Looking Ahead

I try to "work ahead" on my layout construction. That is, while I am working on one phase, such as tracklaying, I take some time to begin planning upcoming phases, such as wiring. Looking further ahead, I am beginning to consider scenery and structures.

For example, I have been studying a 1917 vintage book on wharf construction, even though that is still pretty far down the road. I originally thought I'd build an all-wood wharf, but now I think it will have be of the paved variety, though with a wood framework; the book I've been studying has several examples.

Another project in months to come is the depot. One of my favorite movies is the Hitchcock thriller Shadow Of A Doubt, which was filmed on location in Santa Rosa, California. One of the early scenes...and one of the last...was shot at the Santa Rosa depot (Southern Pacific, I'm sure). That type of station is perfect for my layout, and it still exists, so there are online photos available. While I don't intend to model that particular depot, I like the look and feel of it and plan to build something similar incorporating some of the features.

The same goes for the residential streets shown in the movie; while my layout only has room for depicting the edge of a residential area, I at least know the 1940s-era look I'm after.

Modeling the look of 1947 is made easier by the wealth of movies and other available material from that year, such as photos on the websites of historical societies, etc.

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.

Turnout Frog Construction

I've made some slight modifications to my original plan, specifically eliminating three turnouts that are unnecessary. They branched into short...too short...storage sidings near the roundhouse. One turnout will do. So that leaves five additional turnouts I must build. I've started on the components, beginning with the frogs.

My turnouts use "hot" frogs; that is, they are continuously powered and their polarity is subject to the position of the turnout's point rails (more about that in a future post). I use a block of white pine, soft wood that will readily accept spikes, and lay out the frog angle. I only use #6 frogs, so the spread is one-sixth of any given distance from the point of the "vee" in the frog. In practice, I measure six fourths from the vee point and then a width of one fourth. I then spike down one rail along one axis and cut it at the same angle as the other axis, thus producing a perfect No. 6 angle in the vee point. Next, I file a second rail to fit along the second axis. Finally, I add the wing rails.

Now I'm ready to solder. I fill the frog assembly with solder and then file it out to flange depth. I find this makes for a very accurate frog and, though I of course use guard rails, cars seem to go through my frogs correctly even without them.

The photos will, I hope, make all this more clear. From top to bottom...

Photo #1, 2

A finished and installed frog. After soldering and filing, I trim the rails so that the frog assembly is a scale 15 feet long, about 3 inches in S Scale.

Photo #3

The frog assembly before soldering.

Photo #4,5

A frog assembly during the flangeway filing process.

Progess Photos

Tracklaying Has Begun

Here's a summary of progress to date:

Benchwork
Benchwork's complete. The layout is divided into five sections, bolted together. Section sizes range in length from 18" to 4', with widths between 18" and 3'. The 18" segment will, with the addition of the "water" attachment, actually wind up being 2' wide. Building benchwork in sections allowed me to do all of the messy, sawdust-producing work in the garage and then perform final assembly in our hobby room (spare bedroom). The only section that would ever have to be removed is the one on the far left (see plan in previous post) of the layout that is in front of the room's single small window, should that window need replacement.

I also plan to add a 6" wide fascia to the front of the layout.

Backdrop
The backdrop is complete. It is blue sky, with a few clouds and light haze, painted on 16" wide hardboard. It curves around the upper right hand corner (again, see plan) of the layout. Space restrictions on the left end, however, require that the 2' long backdrop across that end had to be placed at a 90 degree angle to the main backdrop.

Trackwork
As explained previously, I am able to reuse the track I laid before our recent move. I've been using a handheld jigsaw to cut out sections, place them on the new layout in the required new configuations and fix them in place with carpenter's glue. I will have to lay very little new track, with the exception of the wharf area. Otherwise, the only new track required will be for short connections between the salvaged sections. However, I will need to construct eight new turnouts and two crossings, owing to the more complex track plan.

Progress photos will be posted soon!

Brief Progress Report

The framework for the five "pre-fab" layout sections is done. The sections will reside in the garage a little while longer, awaiting recarpeting of our house, which will happen within the next two weeks. (We're having 25-year carpeting installed, so I doubt we'll have to repeat the process...in 25 years, I'll be nearly 90!) In the meantime, I hope to have all the remaining lumber for the layout...legs, backdrop supports, baseboard...and the backdrop itself...cut out and ready. I'll do a trial partial assembly of the whole works in the garage, then move the sections to the train room for final, permanent assembly.

Because the Texas coastal area I'm depicting is very flat, I will use a solid baseboard, with any needed slight elevations built up with scrap wood and cardboard. The "downtown" area at the rear of the layout, for example, will be only an inch or two higher than the area at "water's edge." In S Scale, an inch represents about 5 feet. Because this layout is semi-modular, I prefer a solid baseboard. The actual water area will be on a special section to be bolted to the main layout frame. I envision the water's surface as being about 10 feet (2 inches) below the land. Tidal changes down here are slight compared to those in the north. If I were modeling my home town of Seattle, for example, I'd need much higher piers...not to mention much greater land elevation changes to represent the steep terrain.

The lighting is done, thanks to a purchase of four wall lamps, and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results.

Track Plan

At last, here's the track plan. The area is approximately 8' x 12'. Minimum radius is 36". As you can see, this is purely a switching layout, representing a coastal Texas town at the end of a branch line. Railroad operations in the town are handled by the Gulf Harbor Terminal Railway. The "mainline" road has yet to be named...probably something like Texas Coast Railroad, etc.

The benchwork is already partially done. It will be "modular" with sections ranging from 3' to 4' in length. The sections are being built in our garage and will be bolted together in the "train room." The layout will be 45" high. The backdrop will be 1/4" hardboard, painted to represent sky but with no other detail. In practice, the only section that must be removable is the one at the far left, about 3' long, because it will be in front of a window, which must be accessible in the event it needs replacement or repair.

All of the track laid on my previous layout will be used, to be cut out of the original baseboard by a handheld jigsaw. As in many if not most layouts...and certainly all I've built...there will no doubt be some modifications to the original plan as construction progresses.

All track is within a 24" reach. A stepstool will be needed for completion of the scenery at the very back (a 36" maximum reach) but, once in place, access to that will seldom be needed.

Prior to assembling the sections in the train room, additional lighting will be installed, using plug-in flexible wall lamps.