green patio carpeting with structures, operating accessories, automobiles, and figures placed appropriately. No rivers, mountains, waterfalls, tunnels, landscaping, etc. I have always been "scenery adverse."
Except for one project. Members of my local club designed and built a HO modular layout WITH SCENERY required. I pledged to build a HO module for that layout -- a military base with a mountain cliff as the background. Another member coached me through the process, and the result was rather spectacular as a first-time effort. That project changed my wariness about scenery.
My advice ... "boldly go where you've never gone before ... with WOODLAND SCENICS products on hand.
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
Considering the area and type of RR you model, and that you are a "stickler for detail", you might want to do an Internet search for BNSF UP Common Standards or something like that. This will lead you to UP's Engineering - Track Standards, and from there a dropdown for Ballast, Roadbed Sections; you can find nice cross sections, in PDF form, for both single and double track, giving slope angles for drainage etc etc. If do can do that you'll have much more prototypical looking "track" -- in the total sense -- than a flat surface with the track directly on it [ even ballasted ].
That's more rework you will have to do, but better now than after you start the scenery.
Best regards, SZ
@Nu2Oscale posted:Thank you. I plan on making the scenery So-Cal-esque but, because I’m a stickler for detail, and my ’loop’ is FAR from accurate, I’ll do my best to make it look somewhat ‘similar’….such as soil color, and some vegetation….but that’s about it.
The H1 BNSF loco was the very first 2 rail ‘O’ loco that I purchased, (after getting out of the G scale hobby). Currently, I’m running it as a ‘dummy’. I purchased it used and, I believe, the owner may have changed wheel sets, and/or some other function, in addition to having incorrect axles installed, (I determined this AFTER getting a proper, six axle, 2 rail loco), and it apparently ‘fried’ something….so I disconnected everything and it just rolls around, for now.
I've always enjoyed the sight of a 1:1 SF, or BNSF, engine….so I had to have several, of course, and a SF Warbonnet was a must, and I’ll be adding the three new Atlas Premier Warbonnet offerings, I think I have a disorder…LOL)
Ah, sorry to hear about that. I'm glad you were ultimately able to find the correct axles for this locomotive. The So-Cal scenery will be great with that curve. I'll be excited to see it as I'm in AZ and will likely be doing something similar although likely more deserty.
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