Minor update: Yard tracks 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 are now connected on both ends. I need to build some more turnouts to get all of the tracks on the east end tied in to the yard lead. I've used most of the manufactured turnouts I've had on hand with exception of 4 or 5 curved turnouts I really don't have a plan for but hope to fit in as I go along. Also, the locomotive facility and caboose track will be in the foreground and will stem off of the switch on the far right off track #8. I don't think I will go with the moving targets on the switch stands until later, I can always run new wire and set the Details West switch stands later without much trouble. The yard is also about 50% wired and tested. I have a couple dead spots and one short on a couple of the handlaid turnouts on the west end of the yard, so I'll have to work on those sooner rather than later.
Big Update (with good pictures)! Ravenswood Yard is nearing completion, here is the west yard: The main track curves into the wall and will go through into staging (a.k.a. Louisville, KY) I'm not planning on building staging until more of the visible layout is built. The east yard is progressing nicely, I'm out of turnouts and ME rail. Time to order more so I can built turnouts in the hotel room. The yard appearance is deceiving, I can yard 40-car trains on the first 2 tracks, down to 20 cars on yard #7. Here is a demonstration of the general location of the caboose track and locomotive shop: Moving eastbound, I've constructed the permanent easement over the attic door for the upper level. I will have to have a drop/lift out section for the lower level. You can also see this door in the background of the locomotive shop picture above. A mock up of the future location of the 6'-3" bridge. It is a scale 544' long! It is resting on top of benchwork, so it will sit 4-5" lower when I make some modifications to the existing benchwork and build some framing under the bridge. I am going to progress geographically eastbound on the layout, so next up is to complete trackwork at the east yard , including the caboose track and loco shop. After that the lift/dop section and handlay a double crossover on it.
Thanks, I'm also going to install backdrop to the frame under the bridge. I expect the bridge will cast a shadow on the backdrop, but Ill deal with that when I get there.
My wife buys those real thin ones to use with her Christmas decorations. They are very thin wire, those might do the trick.
For some time now, I've given consideration to backdating everything to a 1948 time frame. I've always talked myself out of it: Too time consuming to sell all these freight cars and rebuild the fleet, steam models are expensive (BLI, brass, etc) or unreliable (Bachmann), and I still like first generation units in the 60's. But it keeps coming back! A fleet of sound equipped steam locomotives hauling wood reefers, war emergency hoppers, Fowler boxcars and heavyweight passenger cars would be awesome! If there were ever a good time to do this, now would be it. The layout is under construction, the track plan wouldn't change much, I still have to convert another 150 cars to sergent couplers anyway...... but selling nearly 200 cars and about 15 locomotives will take a lot of time I don't have available. "Sigh", here we go again...
So I was poking through some boxes and found several "craftsman" type rolling stock kits. Funaro, Ye Olde Huff, etc... I think about 1948-1950 is about where I've always needed to be, but never realized it. I kept trying to justify wood freight cars in 1968 (rare, but not impossible), and experimented with Manual Block System. I can save about 140 of 225 cars, so the turnover isn't going to be as hard as I thought. So, I did it! I listed several cars on that auction site and going to peddle them at meetings and such. Sent from my PantechP8010 using Tapatalk
Ended up sticking with a similar time frame, decided to jump up a little bit to 1970. Now I can justify some Penn Central rolling stock and maybe a very early BN car or two. Anyhow, recent updates: West end of Ravenswood Yard Main track will extend through the wall at the unpainted spot to staging (Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, etc..) East end of Ravenswood looking Eastbound: First Curve East of Ravenswood (Outside 34"/ Inside 30"). Union Foundry will be on the inside of the curve and will be a busy industry: Lift-Out section across the window at the end of the room. Roadbed glued and drying at the transition from the curve. Cut out 3/4" plywood Helix panels a couple weeks ago: Early Helix construction. This is on hold until I get sub-roadbed built up to helix.
(Reposted; none of the images working this morning) Ended up sticking with a similar time frame, decided to jump up a little bit to 1970. Now I can justify some Penn Central rolling stock and maybe a very early BN car or two. Anyhow, recent updates: West end of Ravenswood Yard http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/west-ravenswood-yard.128145/full Main track will extend through the wall at the unpainted spot to staging (Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, etc..) http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/west-ravenswood.128144/full East end of Ravenswood looking Eastbound: http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/east-ravenswood-yard.128146/full First Curve East of Ravenswood (Outside 34"/ Inside 30"). Union Foundry will be on the inside of the curve and will be a busy industry: http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/roadbed.128140/full Lift-Out section across the window at the end of the room. Roadbed glued and drying at the transition from the curve. http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/lift-out-work.128139/full Cut out 3/4" plywood Helix panels a couple weeks ago: http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/helix2.128142/full Early Helix construction. This is on hold until I get sub-roadbed built up to helix. http://www.railimages.com/highball/index.php?media/helix.128141/full
Images not working for me. TrainBoard.com - The Internet's Original - Error You do not have permission to view media within this album.
On Tapatalk, I can see the pictures I posted last night, but the links I posted this morning give an error. On the computer I made the original post last night, I cannot see the pictures and the links go to error. I posted in support area in search of an answer. Sent from my PantechP8010 using Tapatalk
Unfortunately, not as the focus. 1. I built the yard and designed the track plan for 1967. 2. I simply don't have the room to include a facility large enough to maintain mainline steam. 3. Can't afford $400 steam locomotives, so I'm limited to Bachmann and IHC models. I could buy 4 or 5 Proto GP9's for the cost of 1 BLI steam locomotive. 4. Helix and weight concerns... Helix curves are 30" & 34" radius at 2%. With 20 cars, I'm not sure two steam locomotives will get upgrade reliably. They barely get 50 on the level moving. 5. DCC on hand... I have 10 diesels with decoders and ready to roll. I have two steamers with dcc (I'll be keeping them anyway) I just want to keep building the layout and get trains running in the limited time I have at home. Sent from my PantechP8010 using Tapatalk
Okay, just wondering because it seemed you were selling everything, so how much did you end up selling?
