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Post by Adam on Nov 21, 2020 20:03:33 GMT
It’s coming together quit nicely George. This will be a fun layout for sure!
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Post by g3750 on Nov 21, 2020 20:34:47 GMT
It’s coming together quit nicely George. This will be a fun layout for sure! Thank you, Adam. I sure hope so. When things get back to normal (and this layout is able to run some trains), maybe it will be capable of hosting operating sessions. That's the plan, anyway. George
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Post by g3750 on Nov 22, 2020 0:39:40 GMT
George, you are making good progress. I consider what you are doing now to be the most tedious part of building a layout. You can't run trains and there's no scenery but getting the track right and getting it wired properly is very important. Today has been tedious. And there seems to be a lot more to go. But you're right. Get this wrong and the rest doesn't really matter. I've been there and done that - you pay for it many times. Thanks, George
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Post by g3750 on Nov 22, 2020 0:43:49 GMT
Updated 11/21/2020: Not a great bunch of visible progress, but: - Did get Switches 22 & 23 programmed (TMCC) and tested. They are awaiting installation on the layout.
- Identified some power/ground feeder pairs on the layout. Always good when the plan and layout agree!
- Started installing the two through tracks. I don't expect to be running trains at high speed through the Staging Area (in fact quite the contrary), but I did super-elevate the curves laid down so far. Mostly that's to counterbalance the twisting effect of the track.
Both photos were taken inside the Staging Area. This first photo is looking towards the south-east corner of the layout. In the foreground is one of the through tracks.  The second photo is taken looking in the opposite direction, and shows where one of the through tracks connects to its switch. That's an O54 curve, so we can handle all but the largest locomotives on that track.  More when I know it. George |
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Post by g3750 on Nov 24, 2020 2:39:36 GMT
Updated 11/23/2020: - Programmed Switch #20, a Curtis HiRail O54 LH beauty.
- Made a little progress towards the south edge of the Staging Area.
- Test-fit Switch #21, marked an O54 curve for cutting, and marked up Switch #20 for placement. It looks as if we will hit the divider at the planned location! Hey, I love it when a plan comes together!
 (Such a rare event!  )
  More when I know it. George |
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Post by g3750 on Nov 25, 2020 2:19:56 GMT
Updated 11/24/2020: School work took up most of today, but I did manage to test fit track, roadbed, and 2 switches (21 & 20). We are close to wrapping up the Staging Area track work. Below you can see the two "through train" storage sidings meeting at Switch #21. The sidings will receive some super-elevation for safety's sake. The pad for Switch #20 has been laid just beyond Switch #21. And holes for the switch machines' wiring bundles have been drilled. No track has yet been fastened down, although power/ground track feeders are in place and dangling beneath the bench work awaiting connection to the bus.  More when I know it. George |
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Post by g3750 on Nov 27, 2020 2:23:39 GMT
Updated 11/26/2020: This is really yesterday's progress - nearly all the track work is down. Fastening it down and attaching the feeder wires is still to be done.    More when I know it. George |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2020 13:35:32 GMT
George it keeps moving one piece at a time. Doing it right beats doing it over.
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Post by ptc on Nov 27, 2020 13:50:42 GMT
Good work, George, This is the way to build a layout with steady progress.
I know someone who started a large layout 14-15 years ago. No where close to having it done as it appears mostly a hit or miss work schedule. Not the blueprint for success.
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Post by Country Joe on Nov 28, 2020 3:05:57 GMT
George, the track work looks good and the mess shows that you are working.😊
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Post by fabforrest on Nov 28, 2020 3:17:54 GMT
Why do you feel the need to superelevate?
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Post by g3750 on Nov 28, 2020 4:33:57 GMT
George it keeps moving one piece at a time. Doing it right beats doing it over. Thank you. Yes, I learned that lesson (the hard way) with Panhandle 1.
George
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Post by g3750 on Nov 28, 2020 4:37:09 GMT
Why do you feel the need to superelevate? I really shouldn't. I don't intend to run trains fast through the Staging Area. Then again, I might succumb to that temptation.
Actually, I am doing it to counteract the tendency of the track to bank towards the outside rail.
George
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Post by g3750 on Nov 28, 2020 4:39:53 GMT
Good work, George, This is the way to build a layout with steady progress. I know someone who started a large layout 14-15 years ago. No where close to having it done as it appears mostly a hit or miss work schedule. Not the blueprint for success. Thank you. Panhandle 1 was built in 30 minute slices, hurriedly, and with the driving thought of "getting trains running". The result was a rebuild and a layout that wasn't much fun to run.
George
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Post by g3750 on Dec 4, 2020 20:20:07 GMT
Updated 12/04/2020:
It being finals exam week, lots of last minute assignments to evaluate, and final grades to be entered, not a lot of layout building got done. 
BUT, we do have a new arrival to celebrate! Fresh from its TMCC installation, I just test ran my NOS 3rd Rail PRR Decapod 2-10-0 with the long tender. It runs great and looks pretty good doing it, too!
It joins its stable-mate, the short tender version, on the PRR Panhandle Division.
The plan is to double-head them in front of long ore trains, the way my father saw them in the 1920's and 1930's.
George
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(Such a rare event! 
)
