Update Q4-2014

I feel like I made a lot of good progress on my layout since the last time I posted.

I put up the original string of LED lights SMD 5050s. I ordered 4 more, which should keep me going for a while. I am going to double up the warm whites with some bright whites. From what I read that will make a nice, natural looking light. Got an old power supply from a friend, and I'm good to go.

I installed some fascia and valance around most of the bench work. It just looks nicer to me.
Setup an old laptop with linux, XTRKCAD, JMRI to run WiThrottle. It was very easy, the hardest part was finding an old RS-232 cable.

I added a 2 track yard. Not part of the prototype, but it helps with operations. I also have most of the track which represents the NE Corridor in place. It will eventually to into staging, but not yet.

Yard at West Mansfield

I created my layout in Switchlist. I had it generate a couple of switch lists and I used them for mini op sessions. I still have more a few more things to configure, but it gets the job done.

Printout from Switchlist

Industries in place so far:
Miller Recycling
Radford Warehouse
Chrysler Autoparts
Amerisource Bergin
Tate & Lyle Corn Syrup (Doesn't belong here, but I love corn syrup tank cars!)

Tate & Lyle mockup

Finally running trains again

It's nice to have a layout running again. It feels like it has been a really long time since I have been able to run trains at home.

This is what happens when we get a few straight nights of rain.

A layout pops up, out of nowhere.

This is the start of the right side of the layout, from the track plan that I posted earlier this month. It will have 3 businesses to service, an auto parts distributor, and recycling facility and a warehouse. I'm experimenting with using flex track and camper tape this time around. It goes a little faster than hand laid track. I also tacked up a strip of LEDs, just to try them out, seems to provide enough light for now. I read an article about mixing different temperature LEDs, for a more natural light, I can decide on that once there is more to look at than homasote and flex track.

June 2014 Update

I haven't posted since February, and a lot has changed. We finally settled on using the attic for my layout, rather than the spare room on the first floor. A little more difficult for people to get to, but in the end it can be a much larger space(16'x40'). Right now only 1/2 the attic is usable, and I have lots of other work to do around the house and the farm, before I start finishing the rest of the attic. I accepted that it could be more than a year before I get to finishing the attic, so I started thinking about a smaller layout. After considering micro layouts, Ingelnooks, and module I settled on a switching layout based on the industrial area around Norfolk St., Mansfield, MA. and came up with an initial track plan.

I was influenced by James McNab's Grimes Line, Lance Mindheim's Downtown Spur, and operating on Don Irace's P&W.

Most of the benchwork and back drops are up, I need to work on some lighting, and then I can start laying track again. It really sucks not having a layout, I'm so happy to be building again.

That's it for this month, thanks for stopping by, hopefully I'll have more updates and pictures in a month.
Mike

January Update

I started the month out by tearing down my layout, removing the last cabinet and sink (the room used to be a kitchen) and starting to put up new benchwork.

About that time that space formally occupied by the layout was rezoned residential. I am getting another room, which is actually a little bigger, and in the overall plan requires me to less remodeling around the house. However I don't think I'll be getting that room ready for at least a year.
So I decided to build a small switching layout in my office inspired byWashington Park in Providence, RI. 

I think this will keep me busy until the other room is done.
I'm not sure about the track on the right side of the plan, that might just end up being staging. The bench work for the left side of the layout is pretty much done, then I need to cut some plywood for the subroadbed, and then start laying track.