New trackage is well underway!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and good start to the New Year!
Spent the last week I'm off completing a freight car project for a client and getting started on my new trackage.  The last couple of days I decided to start on the hardest part of the project, the removable section across the aisle.  This is not an easy straight piece of track that is on a square piece of wood, but an angled piece of wood with curved track.  So, definitely not easy.  I went down to the Home Depot to get a quality piece of wood, cut in a 2' X 4'.  Knowing I would need only a small piece of it.  Turns out, I need all of it because of cutting mistakes and redoing it.  Definitely the third time is the charm.  I also did an adjustment on the track plan.  A passing siding will be added to the trackage which will enhance the operational state of the layout.

The passing siding will end here at the canal.  

Trackage will extend through the wall towards the helix.  This area will be renamed Parker, where there was a passing siding was in the 1920's.

Here is my outline for the removable bridge. It will be more narrow.

The outline in place.  

Testing out with track.  The track will be easy compare to getting the removable bridge correct.

Here is my 3rd try at the removable section.   It's a nice snug fit.  

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The removable section "holder".  These will be painted black to match the fascia.  

Holder on the other side.  The right bracket is really not needed but would look better.  Have I told you how much I hate angles?  Glad I have a nice saw to do all this cutting,  Equipment for the woodworking in MR is a big plus!

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Scenery Update USPS frustration and a sketch of the lower level trackage

This past weekend I had planned on getting the helix out to the garage and start installing it.  Well the USPS made sure that did not happen.  As I posted last weekend, I ran out of track for the helix.  The track has to be laid as you go up.  So on Tuesday, I ordered from Mainline Hobby (the best only train shop on the east coast!) in PA.  As always, I usually get my items 2 days after I order them.  Bonnie who runs the shop always sends out the tracking number on the USPS priority packages.  So it would be here in Thursday as per the tracking.  Thursday comes and no package.  To boot, I was off on Friday because of the weather.  OK, it will be here Friday, Nope!  Did not come Saturday either.  I was a little ticked.  The worst thing was it still said delivery on 1-9 even on Sunday!  This package went to a distribution facility near Baltimore, MD for 2 days, then to another one in Baltimore for a couple of days and then to Richmond, VA for a Sunday trip.  It finally came today.  Very frustrating!

While waiting for the track, I turned to my creative side and put the finishing touches on the scenery at the end of Battlefield Yard.  This is just about complete except the railroad tie retaining wall by a switch.

This is the tail track of the layout.  The tie retaining wall will by the switch stand on the left center.

GP11 #280 tkes a peek at the new scenery.

A detail shot of the weeds and growth.

Add some of my leftover trees to the scene.  Need to probable put a few more in.

I just about have my track plan for the lower level.  The top is complete. It's the lower left corner that's tough.  I'll go with what I have.

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Construction starts on West to Orange trackage project

Yesterday, I finally got started on my replacement of the Mine run branch or the area on the lower level below Battlefield Yard.  I ripped up the track and sub-roadbed to make way for my new trackage.  The new track plan will include a wye, a new entrance from the helix, continuous running on the lower level, a removable bridge and and new industries.  There also will be staging near the helix in the garage.  That's alot of stuff but only minor track changes.  Most of the track changes will be what I tore out yesterday.  Stay tuned!

The new trackage will come from the helix and out the wall behind the propane tanks in the pic.

Clean slate to start planning.

Here's the layout for the new trackage.  I have to contend with the canal which will be minimized by filling it in.  I will still need a bridge.  A siding will extend down to the cars in the distance.  The woodchip loader and possibly another industry will be located there.

This where the removable bridge will be located to span the isle.  The track shows appropriate placement.  This bridge will be the hardest part of the project.  

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Latest video is out! Update on lower level trackage

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