I haven't posted much for the last year or so as I admin my club's forum, but check in every week or so to see what's up. I posted a thread a couple of months ago asking for Pete's help on some lighting issues. I though I would give an update on progress on my new room in case someone could benefit from any of the progress (mistakes) I have made thus far. My first CCSB (Central Carolina Southbound) N Scale layout was in a room about 10 x 10. It was okay, but I really wanted something bigger (there's never enough). I had been thinking for a year or so about adding on to my barn/shop. For a little incentive, one weekend I ripped out my entire layout and donated it to a local group. The addition will be 18' x 48' and have a pit entrance (see later pics). May 26, 2007 By July 4th, the outside walls were standing **01/11/10 - Adjusted picture paths.
Weekend of Aug 18th. I had to enlist the help of my brother-in-law and a fellow train freak for the tin roof. The whole roof was done in 2 days. Average daytime temp.... 98 degrees.
It sure is a great space! It will be one heck of a helix to get to the upper space, too. That's a might big weekend chore. What about insulation and electrical?
Oct 06 At this point, I still did not have a final version of a trackplan. I knew I wanted to represent the NS Piedmont Div from around Greensboro NC to Salisbury and also wanted part of the Winston Salem Southbound (WSSB). I finally realized that I could begin with staging at Dundee Yard in Danville VA and go to Charlotte Yard as a PTP and have the center island be the WSSB. Only problem was I couldn't get it all to fit. So, I added a second level to the NS part.
Oct 28 The start of the spline roadbed on the WSSB island The pit. It was made because the 1 thing I did not want was a duckunder. So, I dug the pit, and will cross the NS track overhead as you step underneath.
Oct 28 I had to add a second level to the WSSB island in the middle. To get up and down, I went with a helix. Right side top level will be Dundee Yard. It is level for 24 feet and then starts a 3% drop. The 3% drop continues to where the track passes thru the wall upper level right and across the pit, down to 48".
11/01. Last winter, before I actually started on the building I built a couple of mini scenes with the bridges I knew I'd need to get started.
WOW!!! What a fantastic train 'room' (building)?! It's bigger than alot of club layouts I've seen. How many miles of mainline running will you have? You'll have to keep us posted with progress shots - it's always fun to see a brand new layout taking shape, especially an empire like this!
Many thanks all. I was trying to hurry and post all the replies since I could only add 4 pics per reply so I sorta shortchanged the descriptions. The trackplan, which I don't exactly have on paper, begins with 12 feet of staging on the right side of the room upper level far corner(see Oct 28 1st pic). This represents Dundee Yard in Danville VA. Out of the yard moving geographical south will be Pelham, Brown's Summit, Greensboro. At this point the upper level begins a 3% drop. The next 16 feet are High Point, Thomasville and around the back wall. Here the dual mainlines become a single just north of Lexington. They turn and go across the open pit, exiting the other side, go back to dual mains and continue the drop to 48" high and into Lexington. Most all the benchwork to this point is 24" wide. Out of Lexington, the benchwork widens to 30" and enters the hump yard at Spencer Yard (Linwood). There will be a 6 track receiving yard 12 feet long, a 4 track forwarding yard 12 feet long and a 16 track class yard. South out of Linwood we cross the Yadkin River. A 670 foot bridge I scratchbuilt this spring. Around the corner, we are now on the lower level below Dundee Yard. We pass the NC Trans Museum complete with restored roundhouse, backshop, and operating steam. Continuing south we pass Landis, Kannapolis and ending at the 16 track yard in Charlotte completing 1 1/2 turns around the room. There is a 24 foot long double decked island in the center of the room. It does not physically connect to the NS around the wall. The island represents the shortline Winston Salem Southbound. It starts on the lower level at Corn Products in Winston Salem, and into Bill Yard. South, we pass thru Welcome, Lexington (Pic #2 on 11/01) work a PPG plant, across part of High Rock Lake and up the 5 turn helix. Exiting the helix we again cross High Rock just north of the dam. (Pic #1 on 11/01). From this point we would prototypically enter High Rock Yard, take the left leg and enter the HPT&D. However, I didn't have room for the wye. So, we continue on the HPT&D segment anyway. I haven't finished the details of the upper level at this time. KB
