Testing the Yard

Had a few minutes yesterday which I used to test my yeard theory.

Placing the PECO C80 turnouts I had in the drawer since many years in order to determine weather the theory was true and not exceeding 19 cm in width.

And it was OK.

Long time no action

I am deeply sorry for the absence of activity here on this blog. I have not at all been unactive with model railoading but for the last 12 month (plus) I have focused my efforts on the moduls.

The home layout has become a storage for a lot of tools, material and other items used when building the modules. It is also a temporary yard and testing track for cars.

During this time I have thought a lot about my home layout and how to proceed; should I finalize it as planned, scrap it and use the material for modules or find a third, so called inbetween, solution.

This is now the preliminary plan:

Decrease the initial plan and build a staging yard in direct conjunction to the industrial area:

It would provide oportunities for interesting traffic on the industrial area with challenging switching puzzles.

Since there are no layout to limit the space above the work bench I can extend the storage and make the work area more practical.

I do not have to be so careful when handeling wood work in the other end of the room.

...

I will use existing material (PECO Insulfrog code 80) for the yard. Since there will be no landscape the design does not matter. The insulated frogs will not cause and problems with the large US-engines.

If you have any comments, please do not hesitate -go ahead.

Short circuits and solutions

Nothing is more irritating than hard to find short circuits and nothing is more pleasing than finding them (and have a solution).

Several hours was spent on this issue but now we are up and running on the major switching area.

Summertime - no time for trains

Summertime means gardening and outdoor activities, at least according to my wife. Consequently there is limited time for model railroading.

But occasionaly I read Model Railroader.

And I met a long lost friend who is the owner of a fantastic Rivarossi locomotive i O-scale.

Switch engine problems

What to do if there is a obstacle in the way for the switch engine and you have to mount the engine on the side of the hole?

Answer: Rebuild the engine.

A bit of plasticard and super glue and we are up and running.

The Brewery is connected to the world

A nice smooth curve now connect the Brewery tracks with the yard and main line.

Mainline complete

"Sekt and Cigarren" said Mayor Clarion when the final solder was made on the mainline. It is now complete all through the layout, at least the switchin area.

Ready for the staging yard.

First turnout ready for traffic.