I was ready to call BS about the saw being down when Ganahl's emailed me that my order was done. A few of the guys reported the same issue with it so I guess I cannot complain. They giggled a bit about this order, but after I told them how I would do it they said don't hesitate to ask for it again. I hope to paint the ripped lumber this weekend, but that is likely the most I will get done. We are back to 100 degree days and I don't care to spend any time in it.
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Today I built the basic benchwork for the turnback part of the U shaped peninsula.
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I am using 3/4" birch for support structure and 1/2" for subroadbed. This stuff is tough. The 1/2" barely bends for vertical transitions. I have to plan it way ahead for as long a piece as I can to allow for a very slight transition. I am painting everything to help with the garage setting. By the way this is sourced from Ganahl's Lumber. I have used birch from other sources and they are super lightweight and flex considerably.
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This sounds like you're using Baltic Birch ply?Originally posted by john_plsn View Post
Do you know how many plys are in the 1/2"?The Little Rock Line Blog
Rule #1 of model railroading.
It's probably responsible for the greatest number of shoddy layouts because no one feels compelled to improve themselves. Meh, good enough...Comment
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I was able to get two more sheets of ripped plywood painted today. Now I can build the rest of the base.
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The base is set. I connected it to the existing sections and leveled it all. I am happy with the results so far. The yard and heavy switching areas have 40"+ aisle space with 40" to the workbench and a few 32" pinch points here and there. There are two step asides for operators to pass one another with minimal sucking in of the gut.
I am so fired up to keep the progress going.
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Well done, John. I really get a feel now for the footprint of the layout in relation to the room.Southern Railway Slate Fork Branch, March 1978
Old magazines can still be fresh sources of hobby information!
Nothing can ever be made idiot-proof, because the idiots are vastly more experienced.Comment
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I can't believe October was the last bit of progress. I need to jump in and get going. I keep telling myself to get the mainline running and the rest can be developed later.
I did change the name of the road to Beaumont Hill Subdivision(BHS) and posted some content on Youtube if interested.
http://www.youtube.com/@BHS-RRComment
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Today's progress on the Beaumont Hill Sub. I added some of the vertical supports for the backdrops and upper level. I was about to go to the lumber yard but couldn't settle on what cuts I wanted. I'm glad I did this first as it will help better maximize some expensive wood. While doing this and planning out the position I determined I could reduce the length of run from Banning to Indio(staging) and gain a train length or more in San Timoteo. I can live with that. I also had to make room for a dry river crossing.
Last edited by john_plsn; 01-05-2025, 11:00 AM.Comment
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So I made a run for two sheets of 1/2" birch ply, traced out some cuts, but the wind has put a stopper on my progress. If I do the cuts in the garage the sawdust will fill the room then settle on everything. If I open the garage the wind will simply blow it all back into the layout. So I started refurbishing a bunch of turnouts from a disassembled freemoN yard and now have 6 good turnouts for the east end of West Colton. Only 19 to go, ugh!. It always seems daunting, but I will push out a couple more tonight.
I am excited to get the ply cut, painted, and put in place. Once those two sheets are in I think I can do the rest with one more or even less as its cookie cutter. Then I simply need to dedicate my time to building turnout, after turnout, after turnout,........My lowest estimate is 65 more. We'll see if I can reduce that, but the plan is the plan and I want a certain level of ops with friends.
I did this to myself.Last edited by john_plsn; 01-18-2025, 08:18 AM.Comment
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Last week I was able to finally get some cuts done, fit it all to the location, paint it, and install. A bit more benchwork yet to go, but I am well on my way and can better plan out some trackwork, scenery, structure, ops,........
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I cut, painted, and recut, then mounted some subroadbed for the San Timoteo run. The grade is set at 1.9+/-. Much of the turnback will be hidden and will work up to the second level as soon as its high enough. I also added some subroadbed linking West Colton to the Old Colton area where the diamonds will be. This portion will be mostly hidden under the turnback for the canyon. The ROW will disappear under Pepper Ave on the West Colton side then reappear from Rancho Ave in the Old Colton area. All divided with backdrops. This will create a nice information spot for operators on the inner aisle side.
It may seem as clear as mud, but I hope you check back in to see the results.
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I added a bit of roadbed for the mainlines along the back of the yard area and into the Old Colton area.
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I read through this thread from the start. Late to the party, but that is an impressive looking start to a high quality layout. Curious if your upper deck towns Beaumont, Loma Linda, and the other one will have industries to switch or if that is simply through running to staging? Does the prototype line double back on itself the way yours does on that side of the peninsula?
Do you have any photos of actual locations you are modeling in the Los Angeles area? Big UP fan here, but not familiar with that line or area of LA at all.Comment
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Hey UPB, thanks for the query. The layout is based in the Inland Empire, Riverside and San Bernardino areas. So Yuma Subdivision. Loma Linda will be on the lower level leading into San Timoteo canyon up to Beaumont on the second level. There will be some switching in Loma Linda which will include the square shaped elevator and I may add some warehouse tracks for more traffic, but is on the wrong side of the tracks on the prototype. Then the San Timoteo grade starts after the helper pocket near the elevator. San T will be single track in my version and end on the second level in Beaumont. Beaumont will include a lumber yard, juicer co, plastics co, and maybe a small cement plant. Banning will only have a team track. From there I hope to include white water and the grade down to Indio(staging).Originally posted by Uncle Pete's Basement View Post
The prototype does not double back on itself, and I hope to disguise it by running behind the backdrop to re-emerge on the second level. We'll see how that goes.
So, lots of switching and yard ops with some mainline action to navigate around it all. I was hoping for a much longer mainline, but I did not want a duck or nod under nor a lift gate. This plan has many compromises, but the scenic and operations elements will help me and hopefully viewers/operators overlook.
We will see.
PS. This will be an SP layout before the Borg(UP) took over.
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I'm late to the party, too. Following along your layout construction john_plsn. You certainly have benchwork construction skills! Trackwork is pretty awesome, as well.Comment
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