The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

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

Frank,

Afternoon my friend. Every box I open is like Christmas all over again. I thought I had all the freight cars located and then I found one box of 40 unbuilt Accurail and Tichy cars. And I still need to go through the other 80 frieght cars in the cabinet.

Good thing I have Mr. Reading Bob to help with the structures.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Today I started the track laying process for the second level. I focused on the area behind the computer and used a few pieces of cork to get a nice 38 inch radius.



After the 38" was established, I marked the line with a black marker.



I used Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue to glue the cork to the plywood. When the glue has dried for a couple of days, I'll sand the top of the cork so the track will have a nice level roadbed. After the sanding, I'll add some strips of .10 to .20 styrene for a super elevation. Track will follow after that.

[Janbouli]

Really love the way you are using all that space under the benchwork Tom. Gives me lots of ideas.

[Amagic41]

Tom
  Love how it's coming along ! .... I only wish I had all that space ....maybe when I kick all the kids out I'll steal their rooms and knock out a wall or two.

[ReadingBob]

Tom,

Great progress!  You've really been busy since you've started those seven day weekends.     I'm looking forward to seeing this in person.  I bet the Judge will be happy when he can start running trains around on the second level.   

[ACL1504]

Really love the way you are using all that space under the benchwork Tom. Gives me lots of ideas.

Jan,

Thank you, much appreciated. Due to the lack of free space I've been used to, I've really had to put my mind to it in getting the very most out of my available space. That being said, when I get more track finished the freight cars taking up available space at the moment will become revenue cars. Thus giving me more space.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom
  Love how it's coming along ! .... I only wish I had all that space ....maybe when I kick all the kids out I'll steal their rooms and knock out a wall or two.

Ken,

I appreciate you following along on this adventure. Having this much space available as a railroad modeler can also be a curse. You know, all that space needs to be filled with trains, trains and more trains.

My children left the nest early, meaning a year after high school. However, by then I had already built the 12x12' train shed in the rear.
Through crafty negotiations with the city, that shed built in 1976 was expanded to an addition of a 12x20' "L" shape on the south end. In 1993 I added another 12x14' to the north end and in 2009 I added the final addition of 12x16' to the north end as well. This gives me a 12x20' with a long 12x50' run. When I planned the shed I went with 12'; however, the cinder blocks reduced the inside to 11' 4''. I should have planned the shed giving me a full 15 wide interior. That 3' 8" sure changes things.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom,

Great progress!  You've really been busy since you've started those seven day weekends.     I'm looking forward to seeing this in person.  I bet the Judge will be happy when he can start running trains around on the second level.   

Bob,

Thanks Butty! Much appreciated and yes, those month long weekends sure do help. I wanted to have a SBG meeting prior to the Expo but time ran out. I have lots of ideas for the second level so running trains on that level may be sometime in the distant future.

Tom

[S&S RR]

Tom


Looks like you are moving right along with the track work.  I remembered to pack the ballast - I will have it at the EXPO.  Looking forward to seeing you!

[ACL1504]

Tom


Looks like you are moving right along with the track work.  I remembered to pack the ballast - I will have it at the EXPO.  Looking forward to seeing you!

John,

Thank you and thanks for getting the ballast for me. I got the money, well, I have the money packed.

Tom

[gnatshop]

Tom
Looks like you are moving right along with the track work.  I remembered to pack the ballast - I will have it at the EXPO.  Looking forward to seeing you!

John,
Thank you and thanks for getting the ballast for me. I got the money, well, I have the money packed.
Tom    

John, watch out! Jimmy D. and that Groovey feller are going to be lookin' out for 'ole money bags as soon as he
hits the door!!

[ACL1504]

Tom
Looks like you are moving right along with the track work.  I remembered to pack the ballast - I will have it at the EXPO.  Looking forward to seeing you!

John,
Thank you and thanks for getting the ballast for me. I got the money, well, I have the money packed.
Tom    

John, watch out! Jimmy D. and that Groovey feller are going to be lookin' out for 'ole money bags as soon as he
hits the door!!

What?  Do you think they really need my ten bucks! That is what I'll have left after paying John for the ballast.

Tom

[S&S RR]

Tom
Looks like you are moving right along with the track work.  I remembered to pack the ballast - I will have it at the EXPO.  Looking forward to seeing you!

John,
Thank you and thanks for getting the ballast for me. I got the money, well, I have the money packed.
Tom    

John, watch out! Jimmy D. and that Groovey feller are going to be lookin' out for 'ole money bags as soon as he
hits the door!!

What?  Do you think they really need my ten bucks! That is what I'll have left after paying John for the ballast.

Tom

David


No worries. They will end up with the Money weather it comes from Tom or me. I just picked up a special package for Tom while I was in AZ.

[ACL1504]

I decided I needed to add some lights under the second level for seeing the staging level. When I placed the second level plywood over the frame work, the staging level was very dark.

I got an 18" LED light from Home Depot for about $43.00 on sale. Regular price is around $53.00 per light.



I mounted it as shown below.





Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I wired a box to the backside of the 1x4 benchwork and extenede the wire to the end where I'll add another light and box for the south end of the staging area.





Here is how the staging area looks with the light on and the plywood deck on the second level in place.