For some reason I created a thread for each step of the layout. Why I did it this way, I have no idea, but that's the way it goes...Below is a link to a few photos of the actual layout as the backdrop is being painted. https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/started-on-the-backdrop-this-week.148206/ The layout room is roughly 20' X 20'. Not really large, but by far the nicest space for a layout I've ever had. In addition, there's a 15' X 6' walkin closet adjacent to one wall of the layout. For years I've considered making a staging yard in the closet--even have a siding that goes into a rock formation and tunnel. But I was always scared to cut a hole in both sides of the wall. After patching a hole in a different room that was in the house when we bought it, I decided to do the staging yard. The staging yard is 13' by about 26". It will primarily be for passenger trains, but there will be some freight equipment stored there, as well. The yard will be stub end and have about five tracks. There's room for more, but they aren't really needed. Most of the freight rolling stock fits on the layout. Anyone who has built a staging yard please chime in with ideas!!!
p.s. a photo of the other side of the wall. In the background you can see the line that goes to the staging yard (AB set of ATSF FT's are on it).
The staging yard is coming along. Got most of the track laid; feeder wires soldered in; today hooked the wires to their respective toggle switches. So far it works great. The lead locomotive in the trio of Frisco F units is a highliner F3 that was detailed, painted and weathered by gjslsffan on this forum. It runs well with the Athearn Genesis AB set behind it.
