Building the North Texas Railroad

[trailrider]

Looks good! Have fun building it.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Got my first installation of new track in the mail the other day. The new track plan's loop is operational, albeit far from finished. The future Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter station will work just fine with a full train.

Next stop another switch and bridges (lots more) to get.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Girder bridges now in place for the RR bridge over the future highway. 3 sides of the layout are basically set.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Got a left-hand switch in and now I have the industrial spur for the future peninsula. A truss bridge is ordered and will be on the way soon!

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Happy New Year to all!

The truss bridge arrived earlier today and now the track is essentially complete. This will have a small creek under it down the road. Next stop will be benchwork. Any advice on that? I'm not a carpenter, but I guess I will need to learn.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

So I watched an episode of the Second Section podcast that hosted Thomas Klimoski and Tom Johnson...and it made me consider changing the layout design somewhat. Thomas is doing a new layout and he noted that the narrow-ish aisles and peninsula bothered him (new one has neither). Tom Johnson has redesigned his to be an around the room design with no liftout, but with 60" high benchwork. The current design for NTRR is similar to Thomas' current layout and takes some inspiration from it.

Anyone not done a liftout and was good with that (or vice-versa)? What about an around the room design sans peninsula? I think I can do both and still pretty much get what I want, but with more room to access the layout comfortably.

 

[BigGRacing]

So I watched an episode of the Second Section podcast that hosted Thomas Klimoski and Tom Johnson...and it made me consider changing the layout design somewhat. Thomas is doing a new layout and he noted that the narrow-ish aisles and peninsula bothered him (new one has neither). Tom Johnson has redesigned his to be an around the room design with no liftout, but with 60" high benchwork. The current design for NTRR is similar to Thomas' current layout and takes some inspiration from it.

Anyone not done a liftout and was good with that (or vice-versa)? What about an around the room design sans peninsula? I think I can do both and still pretty much get what I want, but with more room to access the layout comfortably.

Mine is now around the room, the knees ache but I am managing for the two seconds

 

[Rico]

My duck under is considered low at only 48” but no one has ever had a hard time getting under.
I started out with a lift section originally.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Mine is now around the room, the knees ache but I am managing for the two seconds

The one with the around the room is far older than me so I think I can manage.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

My duck under is considered low at only 48” but no one has ever had a hard time getting under.
I started out with a lift section originally.

What made you change your mind with getting rid of the lift out section?

 

[Rico]

What made you change your mind with getting rid of the lift out section?

At the entrance to the room is where the two tracks joining the lower level and upper level meet, much like an X.
Constantly having to lift out and replace the section every time got old pretty quick so I found myself just ducking under anyway.
I found trying to keep both tracks in line and electrically conductive a bit of a challenge.

The previous layout originally had a swing gate that wound up being secured in place.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

At the entrance to the room is where the two tracks joining the lower level and upper level meet, much like an X.
Constantly having to lift out and replace the section every time got old pretty quick so I found myself just ducking under anyway.
I found trying to keep both tracks in line and electrically conductive a bit of a challenge.

The previous layout originally had a swing gate that wound up being secured in place.

Good to know. Figured that might happen anyway.

 

[2Tracks]

So I watched an episode of the Second Section podcast that hosted Thomas Klimoski and Tom Johnson...and it made me consider changing the layout design somewhat. Thomas is doing a new layout and he noted that the narrow-ish aisles and peninsula bothered him (new one has neither). Tom Johnson has redesigned his to be an around the room design with no liftout, but with 60" high benchwork. The current design for NTRR is similar to Thomas' current layout and takes some inspiration from it.

Anyone not done a liftout and was good with that (or vice-versa)? What about an around the room design sans peninsula? I think I can do both and still pretty much get what I want, but with more room to access the layout comfortably.

I started with a lift up, just didn't work out, too many negatives....I switched to a swing up, more room to pass.....

 

[Rico]

I started with a lift up, just didn't work out, too many negatives....I switched to a swing up, more room to pass.....

Yeah I can see where a swing up type would be so much easier!

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

Revised trackplan. No peninsula, but just a "donut" with a much larger space inside. Two industries on bottom. Larger truss bridge scene on the left which I think will look nicer. Otherwise not much change on the top and right sides.

 

[NorthTexasRailroad]

I've been toying with redoing the left side on the bottom to remove the diamond and redo the interchange to a smaller spur. This would allow a small industry spur to add another industry (thinking a small propane dealer) on the layout to provide a bit more operating variety. Thoughts?