Last days for my Silver Valley RR. The Silver Valley RR is the route from module to module. I have a lot of fun with those Blackstone steam engines! But the mainline is short and with modules you have no grades. When I saw in Model Railroader a reprint from the Jan 1962 article from late John Armstrong "To Hardscrabble, the hard way: a track plan" I was hooked. He describes the PUEBLO & SALT LAKE RR in a 11 x 12-foot room. My room is about 13' x 16'!! Here's the drawing for my room. John Armstrong made Esperanza one end for the narrow gauge. I decided to run narrow gauge trains to staging. This way I had not to squeeze a transfer facility for gondolas into the space from Esperanza. Gondolas will go to Pueblo (staging) So I made all staging yard dual gauge. I know this requires a lot more dual gauge turnouts to built! I've started already with a first one, a #8 code 70 dual gauge turnout. Only the area from Hardscrabble will be a second level. I will be busy for the next years with track work, structures and scenery. This old time narrow gauge layout will be an alternative to my current 1975- 1985 "modern" Westport Terminal RR. And there will be about 150' main line to run narrow gauge trains. Wolfgang
I will take the modules still to FREMO meetings. But not all modules will fit into my car. Eventually I will sell Silver Creek. Better than stored under the layout. For the next time I have to empty the room and make the background. Wolfgang
Waiting for the empty room I can built turnouts. There're some special turnouts like this: curved code 55, 800mm-500mm (31.5''-20'') Wolfgang
I've built more turnouts, all turnouts needed for Esperanza are finished. These are two code 70 turnouts, a #8 dual and a #6 standard turnout. And quite a few different code 55 turnouts, mostly dual. Now comes staging yard. Wolfgang
Wow, I am impressed with your quantity and quality of product output. It almost is equivalent to an automated factory. I am curious if you take time to eat and sleep....:tb-biggrin:
And between turnout building I'm busy with room preparation. Now I've installed the MDF sheets along the wall. Wolfgang
I've painted the sheets with white as primer. and I'm busy with building turnouts for staging, I need still ten more. Wolfgang
Ken, this would be a long vid. Here's my latest with video for a standard turnout. I was busy with paintings, here's the finished backdrop. Wolfgang
Nice job so far on the new empire! Love the custom turnouts. The dual gauge turnout must be a bear to build.
Now I've published my wiring for the staging yard. I have 12 turnouts, powered with Tortoise. And I use a rotary switch to select the track (there're 6 tracks). This circuit works, I use it already at my Westport Terminal RR. I had only one problem, I lost the records, so I had to develop it new. :angry: Wolfgang
Looks quite stout! I am very interested in seeing how the benchwork all comes together, when the upper deck is added.
Update All segments are on their legs and I'm working with the plywood sheets. Here's the future staging yard Pueblo / Salt Lake City. Under t window the place for the mainline (hidden) and the narrow gauge line through Cameo Canyon. Esperanza Wolfgang