Building the KY&N: Planning, Prep & Benchwork

GP30 Mar 27, 2020

  1. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Are ribbons for typewriters even still available? Probably not cheap?
     
  2. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    They seem to be an easy find on eBay, somebody is still making them. Seems to be a substantial collectors hobby in antique typewriters, Tom Hanks being a prominent one himself.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    BoxcabE50 likes this.
  3. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    Over the past 2 weeks, I have all of the walls down that opened up the new space. Fortunately, I was able to use those sections to frame the new space for my wife’s hobby room.

    That now created a ew problem, now the cats like to crawl around the staging yard and knock cars over. I fixed everything and a week later they did it again. Time to kick the wall framing and finishing into high gear so I can keep them out before I go insane!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    HemiAdda2d, BNSF FAN and BoxcabE50 like this.
  4. JoeTodd

    JoeTodd TrainBoard Member

    206
    52
    15
    Do you have any progress photos
     
  5. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

    1,927
    2,026
    44
    No old lady has been having surgeries do haven't had much time to work on them
     
  6. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

    1,605
    1,865
    45
    I did a google search for old typewriter font the other day. There are free ones to use with word programs.

    a number of them. Some were pretty good.
     
    GP30 likes this.
  7. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    I have noticed in the past that most, if not all, of my Proto 2000 52’6” gondolas have a tendency to have some rubbing issues between the stock wheel sets and the underframe. After checking several of them with a Kadee height gauge, most of these gons tend to have minor issues with the coupler heights being just a little bit low.

    I also found a lot of vertical “play” with the couplers that contributed to the problem. Fortunately I had a few Kadee fiber washers on hand. One washer was used on each truck as well as at each coupler pocket to take out some of the vertical movement.

    Problem solved, 4 more gondolas off the RIP track and ready for service.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    HemiAdda2d, BNSF FAN and BoxcabE50 like this.
  8. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    Added a shelf over the workbench for direct access to the shop tracks from the layout. I repurposed an old 7” wide shelf that was left in the basement when we bought the house. Should be enough room for 2 RIP tracks and a program track. I can extend this shelf another 34”, haven’t decided yet... I won’t have any trouble filling it up!
    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    BNSF FAN and BoxcabE50 like this.
  9. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

    1,927
    2,026
    44
    All looking great as you proceed
     
  10. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    I’ve spent most of the last few weeks working on maintaining and upgrading several pieces of rolling stock. Mostly coupler height adjustments on older cars and metal wheel upgrades.

    On Friday, I installed lighting for the lower staging yard and pulled the buss lines for the lower level (above staging). Easier to do it now before I start screwing down plywood base over the benchwork.

    We’re looking at having the HVAC issues fixed in April, so all of the layout work will be focused on this end of the room for now.

    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    BoxcabE50, BNSF FAN and Joe Lovett like this.
  11. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    Thats gonna be a great MRR there.
     
    GP30 likes this.
  12. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    Thank You, I hope to get to get to that point someday. I’m going to get a real kick of getting it operational and having sessions on a regular basis, still a few years down the road.... but every piece of flex track laid and feeder soldered is one step closer to that goal.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    BNSF FAN and dalebaker like this.
  13. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    I love it when a plan comes together!

    Last night I fastened down two 8’ sheets of plywood cut down to 30” width. This morning, I plotted out the track plan from the XTrackCAD plan and made a couple of minor adjustments.

    [​IMG]

    The picture above is a view of Watt St Yard at Charleston looking North. Cars are drilled from the south end, but all tracks are accessible from the north end. Potential “escape route” if the A/D tracks get full.

    [​IMG]

    View of the north end of the yard.

    The curve to the right goes to the RIP tracks over the work bench. The two stub tracks at center-right are MoW/storage tracks. The track left of the storage tracks will go through the wall to a chemical plant on the Hillsdale Spur. The main track in red also goes through the wall to a helix up to the upper level.

    City Bakery to the left where the covered hopper is spotted.

    [​IMG]

    North end looking back. The N&W boxcar is spotted at East Side Printing. To the left, at the front of the layout, is the. Caboose track, off of the thoroughfare/ overflow track, will be accessed mostly from the other end.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    That looks really good. I like the yard layout too.
     
  15. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    Marathon Work Session

    Last night, my wife took the kids and spent the night at the in law’s house before bringing my MIL here to visit for a week. (She doesn’t drive)

    Anyhow, that gave me a window of about 6 hours to myself after work and before bedtime to work on the layout. So I set a few goals and went after it as hard as I could.

    Goals:
    1. Cut holes through the block wall for access to future Helix location and Hillsdale Branch.
    2. Cut and fasten plywood to benchwork for the south end of the classification yard.
    3. Overlay plywood with the foam sheeting.
    4. Start Second Level benchwork

    I started with cutting two 4-1/2” holes through the cinder block wall into the bunker (7’x9’ room). This was more messy than I foolishly anticipated. I encountered small piece of rebar in the wall. It only obstructs about 1/2”, so I may just make the roadbed transition with a slight grade to clear it.

    [​IMG]

    Then, I assembled one 8’x30” section of second level benchwork out of 1x3’s and mounted it in place over the north end of the classification yard. This area will be the town of Elkview, WV, eventually. I plan on adopting Jeff Johnston’s method of plywood shelf brackets for permanent installation of the second level benchwork.

    [​IMG]


    Later, I fastened leftover plywood down at the south end of Watt Street Yard and then glued down foam sheets over top and cut off the excess material. I promptly began plotting out the track plan from the CAD image by hand and made a couple slight changes in the turnout arrangement.

    [​IMG]


    So I accomplished all of my goals in just under 6 hours. At this point, I haven’t decided which direction to go first. We have HVAC replacement scheduled in April, so I’m trying to stay focused on this one area until the rest of the room is free for construction of the rest of the lower level benchwork.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  16. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

    9,892
    29,169
    148
    Great progress for one night! Looking good! (y)(y)(y)
     
    gjslsffan and GP30 like this.
  17. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    Man, wouldn't you know a stinkin piece of rebar would be there, at least it is only on one side. A descent mill file and you could have that rebar lowered after a while, a carbide cutting bit on a drill would be much faster tho. How do you plan on lining the tunnels?
     
  18. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    I may try a sawzall blade for metal and see if that works. Looks like a #4 bar, so it is 1/2” diameter.

    I will start with tunnel lining by shooting a can of expanding foam in the voids. Cut everything out flush when dry. I have some extra 4” pvc drain pipe in the garage, I’ll see how a short piece fits first. If it isn’t big enough, I have some extra stainless steel flashing I can roll up and run a small sheet metal screw through the overlap. I can get a snug fit easier that way.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  19. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    SATURDAY:
    Main track between the north and south end of the classification yard at Charleston is in place. Sidings for East Side Printing and Capital Appliance are in place, two more turnouts are ready to be spliced in for the siding for Universal Stamping.

    [​IMG]


    I wanted to build a pair of left hand #8 turnouts for the south end of the yard, but I couldn’t find my rail stock, so I ordered two more packs of rail. So, that will have to wait until those come in the mail.

    We are about 1-2 weeks out from the HVAC replacement. At that point, benchwork will resume at least to the point where the lower staging yard and the first level can meet. My goal is to be able to run trains between those two points in 4 months.

    SUNDAY

    Limited amount of time this morning for layout work. I put pork in the smoker and that consumed a fair portion of the morning, ahead of company arriving for lunch.

    However, the north switch and most of the siding for Universal Stamping were installed. Later an L&N 86’ Boxcar was spotted on the new siding for visual referencing. Should be able to spot 4-6 cars among 60’ to 86’ in length.

    [​IMG]


    While awaiting the delivery of rail for turnout construction, I am going to work on the plywood shelf brackets for the upper level benchwork this week. I already have 16 traced out and ready to go to the bandsaw.

    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Joe Lovett, HemiAdda2d and BoxcabE50 like this.
  20. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    So the first section of upper level benchwork is officially cantilevered now, for what it’s worth.
    [​IMG]

    Limited progress this weekend. We spent most of the weekend tackling house projects, so the early morning modeling times were cut short.

    I did install another switch, which was salvaged from the last layout. It is a rebuilt Shinohara turnout with Fast Tracks one-piece points. I have a few others that may get the same treatment before installation. The siding will serve City Bakery, which will primarily receive covered hoppers with loads of flour and sugar.

    [​IMG]


    Next: Install the siding for City Bakery and install the lead switch for the north end of the classification yard.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page