Fluesheet's Shelf Layout

[Brakie]

Matt:I had my first operating session of sorts last night, with about five cars and and 0-6-0 switcher. More of a shake out session. It's amazing how well a switching layout works when designed correctly!
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Great news on your shake down ops.

Indeed..A well plan ISL will give hours of operating enjoyment.
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Matt: found two potential sticky points; both of which I gave some attention to during the design, and with the input from the other thread:
- The left end lead is too short (it got shortened from my original requirement for valid reasons). An easy fix with a temporary staging extension. The 0-5-0 has been used as a cheat a couple of times.
. The long end of the run around (middle track) is a little short. I wanted to be able to hold a couple cars there, and I can, but just barely! It will require very accurate spotting to make sure it cars don't foul the bracketing turnouts.
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Typical problems with most ISLs..Easy to fix in most cases.

Real crews will make squeeze bys with today's longer freight cars on some older urban industrial branches that was built for 36' and 40' boxcars.

In fact some of today's cars are becoming to heavy for these old light rail industrial urban branch lines.. hock:

[Fluesheet]

More end of day shots to get caught up:

End of Day 9/8. Facia is cut and applied. My first facia application ever - it sure looks nicer than the typical view of the ends of joists (or plywood side grain and switch mechanisms in this case). The facia was also needed to support the switch mechanism push-pull rods.


End of day 9/14. Facia painted and all switch mechanism push pull rods are installed (excepting the two back switches using bullfrogs).
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End of day 9/22. Bus wires are installed and feeders are going in. I soldered the feeders to the bus wires - in the process many of the feeder-rail connections broke. About half needed to be soldered a second time .


End of day 10/4. First running train on the railroad! This shot was actually staged to better show off the train through several reverse curves that would not be a normal route. In fact, it's actually pinned - there would be no way to move this train off this alignment without an 0-5-0!


End of day 10/11. Push pull actuators installed for the Bullfrogs, all frogs are power routed to their respective mechanisms. I also had to do some minor work to prevent some feeders from being pinched by the shelf supports and cleaned up bus wire routing issues that were bothering me (also related to the shelf supports)


10/13/10 - And up to date. I replaced the temporary DCC connections (basically wires just twisted together) with a cleaner and more flexible plug system. I didn't want a hard connection here so that it would be easier to move the shelf around as I do more work on the layout. The DCC system will also eventually eventually move to the larger layout. As the cord I used is 16gauge, it is now the potential current bottleneck, though I don't expect that that will become an issue with this layout.

The layout is functionally complete!



The command station is now nicely tucked underneath the layout. My PowerPro is the wireless version, and though I've had the radio base station components (and a wireless capable throttle) for at least 4 years, I'd never used it! Now I have - it's nice not having to drag a tether across the workbench.

[mountaingoatgreg]

Matt,

This little layout is sure someing along nicely!! I am always amazed at how finished a layout looks once the fascia is applied, it almost looks professional.

Also congragulations on the first train operation!!!

I just recently achieved the same thing and it really is a good feeling!!!

[shortliner]

Matt - Have to say that the layout is looking really good - glad it worked out for you
Shortliner (Jack) away up here in the Highlands, where winter is approaching fast!

[lajry]

Hi.

A few months back, I asked for some advice on a shelf layout I was mounting on the back of my workbench:

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I got some fantastic feedback from some of the great guys on this forum: steinjr, shortliner, brakie, Russ Bellinis and others. Thanks for the time guys!

The final plan looked (and remains) like this:


The entire build gallery is here:
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And the current state (as of 6/5/10) is this:


More later!

Matt
This may seem like nit picking but what you call a "crossover" is really a "crossing" according to commonly used railroad terminology. A crossing is where two tracks cross each other (at grade) as in your case. A crossover is where there's a connection between two tracks like the switches do at the ends of your siding.

[Fluesheet]

Matt
This may seem like nit picking but what you call a "crossover" is really a "crossing" according to commonly used railroad terminology.

No problem lajry. I do in fact know this, but I nevertheless find myself using the wrong term on occasion! Thanks for calling it out anyway - I wouldn't learn anything on this forum if other members let me get away with stating incorrect things (regardless of the topic).

Shorliner Jack - it's always good to see you on this thread given your input into the design.

Mountaingoatgreg - congratulations also on your first operating session / shake out!

[Fluesheet]

Quick update on this layout.

Management finally decided to get around filling in some of the gaps with ties. As you can see below, ties were produced for a custom fit for the crossing by the railroad owner. The railroad then hired a contracting crew to do the work, but management became impatient with the progress and called in the 0-5-0 mechanized tie placing machine. The contractors, fascinated, just stood around and watched this clunky machine do it's work.

Unfortunately, many of the bystanders were knocked over by the clumsy machine. The railroad asked the photographer to refrain from publishing those images, not wanting bad publicity to overshadow the new machine's use.

Enjoy









Taken from Doc's pilot friend's airplane.



Entire Gallery
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[Brakie]

Looks like you're making good progress..

I like your section gang especially the 3 dandies sitting on the rail watching.

[mountaingoatgreg]

Looks great!!!

Nice typical RR work crew...two guys working everyone else watching

[nkp_174]

Very nice photo of all the LPP hard at work!

[Ralph]

Great track work...and the photos of the track gang putting it together are priceless!
Ralph

[cnw1961]

Thanks for showing the pics of your section gang at work! They are doing a fantastic job .

[shortliner]

Oh, yes - very, very nice - I trust you are getting some pleasure out of operating it to?

[tetters]

Love the track gang pictures! You just made my day.

[bnmike1971]

Nine railroad workers and only two just standing with shovles in hand watching the others work....not a bad ratio. LOL