2Tracks
Ol' School
Hello all. Since I'm starting a new layout build, I'll start this new thread, Gateway Subdivision. I had already built 1 layout, (first one,) an around the room w/peninsula, split level, HO, 12x20 ft room, circa 1939-1952. (Lots of first-generation diesels) Here is the peninsula, split in half, the logging railroad destined for the piece of pink foam. The incline getting there starts behind you in the right-hand corner and runs for about 34-35 feet terminating up here. This is as far as I got with the logging rr, those are feeder wires sticking up from the track laying upside down on the incline, prepping for install. I have the freight railroad up & running, mainline & siding/spur track below incline, and the yard on the other half of the peninsula, lower rt of picture......
The freight yard in operation, the entrance door from the shop on the right. A single track lift out bridge to span the gap (not shown.) Operations is with an NCE PH PRO-R DCC system. 14ga buss with 20ga feeders, both solid wire. All turnouts are manually operated, w/powered frogs, the new layout will be the same.
After operating the freight railroad & learning about mainline running, switching operations, somethings that I hadn't known until now, I wanted more!
My railroad career had started with a freind of the family giving me what he had for track/engines/rolling stock, setting on a piece of 4x8 plywood, in 1966. I operated that plywood pacific (various loops,) for four years, during the summer, because that's when the weather was nice enough to set it up outside, just no place inside the house, (mom wasn't that keen on it inside anyway, )
Fast forward to 2013 when I bought this house and divided the shop up for the layout room.
I operated this set up for about a year I suppose, and as I said above, I wanted more. More switching, some kind of staging so the rolling stock wasn't in boxes when I wanted to use it, and an expanded logging railroad. I don't know snot about design, so I had one done, and here is what I'm up against. (tongue in cheek)
Staging......
Second level, GN freight railroad.....
Logging railroad.....Pacific Lumber, that's what I collected equipment for over time.....
Well, that's a heck of an order, 2 helices, three levels! That's ok, that's the way I want it. I like having that goal out there in front of me. I may not complete it before, before, uhh, well, you know, but, I have that goal in front of me! I derive just as much joy/pleasure/satisfaction from the beginning of bench work construction to train operations, it's all good!
I guess what it comes down to is perspective......as with pretty much everything in life.......
Ok, I got this thread started, hope you will follow along, and please feel free to comment, suggest, discuss, agree, disagree, whatever, I would say I'm maybe one or two steps above beginner, with a lot to learn. I hope somebody finds something useful as this goes along.
Jerry
The freight yard in operation, the entrance door from the shop on the right. A single track lift out bridge to span the gap (not shown.) Operations is with an NCE PH PRO-R DCC system. 14ga buss with 20ga feeders, both solid wire. All turnouts are manually operated, w/powered frogs, the new layout will be the same.
After operating the freight railroad & learning about mainline running, switching operations, somethings that I hadn't known until now, I wanted more!
My railroad career had started with a freind of the family giving me what he had for track/engines/rolling stock, setting on a piece of 4x8 plywood, in 1966. I operated that plywood pacific (various loops,) for four years, during the summer, because that's when the weather was nice enough to set it up outside, just no place inside the house, (mom wasn't that keen on it inside anyway, )
Fast forward to 2013 when I bought this house and divided the shop up for the layout room.
I operated this set up for about a year I suppose, and as I said above, I wanted more. More switching, some kind of staging so the rolling stock wasn't in boxes when I wanted to use it, and an expanded logging railroad. I don't know snot about design, so I had one done, and here is what I'm up against. (tongue in cheek)
Staging......
Second level, GN freight railroad.....
Logging railroad.....Pacific Lumber, that's what I collected equipment for over time.....
Well, that's a heck of an order, 2 helices, three levels! That's ok, that's the way I want it. I like having that goal out there in front of me. I may not complete it before, before, uhh, well, you know, but, I have that goal in front of me! I derive just as much joy/pleasure/satisfaction from the beginning of bench work construction to train operations, it's all good!
I guess what it comes down to is perspective......as with pretty much everything in life.......
Ok, I got this thread started, hope you will follow along, and please feel free to comment, suggest, discuss, agree, disagree, whatever, I would say I'm maybe one or two steps above beginner, with a lot to learn. I hope somebody finds something useful as this goes along.
Jerry