Layout Expansion almost Complete...

Today I got into the home stretch by completing most of the timber framing.  There are a few noggins to place in around the frame but the bulk is finished.

Nib wall installed...

Remainder of beams installed for mezzanine floor...

New home for the workshop nook, dispatch area & JMRI operations/PC, and Diesel House & Maintenance Facility (Layout Space).

Jas...

Progress Update: Layout Expansion 2014...

Well the last few days I have been flat out (but in my happy place) doing all the internal framing for the layout expansion.

The shed extension (13' - 4m) was finished on Saturday morning and I had the timber delivered the day before ready to go.  

The internal frame with the portal shed frame supports the mezzanine floor within the area that is used for storage.

It gone relatively quickly with only one more nib wall to be put up and then the mezzanine floor gets put in.  

As this is going to be mainly storage for a garage stuff I will insulate walls and place plaster over this.  This will hopefully have enough room to be used as a crew lounge area for the main layout.

Had a lot of fun to date, sometimes there is nothing more relaxing and calming than throwing on the Nail Bag, making a few measurement, cutting some timber with compound/mitre saw and building something from the ground up...

Latest RDG SW1500 Switcher...

Well the latest RDG SW1500 switcher #2763 has arrived safe and well and is now working on the L&T Branch.  I have installed a spare TCS T1 decoder in it to get it working and test it out.

 Next step will be to add Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound & LED lights.

Jas...

Lift Out Bridge - Wiring & Photos...

Here is the wiring diagram for how I have set up the Lift Out Bridge (LOB) on the JL&T.  This is now the second version of the LOB, and it has been realigned and widened to make the track work in this section flow better and allow the installation of THE #8 LH Turnout that will eventually go to the Staging Yard.

Wiring Diagram:

The wiring above allows for a safety buffer zone incorporated into the last section of track before the edge of the fascia.  So when the LOB is removed it deadens the last 2' - 3' (600 - 900mm) of track work, this way even if a locomotive is running at full speed there is no way they can be launched off the layout onto the floor below.

The small micro switch is the key to the whole idea, it basically takes the positive DCC power for from the main bus and routes it through the micro switch and into the two "safety sections" of track work.  When the bridge is removed the switch deactivates and kills the positive power to these two sections.

You can see that when the bridge is in place the lever on the switch is pushed down activating the switch and allowing power to travel through to the positive rails on the safety sections.

Here is the positive wire from the DCC Main Bus running to and from the micro switch...

The positive power from the micro switch feeds into a power block that feeds roughly 3' of mainline feeders to the east and also the power to the feeders along the Paper Mill Siding for about a 1'.  This ensures that all the northern approaches are dead if the LOB is removed.

The wiring from here (red & black in the above picture) then runs through a small conduit up and over the main entrance into the layout to the other side were it feeds the opposite side of the bridge 

(the safety section only).  

The bridge section itself is independently powered straight from the main track bus, it terminates into a quick release plug so that the bridge can be removed for better access.

In the above shot you can also see the cleat that supports the bridge (piece of dressed pine against the rough saw) there are two either side and the LOB is screwed down either end.  I prefer screws because they don't really move at all and ensure pretty much perfect alignment of the rail on the track, I will hide these with some small clumps of bushes with a removable piece to access the screw.

So hopefully this helps explain it all, its really quite easy and a very effective method of ensuring that your valuable locomotives and rolling stock don' take that nasty dive off the layout onto the nasty concrete ravine below...

Jas...

JL&T Layout Expansion of 2014...

Today marks the first day of the JL&T Layout Expansion, the shed that houses the layout will be getting a 4m x 4m (13' x 13') section added onto the east side.

This thread shows the expansion plan...

The expansion is to store the contents of our garage that is incorporated in our home.  The garage is being converted into a therapy/playroom for our eldest son Lachlan who is autistic & intellectually disabled.

There has been an agreement struck that I can extend the layout into the new shed extension so long as I manage (with no exceptions) to get all the contents of the existing garage into the shed extension, comfortably and with no effort to remove any of it if needed.

No worries...

The first stage is the levelling of the site, and the pouring of the concrete slab.

And the slab done...

More to follow soon.

Jas...

Lift Out Bridge - Update...

Well today ended up being a very productive day for the rebuild of the lift out bridge.  I managed to finish off levelling the bridge and grading the track through the cut onto the bridge, I also installed the cork roadbed on both sides of the track this morning.

While waiting for the caulk to setup for the roadbed I setup and cut out the bridge canyon through the bridge, at this stage I have only opened up the top and have not cut the sides until I install some more bracing.

One thing I learn't from building the first version of the lift out bridge (LOB) was to make sure that you secured the LOB with screws first so that it is in its final position and then lay the cork roadbed and track first.  This way when you make the cuts through the track and ties the alignment should be spot on.

I also had to insert some styrene shims into the southern approach track to ensure the #8 turnout and trackwork was level horizontally and remove any dips.  The track grade is quite steep (in prototypical terms) but it adds a nice little visual break to the mainly flat landscape.

When the roadbed caulk has cured and I have secured the track to the LOB and the approaches I will drill holes through the bridge and into the cleats and insert the guide dowels to ensure the correct alignment of the LOB and the track on the layout.

Lastly I ran a consist across the section several times to test the radius and the trackwork, it had two SD40-2, two 89' TOFC's and two 74' Centre Beam Flat Cars too, all traversed the track without issue at slow and fast speeds.

Next step is to finish the river canyon, install the additional bracing, place braces under the bridge ends and to finish them as concrete piers.

Jas...

Progress on the lift bridge rebuild...

Well last night I managed to start the cut through the cork & plaster for the downhill grade towards the bridge.  The grade also incorporates the turnout from the new staging area.

The plaster sub roadbed was a good choice and allows the sculpting into various landforms easily.  I have to add cork underlay again and shape that into the finished grade, the path that the new line is taking flows much better than previous and adds a nice little scenic detail with the cut.

Once the cut has been finished I'll be adding the landform base using masking tape and a coat of drywall sealer.

Jas...

Re-visiting the lift out bridge...

Today I finally decided to tackle something that has been bothering me for awhile.  The lift out bridge that connects the centre peninsula to the northern side of the layout has been not quite right since it was converted from a swing up to a lift out.

When I constructed the centre peninsula I made a little mistake and it ended up being about 10mm higher than the northern deck.  So the track coming across the bridge was on a downward grade with two curves that didn't really flow to well.

Due to the expansion of the layout shed, and the addition of the staging on the south side of the extension there was an opportunity to fix up the bridge and add the turnout that connects the staging to the layout.

Also the construction of the lift out bridge had two extensions coming out off the layout and protruding into the walkway that held the bridge up, so I wanted to get rid of these so that it was easier to walk along the walkway without obstructions in it.

The new lift out bridge is constructed purely from pine to keep the weight down, the previous version was hardwood for stability.  The new version now spans the entire width of the walkway and secures to the layout frame with a 19mm cleat.

As can be seen below the new section flows much better, the previous alignment had two bends that had the whole section come out more towards the roller door.  The new alignment has one bend (which is 28" R) from the crossing with a short tangent track before the bridge.  The opposite side (southern side) comes out straight into a #6 LH turnout that will feed into the new staging area.

The existing southern section will have a short curved section into the existing turnout underneath the backdrop wall.  There is a slight grade from the turnout to the new staging turnout which needed to be installed as I have lowered the bridge to match the existing northern deck.  This new section will be cut into the existing cork & drywall sub roadbeds and will be modelled as a cutting, this will add some visual difference to area instead of being completely flat.

The next step is to cut the sub roadbed out and get the grade right between the existing turnout under the backdrop to the location of the new staging turnout before the bridge.

Jas...

Some exciting news for the JL&T...

There are going to be some additions made to the JL&T Layout shed very soon...

Hopefully some of the ideas in the photo below can be negotiated into the addition?

More to follow soon...

UPDATE...

So the great news is there is going to be an addition to the layout shed due to expansion within our home.  We are converting our garage into another room for our two boys which requires the contents of the garage to be moved.

The layout room will be extended by a further 4 metres (13") to the east of the current entrance.  This will also allow for further expansion of the layout, namely the possible removal of the workbench & dispatch area into the new section & the addition of a sizeable staging area that will modelled as a classification yard.

The above plan shows the additions to the new area, and the slight alterations to the existing layout.  The current staging area (3 tracks) in the l&T area will be converted to more narrow bench industry, and there will also be the addition of the wye coming from the new yard.

This new area will also possibly allow for the addition of small crew lounge area that is outside of the layout area, also with the dispatch desk being outside of the main layout area will also free up space for more operations within the room.

Above the workbench & dispatch area will also be the addition of a locomotive service facility that I have had as a given since designing the JL&T.

More to follow soon as the build starts hopefully with the next few weeks.

Jas.

JL&T Module - The Series...

For those that want to see the beginnings of our layout take shape this is what really started it all.

I will be posting a series on how I came up with the concept of building a module prior to building the layout, and how it eventually became an integral part of the L&T Branch today.

For those wishing to start building a layout, a module can be a great way to practice all the skills required with building a full size layout on a small manageable scale.  

And when finished they can be used as part of the layout in series with other modules, or used to take photos of your locomotives & rolling stock.

Links to the first two parts in the series:

JL&T Module - The beginning of a Railroad - Part 1

JL&T Module - The beginning of a Railroad - Part 2

JL&T Module - The beginning of a Railroad - Part 3

JL&T Module - The beginning of a Railroad - Part 4

JL&T Module - The beginning of a Railroad - Part 5

New addition to the JL&T switcher fleet...

Well this week I found a new addition to the JL&T - RDG Switcher fleet.  I was searching eBay like I normal do and came across a "rare" Athearn RDG (all green) SW1500 switcher numbered 2763.

I know this is rare because I have not seen one advertised anywhere since starting the layout around four years ago.  I have another RDG (yellow #2766) SW 1500 switcher that I purchased here in Australia about a year into the build, but have not seen any others since.

I checked the Athearn website and these where produced around 2009, and came in three road numbers.  After doing a little research I found out that this switcher was originally all yellow and was involved in a wreck then rebuilt, during the rebuild it was repainted in the all green RDG scheme.

Photo credit to Author Kim Peirsol.

So once this arrives here in Australia (Thanks Alan!) it will be getting Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound and some details parts and light weathering.  This will take my fleet of SW1500 for the RDG to two, until the arrival of the Broadway Limited SW1500's in the next month or two.

Jas...

Progress on the Cement Distributor & Other buildings...

Yesterday I managed to get the remainder of the supports for the trailer loading silo completed for the cement distributor.  I also got down the sheet styrene for the concrete loading/truck standing area too.

The pipework between the main silos & the trailer loading silo are complete too,  all that is needed is final painting & weathering.

I also had time to complete the background building in this scene.  It is a pice of 1/2" Plywood covered in Evergreen styrene wall panelling and has Some roller doors & entry doors from Pikestuff.

And the overall scene as it stands at the moment.  I will be adding a either a wire fence or metal panel fence to the back of the cement plant, this will add to the scene by allowing the top of passing trains to be scene but not entire thing until it rounds the corner into the operators view.

More soon.

Jas...

Cement Distributor...

Today I finished up adding the base colour coats by airbrush to the structures at the end of the L&T Branch.  The cement distributor has also had a little addition added.

I found the pressurised cement trailers from Herpa and decided that the cement silos, needed a smaller silo to load the trailers.  The loading silo is a combination of the frame from the Walthers - Grain Surge Bin kit & bottom tapered chute, Plumbing Pressure Pipe Socket & Domed Cap, Evergreen "H" Beams and 0.5mm Styrene Sheet.

The pressure pipe fittings (socket & cap) were a little rough, so I added the 0.5mm styrene sheet to provide a smooth surface.  It also allowed the "H" beams to line up with the frame below.

Overall it's been a great little addition and will add to scene, it was relatively easy to make and I would use it again to make loading silos or vessels.  Next step will be to attach the silo to the frame, add the access ladders, and piping from the main silos.

Today's "Done in a Day" Project...

As part of finishing the L&T Branch I completed this little section of the stub end siding, it will be used for unloading ethylene glycol into the storage tanks that will be used by the automotive distributor.

Was a fun project and took only a day to complete, it's in primer now drying and waiting for individual 
colours and weathering once dry.

The kits are mainly Walthers ( Oil Refinery Piping kit, Piping kit & Truck Loading Rack) that have been used, scratch built & kit bashed.

Jas...

Progress from today...

Here are a few photos of the additions and progress to the last section of the L&T Branch.

I added a small warehouse to the unloading area for the liquid storage area, positioned the tanks, and started painting the base coats.

This stub end siding will take one tank car at a time and will be unloading ethylene glycol  for distribution as anti-freeze, it will also get deliveries for other chemicals used within the auto industry.

And looking down towards the end of the siding the opening in the backdrop wall is completely hidden.

Jas...