Superior & Seattle Railroad Build (Volume 2) Started 2/25/17

[Dennis Bourey]

WOW!!!! Looks Great John. Dennis

[deemery]

Hmmm...  I would have used my biscuit joiner for those butt joints on the helix arms, and then put a piece underneath.  But in part that's because I happen to have a biscuit joiner and big pile of biscuits to use :-) :-)


dave

[PRR Modeler]

Very nice job John.

[S&S RR]

WOW!!!! Looks Great John. Dennis

Thank you Dennis.

[S&S RR]

Hmmm...  I would have used my biscuit joiner for those butt joints on the helix arms, and then put a piece underneath.  But in part that's because I happen to have a biscuit joiner and big pile of biscuits to use :-) :-)


dave

I prefer the lap joints with plywood, Dave. 

[S&S RR]

Very nice job John.

Thank you Curt - I need to take pictures as I build this because it's all going to be covered.

[S&S RR]

I made a little more progress today. Added the front piece of plywood to the upper level for setup and started the lower level benchwork behind the sofa.  Once I have everything setup and in place I can move the sofa to work on the track work.  Okay, so the starving artist painting is coming down tomorrow.  I bought that for my apartment when I just got out of college and had no money. I've found a place to hang it for a lot of years but I think it going to come down for the layout.  I wonder what it's worth.    

[jimmillho]

Really looking good John.  I like the bench work.

Jim

[Dennis Bourey]

I LOVE IT WHEN A TRAIN TAKES OVER THE HOUSE !!!!! 

[S&S RR]

Really looking good John.  I like the bench work.

Jim

Jim


Thank you for following along. I using 2x4 for the frame work - overkill - but much cheaper than by 1 x 3 pine. I will be able to climb on top of this - if required.

[S&S RR]

I LOVE IT WHEN A TRAIN TAKES OVER THE HOUSE !!!!! 

Dennis


Don't let the CFO hear that! Only my negotiated space.   And I'm only using my golf money.

[Dennis Bourey]

My CFO says as long as her craft room is not touched. I'm good lol. Dennis

[S&S RR]

My CFO says as long as her craft room is not touched. I'm good lol. Dennis

Keeping the CFO happy is the only way to run a railroad.

[S&S RR]

Today, I spent most of the day laying out the top area above the helix.  This area will have a large roundhouse and turntable. I tried a number of different designs - starting with the one I settled on in the computer. Once I got it all mocked up full scale on the plywood I didn't like having turnouts and turntable areas that were out of reach if something went wrong.  By shifting the turntable to one side I gave up some outside storage tracks but gained some roundhouse stalls.  I also moved the turnouts farther back so I could reach through the wall to retrieve any locomotive that got hung up on a turnout. If you have a turnout someone is going to run through it without aligning the points. Here is a picture of the design mocked up.  If I still feel the same way about it, after reviewing it again in the morning, I will be implementing it. The Roundhouse will have 3 stalls, then a gap for the feeder spur, and then another 10 stalls. So technically there will be two roundhouses served by one turntable.  I have seen pictures of many prototype roundhouses with this type of design and have always liked it.  I will be scratch building this roundhouse using brick walls that I purchased from Monster Models before they went out of business.  I should mention that the last loop of the helix that you see in the picture will be below this level when it is installed.  I clamped it in place above the roundhouse level so I could mark the cuts I need to make for clearance.

[S&S RR]

If this design survives the morning after test, I will be cutting a hole in the wall tomorrow.