A More Permanent Temporary Rig (Updated 2-6-07)
The Western Maryland Western Lines in N Scale is currently under construction.
My train room is in the attic of my home, so I wanted to avoid having to lug too much stuff up and down the steps. Fortunately I have an old outbuilding garage that serves as a splendid workshop. Thanks to some timely phone calls when the old county vo-tech school was torn down, I picked up one of those great old shop tables. You know the kind, with four giant vises on the corners, a 2" thick rock maple top and lockers underneath. I also picked up some of the shop tools for a song.
As such, I am able to carry out most of the dusty, noisy and smelly aspects of layout construction outside the house. Then, when it's ready, I lug the semi-completed module upstairs to the train room.
So far the following sections have been installed: The area around the Luke Paper Mill up to the switch at Shaw (approximately 3' x 8') and the North Jct. section including the Penn Central interchange tracks. Currently under construction (as of February '06) is the lift out section just to the right of North Junction, and the Potomac River Crossings at the top side of the layout just east of Cumberland.
The section of mountain from Manor Mine #3 to Vindex is built, but won't be installed until more benchwork is up. The next major section to get built will be Cumberland, to complete the left side, except for the peninsula.
NOTES ON CONSTRUCTION
Framing Scenery Track & Control Layout Room
I'm using several different types of benchwork depending on the conditions of the location. The frame is designed to be somewhat modular. I plan to stay in my home for the foreseeable future, but in today's economy, one never knows. The larger sections along the left and right sides are all L-girder tables with 1x3 open joists. I'm using wall brackets and cross bracing to limit the number legs I need, since I want to keep the area below the layout open for storage.
Under Luke I have a semi-hidden staging yard that is accessible from the aisle. The left hand yard lead loops up and over itself to reach the drop-leaf bridge at North Jct. This carries trains from the 5th dimension (Baltimore and Lurgan) onto the modeled portion of the railroad, headed west to Hagerstown Yard. The other end of staging emerges from under Bayard, representing the west end of the Connellsville sub. This end of staging is the destination of trains bound for the N&W connection at Dickerson Run, Bowest, and Rockwood Jct.
The scenic base under the Luke paper mill is built up using 1x1 framing that carries a 1/4" plywood deck. 3/4" foam is then laminated to that to make the land forms.
The peninsula hasn't been fully engineered yet, but it will likely also utilize a simple L girder frame.
The narrow parts of the layout are to be built as shelves, using steel brackets to attach them to the walls. These are connected permanently to the large sections, although there are three removable sections for access to the closet, the window, and the main entrance to the room. These locations are noted on the diagram.
Aside from keeping the mess and fumes out in the garage, building the layout segments in the shop has another very real benefit. When I installed the wiring for the track, turnout motors and scenic lighting, I could tip the layout up on end and work standing up with the wiring right in front of me. No hot solder falling in my hair! This helped me keep the wiring much neater, and the junctions more secure.
The scenery base is extruded blue foam, attached with Liquid Nails, sculpted with a Stanley Pocket SureForm, and coated with a skim coat of Sculptamold that is tinted with earthtone acrylic paints. On top of this I use a variety of materials and colors to create the look I want depending on the scene. I use Woodland Scenics and Scenic Express ground foam products, various brands of sand and stone products, an many natural materials. See the scenery section of the Projects page for more details.
I chose Atlas Code 55 flex and sectional track for the visible parts of the layout, as well as their turnouts. Like many, I had heard about the difficulties that some people were having with older equipment with large flanges, such as "legacy" locomotives (those made before 1980) and MicroTrains and old Kadee rolling stock. Since I had changed my modeling theme from an Early Conrail concept to the Western Maryland circa 1970, I had replaced most of my fleet with newer models. I did have to update many of my remaining cars, about 100 at the time, but that was done incrementally so the hit on Mr. Wallet wasn't so bad.
Since it's introduction a couple of years ago, I've been thoroughly impressed with the appearance of the track. Now that I have a fair amount installed, I'm equally impressed with its operational characteristics. The ability to wire the frog on the turnouts virtually eliminates stalling, and they work exceptionally well with Tortoise slow motion machines, which are the standard on my mains. Even fully ballasted the turnouts work well.
The track is installed on Midwest Cork n scale roadbed, which is adhered directly to the foam base with Liquid Nails. I use a thin screed of Liquid Nails to install the track as well. It forms a bond quickly, and holds well even with the moisture that's added during ballasting. I solder most rail joints, leaving a few for expansion and contraction.
In the staging yard, I used Atlas code 80 standard flex track and Peco turnouts. I made this decision because I had a lot of it leftover from previous layouts, and my goal was to save some money. The code 80 to 50 transitions are located at the ends of the leads where the track returns to view.
For control, I chose the MRC Prodigy Advance Digital Command and Control system, which has proven to be extremely user friendly for an otherwise "technology-challenged" modeler. I understand the system has some limitations compared to other more complex systems, but so far they have not affected my enjoyment of using it.
As noted, the main-line turnouts will be all operated by Tortoise slow motion switch machines made by Circuitron. Ultimately, I'll wire these to decoders so they can be operated remotely by the hand held throttles from MRC. For now they are wired to control panels situated near the location of the switch, and can be easily operated by the engineer as his train approaches. During a formal operating session, I can assign a "tower operator" to the major points, and at some point down the road, I may build a remote Dispatcher's Office in the next room.
I use separate power supplies for track, turnouts, scenic lighting, and other accessories.
Don't underestimate the importance of finishing your layout room before you start your building benchwork. When I bought the house, which was built circa 1915, the attic room was a shambles. The only electricity was a single bulb fixture in the ceiling with a pull string. No outlets anywhere. The plaster was crumbling, and there was no insulation in the roof.
It took about 3 years of DIY and elbow grease, but I finally got it done, with nice paneling and sheetrock. I ran all new circuits, including two banks track lighting that operate on separate dimmers. I also included a ceiling fan, and a new circuit for a window air conditioner (no central in the house...yet) When I was done, it almost seemed a shame to fill the room up with a layout...
Naah!
Here's the temporary engine terminal I put in recently. I'm in the process of detailing it. I added running lights to my Walther's 130' Turntable by tapping into the track power. Since DCC applies constant voltage, the lights stay on except when the reversing circuit is activated briefly.
The Temporary Loops part of the layout has grown, with the addition of a wye and a branch line to a small yard and engine terminal area. I was also able to run a narrow shelf around the room to finally have access to the hidden staging yard. This has really opened up the operational possibilities of the layout. Click here for a look at the Revised Track Plan.
Anyway, now I have a nice comfortable finished room in which enjoy my hobby, and invite others over to run trains or just hang around and railfan the layout.
As the rest of the layout gets built, I'll provide additional updates. If you have any questions, you can contact me here:lee@wildcardgraphics.biz
A More Permanent Temporary Rig
8/21/06
After a summer of moving children from room to room as the house renovations continue, it's becoming apparent that it will be another year or so before the layout room is in fact a layout room. As such, I took some time to re-work the temporary loops I installed to make them a little more stable, and a little more functional as I run a few trains and switch the paper mill.
The project started because I finally got around to working on the west end staging yard throat, and I had to pull down a bunch of the temporary trackage anyway.
The first thing I decided to do was to extend the run of the upper loop, which ties what will be the Thomas Sub back around to the main. By opening up the loop, I added about two more feet to the siding up there to allow for slightly longer trains to be staged there. I also wanted to add a little more permanent scenery along the river bed past the truss bridges, and install a siding on the low line as well. The curve is pretty tight down there, but I test drove my SD-40 and a couple of 85' boxcars, and they stayed on the track. In addition to the siding, I've added spur tracks to give me a little more switching to do while I wait for the rest of the layout to come along.
I'm adding a spur for a lumber mill to generate all that pulpwood and chips I need for the paper mill, and another for another small industry yet to be determined.
The new loops gave me an opportunity to finish some additional scenery. Click here for a presentation on how I did this scene.
I've put together a slide show that takes you through the early parts of constructing the Western Maryland Western Lines layout. I've used fairly conventional construction methods.
The shelf section at North Junction, and the drop leaf that crosses the aisle. Modular jacks make disconnecting the bridge a snap.
Building the layout in sections allows you to do your wiring and minor adjustments to turnout motors while standing up in the workshop instead of on your back in the layout room.
Video Tour of the Layout - Part One.
Video Tour of the Layout - Part Two.
Atlas Code 55 track before ballasting
...and after. Lately I'm using a 50/50 blend of Woodland Scenics light grey fine ballast and a light to medium grey colored sand product available from a craft store. The WS chunks add some texture without overwhelming, while the sand fills in and has a good close to scale appearance.
In the beginning, there was horsehair plaster, extension cords and an old Trix F-9... Fall of 2001
The temporary loops have been finished off to create a switching area I'm calling Ohiopyle. The actual town of Ohiopyle, in southwestern Pennsylvania, never had much industry to speak of, so I'm taking a few more liberties here...
Here's the latest crossing of the Potomac River. Three down, four to go!
and the fully detailed scene.