Tim, I not taken any detailed pics, but will try to explain the best I can. Parts I used: Goop All purpose glue (Lowes or Hobby Lobby) 1/8" Evergreen or Plastruct tubing 18 ga. floral wire bought in 18" straight pieces 1/8 Masonite Terminal strip (Radio Shack) Since I am using spline roadbed, I needed a self contained mechanism that could be mounted to the splines. I already had the masonite strips cut in 1 1/2" wide strips. Something else could be used. The pens need to be pulled apart, and trim about 3/16 off the end of the plastic barrel. This is so the clamps will have enough to bite onto. Cut the plastic from around the terminal strip and pull out the clamps (seen in the picture below). I used 2 clamps per pen. The hole in the Code 55 turnouts need to be drilled out with a 1/16" drill. Be careful not to break out the sides. They will be thin. Take one of the wires and bend an L long enough to go up thru the roadbed and thru the hole in the turnout. Leave a little long, you can trim it later. Cut a piece of plastic tubing long enough for the wire less about 2" of the pen end. I drill about a 3/8 hole in the end of the masonite. Stick the wire thru the tube, thru the 3/8 hole and glue the tubing to the center of the masonite strip. While they are drying, I drill a 3/8 hole thru the 1 x 4 fascia and mount the pen with Goop glue. I mount them inline with the slide on the turnout, which may be an angle thru the fascia. When the tube is set, mount the piece to the underside sticking the wire up thru the turnout. I cut a short piece of wire, 1-2" and clamp the short wire to the end of the pen. There should be an overlap with the long wire extending thru the turnout. Use another clamp to connect the 2 wires together and use this clamp to adjust the lengths so that the clicker works the turnout.
I made my first staging yard this week. It has 16 tracks, the longest just under 12 feet and the shortest around 8 feet. There will be a mirror yard on the other end. I also found out that I didn't have as much rolling stock as I envisioned. That's pretty much everything I have except for some passenger stuff.
Thanks JD. I used 5's for all the "yard". Mailman - This is only a "yard" as far as being a destination point in my point-to-point layout. It is actually staging, so I don't really need any normal yard tracks. I chose to have visible staging instead of hiding it away somewhere. The layout of my room is such that to hide it would have been more trouble that letting it out in the open. KB
I think so. I'll stage both ends for an Ops session, run to the opposite end and later just do the 5 finger switch on each to setup for the next session. With 16 trains available out of this yard and 16 trains out of the opposite yard, plus locals from the 28' NS Spencer Yard, plus the trains operating on the totally seperate Winston Salem Southbound sub, I don't think I'll have to worry about changing ends during a session.
great building :thumbs_up:looks like it is going to be a great train room would like to see more pics. i model HO in a garage with attached work shop in lugoff sc.looks like this will be alarge layout. keep up the good work.<OKIECRIP
WOW! I just got finished going through this thread. That is an amazing layout! It's a great idea to have an entrance pit. I've always thought my dream layout would be in it's own building, with no windows, and pit entrance, (maybe above a big garage) so you can design the layout without having to go around or in front of anything. Keep us posted on your progress, this is a great thread!
Oh yeah, you're that guy... what's his name. What up with the signature <a href=\"http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL561/2643468/5272166/69934526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL561/2643468/5272166/69934526.jpg</a> We need to get that fixed. Can't have you all out in public like this.
SD90, thanks. My original idea was to have the entrance be a long hallway at ground level and then emerge up and into the room. Once I started the addition, I realized how much extra trouble the hallway and raised floor would be and went with the pit instead.
I also just went through this thread, inspirational work Kevin. Interesting to enclose the helix on the end of a peninsula, good use of space. Nice 3d image as well. Great job!
now this is really some first class carpentry and modeler work ! this pen thing to throw turnouts is really cool. you said you're running on code 55. atlas or peco or what brand ? i'm not sure if a pen would be able to switch a peco turnout except that spring is removed. but then i'm not sure if it will apply enough pressure to keep the turnout aligned properly.
Like Scott said I'm using Atlas Code 55 with Atlas switches. The pens work great once you get the adjustment. I have to make some more for my yard and will try to do a step by step in case someone else wants o try it. (It was originally an article in some issue of Model Railroader maybe?). I would think they may work on Pecos also and the Peco spring would help hold the rails closed without as much adjustment as the Atlas' need. I have an idea for something on the helix covering... but I think I'll wait until I try it before I let the cat out of the bag.
Bravo! As an HO guy, haven't ventured on this thread. Glad I did. That's a sweet layout and facility. Thanks for the pictures. I really enjoyed that.
