Southern Pacific in the Inland Empire

[john_plsn]

The SPIE RR idea came about from a suggestion of a friend many years after dismantling my SPIDGE RR. Southern Pacific in Dad's Garage. I am the Dad. I ran on that roughly from 2004 to 2014 when I began modifying the layout for longer trains. Deep into it I decided to just start over. After many years and iterations I settled on a rough footprint and operational theme. Construction began Jan 2023.
A few items that I hope to include;
Yard ops
A busy mainline
Plenty of switching for locals
Continuous staging for automatically resetting of trains
Long trains
No stacked switching areas or control traffic through scheduling to avoid operator congestion
Walk in design
High track elevation for a better view
Leave some space for a workbench
Area specific details to gain the flavor of the locations depicted

Here is a rough footprint, but it has changed from this a bit.

[john_plsn]

My first build on the layout was the Helix.
Everything is built using 9 or 11 ply cabinet grade birch. 1/2" for subroadbed and 3/4" for supporting framework.
Specs,
Double track 20" and 21-3/8" radii.
Easements for curves.
Vertical easements.
Height 48" to 60".
Rough average grade 1.7.
Levels 4-1/2.

The original idea was single track but went double track to avoid a bottleneck. There will be a junction on the lower level for trains to reposition to the proper track. I also elected to run the Fontana branchline once around the outside of the helix to gain space and separation from the rest of the layout. This way the local guy has space to pull long cuts of cars.

Here is the plan, but of course it changed a bit.

In the beginning with some subroadbed.


The base supporting frame using 5" braces made from 3/4" ply. The feet are also adjustable.


The finished and mostly painted helix 3/5/2023.

[john_plsn]

Other construction points of interest.
Pocket holes to attach supports to the lower section.

Rather than rail joiners I used Gapmasters to solder the rail together. I used Fastracks sweepsticks to hold the rail alignment while soldering.

[Warren K]

Those Gapmasters are amazing. I have never seen them before. Wow! Nice job,

[john_plsn]

If I were to build this helix again I would leave the track and roadbed off to set the grade better. Then take it apart and paint, then add the track and roadbed as I add the levels. Another live and learn moment. Painting after it was all together with track was tough and risky.

Now that it's been over 100 degrees for a while I was able to get inside the helix to check for expansion issues. I was pleasantly surprised the track looked good. There was one spot where the track kinked outward a little, but I don't think it will effect a train. I'll need some track on the lower level before I can truly test it.

This was a huge step to overcome toward my efforts to make model railroading fun.

[john_plsn]

After I test ran the helix I moved on to the branchline build. I built it as one large module and would represent the view from the 10 freeway. The elements that always stood out to me are A1-Grit, Peterman Lumber, the dome at Martin Marietta, and the small yard in Mira Loma. There is a nice tanker spot behind the dome I left out as space did not allow for it.

The plan and what it turned into;



The different benchwork colors are an experiment on what color to paint the house. The helix is way to silvery, but this module was my wife's favorite.

[john_plsn]

Adding the track to the Fontana branchline. There will be quite a bit of switching here with fair sized cuts of cars per move, so smooth trackwork was a priority.

The plan includes from front to back;
Main 1
Main 2 used as a work track.
Kaiser/California Steel interchange.
Tail or work track for Peterman Lumber and Martin Marietta.
A1-Grit.
The far end has Peterman Lumber along the back with the curved track serving Martin Marietta.

Plenty of action with quite a few car types in play.

[john_plsn]

Moving on to the next modules. This will be 10 track staging on the upper deck. Five tracks for each direction. I staggered the turnouts on the exit side so loco numbers can be easily viewed when acquiring a train. The sheet of subroadbed is foam for costume making found at Hobby Lobby. I used Cobalt Digital IP motors for DCC control of the turnouts and routes. They are hard to find now so I may end up with Smails on the rest.

The modules are supported using metal shelf brackets rated at 150lbs.

All backdrops are made from what they call glass board at HD or Lowes. It's fiberglass sheets they use in bathrooms. The back is smooth, its flexible, and it is easy to score and snap. I use OSI Quad Max sealer to smooth the gaps and glue to supports. It's the same stuff used on replacement window projects.

[john_plsn]

By the way I spray paint the backdrops.

[john_plsn]

On to the lower level yard modules. These will be 24" deep where the upper level is 16". These were fairly straight forward until I got to the corner. The section from the helix to the straight yard body module was a bit involved but after some adjustments it all came together rather well.


I didn't think through the entire build and it shows on this corner module. It is double deck but only partially. Once I was able to get it in place and aligned both upper and lower decks became quite sturdy.

[john_plsn]

Next was the double deck 8' module across the garage door space. The upper 16" section will be the other end of staging where the lower 24" section will be the end of the main yard. It was quite a bit of cutting but it all aligned fairly well and is quite sturdy. The two back horizontal stiffeners/supports will also be used to hang tools like brooms for easy access. There is 12" between the back and the garage door. The lighting is much better when the door is closed.

[john_plsn]

The previous post shows where I am today. In the last photo the upper deck will be Indio staging where the other end represents Taylor Yard. The lower deck will be the east end of West Colton and disappear under the Pepper Ave overcrossing. Once the layout makes a hidden turn of 90 degrees it will re-emerge from the Rancho Ave overcrossing past the diamonds into Old Colton.

For now I will focus on finishing staging and adding the double track mainline through the lower level. Its so dang hot in the garage I may only get a bunch of turnouts built and install once the heat settles down.

[john_plsn]

Hey paul S., I live in Riverside Ca and my garage door faces west, so the afternoon gets quite intense even with an insulated garage door.
I ran across the glass board quite a while back when looking for solutions. Once I had my house doors and windows done I spoke with the installers and fiddled with the sealant they used. My thinking is that it is somewhat stiff yet can bend fairly well in the opposite direction.

[Paul S.]

I imagine it's more stable compared to tempered hardboard. Do you recall which adhesive they used?

[john_plsn]

Paul S., They were using Quad Max OSI. I use the white but its all paintable.

[Michael Whiteman]

I'm a former N scaler who spent a lot of time on the Pepper Street overpass photographing trains back in 2002, so I'm really interested in following along with your build. Thank you for taking most of the day to get all these great pics loaded up along with the explanations. With all the design thought you have put into this, it it very obvious that this isn't your first rodeo. Very impressive in every aspect, I'll say. Heat expansion in your helix would be a real issue I would think. My friend is constructing one in his garage in northern Washington and is experiencing the same thing. I noticed that your ceiling insulation has not been covered. Are you planning something there to keep dust and stuff from falling on the layout? I would think this might become a real challenge as your layout progresses. BTW very interesting paneling on your walls. Thanks again for this very informative post JP. All the best going forward.

[john_plsn]

Hey Michael, thanks for showing interest. The heat expansion is something I have dealt with in the past so I am somewhat resolved to dealing with what comes up from it. This project is made with the most stable birch I could find and was found at Ganahl's Lumber. It's is very heavy and the 3/4 does not deflect until you get to about 6'. Even the 1/2" was so strong I considered going to 3/8" for the vertical transitions, but the 1/2" did great. I almost didn't paint the benchwork but began to think about how many years I want to get out of this layout. At 55 with so many aches and pains I thought I best build it as solid as I can while I can. I do need to solve the ceiling issue. In fact I was not going to start building until I had a solution. I'll come up with something. There is absolutely no storage above the layout so that helps. The paneling on the walls is available at both Lowes and Home Depot and is in 4'x8' sheets.
Happy Railroading

[Allen]

John,
As Michael pointed out, thank you so much for taking the time to thoroughly post about your layout and the nice explanations of the details.
This will help to allow us to follow along much easier.

This looks like an interesting build and look forward to following along.

[JerryZ]

West Colton: Spent a lot of time there in March 1990 - September 1990 when I was a Field Service Engineer for EMD. My "desk" was at Glendale, but I was out in WC at least twice a week. Not much could be done there except light repairs since all it had at that time was the fuel tracks (four IIRC), and a pile of ready tracks for assembled consists. Went out to Indio a couple of times to troubleshoot GP60 "helper" consists. They were using the GP60s to keep from getting AQMD fines, since most of the rest of the SP motive power fleet was pretty ratted out.

Your work to date on your latest layout is exquisite. Like your helix design. Looking forward to following your progress.

Regards,
Jerry

[john_plsn]

Hey JerryZ, I think the most I will be able to include from a scenic interest or ops perspective are a bunch of ready tracks, the light service tracks, and hopefully the two track tanker unloading tracks on the east side of Riverside Ave. As much as I want all trains to depart to the east I am not sure how I can do it. I could enlarge the turn on the main and have a hidden loop, but would not be the same. Although it may simplify some aspects. My intentions is that the trains would be serviced from the other end of the yard so that would leave this end a bit more open for operators to move power around without much interference. Hidden or not it may pay off to have that feature.

[Michael Whiteman]

I was more concerned regarding the expansion of your nickel silver track John. I think you have the benchwork more than covered on that issue. I know what you mean about doing things the best we can as we get older. I hate doing things over and crawling on my knees now.

[Alan B]

I concur with the thoughts about the rail. My little Trainshed can get hot, when the A/C gets forgotten by the operator...Which results in some very nice heat kinks or roadbed popping up. Of course, being as it gets cold up here, keeping it warm in the winter is a requirement you don't have.

I have found that a 20-25F swing in temp or greater can cause some issues. Is it possible to put an A/C unit in there? One of those portable jobs with the big hose going out the door?

[john_plsn]

Alan B, the portable one seems like a good idea but it would just get in the way. A friend has one in his garage/layout space and it does a good job. I have an AC friend that said he would do a mini split for me so when I am ready he will make it happen. I just have to be ready to be separated from the money.