Tracklaying Continues

Tracklaying continues, with the end in sight as the sections salvaged from my previous layout are progressively connected, which has involved adding six new turnouts. Above are a couple of views of recent progress

Top Photo:

Looking east. The foreground track will lead to the wharf area. The turnout and the tracks crossing the wharf lead, which will lead to a couple of industry spurs, are laid directly on the roadbed, as this area will be in the middle of a street and no ties would be visible.

Bottom Photo:

The view west. A short runaround track is in the foreground. To the left are industry spurs. The "main", which has a couple of cars on it, leads to the stub-end depot tracks.

General:

Turnout laying is going well, though it has required some careful (and tedious!) alignment where switches closely branch off one another. My procedure is to thoroughly test turnouts during all construction stages by running a couple of my "fussiest" cars...a gondola and a hopper...through them at higher than normal speeds. Same goes for the double crossing...laying that was really tedious and very time consuming; it's done, except for easer rails.

I've also begun installing 6-inch hardboard fascia, which gives the layout a more finished look.

I've still got about a half-dozen switch points to make, and then I'll be able to add tie rods and ground throws.

It seems like it's taking a while to get the track done, but I've learned through experience that it's far better to take time at this stage and get things right.

So, I hope, tracklaying is on the home stretch...then comes wiring.