The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

Good Morning Tom,

Just stopped by to check out your progress. As usual , looking great. How about some more overall pics of both sides when you get a chance. Just saying. Keep up the good work. How many days until you are officially retired? You are going to like it. I'm going on year 6. Need to back some scenery, keep up the great work.

Frank / Erieman

Afternoon Frank,

Thanks for checking in and it was great Skyping with you this afternoon. I'll get more pictures going in week or so.

Tom

Good Afternoon Tom,

I  told you that you would like using Skype. Now i have to get a longer cord for the camera. This would allow me to show you so much more of the layout. The biggest problem that I have is the amount of bars on my computer. This room does not get good reception because of the wire screen built into the stucco exterior walls. Really like seeing the progress you are making on the layout. Looks great. So much to do, and so little time, but retirement will be a big help. You should be quite far along by the time that the NMRA nationals roll around in 2017.

Have a great day.

Frank / Erieman

Frank,

Yes, the Skype has been quite intertaining and a big learning curve as well. But, it sure is fun.

I have two days at work left as I told them I wans't workiong on December 31.  Those will most likely be the longest days ever.

Hope you and Phyllis had a great Christmas! We did and Santa was very good to little old me.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Well, in the first week of retirement I got a lot done. I started and finished the work on the West Staging Yard, WSY. I wasn't sure how it would turn out as the turnouts had to be arranged differently on the north end. However, it all worked out and I'm very pleased.







Continued in a few.

[bparrish]

Tom.......

Looks good to me.......

see ya
Bob

[ACL1504]

Fast forward and you see it is finished.








Tomorrow I'll go over an issue I had and how I resolved it.

[ACL1504]

Tom.......

Looks good to me.......

see ya
Bob

Thanks Bob, much appreciated.

Tom

[Janbouli]

Excellent , wish I was 12 years older , sorta , kinda , eh maybe not 

[ranny9]

Tomorrow I'll go over an issue I had and how I resolved it.

Why no cork roadbed for sound deadening?

[Erieman]

Tom,

Looking great. I especially like the wall of boxes!!! Only kidding, It must feel like you are working in a tunnel. You are moving right along. Pretty soon you will be on level two and then it should get real interesting. That's a lot of storage tracks. Is your intention that one yard is East Bound traffic and the other yard is for West bound traffic? Plenty of storage on your layout. you could probably go for the Guiness World Record for the longest train by coupling all the trains together.

Keep posting pictures of your progress. I was going to work on track and scenery, but have gotten wrapped up on the East end Market Structure. This is not good. Tomorrow is another day. Have a great weekend.

Frank / Erieman

[GPdemayo]

Looking good.....how's the back?   

[gnatshop]

Glad to see Diet Pepsi back on the bench!!
It's already producing great results - now, I'm comfortable that thangs are gonna move on smoothly!! 

Well, unless that Cuse boy buys another loco that needs worked on!! 
Even if it's your thread, I can't cut him no slack!!!

[Zephyrus52246]

Nice looking yard.  What's the little car for?  Is it a level on it or a light?  How did you attach the track?


Jeff

[ACL1504]

Excellent , wish I was 12 years older , sorta , kinda , eh maybe not 

Jan,

Thank you, much appreciated. Don't rush your retirement and senior days. I think you should avoid old age at any cost, well, maybe except one!

Tom

[ACL1504]

Nice looking yard.  What's the little car for?  Is it a level on it or a light?  How did you attach the track?


Jeff

Jeff,

Thank for stopping by, much appreciated. The little car is an old Athearn boxcar underframe and deck. I glued a small weight and level on the top. I use this car to check the level of my track work. It saves problems with the track down the line. I've found that flex track can have a slight rise in it that causes uncoupling.  Just call it insurance.

I'll go over the securing of the track this evening.


Tom

[PennsyJ1]

Looking good Tom!! Your getting a lot done. I need to get down there and see it in person once I shake this cold.

Bill

[ACL1504]

Tomorrow I'll go over an issue I had and how I resolved it.

Why no cork roadbed for sound deadening?

Randee,

The cork question is an excellent question. I've had a couple of visitors ask the same thing. This is the lower level staging of the tree levels. It serves only to store the trains. All the trains are DCC/Sound installed. With the sound of the locos, there is no perceivable noise other than the loco diesel and steam sounds.

Another reason for no cork is the fact the framing for the second level is only going to be 10 inches above the staging level. The 10 inches gives me plenty of room to reach in if needed and I figured it would be easier with the track if an issue should arise. I think the cost of adding cork to the bottom/staging level would have been close to $270.00.

Tom