I’m building my first layout in HO. It is all based upon NMRA standards. I used modules because I’m moving in three years and want to take it with me. I finally reached the point today where I have the double-track main operating. I need to install more power drops and then I’ll begin the scenicing. The area in the middle will be a standalone staging yard where I can store my trains and module an engine servicing facility.
ps I used photobucket to post these and it is really easy. Thanks for the tips.
Hey, that’s exciting! [:)] Your bench work looks very good and nice idea about having your workbench in the middle there. If the need ever arises in the future, you could always connect it to the layout and use it as a peninsula for some additional switching area.
My wife and I drove through Front Royal back on our honeymoon a number of years ago. We drove part way down the Blue Ridge Parkway, on our way to NC. Stayed in Big Meadows the first night and saw - literally - a TON of dear. Nice drive. Do you have any idea where the name for the town came from?
TIm - nice looking work. Is there no way to connect your island (engine service fac) to the mainline somehow. Looks simple enough from my end anyway. Just pu***he island up flush with the benchwork and run a track in and out connected to the main? Just a thought.
Terry[8D]
The double doors lead to a storage area that we don’t access very often (breaker box, water heater, etc. That is a duck under. The duckunder in the foreground is the entrance. A friend is building me a liftup module to replace that. I have enough space in the middle that with some modifications, the center island could hook to the layout witha wye. But I have a lot of other modeling to do before I get to that point. I’ve only run two trains at a time so far, I just finished the trackwork on Sunday.
Tom, Front Royal comes from colonial times. The town had a “Royal Oak” tree in the center. To try to train revolutionary war volunteers from the area, they used to tell them to “front the royal oak” in order to get them pointing in the same direction. My imaginary railroad is centered in Front Royal in the mid 50s which allows me to run Southern, N&W and my own livery.
Yes, I have Digitrax Zephyr hooked up already. I will also install a UR91 for radio and have a DT400 that I use in module meets. I used Peco Insufrog turnouts and other than insulated couplers in my crossovers, I didn’t try to get smarter than the technology. I just installed and let Peco sort it all out. At this point I’m operating two trains at a time with just one set of feeder wires per track for the layout. My job this weekend is adding more power feeders.
