Completing the Main Line Tracks

Completed the first of two crossovers

I had these two Micro-Engineering code 70 turnouts left lying around from another project, and since most everything I own works with them, I used them in this location...

Preparing for the last crossover

I need this one to get trains in and out of all platforms in both directions. These lines both worked well, so I hopefully I won't mess it up too bad...

Cutting the first line

I found this tool, which is primarily used for soldering, to be a very useful thing for holding the flex that is already in place while I cut the section out for the first turnout...

Completed the first cuts

Cut out just enough to insert a Peco long-radius turnout.

And the second...

Both "holes" for the crossover are made. The fitting is actually harder than just putting them in when I was laying the track, but as you can see from this picture, it would have been backwards anyway...

Letting the glue dry

Fully fitted; once the glue dries I can solder the joints that need soldering, and power the section between this and the other crossover I put in, as both lines (to the right of this picture) are now isolated to avoid shorts from the power-routing turnouts...

And no unsightly kinks…

The tracks are both straight, so I managed to leave enough space between them to drop this crossover in now. It was a bit of a pain, but it looks like it works out OK. Will know tomorrow when I run some trains through it...

Train Running

First one of the day:

A CSX GP38-2 (#6638) moves a transfer cut of box cars through the station to the freight yard. The locomotive is probably thirty years old, and not doing too badly for it's age.

Of course, it couldn't get far without a power change:

Home road power finishes the journey out of town towards a connection with the UP.

And a little more variety later on:

CNW GP15-1 #4421 leads a string of Burlington Northern cars out of the yard on a transfer run

An Atlas passenger GP7 (#1521) moves a string of gallery card in preparation for rush hour...

Hopefully you can see how much tidier the yard is, after a clean up. And yes, I drank the water...

It's not just play...

Preparing to bridge the last electrical gap

This corner, inside track, is the last dead spot, at least since I added block controls. powering it will again allow both loops to run, and now I can park trains and power off the station and yard tracks...

Now that that is done, and I can run trains on all existing tracks, I can focus on finishing up jobs that have been hanging around.

Mount Crossover; first to do

Now that I am running on both tracks, and have some control, it's time to finish up these jobs. This one is just outside the station and freight yard.

Mount crossover; second to do...

This one will let me have access to the other track, and is second priority. I can start adding power to the key turnouts, and hopefully get more track!

Working on the Railroad

New turnouts for the through tracks

Cut a Peco medium-radius turnout into the arrival/departure track and installed a Shonohara yard ladder, that I have had for about thirty years! Next time I'll install the ground throws and manage some more turnouts and flex to complete the through tracks. 


New yard tracks

After fitting the turnouts I added two through yard tracks; the right most is only partially complete, as I need two more turnouts at the far end. The track to the left is complete, and just needs wiring. Hopefully next time I can get it done, and get some more flex and turnouts to keep progress moving forward...


View from the West End

After the glue dried I pulled the pins for the pictures; the partially completed track is one of the yard's through tracks, but I need the turnouts for this end to wrap it up. The track to the right of the partially completed track is a through track, which I'll probably use as the primary arrival/departure track when using the station as well.


East End update

I wanted an updated picture with the pins removed after the glue dried most of the way. 


Today's updated view

A view of the yard from the East end, showing most of the progress. In addition to the turnouts and track, I glued down the cork for the remainder of the through tracks. Now I need to cut more strips, and get more medium radius turnouts and flex track for further progress. I've not added power for the new tracks, but the control panel progress should wrap that up too.

A Matter of Control

Now that I can run trains completely around both mains, and all four platform tracks, as well as the arrival/departure track, I figured it was time to add some control tot he layout so I could park trains, and control the DC/DCC for those that are active.


I used a piece of "local" Masonite (not sure what they call it here, but if it barks like a dog...). The DPDT/Center Off switches cost me about £1 (about $1.60) each, and are installed through seven millimeter (quarter inch) holes in the board.


Original West end panel:

I found a couple of small niggles while drilling the holes, and I realized after mounting the switches that I had COMPLETELY forgotten a yard track as well! So, quite literally, back to the drawing board, or back to drawing on the board.


Original panel and “corrected” replacement:

East End:

Hopefully I can replace the switches on the west end, add the ones on the east end, and wire them up this week, and install and connect them the next time I am working on the layout.

Mostly Electrical Work, but Some Planning Too

I spent most of my time connecting the power to the last few hold-outs of dead sections; now all tracks can be run, but I didn't get as far as adding control. But I spent some time clearing up and planning for future work.

Priority One; Cross-over to be completed:

At the minute there is no way to get a train back to the left-hand mainline from the lower platforms; there is a crossover farther back to allow the eastbound trains from either north-side platforms to reach this track, and then lower north-side platform track is straight-through to the right-hand main. This crossover will correct things.

Line-side Town:

I'll probably put the structures further back from the tracks, and have a two-lane minor highway parallel to the tracks. A few houses and farm houses, with seas of corn, to complete the scene...

Country Store:

A Life Like Country Store kit (yes, the picture is HO, but the N Scale one is the same!):

and a craftsman gas station will occupy this corner. Can you say "Tourist Trap"?

The "Projects":

I bought a few of these kits for another project, but they won't really fit in there as I planned. But they DO look like they will be PERFECT here...

I also spent time running trains:

Hopefully I can get the control panel concept sorted before the next work session, and add some control, or maybe multiple train running.

A little more progress

Cut a new crossover into the Loft layout; now trains can revert back to the correct main, or access any platform from either main:

Next weekend I hope to power all platform and access tracks, and maybe add some control switches.

Valentine's Week Report - For the Love of Trains

Ever had one of those days? Time I had. Motivation too. Even managed to pick up some flex track and turnouts to make a little progress.


But I forgot to get RAIL JOINERS!


I managed to scrape together enough decent ones to get my arrival departure track in, wired, and running. You can see the new addition in this view:

The four station tracks are on the right, and the A/D track is on the left. I managed to hold off putting this in until I had the turnouts I needed to fit as well, so I don't have to cut them in later. Well, all but one. My rail-joiner shortage meant I couldn't fit the one at the far end that leads to the East-end through tracks:

It's not all that good a picture, but you can see where I'm going from this end. The track (far right) is only pinned in place, as is the ladder, to test the concept. I may move it in slightly to shorten the tracks, or maybe not. Need to play with the capacity and balance between yard tracks and drill tracks.


I also added a cross-over from the A/D track to one of the passenger tracks, to be used as a locomotive access track:

 It gives more flexibility in the design, and moving it farther out from Armstrong's original sketch means a local train can run it power around without having to go to the far end of the yard.


And here's another blurry view of the whole project, from the East:

And a pose shot of a few of my "players":

From left to right:


Santa Fe El Capitan with F7 power
A C&NW Streamliner commuter train, with an E6
A C&NW station switcher, in the switcher pocket
and lastly, a Santa Fe Super Chief, extended with two REA Express cars, and an extra sleeper, powered by a PA-1, PB-1, PA-1 trio.


Until next time!

Locomotive Servicing and Yard start

Over the past few weeks I've managed to solder some wires, fix some "spots", and run some trains, including my newest, Kato's Metra Bi-level commuter train:

I also ran the Santa Fe heavyweight train, though in some odd colors at the minute, just to do it:

But it's not always smiles. Sadly the day was marred by a disastrous crash at the beginning of a platform later that day:

So on to the start of the day's activities!

I placed the only remaining section of flex track after the crossover for an idea of how it was going. Then I decided to use some scraps to fashion the first (primary) switching lead (or drill track) for a place to park locomotives at the minute. I did eventually did extend it almost to the saw handle in this picture.

A closer view of the lead and the caboose of a passing train...

From the Yard Throat

The locomotive servicing area is on the left, marked by the pins (which are holding the cork until it dries).

Locomotive Servicing Area

The cork for the second switching lead, and tracks for the locomotive servicing area. The pinned track (from left to right): 1. secondary drill track, 2. access track, 3. inbound locomotive and service track,  4. former ash-pit refuse and service track, now used for storage, 5. outbound locomotives, 6. locomotive storage. 

The Rest of the Progress

I don't want to spend too much time on the station until the yard is nearly finished; lots to do yet...

Overall View of the Work

I stopeed when I ran out of pins; I'll get the most complex areas (most turnouts) done first, then it's only a matter of laying the yard tracks...