12-01-2010, 11:18 AM
Well its been some time since I have posted on The Gauge as I find that railroading is more of a winter sport for me. We decided some time ago that our existing store layout was in need of refreshing, rebuilding, etc. As a result we have sold the old layout and I have been somewhat diligently working away on its replacement over the past month or so. New layout is 8' x 18" so its the same footprint but the revised track plane flows much better and is much easier to work with. New track plan also does away with some unnecessary switch backs and 2 really tight curves that stumped anything over 4 axles and of course my track laying skills have improved dramatically since the old layout was originally built nearly 10 years ago and in my defense the original layout was not built by me... Squidbait built it for another store and I grabbed it up when they no longer needed it and reworked some of the trackage to remove code 100 and any snap switches which had been originally included to demonstrate the differences in track and turnouts (that's my excuse and I am sticking to it 
)
New layout is all code 83 Atlas with 4 peco turnouts used in the center passing track section as they allow longer leads on each end (peco code 83 #6 turnouts are physically shorter than Altas #6). New layout is open grid 1x pine with 1/2" ply on top and uses tortoises on all turnouts. You will notice a plug on the front of the layout which will be used with an old troller for DC operation and we will use an MRC prodigy wireless system for running DCC. There is a simple DPDT switch hidden under the layout to switch between DC and DCC as well as a master power switch to turn off the entire layout... Its amazing that people cannot understand the do not touch sign we posted... and adults are the worst offenders not the kids. At least we can now power the entire layout down easily when not in use.
SPDT toggles for the tortoises are recessed into the fascia to reduce damage and there are 4 sidings on the backside of the layout that have on/off switches for parking locos during DC usage.
I am using a number of new (for me) products during this build including Faller foam brick sheets for the retaining wall, Faller grass tufts which will obviously be installed later and dabbling with colored grout for soil as part of the scenery. Still lots to do but I will try to keep you updated as we progress. I just have to get Squidbait to tell me what structures he wants to build and of course get him to commit to building them sometime this century
Yes that is my layout on the floor in the background waiting to be set in place once the store layout is out... at least the walls are painted blue.
hopefully get some work done on my layout over the colder months.
)New layout is all code 83 Atlas with 4 peco turnouts used in the center passing track section as they allow longer leads on each end (peco code 83 #6 turnouts are physically shorter than Altas #6). New layout is open grid 1x pine with 1/2" ply on top and uses tortoises on all turnouts. You will notice a plug on the front of the layout which will be used with an old troller for DC operation and we will use an MRC prodigy wireless system for running DCC. There is a simple DPDT switch hidden under the layout to switch between DC and DCC as well as a master power switch to turn off the entire layout... Its amazing that people cannot understand the do not touch sign we posted... and adults are the worst offenders not the kids. At least we can now power the entire layout down easily when not in use.
SPDT toggles for the tortoises are recessed into the fascia to reduce damage and there are 4 sidings on the backside of the layout that have on/off switches for parking locos during DC usage.
I am using a number of new (for me) products during this build including Faller foam brick sheets for the retaining wall, Faller grass tufts which will obviously be installed later and dabbling with colored grout for soil as part of the scenery. Still lots to do but I will try to keep you updated as we progress. I just have to get Squidbait to tell me what structures he wants to build and of course get him to commit to building them sometime this century
Yes that is my layout on the floor in the background waiting to be set in place once the store layout is out... at least the walls are painted blue.
hopefully get some work done on my layout over the colder months.