I have thought about lateral stability also; I believe the peninsula supports on the CSXT Shenandoah Div layout are actually screwed to the floor to address this issue. I considered shooting them into my concrete floor (through the carpet) with a powder actuated nailer, but I think (hope?) that by having the peninsula attached to the wall at one end and the helix at the other that should be enough. The helix will be attached to the floor somehow, but I have to go into the floor through the carpet without damaging the carpet. I believe the concrete nails driven with the powder actualted niler would come out and leave the carpet with an unnoticable hole, but I will be sure to test that out before doing it in the actual room. Hey, I will have to sell this house one day! Jamie
CSX Dixie Line: Construction Update If you are planning on playing my wall brackets in a game of poker, you better have a really strong hand because they are ALL IN! Exactly two weeks after buying the lumber, the last of the 34 wall brackets was installed on the west wall of the layout room. By the way, I can now say that this wall will have Cartersville, GA on the lower level and Stevenson, AL on the middle level. I plan on having a revised track plan out in the next few days as I take a breather from the benchwork. A few pics... Recently completed west wall on the right looking towards the south wall at the other end of the room: Recently completed west wall on the left looking towards the north wall at the other end of the room: Jamie
I am buying the materials for the peninsula tomorrow. Over the next 7-10 days I want to get the peninsula built out and get the next version of the track plan completed (so I can start working on the next next version of the track plan!) I drive Atlanta-Kansas City about once a year to visit family and I can get from my driveway to Nashville in a shade under 4 hours. Of course, now that I am back into railroading big time, it will be more like 9 hours! Jamie
CSX Dixie Line: New Track Plan v2.0 I have just completed a major revision of my track plan. The images are included below, and I have a complete writeup of the new track plan on my blog. Jamie
WOW... Awesome track plan Jamie.I cant wait to see this one come together.This is gonna be a fun thread to watch.
Haven't really had the time to read over all your posts and blog entries until tonight. Nice looking plans and images. Everything looks good except for one or two things. 1) Using the vertical board attached to the wall and then attaching your arms with three dry wall screws. NO BRACES anywhere? Even with the top grade plywood that you stated you are using, have you checked on the possibility of ANY sag in the decks. I'm talking from the wall out. I too like the dry wall screws, but I would want the decks secured with something more than just three screws, and being all the screws are in one small area at that. 2) You stated that you will have just 30 inch isles. A little TOO narrow in my book. Two people better be good friends trying to pass each other in that small of an isle. I have always had a minimum of 36 inch isles and even then those can be a tight points sometimes. But then I could have at least 4-6 people operating the INDIANA RAILWAY before I tore it down to rebuild it. Keep up the good work.
Thanks TBone! I am thoroughly enjoying this endeavor as well, although I must say that following the progress of other layouts on here such as yours is also highly enjoyable. In fact, I have thought several tmes I need to spend less time on blogs and forums and more time on the actual layout, but fun is fun after all! Since this is the first "real" track plan I have posted, it will be interesting when the actual work comes together to go back and see how much the plan evolves. Mark, Thanks for sharing your concerns and your encouragement...they are both most appreciated. As for #1, I know of several layouts that employ the same wall bracket technique as mine, and it is only their success over many years that gives me (almost!) complete confidence that I will not have any problems with this construction. However, on your point #2, I agree completely. I am definitely trading off aisle space for layout space, which is why on another thread I lamented the fact that when I finished this basement room a few years back, I wish I could have squeezed out just one more stinkin' foot of width! With that said, this layout is mostly going to be a family layout, or maybe me and a friend will be as crowded as it gets (theoretically). In fact, one of the future projects I am really looking forward to is automating the layout via computer control and my DCC system so that I can operate a train and have other multiple trains running around at the same time controlled by the "virtual operators" on the PC. Of course, I know there will be times where I wish I had that extra 6" on each aisle. Jamie
CSX Dixie Line: Starting the Peninsula Today I started working on the peninsula that runs from one of the short walls (south wall) down the middle of the room and terminates at the helix. Again, I feel obligated to give credit to Bruce Faulkner and his N-scale CSXT Shenandoah Division layout upon which I am basing much of my construction methods. Before starting construction on the peninsula, I took a complete set of measurements to see how everything was coming together. After measuring the peninsula and helix space, I was expecting a 36" aisle gap from the helix to the opposite short (north) wall. I was happy to discover that the gap measured out to 37", giving me a precious extra inch of aisle space! Here is a shot looking towards the south wall before starting the peninsula. The peninsula will be coming off of the south wall towards the camera, just as the tape measure is aligned in this picture: As an additional sanity check, I built a mock-up of one of the peninsula supports using plain old pine boards just to make sure it would line up to the wall brackets as expected. My daughter was on hand to supervise and provide an extra set of eyes (and hands!): With everything looking good to go, I proceded to install the front boards on the brackets of the south wall, since this will not be possible once the peninsula is in place. Also, the front boards will provide structural connection points for the peninsula: A close-up of one of the corners shows how I just let the front boards cantilever out from the last bracket. This will provide extra support for any track risers or scenery base that goes in this area: The next step will be to assemble and install the seven (or eight, depending upon the final helix design) peninsula supports. Jamie
Today was a work at home day and during my "lunch hour" I managed to install the first four peninsula supports. The support closest to the camera is just the mock-up that is being used to hold up the top board that keeps all of the supports aligned and spaced correctly: Jamie
Nice plan- I'm wondering how much "people room" you're going to have when the benchwork is assembled. Can't wait to see further progress- please, keep us posted.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Surprisingly, there is plenty of room in the aisles. Maybe I was expecting 30" wide to be claustrophobic, but I can walk around and turn with plenty of space between me and the benchwork. Mind you, this layout will be run by just one or two people (plus the computer "operators" via LocoNet automation). Jamie
Jamie, you must be on the skinny side! I think our body size plays a role in our layout design process, cause my first layout when I was a teenager had 18" isles. (I was quite skinny back then) Since then, my isles have progressively widened. I think that if I wasn't the stick I am, then I would have made my walkways a bit bigger, and less benchwork. But I took into account the people that would be regular operators and they are all pretty thin, so I took some inches off isle width and traded for layout space. With you running trains by yourself, I think your isles are more than adequate. 30" for 2 big guys to squeeze by is mission:impossible, but very manageable for a few skinny dudes. =) -Mike
:tb-biggrin:HaHa! I know what you mean! Lookin' good.:thumbs_up: The room looks nice and comfortable.
CSX Dixie Line: Peninsula Completed Today I finished the peninsula, front boards and all. I have included views from both aisles. I still need to provide lateral stability at the helix end (closest to the camera) by attaching a support across the top of each aisle once the remaining benchwork is finished. Jamie
I know exactly why your layout is so high up there. to keep the young kids from breaking your trains. good planning!!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::tb-biggrin:
