New Layout: The CSX Dixie Line

CSXDixieLine Jul 28, 2008

  1. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Hey gang, getting back to the layout after a winter filled with travelling, Cub Scouts and little league baseball. The first thing I am doing is working on a real track plan using XTrackCAD. I have resurrected an XTrackCAD tutorial thread in the Layout Design Discussion section of the forums that has been dormant for over two years:

    Drawing a Track Plan with XTrackCAD

    Will be good to get back to real modeling after armchair modeling via TrainBoard for the last few months. :)

    Jamie
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 6, 2011
  2. vashnar

    vashnar TrainBoard Member

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    Glad to see you're back, Jamie! That family stuff can sure suck up time, huh?
     
  3. JSL

    JSL TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, its nice to see you back in the layout room! I hope you have some goodies for your blog soon! I been checking every week... I will have to check out your other thread.

    JSL
     
  4. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    I have finally resumed work on the layout. I have laid out the entire mainline on the lower level using a single spline and sheets of foam board placed temporarily on the benchwork. While I have still have quite a bit of adjustments to make, this does give a good feel for how the railroad will pass through the scenery. The following photos show the entire mainline that is in the process of being located.

    Etowah River:

    [​IMG]

    Pilgrims Pride feed mill (Calhoun, GA):

    [​IMG]

    Calhoun, GA (South End Resaca passing siding):

    [​IMG]

    Tilton, GA (North End Resaca passing siding):

    [​IMG]

    Jamie
     
  5. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Glad to see you back at it too! :)
     
  6. Jerry Tarvid

    Jerry Tarvid TrainBoard Member

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    Great to see that you are refreshed and moving forward on your layout Jamie.[​IMG][​IMG] I always enjoy watching a master craftsman. Nice progress photos.

    Jerry
     
  7. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Did you have to ask for directions how to get back to the train room like I did?

    Let me know where the master craftsman is so I can watch too! Thanks for the encouragement; looking forward to more progress soon. My goal is to have trains running in a continuous loop before I do any more scenery.

    Jamie
     
  8. Jerry Tarvid

    Jerry Tarvid TrainBoard Member

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    Work in front of a mirror.[​IMG] LOL. Trains running on my layout are always a source of inspiration and my primary goal.[​IMG]

    Jerry
     
  9. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, getting trains running is the most important aspect of a layout IMO. Also getting the initial layer of scenery down to prevent trains from hitting the floor is important. However, once you get trains running, everything else seems secondary and progress slows considerably because you can enjoy your railroad without making a mess.
     
  10. GP9BN1799

    GP9BN1799 Permanently dispatched

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    Jamie i really like what you are doing it's giving me a lot of ideas and between you and Jerry's Sante Fe layout i'm hoping mine will look half as nice as yours:tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin::thumbs_up:
     
  11. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    After a two year layoff, construction crews are finally back at it on the CSX Dixie Line:

    [​IMG]

    You can see the dropdown gate at far right and the future location of the Etowah River bridge at far left. The aluminum angle will keep the splines perfectly straight across the bridge.

    Jamie
     
  12. GaryHinshaw

    GaryHinshaw TrainBoard Member

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    Good lord, has it really been two years?? Nice to see progress again.

    I've been paying new attention to your layout because, with an upcoming move at the end of the month, I'll be taking possession of a 10 x 20 foot space for a new layout, and I like the footprint of your plan. I'm starting to doodle a plan with a similar footprint (but based on Tehachapi, of course).

    -Gary
     
  13. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    I did a bunch of scenery in 2010, but no new trackwork since 2009. Funny, it doesn't seem like I am moving that slow. Will be a lot happening for the next few months though--I told my son I would have all of the lower level track down by his birthday on 5/4. Clock is ticking now!

    BTW, after about three years, I can say I am VERY happy with the footprint of the layout I chose. I think it really maximizes my mainline run in the amount of space available.

    Jamie
     
  14. CNW 1518

    CNW 1518 TrainBoard Member

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    Any updates?
     
  15. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    None since April. Been doing a ton of outdoor stuff this year, plus Cub Scouts and little league with my son. I'll probably get the layout construction going again in the fall. The good news is that I have all of the lower level trackwork planned out so when I get back to it I should have all the roadbed done pretty quickly. Until then, my railroading will involve following everyone else's progress via TrainBoard! Jamie
     
  16. DaveWonders

    DaveWonders TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Jamie, I followed your DIY on soldering wires to the bottom of the rail. It leads me to a question:

    I have a 1/4" hole now between the rails every place I have a set of feeders. Do you do anything special when you go to ballast? Just let whatever wants to fall down in there fall down in there?

    Thanks.
     
  17. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Dave, When I lay my track, I use latex caulk for the adhesive. I lay a bead of caulk on the cork (tongue twister?) and when I spread it out, it usually covers the hole. Even when I push the wires down through the caulk, it does not open up the hole enough to be a problem when ballasting. There are a few places where I did not adhere the track with caulk, such as turnouts. In this case I just place a dab of caulk on the end of a toothpick and work it down into the hole to seal things up. By the way, I did miss sealing one hole but did not realize it until I saw a nice little pile of ballast on the carpet some time later. :) Jamie
     
  18. DaveWonders

    DaveWonders TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the fast response! I laid some track last night on a coffee buzz. Decided to stop to make sure I didn't mess something up. I'm thinking of putting as little hot glue as I can from underneath. I'm hoping it would be possible to reheat if I needed to move a wire. But I guess at the worst I could clip the wire at the rail and clip it at the bottom. Ok, done hijacking your thread. Thanks again!
     
  19. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Good to see you back in the groove J. I too am just getting back into the RGW after finally deciding coaching college basketball took too much time away from family and friends. I look forward to seeing more progress on the Dixie. As for me, need to ramp up pretty fast, the local group from both NMRA and narrow gauge have me scheduled for their layout tours in May, ugh. M
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice to see folks back at it and progressing!
     

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