Trackwork Benchwork Finished...

Yesterday I had another full productive day of finishing off the benchwork for the new extension trackwork (staging yard & diesel serving facility) the plywood base is down and secured all that remains is to add the final sub roadbeds of drywall/plaster & cork.

Staging/Classification Yard on the left & Diesel Service Facility on the right...






























The benchwork for the Classification Yard sits above our storage shelves, these will eventually have drop curtains fitted to the underside of the timber frames that overhang the shelves by about 90mm.

The penetration through to the existing L&T Branch area has been completed, and I have installed side guards to the crossover bridge to protect any locos or rolling stock that if derailed in the void would take a long drop to the concrete below.

The Diesel Service Facility area is also finished and the benchwork complete, again there is another penetration through the existing layout this time to the interchange connection that will eventually lead down to staging under the layout on the northern side.

Again this penetration through the new extension framed wall & existing shed wall has a void around 1' (300mm) in width that has been bridged, I also added a side guard incase of derailment stopping that drop down to the concrete floor below.

And looking back from the existing layout to the new Service Facility...

More soon...

Jas.

Layout Expansion - New Track Update...

Well today was a very productive day, seeing the new staging area benchwork almost finished, all that is left is a small section of plywood and the drywall/plaster & cork to be laid and its ready for track.

The above section still to have the plywood installed with have the yard lead to the new staging, from the centre peninsula turnout just before the bridge.  It will also hold a couple of storage tracks & caboose tracks.

Below are the penetrations between the existing L&T area (old staging area) and the new staging area housed in the new extension.  This will connect to the new industrial siding on the south wall and will also help produce the new "wye" for the layout.

Looking from the old staging back into the new staging area...

I also managed to install the bench framework for the new Diesel Service Facility that will be  above the dispatcher/work bench nook.

Diesel Service Facility benchwork installed...

Breakthrough into the existing layout, this will have the lead to the service facility which will connect to the "interchange" track.

More to follow.

Jas...

New Track Expansion for the JL&T...

Yesterday I began part of the expansion of the trackwork for the JL&T.  With the near completion of the extra 4m (13') of layout room I began the new Staging Area for the layout.

This will be run as a Classification Yard for the major portion of train movements for the layout, it directly connects with the existing staging area located on the south wall of the layout in the L&T area (which will become another narrow industrial area) and forms a Wye with the northbound track leading over the lift our bridge.

The benchwork is 4m x 400mm (13' x 16") and runs on top of the storage shelving in the new extension.  It will hold five storage tracks with two drill leads for locos to escape as the yard is all stub ended.  There maybe a future extension along the east wall the may lead to the yard expanding in length and/or another large industrial switching area.

The benchwork is being made in two modules, the method is the same as employed for the rest of the layout to date.  Pine framing topped with plywood and the Drywall/plaster and cork sheet.

To connect to the existing trackwork I had to make a penetration through the existing shed metal skiing cladding, this will have an insert place inside to stop any wayward locos or rolling stock from falling into the void inbetween the two walls.

The penetrations will be hidden by some form of scenic element like I have used before, either a building, billboard, or bridge.

More soon as we progress.

Jas...

Signalling Adventure Begins...

Over the last week I have started our venture into signalling the JL&T.

The start is only small and involves the installation of a couple of Tortoise Motors to control a series of turnouts that are hidden behind the Cement Plant on the L&T Branch, but none the less it is the start.

There has been a significant amount of research, running ideas through our resident signalling & electronics guru Brendan, the ordering of several pieces of electronic hardware to control it all, and of course the signal masts & dwarf heads.

I'll go into the details later on as we progress, because even though we have a game plan of sorts, it is still fairly fluid as to the final setup.  Needless to say it is based on a Simple Serial Buss (SSB) design and will be working in conjunction with my existing NCE Power Pro - 5amp DCC System.

But back to the newly installed Tortoise motors...

For a temporary fix to a throwing of a series of turnouts while operating the layout, I've installed a few of the Tortoise's and wired them to some DPDT switches.  These will be replaced at a later date with push button switches wired direct to a SE8C and controlled by JMRI.

These are the terminal blocks I have installed to power up the series of Tortoise's in the area, they run off a 12V (adjustable from 9V to 12V) and running 2.5A. gain these are temporary and will be replaced with smaller more reliable terminal blocks and either Cat5 or Cat6 wiring as the standard for the signalling wiring.

This will be run as a 12V buss around the layout to control the Tortoise's.  Again these are temporary and will be replaced with smaller more reliable terminal blocks and either Cat5 or Cat6 wiring as the standard for the signalling wiring.

As part of the installation I also made and installed a small fascia panel for the area too.  This was a draft version, but has turned out quite reasonable and will end up being the standard for all of my panels.  These were done on Pixelmator and laminated then stuck onto 3mm MDF with double sided tape.

The panels and switches will be recessed into the fascia at a later date...

The DPDT switches wired directly to the Tortoise Motors for manual control...

More to come soon as we progress on the signalling...

Jas.

Installing the Extension Storage...

I've been progressing with the installation of the storage shelves for the new section over the last week.  These are the existing shelves from our garage, once installed I will begin installing the additional layout bench work over the top of these.

This section will be the main layout staging area, that will be built and operated as a classification yard.  The framework also hide the storage shelves and everything under them, I'll be installing drop curtains that will go down the carpet square mats.

This section is the original entrance to the layout, I had to frame it out to support the mezzanine level.  In order to help seal out the dust & dirt, and further reduce any climate changes throughout the year I've installed the wall paper and filled in the gaps with insulation.

This area will also have new sections of layout installed and will be set up like the photo above, but will also get drywall/plaster.  The left section of new layout will house the yard lead from the yard to the centre peninsula and the lead to the new south section of the L&T Branch, these two areas from a "Y" for the layout.

The right section above the workbench and dispatcher nook will house the new Diesel Service & Maintenance Facility.  Then it will be time to move onto the workbench & dispatch nook area.

Jas...

Extension Framework Finished...

Well today I managed to finish installing the mezzanine flooring, the insulation and the last of the framework.

Insulation in and ready for the staging yard framework to go in...

Workbench area, Dispatch Area ready for benchwork and MDF walls...

Mezzanine storage area in and completed...

Looking into the existing JL&T Layout from the new workbench area and dispatch nook...

Wall cladding to go in, power points, and benchwork and all finished...

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...