Onward to Elkins...

[wm3798]

My idle hands have definitely been the devil's play ground.  As I've been developing my car cards and waybills, I realize I'm really needing to add a terminus for the Thomas Sub.

I'm thinking of splitting another switch off at Williamsport Jct.

After looping across the workbench, it would appear on the Potomac Crossing module, and use the lower bridge.

From there, I have to figure out the best way to get around or under the current yard module, then out to a small yard that would be over Andy's bed.

Think it'll work?  Or should I wait until the boy graduates?
Lee

[RockGp40]

Who am I to tell you what to do with your layout, but, is the lower level part of the master plan, and if so, is it where it is supposed to be in the master plan? Seems like a lot of work to craft it around Andy's bed. Will there will be an industry or two? Or, is it a place to stage that steam crap, I mean, locomotives? ;D

Stay hot and run diesels!


Mr. C.R.I. Pacific (post 1960)

[wm3798]

Well, no and yes...  Elkins is part of the final plan, just not where I'm proposing to put the stopgap.  I'm toying with the idea of including a couple of industrial tracks on the new line, just to the right of the low Potomac Bridge, and in front of the current caboose track, only lower.  I'm thinking a lumber mill would be appropo, since that would give me a source for wood chips and pulp wood, and virtually eliminate that traffic from Edville Yard completely.  A local from Elkins could deliver pulp, chips and coal without ever having to run through Ridgely.  Elkins to MY and return.  It would also relieve the yard of a lot of the coal traffic, leaving only the Somerset bound trains, and eastbound loads headed to port (no switching, all that would be done at the new Elkins yard.)  That is very much a part of the final design's operating schematic.

I suppose for the near term I could just put a couple of staging tracks over the work bench, and use the low bridge as a switching lead.  That would make more economic sense at this place in my world.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Get the boy a hammock, it's summer time.

They'll be plenty of room then.

I think the real trick is exactly as you said, getting around the yard. I think there may be room under it. Not enough for "layout" but enough for a pass through track.

[davefoxx]

Get the boy a hammock, it's summer time.

They'll be plenty of room then.

I think the real trick is exactly as you said, getting around the yard. I think there may be room under it. Not enough for "layout" but enough for a pass through track.

Plenty of room?  Every time someone wants to run to Elkins, their train is going to be blocked from view by Ed's keister being in the way as he works Ridgely Yard.   ;D

Seriously, I like the idea, but my vague recollection of the benchwork under Ridgely Yard makes me think that some serious carpentry might be needed.  But I wouldn't let that stop me.  Benchwork/trackwork is my favorite part of the hobby, and just a little investment in time can provide some instant gratification to operation.  If necessary, build temporary support, so you can take out the existing benchwork under the yard and build the new level with support for Ridgely Yard.

Room for the boy?  I don't know why that kid needs a bed anyway.  How could anyone sleep with all those trains around?  I can just hear the discussion at the Weldon house at bedtime:

Lee: Goodnight, honey.
Mrs. Weldon: Goodnight, sweetie.
Mrs. Weldon: Goodnight, Gracie.
Gracie: Goodnight, Mom and Dad.
Someone: Goodnight, Johnboy.
Mrs. Weldon: Goodnight, Andy.  Andy?
Lee: Andy, tie down that train and get back in bed!

Dave

[wm3798]

The yard is built on domino panels of 1x2 frames with 3/8 plywood on the surface, the subroadbed is 1/2 homasote scavenged from several previous layouts.  To run a track below the frame would require a drop of approximately 1-3/4 over the course of 4' if it is to go under the yard and engine terminal, in 8' if it is to go under at the turntable.  None of the benchwork for that area is terribly permanent, metal shelf brackets on the wall with a couple things propping it up on the outer edge.

What I'll probably do is put in the short storage tracks over the workbench to clear the Elkins traffic out of the yard, then in the fall when Gracie leaves for Germany, I'll get cracking on the front bedroom project.  That'll get Grace out of Andy's room, and Andy out of mine!  Then I can start building out the Big One.

Of course all this assumes I can make my mortgage payment for the next 3 months...

Usually at bedtime the conversation goes like this:
Andy:  Dad... I'm tired.
Lee:  Okay, just let me finish this up.
Andy:  DAD.
Laura:  Will you let that boy get some sleep!
Lee:  HOLD ON, I'M SETTING A DECAL!
Andy:  DAD Get OUT OF HERE!
Laura:  LEE!  Right Now!
Lee:  Alright, already.  Gee Whiz, guys!

Lee

[chuck geiger]

Sara Winchester, Lee "Google" her and see what the spirits told her, "If she continued
to build" she wouldn't die.

[Matthew Roberts]

Lee's a different case, he's truly obsessed; Sara Winchester's obsession is supposedly all a made-up story, she was apparently very sane and built a large house for the large amounts of family that visited. Apparently. I don't know.

Nice layout Lee, go for it!

[wm3798]

Heh... The Winchester House and Western....  I guess the so-called temporary sections of the layout do seem to grow organically, don't they! :-[

Lee

[chuck geiger]

WM - Winchester Mystery = BTW If Lee ran the real WM it wouldn't be a Fallen Flag, it would continue to grow and prosper. Kick it Lee!

[Bob Bufkin]

WM - Winchester Mystery = BTW If Lee ran the real WM it wouldn't be a Fallen Flag, it would continue to grow and prosper. Kick it Lee!

I think Lee is the George Leilich of N scale.

[wm3798]

I'm honored by your comparison.  I've been working in the garage all weekend, sizing up scraps of plywood...

The question is, do I use the last available credit on the card for food for Friday's barbecue?  Or a handful of #7 turnouts and some flex...???

Lee

[bobcat]

I'm honored by your comparison.  I've been working in the garage all weekend, sizing up scraps of plywood...

The question is, do I use the last available credit on the card for food for Friday's barbecue?  Or a handful of #7 turnouts and some flex...???

Lee

If you have guests coming over, tell them it's BYOF. ;D

[wm3798]

BYO #7's?

[Bob Bufkin]

Your plan sound doable except as mentioned, Ed will be blocking it while he runs the yard.  When are you going to put tunnels thru the walls and run trains into the 2 rooms next to your layout?  If you ever do the Lurgan Line, I'd be hard to get rid of on operating days.  Then again Ed would give up making up trains and run Reading all day.