working towards Artesia...

Track continues to get laid around the room. Here, I'm approaching the yard at Artesia. The crossover is in place and the wye switch is soon to be placed.

 

This is a view of the prototype. You can see the crossovers and yard beyond.

 

Another view of the Artesia yard. The crossovers are at the bottom on the photo.

The iron horse rolls...

I finally got enough track down to start rolling some trains. In the photos is a Proto 2000 IC GP9 with DCC and sound. I'm using an NCE Power Cab to run the layout at present but the Powerhouse Pro Radio is sitting in a box ready to be installed next week or so. That's tropical storm Fay knocking at the window.

This photo shows the CAGY to the Left and the track leading towards Tibbee Creek Bridge on the right.

 

This is the Tibbee Creek bridge. I hope to get started soon on the Central Valley Truss kit that is almost a perfect match. The rest of the bridge, concrete and trestle will be scratch built.

Laying the iron......

I started the track work as I built the helix. I did the helix track first then started the rest of the layout at the CAGY interchange.

In this photo, the Aberdeen Sub main is the track to the far right. The left three tracks are the Columbus & Greenville tracks at the Prestage Farms mill in West Point. The CAGY interchange is at the top of the photo. The real CAGY with Prestage farms can be seen here: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=pkymn67m8wvf&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=13301879&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

 

 

This was my first attempt at a bridge on the layout. It's a basic Walthers kit that I thought turned out well. This kit built as it is, is almost a perfect match for the trestles near the Tibbee Creek bridge. The real bridge can be seen here: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=pkr4m47mdmq4&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=13359954&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

 

This view shows the helix, the Aberdeen sub main exiting the helix and the CAGY reverse loop over the sub main. Of course, in real life, there is no double track main around here nor does the CAGY cross the sub anywhere with a bridge but I liked this idea so that's how I built it.

I tackled the helix first....

I decided to tackle what I thought would be the hardest part first....the helix. I looked at many ways of constructing this monster but finally decided on the "EasyHelix". The kit worked out very well and went together fairly fast. I think I have about 6 hours total in the helix. Photo 31 May 2008

The completed Helix. This photo was taken today, 23 Aug but the helix was completed in June. All that is left is to build the upper deck and connect it to the helix.

easy spline anyone?

For the sub-roadbed where the terrain was not going to be level, I decided to try Joe Fugate's "Easy Spline" method. I love it. I used 2" Masonite strips at first but will be swapping to 7/8ths inch. His method flows easy and transitions in curves are automatic. Photos taken 11 May, 2008

A few more views of the benchwork

These photos were taken on 20 March, 2008 and show the lower level of the peninsula benchwork. 

 

 

Looking from the peninsula back towards Artesia on the left and the helix on the right.

More benchwork....

More benchwork goes in. In this photo, the helix will be on the left and the yard at Artesia, MS will be on the right. This is all part of the lower deck. This photo was taken on 20 March, 2008.

Construction begins!!!

The first bit of benchwork goes in. This is the area that will support the helix. Notice the

extra stud walls behind the stairwell. These were added to support the peninsula where the CAGY and lead to the helix will go. This photo was taken on 13 March, 2008.

The clean slate

Here is the room just before starting the layout. The bare stud walls will support the layout. The helix will be just to the right and somewhat on top of the stairwell. The doorway to the left goes to a small workshop and paintroom.

The concept and design

I've had a dream of building a large HO scale layout for most of my life. I've been restricted by space through the years so my dream had never materialized. I recently designed and built a new home. My design for my home began with a large room for a layout then the rest of the house followed. I was able to get an attic space finished that measures 58' by 20'. I've just recently completed the house so now it's time to fill the train room.

I wanted to model the area I grew up in but wanted to have a few more industries. I also wanted to be able to run any kind of train that I wanted. Originally, I planned on doing a prototypical model of the area in 1975 but decided against it. Instead, I decided to go with a proto-freelance layout so that I could get extra industries and be able to run that BNSF double stack train right behind my IC Panama LTD passenger train.

With my givens and druthers on paper, I set out to design a layout that fit my needs and wants. I came up with a double deck, point-to-point design with the decks connected by a single helix. I then added a couple connecting tracks on each level in order to make two continuous loops. The design I came up with is below.