Winter Layout Work Update Part 1

CN 1906 pulls the first loads out of the recently-installed storage tracks in front of the Stelco (Walthers) rolling mill. Looks like they will soon  have plenty more loads to pull!

A few days spent working on the layout over the Christmas break yielded some significant progress on the layout, namely completing the trackage on the spur on the left (east) side of the layout. More industries to go and switch now!

Carpentry

The basic benchwork was already in place, including a sheet of plywood cut to fit in the available space; all that remained was to secure the sub-roadbed in place. It was decided to use the two “high-line” switches already in place to access the spur rather than run a new branch off of the existing yard lead. This meant that the spur would be at a higher elevation than previously planned – this allows a more eye-level view of activity on the spur, rather than a more eye-in-the-sky view. This also helps to blend the high line into the rest of the layout, rather than it creating a “stair case” illusion and seem to arbitrarily rise out of the rest of the layout. A total of seven supports were cut from spare 1x3” stock to elevate the plywood about four inches. Since the two high line switches were at slightly different elevations due to the grade that they are on, the elevation of the plywood sheet was set to split the difference between the two. Three supports were fastened to the benchwork lengthwise along the plywood and four were installed transversely – this stabilized the plywood and makes it resistant to any bumps or jolts on the rest of the layout’s benchwork. As this particular piece of plywood had been stored for a number of years, one end of the sheet (south end) had developed a significant warp (curl) that required a 2x4” attached transversely to the bottom to help straighten it out (2x4 was planed to be perfectly straight). The last step in preparing the plywood was to cut a hatch approximately 16” square into the middle; this not only allows access in the event of a derailment or electrical glitch, but will help with scenic-ing the layout as well. The seven risers (supports) were first screwed to the bottom of the plywood at pre-marked and measured locations. Once all were in place, the plywood was positioned at the appropriate height and the risers clamped in place while pilot holes were drilled and screws put in place. The sub-roadbed between the two switches on the high line consists of a segment of plywood approximately six inches wide; a tapered “bridge” piece was placed between this existing sub-roadbed and the newly installed plywood. Surprisingly, very little adjustment was needed to align the three pieces of plywood, and only some slight planing and sanding was required to smooth the transition from the high line grade to the level plywood surface.

Two CN locals are seen operating at the same time - CN 4775 is returning from spotting cars at Casco (near the bridge, out of sight at lower right), while CN 1906 lifts cars from the rolling mil (south face of building and part of the roof not yet re-installed). Scenery material will disguise the change in elevation between the high line spurs and the main line at bottom. The access hatch can be seen at right.

 Trackwork

Once the plywood was installed, it was full speed ahead with the trackwork for the new spur (actually two spurs that cross at a diamond, but referred to as the spur for clarity). The facing high line switches each feed one of two tracks that meet at a 90° crossing. The track on the spur is mostly code 83, a mix of Atlas, Shiniohara, and Peco. The north end of the spur consists of a Walthers rolling mill (to be featured in a later post) that was cut back to three segments (from original four) and another track next to the rolling mill that will serve as a bulk fuel dealer. Two tracks will go into the mill building itself, and another two storage tracks were laid next to the building to hold the loads for pickup. The rails have not yet been installed in the building, as the channels in the floor are intended for a cars' wheel flanges, not actual rails. Hence the gap is too narrow to lay rail (gauge is too tight), but that will soon be corrected. These tracks cross over the access hatch on three sides – each crossing was secured with extra spikes to ensure the alignment remains intact.

The CN local lifts loads out of the Stelco rolling mill. Looks like there are some loads to be shipped out of hte team track soon as well. The lumber yard will be located at far right (behind the team track). The Digitrax auto-reverser is being wired up at lower left.

 Wiring

To power the new spur, a new track bus was run under the previously-unpowered high line and feeders installed between the rails and the bus wires. Since the high line circles around and forms a reversing loop with what is essentially the tail of the south yard lead (better-sounding name TBD), a Digitrax auto-reverser was purchased. Mark made quick work wiring up, so now we can run trains in a continuous loop up and around the high line.

 

After lifting cars from Stelco, two empty cars are lifted from the bulk fuel dealer. Extra track is stored temporarily at left. Note the high-tech temporary end of track device!

Operations

Prior to completing the spur, there were only two industries already in place on the layout, the grain elevator and the spur near the bridge (at least for now, “Casco”). The addition of four new industries to switch will now provide at least enough work for two jobs: a yard job to handle the sorting of the cars and blocking of mainline freights, as well as switch the grain elevator and Casco, and a second job to go and switch the spur. With increased traffic on the layout, this will soon provide the opportunity to implement and learn about track clearances, car card systems, and how to develop a natural “flow” to operations between multiple operators. Can’t wait!

Lifting cars from the Stelco storage tracks at right; soon more empties will be spotted inside the building.

Stay tuned for part II of the layout update sometime later in the week…

Thanks for looking,

Cheers,

Peter.

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Confectionary facility work continues

Settled on the final name of the confectionary plant: Chespeake Valley Confectionary, Inc or CVC for short.  Here is the final layout and the walls all are secured together.  Now comes the tough part, the roof for the facility.  Lots of cutting and trial and error.  The color of the building will be close to the yellow already on it.  The mortar on the office turned out well.  Progress will continue this week.

The office end of the building.  The building will be on a base.

I extended the unloading shed a little so a hopper and a tank can both fill under the building.  I may extend it a little more.    

Overall view of the facility.  

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Spring Layout Work Update 1

Well, I guess I can’t call it a winter layout work update since we’re now (thankfully!) into spring. Nevertheless, the layout has seen some more progress made in the last couple of weeks. Onto the photos!

CN 8023 (Athearn Genesis) sits on the turntable - OK, not strictly prototypical, but I needed something to test the trackwork with....

Our shop tracks leading to the roundhouse are loosely modelled after TH&B's facility at Chatham street in Hamilton. Hence, filling it with some TH&B/CP power seemed like a good idea for a photo op. The coaling tower is slowly being scratchbuilt to represent the one that was located on the CN at Brantford, ON. 

Some CP and TH&B power congregates on the shop tracks. TH&B #71 is an Atlas unit that Mark and I painted last year; the other engines aren't my work.

A northward-looking view showing the turntable, roundhouse, and some of the shop tracks. Sitting in the roundhouse are some of the engines in my OSR (Ontario Southland Railway) fleet. OK, I know OSR doesn't have a roundhouse, but if they did, it would probably look like this! Mark is still mad that I have more F-units that he does, even though he models the 1950's!

The Turntable

Perhaps the most exciting work that has been done recently, the turntable which had been sitting sadly by itself for the last little while has been installed at the north end of the locomotive servicing (“shop”) area. Mark did a great job of cutting the hole in the plywood and securing the turntable to the plywood. I’m not exactly sure how long it is, but Mark tells me that it will fit a CNR U-2 Northern so he’s happy. We have temporarily powered it to allow photos and some testing, but we will need to get an auto-reverser before we can actually put the ‘turn’ in turntable. Positioning the turntable also allowed Mark to lay the tracks into the roundhouse, which he has also put a lot of work into recently. I think I mentioned previously that the structure started as an Atlas kit that Mark modified from 15° spacing to 8° spacing to better line up with a turntable larger than intended for the building. This more-or-less means that our trackwork is 99% complete – the only remaining pieced are a short RIP track to be positioned next to the turntable and a coal dump track adjacent to where the coaling tower will be.

I can't remember if I mentioned this already, but we actually have two 'shop' areas - pictured above/below is the steam-servicing facility (with diesels in lieu of any active steam - I'll have to convince Mark to get out some of his steam power to show the roundhouse/steam shop tracks to full effect), and the tracks in the background with the CN diesels on them are the diesel-servicing area. Since Mark models the 1950's and I model present day, it didn't seem right having a steam locomotive in a diesel shop, or a diesel in a roundhouse, though the latter would be more plausible. Besides, the "wow factor" when entering the room will be better with two shop areas. I think I will create a subsequent post detailing our shop area.

The shell of the roundhouse is nearly complete. The close wall will be attached with magnets to make it removable for taking photos inside the building. The styrene in front of the building will serve as a concrete pad for jacking cars on the RIP track which will be located on the near-side of the roundhouse. 

Grain Elevator

One of the larger industries on the layout will be a grain elevator located near the yard on the west side of the layout. The tracks, which can hold about 10 modern grain hoppers, have been laid, painted, and ballasted. A Walthers prairie-style wooden grain elevator will be constructed along with a number of outlying Pikestuff grain bins for that ‘out in the country’ feel. Though none of the structures have been built yet, the bottles used for some of the scenery work provide a good stand-in for the overall size and feel of the complex.

CP ES44AC #8711 leads a freight down the high-line while CN 1906 switches the "grain elevator" (or at least, where it will stand). The scenery bottles are being used as a mock-up to judge the overall feel of what it will eventually look like.

CN 4775 kicks out cars in the yard while CN 1906's conductor knocks off the handbrakes. The layout has enough industries to keep at least two switch crews busy plus a road freight.

 

CP 8711 descends the hill while the two CN jobs work in the background.

Scenery

A little more scenery work has been completed including ballasting part of the high-line as well as some more foam work between the high-line and grain elevator location. Also, some foam work was completed between the main and the yard, which should soon allow for some photos with a fully-scenicked scene. Much of the scenery work so far has been the ‘low hanging fruit’, meaning within easy reach of the aisle down the centre of the layout. Most of the rest will involve some creative thinking and a little blood, sweat and tears to move all of the storage boxes under the layout to reach the various areas for scenicking. The good news is that scenicking is one of my favourite parts of the hobby and we seem to have it down to a science in terms of the foam-paint-ground foam technique. Much of the remaining scenery work can be done in small “work blocks” wherein a lot ground can be covered in a relatively short period of time.

In addition to some more foam work, additional progress has been made of curve superelevation, track painting and ballasting. Roughly 40% of the track has been ballasted so far. The shop tracks leading to the turntable have also been ballasted with black ballast to represent cinders.

CN 4775 takes a break to allow CN 2236 off the shop track to get onto their train. Looks like they have some run-through power today!

Some of Mark's TH&B power lays over on the shop track with some of my CP power. The switcher at far right is actually on the track designated for loading ashes from the ashpit which will go beneath where TH&B 402 is sitting. 

Another shot of the shop tracks before they were ballasted.

With any luck, hopefully I will have another layout work update in about a week or two. Until then, thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
Peter. 

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Mondays layout work and decal completion

Spent a lot of time yesterday completing my large decaling job and finally tackling the trackage from Battlefield Yard (BY) to the helix.  A few posts ago, my main two objectives for the summer were to change the trackage on the Mine Run branch and take out the S curve to the helix from BY.  I completed the Mine Run trackage last week.   I hesitatated on the S curve replacement but decided to get into for some reason late yesterday afternoon.  The job turned out pretty easy and everything went better than expected.  The good thing about these projects is that I had everything I needed.  Track was reused and I did get down to my last rail joiner and track nails!  I'm hoping not to need anymore.  Nothing is worse than starting a project and needing a piece of track or other vital part.  I don't have any hobby shops around so most will be mail order.  So on to pics:

Decaling jobs:

A new sand hopper based on Greg McComas 's Michigan Interstate RR.  These will be in captive service hauling sand on the Midland.  The rust pits are decals by Weathering Solutions.  Still needs weathering.  

A VMID woodchip hopper.  The load was easily made with foam and sawdust.   

The Midland has good size fleet of stone hoppers now.  Here is VMID #6 Ex-SP.

Here is some new power on the Midland, GP35R #233.  This loco served the Virginia Central for the last several years and was recently bought by the VMID.  The patch job is typical for shortlines and turned out quite well.  Can you see my BN theme?  BN was my favorite railroad as a teen.  

Improved Trackage to the Helix:

The reason why the trackage had to be improved is because there a small S- curve leading towards the helix.  This is a busy piece of track and with the scenery in, was no fun having a derailment there.  Most cars and 4 axle locos were fine through it.  My longer 6 axle locos did not like it.  The main reason why I've added a SD50 is to work the grade on the helix.  So a change was needed.

Here is the S curve.  All I did was move the crossing in the wall to the right and straighten out the curve.  

Track removed and the hole in the wall enlarged.  Had to take out some scenery but have a plan on what to put here already.   Could not go any farther right because of a stud in the wall. 

Wow, why didn't I do this first time?  No curve now!

My only casuality, my signal.  I unattached it from the ground but for some reason it doesn't lit up now.  If this is the case, it will be the 2nd signal to bite the dust here.

A view from the helix side.  Definitely a easier job than I originally thought.

 I finished late last night after several breaks.  Still have a couple of things to sort out but a major improvement.  The SD50 already loves it!

 

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Monday evening track work

Not a whole lot happens on the Virginia Midland on the weekdays, but I've been trying to get better during the week to get a few things done if possible.  Thirty minutes to an hour is what I try to squeeze in if possible, per day.  Tonight, I continued to get the new trackage down to at least get trains running again.  Trying to get the best possible plan is always fun.  I have not changed much, but the tedious work continued.

Nothing new here just upgrading roadbed and adding a longer Tortoise wire.

Had to move the desk out to get to what I was working on.  It's nice to be sitting down to work!

This is my main work area right now.  Many tools are a necessity for track laying.  

The boxcars are on the continuous run track and a leg of the wye.  The straight track towards the wall will lead to the helix.  That track leading to the helix will also have a passing siding.  

Overall view of the area I'm working on.  The turnout on thr bottom of the pic goes to an industry spur.  I had to move the bridge too.  The background on the right will be replaced also.  

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Bench work on extension is almost done and bigger horsepower

Well this expansion has turn into more work than I hoped but should improve the look and operation.
I have totally revamped the trackage in this area that was once complete.
Major changes:

1. Gotten rid of a bunch of trackage at the aggregate facility including a run-around track. 
2. I have also bent the VMID trackage that once went across the bridge to a cassette.  
3. I have configured the track below without the use of a cassette there.
4. Opened the layout up for more scenery.

Horsepower update at the very bottom.

Pretty much starting from scratch with this area.  

Had to add a smaller board up front to aid in accessing the lower level.

Mocking up the track work.  I use sectional 22 degree curves to plan curvage.  The 22 degrees is not to sharp and is usually my smallest radius.  This works well for layouts with 4 axle power and no passenger trains.  

The look towards the door.  The trackage on the left is the VMID.  I have to move the signal to the mark on the benchwork.

The aggregate unloading facility base.  It should hold 5-6 cars across the diamond.

Glad Walthers finally made one of these. I was close to making my own silos.

After today's work.  Bench work is just about complete.  Got to install the lights underneath for the lower level before I attach the subroadbed.  

Another view

Final view from the door.

And finally some bigger horsepower for the VMID.  She will be patched and put into service soon.  

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Wednesday Work Update 1

Well I suppose it's time to show some actual progress on the layout for a change. First off, the track for the grain elevator has been completed. A simple arrangement, it consists of two tracks long enough to hold about six cars each, connected by a switch (which then joins the mainline). This is the first Peco switch to be installed on the layout, and future switches will likely be from Atlas or Peco instead of the existing Shinohara’s for two reasons: a) we’ve almost run out of the supply of Shinohara switches, and b) the Peco and Atlas switches already have the frog isolated so we won’t need to cut gaps in the rail with a cutoff disk. Next we’ll have to decide exactly what the structures are going to look like, but once that is sorted out, this should be one of the first areas of the layout to be completed scenery-wise.

Mocking up the grain elevator tracks with the help of a 1/87 CAT loader and my stylish Daffy Duck pencil. The cork subroadbed has subsequently been installed and the tracks spiked down. 

Over on the east side, we’ve had a bit of a re-think on the track plan for the spur. The industrial spur 2.0 will now have the plywood base raise up about 4-6 inches from previously planned for two reasons: the first so that the existing switch on the high-line can be used to access the spur instead of running a new track off the south yard lead and under the bridge (which was kind of iffy clearance-wise). Also, a higher elevation for the spur will provide a more eye-level view of the layout, making it seem a little more realistic (instead of an eye-in-the-sky “helicopter” view). This requires a completely new track arrangement, but I think will improve the switching operations. We can still retain the same industries (lumber yard, bulk fuel dealer, rolling mill and possibly a team track/TOFC track), they will just be shuffled around in the available space. Another consideration for the re-think was the incorporation of an access hatch; initially, it was thought that the hatch could be placed behind the high-line, however it was realized that if something derailed in the middle of the east half, it would be difficult to reach. Thus, a square access hatch about 18” across will be located in front of the rolling mill. The plan is to cut out the hatch, then lay the track across it, and then cut gaps in the rails to allow for removal. Some sort of retaining blocks will be mounted underneath to prevent movement while in place; we’ll also need to use some sort of quick-connect type plugs to allow for separation of the electrical feeders to that portion of the track. The idea is that it will normally be in place, and only removed for “emergency” access (e.g. derailment or to correct electrical gremlins). The hatch will require that the rolling mill be cut down to three segments (the Walthers kit comes with four lengths that contribute to the overall length), but that's okay since the structure already occupied a large footprint in the available space and for our purposes we don't need the full-size structure. It can still fit about four gons on each track with three segments of the structure, and with the storage track next to the building, it will match the yard capacity well (i.e. the yard will not be jammed with cars going to/from the mil).

The new track plan (more-or-less) for the east-side industrial spur. It will now use the switch off the high-line at left and serve a bulk fuel dealer at far left, the rolling mill at center, and the lumberyard at lower right (mostly out of view below frame). A possible team track/TOFC track may be located beyond the lumberyard. The access hatch will be located in front of the rolling mill. The plywood will be raised to the same level as the high-line switch.

The next phase of construction will focus on completing the engine servicing facility. Given that it will handle both steam and diesel locomotives, we will have both a roundhouse (with turntable) as well as a fuel rack and shop building for the diesels. I’ll create an article in the future about the roundhouse and shop building, but for now we have a theoretical track plan. Next step is to install the turn table and then check that the track plan will work; more on that at a later time. 

'Til then,

Cheers,

Peter.

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Lower level work has begun and so has the helix

Started packing my On30 items up yesterday and clearing them off of the lower level.  I had a On30 layout underneath Battlefield Yard and did an expansion past my work desk and under the VC yard.  Check out the older posts of the On30 layout:

http://virginiamidlandrr.blogspot.com/search/label/On30

The On30 track was all laid out and functioning.  It's nice because the track is the same as HO track and I can get a feel of what I have by running my HO trains down there.  I still have to take out the On30 track eventually.

VMID #281 giving me a feels of what lies ahead of the VM.  You can see BY directly above it. 

The other end.  There is a bridge crossing a canal between the 2 pictures.  The sand load spur will probably be where the hoppers are at the end.

Here's my helix in it's beginning stages.  Wanted to work in the garage but the near 0 degree temperatures made me stay inside.  the Helix kit is by Ashlin Designs out of Utah. 

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Various work happening on the Midland

Spent the last two weeks doing multiple things in the office.  This includes weathering for a client,experimenting with Pan Pastels and working on a new industry.  Here are my progress photos:

Here's the smaller elevator I chose to add to Orange.  Like most Walthers buildings, they never go together well.  Had to add putty to the seam.  Even though it's a smaller elevator, it barely fits between the levels.

Here it is squeezed between the levels.  The lower level was never planned for the layout and just kinda happened.  I would like more room between the levels but it works fine for ops.

As you can see, I had move the elevator spur.  This gives plenty of room for the structure.  The closest track will be the Norfolk Southern interchange.

May have to change the lights in this area.  Wiring needs to be stapled up.

Some grain hoppers spotted. Will add a grain bin or two to the scene along with a office.   

A new gondola for the Midland.  Been wanting to do a gon with VM spelled out and finally got around to doing one.  This is an Atlas 53 footer.  It definitely needs to be weathered and a tie load added.

This is a Ebay win about a month ago.  It's an old Sylvan resin kit that was totally assembled.  It's an Ex-CP paper boxcar but will enter a second life on the Midland.

 TrainMasters TV from MRH has been running a great weathering series from Mike Confalone in the last month.  He's been  weathering various cars with oils and Pan Pastels.  I finally broke down and bought some back at the February Timonium show.  There not cheap but shop around to find the best price.  Finally tried them out and they work well.  Worked with the Pan Pastels and some oils to weather a Bowser 100 ton Reading hopper.  This was my practice hopper and it turned out quite well.  I'm planning to add CSXT reporting marks and put it in service.

My oils and Pan Pastels working space.  

My results from oils and the pastels.  I like it!

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