09-22-2014, 12:20 PM
A fascia and valance made from MDF, and ‘Bendy’ MDF for the curves, have been added along with fluorescent tubes fixed to steel angle section to light the layout. As the peninsula does not have a backscene either down one side or along the centre, I had to find a way to support the valance and lighting rig above the peninsula. My friend Brian helped with the job of mounting through the ceiling into the loft above using threaded rod, and secured with lock-nuts.
![[Image: P1000059_zpsf0c850ce.jpg]](http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg590/Robin_Gristwood/New%20layout/P1000059_zpsf0c850ce.jpg)
Operations have always been a priority for my layouts. I’ve never been one for just watching trains go round and round. My last layout used Ship-It successfully to generate switch-lists, but for this layout I wanted to use something less strict in terms of what I have to run next. I chose to use two cycle waybills as there is no real scope for redirecting cars within the layout. Some of the corn syrup cars though are moved twice from steam heating spots to unloading spots, and other cars that have been switched to off spots when final destination is full, then moved to final destination when the spot is free.
![[Image: P1000054_zps29e87c09.jpg]](http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg590/Robin_Gristwood/New%20layout/P1000054_zps29e87c09.jpg)
I integrated the car card boxes into the fascia. There is little enough room in the aisles without car card boxes getting in the way. When friends come round the layout is operated intensively. I noticed that the operator’s natural inclination was to use the layout top for sorting out the cards for switching. Whilst this is ok when the layout is not scenically finished, when it is it would be a problem. I saw somewhere that someone had used shelf display strips, the sort they use to slip price tickets in. I found a supply of these self adhesive strips on ebay (where else......!). They have proved to be useful in reducing the numbers of times the layout is covered in car cards, especially when switching the corn syrup end, when up to 20 car cards can be spread around.
![[Image: P1000059_zpsf0c850ce.jpg]](http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/Robin_Gristwood/media/New%20layout/P1000059_zpsf0c850ce.jpg.html)
Operations have always been a priority for my layouts. I’ve never been one for just watching trains go round and round. My last layout used Ship-It successfully to generate switch-lists, but for this layout I wanted to use something less strict in terms of what I have to run next. I chose to use two cycle waybills as there is no real scope for redirecting cars within the layout. Some of the corn syrup cars though are moved twice from steam heating spots to unloading spots, and other cars that have been switched to off spots when final destination is full, then moved to final destination when the spot is free.
![[Image: P1000054_zps29e87c09.jpg]](http://s1245.photobucket.com/user/Robin_Gristwood/media/New%20layout/P1000054_zps29e87c09.jpg.html)
I integrated the car card boxes into the fascia. There is little enough room in the aisles without car card boxes getting in the way. When friends come round the layout is operated intensively. I noticed that the operator’s natural inclination was to use the layout top for sorting out the cards for switching. Whilst this is ok when the layout is not scenically finished, when it is it would be a problem. I saw somewhere that someone had used shelf display strips, the sort they use to slip price tickets in. I found a supply of these self adhesive strips on ebay (where else......!). They have proved to be useful in reducing the numbers of times the layout is covered in car cards, especially when switching the corn syrup end, when up to 20 car cards can be spread around.
Robin