Trackwork Begins

Track laying has started. The photo below from March 8, 2016 shows track being installed in the lower yard.

Installation of the bus wires beneath the layout is also in progress.

By working session on March 15, 2016 most of the mainline track has been installed. The photo below was taken at the start of the work session. During the session, the turntable in the foreground was put in place, track around the post in the right background has been positioned to make it possible to locate both bridge spans and tunnels in the right places and with the right clearances in the future.

Benchwork Tour February 17, 2016

By the February 17 working session the majority of the benchwork was complete, the plywood and homosote was installed, and track centerlines were being laid out.

Installation of the homosote on the turn back curve near the entrance to the layout room, including the grade up from the lower level to the upper level:

Planning and test fitting the bridge where the upper tracks will pass over the lower tracks:

Continuing around the layout. This is the straight section between the turn back curve and the first corner:

Laying out the curves at the first corner. A tunnel was originally planned here, but the vertical separation of the two levels was not sufficient. So the plan is to install a couple more bridges instead and maybe a quarry or other industry at the back of the curve:

Section between first and second corner:

Second corner. This is the entrance to the yard and will likely contain an engine facility of some kind:

The Yard section along the far wall:

Yard section near the culvert. This area will contain the roundhouse.

rttt

View from other direction, with grade back up to elevated section:

Center peninsula: