Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[S&S RR]

Today, I started pulling the wires for all the new track that I'm installing.  Both for the new helix systems and the upper levels of the layout.  It's a great use of energy - I pull another set of wires every time I crawl under the layout.  Nothing like have a bunch of projects going at once.   The system I worked out for the building the helix on my work bench and assembling the sections underneath the layout is working out well.  I know I need pictures.  Every time I get under the layout it's, oh yea, I was supposed to bring the camera in here on the next trip. . 

[S&S RR]

I received a very nice package from from forum member Tom Boyd this week.  If you have been following the F&SM thread you saw the brick structures in Franklin, like Porky's Place along with the very unique brick roadways in Franklin. We discussed that George used castings for these from Trains of Texas which are no longer available.  Well, Tom sent me one of these castings this week and asked if I would make him a mold, and a few extra castings, and while I was at it, make a mold or two for myself.  I love the forum! Thanks Tom.  I have great plans for these castings. Streets, scratch built buildings, foundations, a wall or two, just to name a few. I will be posting a few pictures of the casting process on this thread as this project progresses.





This brick pattern to me really looks great when you get it painted and weathered. It is a very realistic old style brick. I measured the bricks and they are approximately 4 x 12 (using my HO scale and my 50 something eyes) on average.  Yes, it is a little large for HO scale standard bricks, but it looks good.  I did a quick search on the internet and there are a number of commercially available bricks in this size range.

[S&S RR]

Good evening!  I've been away on a fishing trip for the past week or so.  Tomorrow, I'm back to work on the layout.  I enjoyed the time with my family and came back from the trip ready to get the trains running.  Along with all the other projects I have going right now on the layout.

[S&S RR]

Note: Posts for August 12 - August 17 were lost in the great server meltdown.  The administrator who will remain nameless documented this in his post dated August 17th. Since I can't remember what I posted I will post a few pictures that were on my camera from yesterday which will bring us up-to-date on the build progress.

[S&S RR]

I have been spending most of my layout build time working on the helixes inside the mountains of the layout.  This is still a great way of having continuous run trains for open houses etc., but it has turned out to be much more work than I expected. 

[S&S RR]

I have two other fill in project going that allow me to sit and let my back take a rest after being under the layout.  The first is some Trains of Texas wall castings described above.  And the second is a FSM Structure build of Jacob's Fuel.  Here are a couple pictures to show where I'm at on the build.  The strip wood is all stained, the castings have been primed, the base has been built, and I'm starting to add the supports to the back of the bin walls.

[S&S RR]

Here is a picture of one of the helix sections being prepared top side.  It will be installed in the mountain to the right.





You can also see my bump hat and head lamp that has proven very useful on this project.

[martin.ojaste]

I love your workbench. It busy and that is a good thing. For some reason a helix reminds me of life at home ... long way around to getting things moving forward. (Hmm, do trains go backwards on a helix, or only forward?)

[S&S RR]

I love your workbench. It busy and that is a good thing. For some reason a helix reminds me of life at home ... long way around to getting things moving forward. (Hmm, do trains go backwards on a helix, or only forward?)

Marty


Thanks for stopping by the thread.  I clean my workbench at the start of every project and within 30 min. or so it looks like the pictures. As to helix directions - mine are all going forward no matter which way you point the locomotive.

[S&S RR]

One more loop to go and the first HOn3 helix will be complete.

[ak-milw]

Will you be able to get any pictures of it, just curious.

[S&S RR]

Will you be able to get any pictures of it, just curious.

Andy


I'm going to try to get a few pictures when it's complete.  It's crowded in there so I'm not sure how they will turn out.

[S&S RR]

Today, I started assembling the walls for bins on the Jacob's Coal build.   





I also discovered there was more cutting inside the mountain to install the last loop of the helix.  If all goes well pictures helix pictures tomorrow.

[S&S RR]

Today,  was chore day so I didn't get that helix done.  The plan is to spend the day finishing it tomorrow.  I recently was asked why I take the time to post progress pictures to this thread.  I posted this on a new layout build thread here on the forum today and thought I should repost it here.


I had an experience at a train convention a few years ago that keeps me posting to my thread.  A gentleman in a wheel chair came up to me and introduced himself and said - John my layout building days are over but I check your thread every day to see how your doing on yours. He said he didn't feel comfortable posting but really enjoyed the progress pictures. So every chance I get I post a few pictures for **** and thank GOD that I can still work on my layout.

I hope your still following along.

[martin.ojaste]

Amen!