Got a ton done this week! First shot shows most of the yard benchwork, including yet another hole in the wall: Here's a shot that shows the final position of the main loop around the yard: A trial positioning of the yard throat - it'll be concrete ties up to the first pair of switches, then wood except for the yard loop which diverges left and right at this location - the loop will also be concrete tie. Finally a trial layout of the yard switches proper:
Awesome Jim! You sure do work fast! :tb-biggrin: That yard looks like it's gonna be a great place to watch trains. -Mike
Mike, I gotta tell you this last week feels like I've been in one of those dreams where you can't move fast - seems like it's taken forever to get as far as I have! I really like doing benchwork but it seems like I spent more time on this section than on the staging yard! And Bob, thanks for the kind words.
THe yard looks like its going to be very realistic and a lot of fun. DO you have a schematic of the yard layout? Daryl
Wow you are going to have a wonderful yard!!! Great ladder. Man dose your layout looks fun to operate!!!:tb-biggrin::thumbs_up: :tb-wink:When it is done, the way you are going it shouldn't be too long!
Excellent job, Jim! Time spent on a properly built benchwork, it's well spent time. And your backdrop mountains are awesome
Daryl, it's back on page 1 - a few minor changes, but essentially that's about it. MRL, I mainly like to run long, frequent trains - like my prototype. But you do need a place to make 'em up and break 'em down, and somewhere (besides staging) to keep your locos and rolling stock. This layout lets me do all that. I hope to have the yard loop in operation by the end of this week... Thanks, Denny. They're from Backdrop Warehouse, and were photographed in the prototype's area. I thought they were expensive and a lot of work to put up, but IMO they were very much worth the money just from the more complete FEELING they give when in the train rooms.
Jim, All I can say is AWESOME! The care in planning you put into your work clearly shows through in all of your photos. Jamie
A momentous week at Oakville! The golden spike was driven late Friday afternoon, and about 22 hours later the first train entered the permanent loop around Oakville Yard: Here's a reverse shot showing the train coming out of the loop: The train made its' way to the yard throat and about five minutes later completed the first ever full length main line run on the new Oakville Sub: Nice to be able to run trains again!
Jamie said it the best! Pop the top and pour us all some! Congratulations Jim!!! It must be nice running trains after not being able to for so long. :tb-biggrin: -Mike
Congrats Jim !!! Now you can kick back with a frosty beverage and watch some trains. Life is good! Craig
I'm constantly in awe of this layout (including the room it's in, the backdrops, the excellent construction), and the majority of the scenery is not even done yet! Can't wait to see what the rest of the layout will look like.
Wow how did I miss this thread just goes to show how long I've been out of circulation. Jim, Love your progress the layout is looking fantastic. Also note this thread has had over 10,000 views
Thank you all for your support! Mike, it's only been two weeks without trains. During construction I put in a temporary loop - the first one after completion of the staging room, the second after completion of the main room - and ran trains to test the completed portions. The real milestone is completion of the main - and thanks for the bubbly, Jamie! I'm gonna have to throttle back a bit now. I'll be heading south for a couple weeks, then a few honeydos among other things. The main reason is waiting for the Atlas code 55 rerailers. I will place them in the staging yard area and probably in the Oakville yard as well. Wish some were made with concrete ties...I did try making my own but they didn't work nearly as well as the store bought. I will of course still be working on the railroad, just not quite at the pace I have been. And the work will be less visible, although I'm getting the urge to continue the mountain in the main room...
