Just a quick update that work continues on the layout.

Thanks to a suggestion made by Mike, I used some spare lumber and clamps to jack up the layout (a few inches in the far corner!) to level things out, got the backdrop back level, and seeing that brought back the building bug.

With that fixed I continued on working. So I managed to drop and soldered half of the yard feeders. Rail A is done, need to do Rail B now.

I also began on the work the lift bridge for staging. I originally was going to have a small module act as the lift-out, but decided to keep things simple and will be using a simple piece of angle aluminum. It’s the same stuff I used for my old staging cartridges.

I also began on work on continuing the staging lead up to the main level. I’m using Woodland Scenics 2% inclines and risers for this. I picked up a hot foam knife off ebay and plan to only use maybe 1.5″ of the 2.5″ wide foam piece. The rest will get sliced off with the foam knife.

I haven’t taken any photos yet of recent progress, but I’ll try to get some soon.

Shaun Benchwork, General, Track

Last night I finished up the wiring of the toggle switches, LEDs, and Controller boards. 78 soldered connections later the panel was lit up like a christmas tree.

Here’s a new overview video with some details behind the construction and look at the toggles lit up. I won’t be able to wire in the occupancy lights until I have the yard powered and the BDL168 in place.

Tonight or tomorrow I hope to get the frame built for it. After that happens the panel will be put to the side while I shift work back to the layout. I want to finish (in no particular order) laying out the staging lead track (the grade portion along the top) including the lift out bridge, drop feeders to the yard and stage lead, and install the yard’s switch servos.

Some Components:

Metal Plate: www.onlinemetals.com

3mm Chrome LED Holders: Ebay

Sub-Miniature Toggles: Ebay

Magnet Wire: Radio Shack

1″ Square Magnets: Radio Shack

1/2″ Round Magnets: Radio Shack

Shaun General, Track

The last few weeks I’ve been working on the staging yard for the layout, and last night I glued down the final pieces of track for the yard.

It’s a 7 yard track (Mainline + 6 Ladders) with #7 turnouts.

Work to follow is:

- Drop power feeders for each track
- Add a safety rail for the inside track to keep things from meeting the floor
- Install servo switch machines
- Build turnout control panel

Shaun Track

Here we are on Draft 8 of the layout plan.

Primary reason for the revision was to add back in a left out section.  They layout height has to be 40″ and duck-under just won’t work that low. So I updated staging to be one larger yard before it goes back down to a single track for the left out section.

On the main line, I…

• Removed the Interstate Oil and Sunrise Feed spurs.
• Removed the 2nd turnout on the Metro line station tracks
• Added two platforms on the mainline above the Metro station for use an an Amtrak stop.  It’ll be a combined station.
• Added yard offices at the Interchange tracks. The short siding will be modeled as a on-main fuel stop/crew change point.
• Repositioned Superior Paper Mill

Shaun Track