I've been too much of a lurker here on Trainboard. It's a bit late to document progress on my Glover's Bend layout, which is now for sale (contact me if you're interested). Recently some real estate negotiations with Mrs. TD resulted in me being granted exclusive rights to a 10'x10' spare bedroom upstairs. After a great deal of hemming and hawing on the track plan myself, I secured the services of M.C. Fujiwara of Yardgoat Layout Design, and together we came up with this track plan: Frost River with Industries Marked by BGTwinDad, on Flickr The concept is an industrial area in a satellite town along the Norfolk Southern CNO&TP 1st District, roughly where the real-life town of Bergen, KY is located. There is a single-track mainline (black) fed by hidden staging along the right (room East) wall, and a yard that serves as a crew change point and fueling stop as well as a place to make/break locals to serve the area industries. Some of the industries are arrayed along the main, while others are on the branch line (blue). I have a potential alternate location for the town along the CSX CC sub between Paris and Winchester, KY. I might even leave that part ambiguous and run mainline trains for both railroads. The layout will be done in Atlas and ME Code 55 rail, with a minimum radius of 15" and minimum turnouts of #7 (main) and #5 (yard and industry). You can see a tour of the layout design including some details on the planned industries and so-on on my website. Here are a couple of 3D views of the room plan: Frost River 3D view by BGTwinDad, on Flickr Frost River 3D view by BGTwinDad, on Flickr As for progress so far... I've cleared the room out from its previous use as a dumping ground for stuff that doesn't belong elsewhere in the house. The walls have been repainted from burgundy-and-gold to a sky blue. I've also ordered Pergo flooring, which will be installed next week. First coat of paint by BGTwinDad, on Flickr
At least you have made a start. We'll look forward to progress updates! BTW- I still chuckle every time I see your signature...
Thanks, Boxcab. I wish it were just a joke A bit of progress, by way of getting in the habit of regular updates... The flooring installers are coming Monday, and I have ordered the shelf track hardware, at least some of which should be here on Friday. I've also got the first (small) batch of turnouts on order, though it will be a while before I'm ready to start laying track. Once the floor is in, I can start moving train stuff into the room and getting the furniture arranged. Budgeting for plywood and foam. In the meantime, I have a "punch list" of items to complete and fix up on the old layout to prepare it for sale. I'm sure I'll have a pic to post some time next week
This is exciting. I am in the beginning stages of hauling stuff out of an underused room also, for the same purposes. I'll be back to watch this one.
Oh wow that is really cool. I like the drawings. Oh I just reread the first post and noticed you had someone else do the drawing.
Time for a progress update. The website now includes a 3D rotatable view of the Sketchup model. And, the sawdust is flying! Peninsula in place by Mark, on Flickr Peninsula in place by Mark, on Flickr The walls are painted, all of the shelf standards and brackets are installed. The first section of shelf is built, as is the peninsula, though I am having to re-do the leg design, since my first shot didn't work so well. The holes you see in the sides of the peninsula are openings for a Digitrax UP5 panel. I made them extra wide so there would be plenty of clearance for the wiring. The fascia will of course be cut to fit the panel face, once it's installed. I've ordered some styrene sheet to make the backdrops with, and it should be here in a few weeks. Track pieces are trickling in as funds are available. I also picked up a new loco to help with switching and local freight duties... an Atlas GP38: CSXT2121 by Mark, on Flickr
With benchwork now under way, you should be getting a good feel for how the original design might fit. Is it still going to be as desired? I always wonder, as I have been at the same stages and thought about a few alterations.
No major changes to the plan yet, except the deck height. I originally set it at 54" to maximize the clearance beneath for the desk and work space. But it's just too high. So I'm going to bring the whole thing one or two "notches" down, which will put it somewhere between 52-53 inches. Some minor stuff such as eliminating the fascia radius in the upper left where the shelf across the top meets the lift-out section across the closet door (in front of Dixie Cup). It would be a very tight radius for the fascia material, and a squared off space there (a) makes it easier to do the lift-out section and (b) more importantly makes it easier to do a believable cut-away section of the factory there. I've made a number of revisions to the construction of the shelves themselves, but I think I've got them in pretty good shape now.
Your progress looks really good! I am interested in how this goes as I have never seen a road built designed by a professional. Wondering if you have all the structures earmarked, as they are laid out on the design; that is the exact building that is going there?
LOL Thanks! It may have been designed by a pro, but it is getting executed by a rank amateur, so we'll see how it goes. Well, sort of. A big part of the planning process was locating and at least lightly researching a number of real world industries that were interesting to me for one reason or another. Most of the industries on the layout represent one of these locations. A few I haven't settled on which industry it will be yet. The shapes drawn on the track plan itself are just representative place holders. In some cases, such as the warehouse complex hiding the staging tracks, or the backdrop flats along the North wall, the structures are pretty much set by the needs of the space. In others, such as the JIF plant, I am modeling a very specific real world location, so I will do what I can to faithfully represent at least the "feel" of the actual plant. But in general, I will have a good deal of latitude in the actual design of the industry structures, their size, shape, and exact placement.
Another update. I got the legs for the peninsula rebuilt (the first attempt was an abject failure due to poor design) and test-fit in place: Peninsula 2.0 by Mark, on Flickr Peninsula 2.0 by Mark, on Flickr (sorry about the lighting on this one. On the to-do list is a blackout curtain/blind for the window. During daylight hours it's just too much sun through the blinds) Peninsula 2.0 by Mark, on Flickr For reference, TwinGirl is 5' 2" tall, so the layout should be at a good height for most anyone except my M-I-L (4'11 AND A HALF!). The top of the foam is nominal track level for the layout, at 51-3/4". The cow is obviously not N scale, but she does approve of the design. With the angle braces at top and the cross-braces at bottom, and with the table clamped to the shelf, and the shelf screwed to the brackets, it is quite stable, and should withstand the accidental operator-bump with little more than a derailment. The legs are attached to the top with 1/4" bolts and Tee nuts, so it can be disassembled for heavy maintenance. Next up for this section: I have to cut a wiring channel in the shelf where it meets the peninsula (I forgot to include that at start), and then paint the whole thing. I plan to stain (and seal) the legs, as they are made of furniture grade pine, and I think the stained wood will "disappear" into the floor better than painted would. The shelf and peninsula will be sealed with primer, but not painted, as it will be hidden behind the fascia. Then it's on to the next section of the shelf, clockwise around the room.
Looks like your first revenue load is transporting a stuffed cow. How warm does it get in that room during summer months? Will you need to open that window to get some fresh air circulating and cool off? Or do you have air conditioning?
The room is air conditioned, and we keep the upstairs at a comfortable temperature. Plus, there's a fairly big ceiling fan in the room. I should still be able to raise the window from below the shelf if necessary, though it won't be hugely convenient.
Thanks, Mike! Update time! This evening I got major progress done on the narrow shelf on the west wall, including the lift-out section across the closet door. I'm very pleased with the results so far. Narrow wall - done. by Mark, on Flickr The shelf is supported on the wall by these "invisible shelf" brackets. The two closest to the lift-out are anchored into studs, but the two supporting the section behind the wall are supported with drywall anchors. Should be OK as long as nobody leans on it. Narrow wall - done. by Mark, on Flickr Here's the narrow-shelf end of the lift bridge... Narrow wall - done. by Mark, on Flickr Here's the part behind the door... Narrow wall - done. by Mark, on Flickr And the nice thing is the standard door stop is just long enough to ... stop the door before it hits the shelf Another view of the lift bridge Narrow wall - done. by Mark, on Flickr I've got a few other pictures, but Flickr is being cranky this evening. I'll post more when it starts behaving better.
I found them on Amazon. They screw into the wall, and then there's a screw in the bottom that clamps the bottom part against the shelf and the top. Supposed to hold 40lb on an 8 or 10 inch shelf if placed on 12" centers. The top part will be buried under foam once I get to that point... ETA: I should clarify another design point. The astute viewer will note that the lift-out section is one inch higher than the fixed part along the wall. That's because the foam on the lift-out will be only 1" deep while on the fixed part will be 2" deep, to accommodate a bridge scene.
