The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 2

[ACL1504]

First train set....sold my AF's when I was 12 to the neighbors. Twenty or so years later, bought them back for my boys AT THE PRICE I SOLD THEM!!!

Now if I could recover those baseball and 1960 AFL (first season) cards...

Larry,

You were very fortunate to be able to buy back the original train set. I sold my ATSF passenger set and still regret it to this day.

Now go find those 1960 AFL cards and all the baseball cards.

Tom

[ACL1504]

This morning I extended the center isle bench work another 8 feet. I added the 14 gauge buss wire also. The wire bundle is the length for the rest of the center isle buss line.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Now I'm ready to start on the bench work for the third level.



Late this morning I did some very long overdue house cleaning.

I removed all the rolling stock and locos from the West Staging Yard.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I vacuumed and cleaned all the track.

The next two views are of the West Staging Yard/area looking North.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I dusted all the rolling stock and locos prior to putting them back in the staging yard.

[MAP]

Looking good Tom.  The treasure hunt must have brought back some great memories of picking up all of those boxed goodies.  So now that the benchwork is cleared, I figure you'll be done with the 3rd level by the weekend? 

[S&S RR]

Tom


I didn't realize how much railroad space the third level was going to give you until you posted the overall picture. This is going to be great - it looks like it will double the number of wonderful scenes. Do you have a layout map posted that I missed? Great modeling my friend - as always - I will be following along.

[S&S RR]

Tom


Another question for you - Is the center peninsula going to eventually be part of the layout or is it temporary?

[ACL1504]

Looking good Tom.  The treasure hunt must have brought back some great memories of picking up all of those boxed goodies.  So now that the benchwork is cleared, I figure you'll be done with the 3rd level by the weekend? 

Mark,

Thanks for stopping by. The treasure hunting is over for now. I'll get inside the Ovalix later and see what I have there.

Won't get the third level done by this weekend but I did start on it.  Pictures later this evening.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom


I didn't realize how much railroad space the third level was going to give you until you posted the overall picture. This is going to be great - it looks like it will double the number of wonderful scenes. Do you have a layout map posted that I missed? Great modeling my friend - as always - I will be following along.

John,

The third level will give me double the second level. I do have a layout diagram Greg DeMayo did for me and it is pretty close to what the second level is to date. I did change the south end a little and there is no crossover as shown.

Thank you my friend for the generous compliment on the layout work.

Tom




Here is what the second level north end will look like. I will make one or two changes though.

[ACL1504]

Tom


Another question for you - Is the center peninsula going to eventually be part of the layout or is it temporary?

John,

The second level center portion is the town of Tahope (Seminole Indian for Fort). This will be another fun area to model.

I'm using the center portion to build the third level bench work.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Today I started the bench work for the third level.

Each section will be 2 X 8 feet. Instead of using 1 X 4's I'm using 1 X 3's. This will lighten the load on the brackets.



I cut one cross member and labeled it the Master. This way all the braces will have the holes drilled in the same location for each.

I drilled holes for the buss line, turnout wires, structure lights and a few extra for the unknown.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Using the master as a guide, I can drill holes in five at a time.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I need to take an hour of so for some !:! stuff. I'll grab an ice cold Diet Pepsi while I'm at it.

[ACL1504]

When building the box, I use a carpenter's square. The square helps to ensure you get the vertical cross braces square.





More in a few.