| Author |
 Topic  |
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2010 : 12:39:22 PM
|
You put it very well Matt! Between 'work sessions', I get the little things done so we can move foward quickly during a session. A lot of it is 'thinking' and 'planning' so I have a clear vision of where we are going.
Bruce was over last night for a short while and we began to connect the lower level end of the helix to the layout. Pictures coming soon! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
 |
|
|
Steam Nut
Fireman
USA
1274 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 3:14:26 PM
|
| Yeh, Its a good thing I'm thin, Connecting the lower level to the helix! Can you say build a layout in a closet, what working room. |
Steam Lives! |
|
|
|
pcmatt
Engine Wiper
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 6:14:25 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steam Nut
Yeh, Its a good thing I'm thin, Connecting the lower level to the helix! Can you say build a layout in a closet, what working room.
And here I thought I broke you in on mine with the post in the middle!!! |
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26375 |
|
|
|
belg
Fireman
USA
4380 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 07:20:22 AM
|
| Hey guys any progress on the helix? Looking forward to the how to. Pat |
 |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 10:18:26 AM
|
The 'how to' is coming Pat, I promise! While I've made some progress on the railroad, it has been slow the past few weeks. Between summer activities, working extra hours, etc., I haven't been making the same level of progress I had in the past. But, I have managed to nearly complete all sub-roadbed on the lower level and am getting ready to lay roadbed and track!
As for the helix, we did connect the lower level to the bottom of the helix. Picture are coming! That unto itself was a bit of an engineering masterpiece, but in the end it came out well. I am finishing putting track on the first circle of the helix so that on Bruce's next visit (most likely this weekend), we can install the second level. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
USA
720 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 10:00:20 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by MarkF
Between summer activities, working extra hours, etc., I haven't been making the same level of progress I had in the past.
Don't fret, Mark, it'll soon be cold and miserable again, just like we love it in model railroad-land. Now, excuse me while I defoliate the Morning Glory that is smothering my Lilac bush! |
|
|
|
Mike Hamer
Engineer
9343 Posts |
|
|
Steam Nut
Fireman
USA
1274 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 12:28:39 PM
|
| This one is nice to work in, Unlike the one I worked on with the post in the middle of it! And its nice and high off the floor so you don't kill yourself getting in and out of it. |
Steam Lives! |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 6:45:18 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steam Nut
This one is nice to work in, Unlike the one I worked on with the post in the middle of it! And its nice and high off the floor so you don't kill yourself getting in and out of it.
And, I also mounted a nice bright light above the center of it so Bruce has plenty of light! I like to take care of my workers!  |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
INRAIL
Crew Chief
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 11:35:37 PM
|
Wow Mark. I just don't know what to say about you guys that build these huge layouts. It blows my mind how you keep all of that wiring straight and the amount of track you have to put down. It's a work of art all by itself. =o) I know what it takes to keep my layout clean too and it's simple compared to what you're doing. It would overwhelm me. I'm impressed!
Another P Company modeler.
Tom Johnson |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 10:12:07 PM
|
Thanks for you kind words Tom, but don't be too impressed yet. I'm far from done and I'm overwhelmed as well! The past week for me has been tough as I've been working a few double shifts. Between that and 'daddy duties', my time has been limited and progress has come to a temporary halt! But never fear, an update will be forthcoming shortly.
Thanks again. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 5:14:19 PM
|
Well, it would appear summertime activities have slowed progress a little, but there has been progress! So here's a little update on where things are as of now. And yes, once we start the second level of the helix, I will do the 'how to' thread. I just need to get a few pics of the process, and to make sure we know what we're doing!
Back to the progress report. We will start with the helix. In my last update, there were a few questions asking how we were going to connect the helix to the lower level. Hopefully, the next few pics will explain that better.
A few weeks ago, Bruce was over to connect the lower part of the helix to the lower level of the layout. This required installing a section of roadbed in the closet to connect the helix to Sunbury in two different areas.
First, to put it into perspective, here is an overview shot of the Sunbury area, which is on the lower level. There isn’t any upper level benchwork installed here yet!
You can see the helix to the right, and you can see two holes in the wall that go to the closet behind Sunbury. The larger hole to the left is where the Wilkes-Barre branch will leave the lower level, enter the closet and make it’s way towards the helix. To the right of Sunbury you can see the second hole in the wall. This is where the Shamokin Track will leave Sunbury and make its way towards the helix.
To give you a better idea just how tight it is back there, here is a picture of Bruce installing the road bed sections. Thank God he’s skinny!
And taken from the other side of the closet, here is the roadbed installed and painted. The track in the foreground is the Wilkes-Barre track coming down from the helix towards the hole in the wall where it will appear in Sunbury. In the distance, you can make out the roadbed for the Shamokin Track as it enters the hole in the wall.
This picture, taken from the helix at track level and shows the two tracks headed to their respective entrance points on the lower level; the Shamokin track to the left, and the Wilkes-Barre track to the right.
 .
And here is how the helix looks as of today. Still only the one level in, but it has track and is wired. We are now ready to install the second level. As we go, each level will be installed and leveled, then track applied and feeders soldered on.
So, other than that, not much else to show. Below is a picture of what will someday be ‘North Sunbury’ where the mainline crosses the Susquehanna River. You can see the bridge placed mid-way down. This will be a fair sized industrial area that will feature some businesses including a fairly large Westinghouse complex that does transformer work. This will accommodate a few heavy duty flats which will in turn generate some special movements during operating sessions!
And then we have this area, which is the last area on the lower level to receive sub-roadbed! This is the Sunbury industrial area. The single track mainline will pass to the front of this area and have two sidings here to work from. The unpainted section of roadbed against the wall will be raised about an inch and represent a fairly large industrial park that is located just south of the town of Sunbury. This area will be approximately 16’ long with a lot of switching!
I have begun installing roadbed as well. The next big push is to get all the roadbed installed and begin laying the mainline around the lower level! I plan to begin that this weekend. My goal is to get trains running around the lower level by the end of September, and then go back and begin cutting in the various industrial areas while Bruce continues work on the helix.
Thanks for looking! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
|
|
Grubes
Engine Wiper
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 7:57:48 PM
|
Great work guys. Even though it looks like minor progress from your perspective, looks like a lot has been done as I see it.
Look forward to continued progress.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Grubes
Engine Wiper
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 8:00:18 PM
|
Great work guys. Even though it looks like minor progress from your perspective, looks like a lot has been done as I see it.
Look forward to continued progress.
Dave
|
|
|
|
4Steam
New Hire
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2010 : 11:45:17 AM
|
Just caught up on your post
layout is looking good gives me motivation to get going on mine |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Construction of the new PRR Northern Division
