Some of the latest progress shots. First the Helix is *just* about done. All I need to do is connect the track from the top of the helix to the top level and it’ll be all done. yay!

And some progress shots of the lower level where the future GERN facility will go. This is a Walther’s Superior Paper kit. It was relatively simple to assemble, and I gave it a spray of boxcar red for some color. Still having some painting to do on the storage tanks and stacks, though.

Here’s the start of my swinging staging bridge thingy.

I first screwed a 1×3 to the wall, to a wall stud. I then attached two heavy duty doorhinges, and to those a piece of 2×4.

I then bolted a 5 ft piece of angle aluminum to a L Bracket and attached to the 2×4. To the aluminum I attached 3 pieces of 2×2 wood braces. The same I used for the main layout supports. I then attached a 4″ wide piece of thin plywood on top. I now have a 4 track staging yard that will swing out of the way of the door when not in use. Yay!

The lower staging yard will be completed once I move my computer stuff to the other side of the room under the layout.

While standing out on its own, the bridge does sag a little, but I have support brace on the layout and on the wall to support the end of the bridge and keep it level.

Turnouts will most likely have to be manually operated due to the lack of room underneath for switch machines.

Pics, yay!

Here’s the lower level where staging was. It’ll be the home of GERN’s new processing plant. The area above the track will be at 1.5″ high on risers. The track is on a 2% grade riser, making its’ way to a 2″ rise.

Next up is where the Lake Charles water way/channel/river/whatever-is-called will be. The track will already be a 2″ high, so that may be enough for me to have some decent banks here. Otherwise, I could drop the benchwork here an inch. Probably won’t have to though.

Here’s a view of the Helix as of today. Another turn or two in a half and it should be done. May need a little tweak here and there, but using screw nuts should make that relatively easy.

And then just a parting shot of new track services buildings in Elmwood. The highway here will run along the branching track, and then turn into the backdrop.

Call it a really really super impulsive buy, but I pre-ordered an Athearn Big-Boy 4-8-8-4 N-scale locomotive last night. While my layout is set in modern times, I’ve always wanted a fancy steam engine to run for those special excursion trips.

I had originally bought an Athearn Challenger earlier in the year, but it unfortunately suffered a mechanical linkage failure. When I saw the ad for the Big-Boy (and the same selling price as the challenger), I knew I had to give it another chance. My only concern…. that the Big Boy has enough pulling power to get up the helix on it’s own. We’ll find out soon!

Looks like I’ll have to pick up some UP passenger cars eventually to go with the engine now.