The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[S&S RR]

It's looking great Tom!  Please do bring some warm weather with you to the EXPO.

[Twist67]

Hi,

wow,Tom,you made a lot of progress on your layout.Fantastic first structure.

Regards,Chris

[ACL1504]

It's looking great Tom!  Please do bring some warm weather with you to the EXPO.

Thanks my friend, much appreciated and I'll bring all the warm weather I can fit in the luggage.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Hi,

wow,Tom,you made a lot of progress on your layout.Fantastic first structure.

Chris,

Thanks for stopping by and yes, I've been quite the busy little beaver. I have more done and will post the update in a few minutes.

Tom


Regards,Chris

[ACL1504]

Today the Judge and I got some of the second level decking finished. The next few photos show the area where the second level fits behind the computer desk.







Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

The next two photos are of the area directly opposite the computer.





Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

Several days ago I got busy making a little more shelf storage. I was getting very tired of seeing all the cardboard boxes under the layout. I was able to move a few things around and emptied out six of the boxes.

I moved the small green cabinet out flush with the layout edge. I had the FSM kits stored here so the cabinet was pushed further under the layout. I moved the FSM kits and used that space for the Kadee, Yardmaster, Red Caboose and Intermountain freight cars.



Moving the cabinet out gave me space on the back side to build a small shelf for more of the boxed kits. This shelf is only 12.75 inches deep but it is 31 inches high.  I used the back of the cabinet as the back of the shelf. This emptied two more boxes.



These floor shelves were easy to make. I used 2x2's on the bottom and screwed 3/8" plywood on the 2x2's.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I mentioned in an earlier post I planned to move the Command Station to another location. The new Command Station area is under the center portion of the second level.

I moved it here to have it centrally located. From here I can run the necessary wires down each side of the layout. This saves me from using twice the length of wires. By keeping the Command Station East end on the one side, I would have to run all the wires down that side and all the way up the the North end.

I used 1x4's and framed an area with a sliding shelf for the new area for the Command Station.





The other half of  the shelf gave me room for the FSM and FOS kits.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

The shelf under the Command Station was the perfect place for me to combine all the chargers. Having them in one place has already proven to be a time saver.



Now you can see the room I have under the layout to have easy access to the PSX circuit breakers, PSX -AR (Auto Reversers) as I install them. I installed a 14" LED light over this area so I'll have lots of light while working in that location. I jsut realized I didn't take any pictures of this area but will do so later.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

Now I wish I could say I didn't use the second level for any storage during all the shelving work but I'd be less than honest if I did.



Now I need to unpack all this stuff and find a home for the rest of the stuff as well.

Tom

[jerryrbeach]

Tom,
Great progress!  I know the thought behind the sliding shelf and lighting under the bench work will pay dividends down the road.  It has to feel great to get the storage built to allow unpacking boxes and have the contents so well organized.  I am continually amazed with how quickly you work and how much thought you incorporate into your construction.

[GPdemayo]

Oh my.....all those boxes sure make a fella think about building a real big room to put all the completed projects.


Great work Tom.....having an assistant really makes a difference.....

[Erieman]

Good Morning Tom,
Your progress is looking great. I wish I had your organizational skills under the layout. It's like going on a hunting expedition under the layout. Based on your recent photos, I have to ask you this question, How many railroads are you building? Based on just your building count, you could probably line them up end to end all around the room twice. Whew, I'm tired just thinking how many buildings you have to build. now you know I'm just kidding.

Progress is coming along very nicely. Glad the judge is able to help you with this adventure. always good to have a friend in the hobby. On another subject, I will be looking for a box this week. there is a shipping company nearby. I have been very busy writing an article for the NMRA Magazine. Once that is shipped off this week, your box is next on the list.

Keep up the great work, my friend.

Frank / Erieman

[ACL1504]

Tom,
Great progress!  I know the thought behind the sliding shelf and lighting under the bench work will pay dividends down the road.  It has to feel great to get the storage built to allow unpacking boxes and have the contents so well organized.  I am continually amazed with how quickly you work and how much thought you incorporate into your construction.

Jerry,

Thank you for the kind comments. I'll admit that some of the things I do now appearing to be some sort organizational skills is actually the result of many "screw ups" in the past. My old layout was 46" off the floor so this new lower level staging has been a real challenge for finding storage space. As always, thank you for stopping by.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Oh my.....all those boxes sure make a fella think about building a real big room to put all the completed projects.


Great work Tom.....having an assistant really makes a difference.....

Greg,

Thank you kindly my friend. The judge has been a great help with the layout. And just think, he drives about 25 miles one way for the pleasure.

I can see that big room now. Plenty of space to lay tracks from St. Louis all the way to Moose Butt! Life is wonderful.

Tom