Southern Pacific in the Inland Empire (N)

[john_plsn]

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.

I do think the Atlas flex track is the cause of my expansion issues over the years. Leaving a gap on low stress rail joints are my solution. There was a time when I soldered every joint but now only in curves. Now I leave some of the low stress (mostly straight) joints slightly gapped allowing the rail to float a bit. That said there are misses and like my old layout every new summer may create new issues to solve.
Mostly my areas that fail are the stock rails ajascent the point rails on turnouts. The inner foot of the rail is removed to facilitate the point rail so that source of stability is gone. The rail in those spots is more like a ribbon so any pressure from the attached flex track puts turnouts at risk.


Model Railroading is fun when creative solution work towards running trains reliably.

[john_plsn]

I made a bit of progress track wise, but have a bit to go on turnout control. I would like DCC control through tortoise motors for the five mainline turnouts. That is the double crossover and yard entry. Maybe a DS74 or DCC Concepts Quad4. My idea is to have DCC control for future remote dispatcher control. The rest will be thrown with caboose throws. None of this is powered at this point but gives an idea of what I am looking to do.
The track in the foreground (closest the edge) is the yard tail/leed and leeds to the Fontana branch line. The two mains enter and exit the helix up to staging. Further down is an odd single track across the front which is a bypass/staging track for mainline power to wait for their train. The five/six track ladder close to the front is five class tracks and one bypass/speedway track closest the front edge. The three track A/D track are behind those with the double track main line along the back and slightly elevated.

I know its likely as clear as mud, but don't hesitate to ask for clarification.

[Allen]

Looking good John, looks just like that plan you posted the other day.

[john_plsn]

I finally made a bit of progress on the turnouts from the last post. 10 caboose throws and throwbars installed and operational. I also mounted three Wabbits and ran actuating wires to the 6 tortoise. Much more to do before I can run anything on here, but cars roll through nicely.

Next steps will be track bus, accessory bus, and track wiring for the same section.

[john_plsn]

I have a couple weeks of vacation so I plan to begin construction on the remainder of the benchwork. Wood run on Tuesday the second. The inner "U" will have the mains run from the undeveloped yard to the Colton diamonds, RR Recyclers, then Loma Linda. As the main rounds the end of the peninsula the San Timoteo grade will start and return to the same spot on the second level. I think San Timoteo will be single track with a passing siding in there somewhere. The inner U will have Beaumont and Banning then end in staging above the undeveloped yard. I hope to get this in Anyrail tonight to ensure the grade will be ok and I will be happy with it.

[Paul S.]

Here's to no major interruptions in progress, JP!

[john_plsn]

I did a grade check in Anyrail based on my sketch and came up with 1.9%. Perfect for N scale. I would do a full work up in Anyrail but it's just more work than I care to do at this time. With the S's and many broad curves I think I may still need helpers.

[Paul S.]

1.9 percent is quite reasonable in model railroading, so well done! Though I imagine the curves will increase the "compensated gradient" slightly.

[Scott1984]

Hey John, Just looked at your layout and it looks awesome. Really nice work, I like your use of different materials for the layout. It appears you know your way around woodworking as well. Thanks!

[john_plsn]

I haven't made any progress on the new benchwork, but I do now have power to the yard tracks and DCC control of the mainline turnouts. I numbered my areas for track and turnout ID. So Taylor staging on the upper level in the photo will have have DCC addresses 101 to 108. I used routes to simply dial up the track and all the turnouts align. This end of West Colton will be 201 and 202 for the crossovers. 203 will control both the turnout from the main into the yard and the turnout into the yard tail track for access to the arrival/departure tracks. I chose to treat that like a crossover as one should not be thrown without the other for protection.
The other end of West colton will have DCC addresses using 30?, then Old Colton 40?, and so on around the layout to end in Indio staging 90?.



Model Railroading is fun now that I can run some trains on this section. First I have to touch up the backdrop.

[Cody]

If you can, I would consider numbering turnouts within a section 110, 120, 130, etc. rather than 101, 102, 103. The reason being, if you have to go back in later and add something in between existing turnouts, you have room in the numbering to do it and still keep everything in order.

[john_plsn]

Thanks for the suggestion Cody. My DCC controlled turnouts are reserved for only mainline turnouts. So this end of the yard is 200 series, the other end 300, and so on around the layout. If I need more I can simply reprogram the current turnouts to make everything follow a sequence. My original idea became way to complex.

[john_plsn]

I am still working on developing the lower level, but am getting closer to a solution. If I build it robust enough I will have some flexibility on the second level.

[john_plsn]

I made a bit of progress on making room for the U-shaped peninsula. I bought some totes to re-organize a dresser on the tool wall where the workbench can go, and I was also able to remove a cabinet where my tool box could sit and make use of the adjacent wall for brooms and such.

I have a dozen Cobalts on the way so I can build the rest of staging on the second level. I should be able to start benchwork next weekend if desired. Although I still have a table saw, router with table, grinder, and Mclane reel mower to get out of the way.

So here is a before and after and a shot the other way for reference.




Progress feels great. Even if it does not include specifically hobby work.

[Allen]

Any progress is good progress John! Looks like a lot more room now.

[alans]

Wow, just went through this post. What an effort, great work. Before and after is impressive.

[john_plsn]

Here are a couple diagrams to help everyone follow along. On the left is the lower level and the right shows how staging fits in on the upper level. Beaumont and Banning will likely take up both sides of the blob peninsula on the upper level.

[john_plsn]

Spring vacation progress.

In the last few weeks I made staging almost operational. I added 8 #8 turnouts, Cobalt turnout motors plus programmed, wiring, remounted in the layout, and connected each end of staging together. It is not fully operational because it is not permanently wired up to track or accessory power. I'll need a booster and some PSXX units to cover the power desires.

My back hurts most days so I try to work on track and wiring while on the workbench.

[john_plsn]

Hi Allen. The track in staging is laid atop costume foam found at Hobby Lobby. It is much less expensive and is the same thickness as the WS foam roadbed.

[Allen]

👍 Thanks John!

[N Scale Brad]

That is exactly how I did my wiring for the same reasons. Built almost my whole layout that way. Still need to work from underneath sometimes for changes or troubleshooting.

[Scott1984]

That's a lot of work John!! Great job.

[john_plsn]

Well the little woman pushed me along a bit. For father's day she said to order up an AC unit and get it working before the summer heat defeats you. So, I could not pull the trigger on a mini split, but will figure out how to make room for a rolling floor model. I bought a 10KBTU unit for my 450 sqft garage layout space.

I am still overwhelmed a bit on the project, but this will help make it easier for me to make progress when the bug bites.

Model Railroading is more fun when one can tolerate to be in the layout space.

[Allen]

That should allow you to go out and work without sweating your butt off.
It won't be as hard of a decision to make now.
Good for you John!

[Paul S.]

You will never regret the expense. It's amazing how much more productive a modeler can be in a cooler room, John. I know from two previous layout rooms in which I installed AC. Seems that for every 10 degrees the temp dropped, I was that much more excited to be in the layout room.

Anything warmer than 80F just ain't no fun.

Congrats John! Now you can actually look forward to working on the railroad.

[john_plsn]

Benchwork sure adds up both in effort and time. I'm planning out the U shaped mostly double deck peninsula and have pencilled in 3 full 4x8 3/4" birch plywood sheets ripped down to various widths. I think I'll see what the lumber yard is willing to do on their table saw. I don't care to do all this ripping with a circular saw. I know the first few cuts are free, but we'll see.
The lower scenes are 20" and 22" deep so I will treat it as one table with 4"x2-1/2" L-girders and 4" stringers for support. This will give me quite a bit of flexibility to place support for the second level with 12" to 16" deep scenes. The vertical second level supports will run below the stringers with additional support plates for stability. None of this includes any table top/subroadbed material.

Anyway, my wallet is playing hide and seek, and a Scale Trains pre-order is about to hit.