There's only one way to build. UP!!!!

Today, I finished wiring in an NCE Booster, NCE EB3 three zone circuit breaker and a DCC Specialties Auto-reverser for the CAGY reverse loop and another for the lower level wye. All is working well. I've still got to get the command station set in it's permanent home. I want to build a shelf under the layout for it along with a pull out desk for a laptop computer so that I can connect to the command station and run Decoder Pro. Hope to have this in next week. 

In the mean time, I've started on the upper deck benchwork. I debated and debated on what I would use to support the upper deck. Finally, I decided on using 1/8" think angle iron. I've got the first section up and it's quite sturdy. I like this method as it does not interfere with where the back drop will go later.  I attached the angle iron with 5 screws directly to the stud walls. This is very sturdy. No, it's not "I can sit on it sturdy but I believe my 3 year old daughter could and I don't have all the iron in yet. I'll post more as the benchwork moves along.

A few pics from the layout

Once I got the main complete, I decided to run some trains and play. Here are a few photos from the fun. 

This is a shot of an IC local with 9145 in the lead. I backed it onto NS main #2 in Meridian. Notice how the track kinks out for more spacing between the mains at the end of the local. The extra spacing will be for the passenger platform in Meridian. 

Here, the 9145 is overtaken by another local out of Artesia led by IC 9042.  

IC 9145 speeds by the camera on it's local run.

THE lower GOLDEN SPIKE!!!!

The lower level main line is COMPLETE!!! I can now run a train around the entire room. 

The golden spike was driven on the lift-up section of the layout which works smoothly but slightly heavy. The heavy part comes in handy though when in the down position by reducing any possible movement from a bump. To ensure that the rails don't move, I screwed some 1" brass screws under the rails on each side of the gap and soldiered the rails to the screws. All is solid and trains run smoothly across. Here two locals meet nose to nose for the Golden Spike Ceremony!!! 

 

I've also done a little work on the Meridian yard. This is a view looking "East" from the Meridian yard. I've freelanced a bit here. You can see the ICG/MidSouth/KSC main coming around the curve in the background. The double track crossing is the NS crossing on the East end of Meridian. The ICG can either cross the NS to enter the Meridian yard or hit the turnout to get onto the NS main around the yard to connect back with the ICG and on to Vicksburg. 

 

This is looking "West" from the NS crossing into Meridian. At the far end of the yard is the lift-up section with a train crossing. My next project is to get the lower level DCC power districts set and get my two boosters wired in. I'm still waiting on track from Micro Engineering so after the DCC wiring, I'm going to tackle the upper deck benchwork. My goal is to have the upper level benchwork in by Christmas.