Well construction began today… all shop work. I did get the full length of the Phase 1 bench work done and part of the phase 2 bench work before I ran out of lumber. 1 x 4 construction assembled with pocket hole and screws… strong and tight! The bench top will be 1/2 inch plywood sanded one side. I still have to make the wall braces. It’s great to get this finally started!
Due to a medical condition I don’t have very good balance and usually walk with a cane. I fell and hit my forehead square on the concrete… hurts like hell and work ended at that time I hope to get these sections installed and attached to the walls on Sunday… Lord Willing!
A little bit more info from a previous post on the layout:
Well I have been planning ** in March i had spine surgery and while out on leave and sitting in my chair zoning out on pain meds with my laptop I got the itch for model railroading again after being out of the hobby for about 18 years or so. Lost my layout room shortly after my duaghter was born 16 years ago and she is a young adult now. I will be building the new layout in the basement.
I want to avoid all the mistakes of the past and build a railroad that:
Can be completed in a reasonable time
Is fun to operate
Those are the two most important items and everything else leads back to them. The railroad will be an HO Scale shelf layout that depicts railroad operations in my hometown, Council Bluffs, Iowa. This is a town which a very rich history in the railroads. The primary motive power on the layout will be with the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) who operates on the old Rock Island Line from Council Bluffs to Chicago, Illinois. The UP and CNW will also show up periodically. I will not get too crazy with prototype stuff (#2) so it will loosely depcit industry in CB, some industry still in operation today but some long gone but for the sake of operation on the layout we will pretend those are still around today.
The track will not be permanently laid until it works flawlessly on each phase to avoid headaches. My NCE Power Cab arrived today and I am ready! I have half a dozen locos to get decoders in stalled in. Some will be more dificult then others.
Anyway, this is the weekend and i am very excited! Thanks for looking!
If you have much more to build, get some sawhorses so you don’t have to bend over to work on it. Bring the work to you. I don’t have those sort of problems and it’s still a huge pain to work on something that’s on the floor. There’s enough head-bashing injuries resultign from workign on the layout without adding bouncing your head off a concrete floor to the mix.
Hi Randy, these were taken after i cleaned up the shop. I have about 4 sets of saw horses… I absolutely couldn’t work on the ground like that… you are right there!
Looking good Corey. Take care of yourself, be careful. Have you thought about wiring? Perhaps a couple of holes in the joists to run wire through. Now would be a good time to drill them.
Keep the updates coming. I’d love to see it when you get it attached to the walls.
Thanks Larry, yes i will drill them with a forstener bit after i install it and before i screw down the top… it will be easier when its in place and at armpit height.
It is Sean! No progress today though… to many other things going on. Tomorrow i will make my wall braces and i hope to get at least the ten foot long section on the wall, if not ok… got lots of time no hurry, i have waited this long
Also if I may ask, how would all of you like to follow my progress, using this post and updating it or use a new post each time? Or do you even give a s…t? Ha ha…
I have enjoyed reading your post and seeing the enthusiasm that is shining through. It mirrors my return to the hobby a few years ago. I went from a very active sports participant to not even being able to work, in a very short period of time, due to bad arthritis in my spine.
I remember not to long before I was forced off work I told the wife I was biting the bullet and getting back into the hobby. I saw the writing on the wall. So I went to the lumber yard and threw about eighty 10’ 1" x 4"s into the
They spent a couple of weeks in the garage drying out and then construction started.
The day my DCC arrived was celebrated by all.[(-D]
Keep plugging along and enjoy. I am so glad I had at least one thing I really enjoy to fall back on in my deteriorating condition. The trainroom is a place to always take your mind off things for a while.[:)]
Hey Brent thanks for the post. We have similar symptoms. Mine is Stenosis. But anyway, appreciate your post. Also i got the NCE system as well or the Power Cab by NCE anyway. Going to have fun with it and hope to have something to be proud of when all said and done.
No progress today other than i got the plywood wall braces cut out. Wife is cleaning the area where i will build the layout and she did not give me my warrant to move in Looks like i will move some stuff out tomorrow and set the area up but won’t get to install the phase 1 section. Will start that on Tuesday or Wed evening.
Looks like a good start! Your enthusiasm will make it even more fun for us to follow. It’s great that you’ve rediscovered the hobby to occupy your time. Superman had his fortress of solitude, we have our train rooms![:D]
OK the first of the bench work was installed last night. This is a 2 foot by 10 foot sections. Ground Zero with the foam and plywood will be right at 51 inches. I have another 10 foot section to get installed today and to screw down the top as well. I modified an old computer desk and made it into my modeling desk. I put furniture sliders on it and it just slides right underneath with room to spare. It’s 2 foot deep as well so eventually when the layout is skirted with masonite and fabric it will not even be noticed.
Well i got another 10 foot section of bench work installed. Still have another 4 foot for the long wall but ran out of 1 x 4’s… another day. I have plenty to keep me busy now. Plywood is fitted and ready to be screwed down tomorrow. My wife gave me the little chest… it has shallow drawers and perfect for rolling stock and locomotives.
Very nice, that “train room” looks like it will be a real pleasure to work in. Your basic bench work also looks like it will be very stable and also excellent for both viewing and building, who says you can’t have everything.
Well here is the final update for the weekend. You can’t tell a lot of difference but I did get the top screwed down and started on the back drops but thought i had more 1 x 2’s. Oh well, next weekend. Going to start working on the track layout now. Anyway, thanks for following along!
You can view the photos at my blog as well and follow along on my build out: http://www.rrincb.com/
Well I worked on the trackage this weekend. I have the Phase 1 track the way I want it and most of the Phase 2 section as well. Will tweak some of that later. I will be installing some foam next, then laying my N scale cork sheets. Most of the track is yard and low profile trackage but wanted some lift so i went with the sheets of N Scale.
Thanks for looking!
The old farm implement section. I will use the Walthers REA warehouse building for the International Harvester Corp manfacuring building and the Walthers Engineering building for the office and warehouse.
[](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmECN7t0vCk/TnakQ7MvE-I/AAAAAAAAAEo/ofVTy8RVWKw/s1600/LayoutConst17.jpg)
More of the Implement District. The middle track will be a team track and loading platform and also that is the track that the 3 foot cassette will attach to for a temporary yard while operating. The forground building will be a small warehouse that the local newspaper received and stored newsprint at.
This is uncanny how very similar your design is compared to what I have started in the back room of my home.
My point to point layout is only 5 1/2 feet x 5 1/2 feet and 1 1/2 feet wide in HO 1/87 with code 100 track. It will have a run around and 2 spurs for industry (Timber and oil/gasoline). Just a small layout to practice on while I design the masterpiece that will reside in the shed.
I am just using basic DC control powered with a 15V AC transformer. My hand set/controller is set up with a bridge rectifier to allow DC operation. No need for me to get to flash on my trial hack .
I will get some photos posted soon. Good luck with this. I am keen to following your progress.
I hope to get these sections installed and attached to the walls on Sunday… Lord Willing!
