Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

Thanks, guys!  But, oh, I'm paying the price today at work.  I stayed up very late last night not only completing the mainline but also running trains.  Granted, I don't have miles and miles of mainline trackage like you Erics, but, for me, this may be the longest line and biggest layout that I've ever had.  Plus, I can now really stretch the legs of my fleet.  It's obviously still a loop, but it doesn't feel so roundy-round, considering the time it takes to compete a lap as compared to before.

It was very enjoyable last night being able to use the mainline track through Southern Pines for the first time in at least fifteen months since I rebuilt that track in anticipation of this expansion.  At that time, I cut out the mainline, so I could extend the passing siding, relegating the mainline to a dead-end stub.  So, I can't wait to connect that passing siding tonight with just one piece of flextrack, so I can finally have meets in Southern Pines again.  This really adds to the capacity of the layout.

Oh, and now that I can run trains, you can expect that construction will slow down. 

DFF

[John]

And according to USPS tracking .. your #7 turnout is in your mailbox .. so more progress can be had tonight

[davefoxx]

Fantastic!  Send me a bill.  Otherwise, I owe you a beer or lunch the next time I see you.

Thank you, John!
DFF

EDIT: @John : You were right: the turnout was in the mailbox when I got home.  An unopened #7 turnout!  I didn't expect that.  Thank you so much!  Now, I just have to order some cork roadbed . . . and, of course, wait for Atlas to ship the other #5 turnouts I need.

[Rich_S]

Thanks, guys!  But, oh, I'm paying the price today at work.  I stayed up very late last night not only completing the mainline but also running trains. 

Oh, and now that I can run trains, you can expect that construction will slow down. 

DFF

Oh I've been down both of those roads more than once  You get on a roll and before you know it, it's the middle of the night    I've run into that second issue with my current layout. It's about 85% complete and currently it's more fun to switch cars at the industries than to finish the scenery 

To try and stay on track, remember the A&R still needs a little more running room, that is if you still have any flex left. Of course hand laying is always a option 

[John]

Fantastic!  Send me a bill.  Otherwise, I owe you a beer or lunch the next time I see you.

No bill . but I'm going to make you wheeling yardmaster

[VonRyan]

Fantastic!  Send me a bill.  Otherwise, I owe you a beer or lunch the next time I see you.

Thank you, John!
DFF

EDIT: @John : You were right: the turnout was in the mailbox when I got home.  An unopened #7 turnout!  I didn't expect that.  Thank you so much!  Now, I just have to order some cork roadbed . . . and, of course, wait for Atlas to ship the other #5 turnouts I need.

You say you need some #5 turnouts... 

[davefoxx]

I installed the last piece of track to reconnect the passing siding in Southern Pines tonight.  I took this picture before the glue was dry and the push pins could be removed.  The mainline and the passing siding each now hold approximately two four-axle locomotives and fifteen freight cars.  Nice!



At the suggestion of John and Sizemore back on Pages 24 and 25 of this thread, I replaced a #5 right turnout with the wye about fifteen months ago.  That was the right call, as evidenced by the "feng shui" and flow of the transition between the old and new trackwork.





The first meet. Enjoy!

DFF

[davefoxx]

You say you need some #5 turnouts... 

Yeah, a boatload!  They say they're en route to the hobby shops next month.  We'll see.

[davefoxx]

No bill . but I'm going to make you wheeling yardmaster

I'll give it a shot.  I've been the yardmaster of Bellevue on Eric's layout without logjamming the layout too badly, although I did do this:



 

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Looks awesome Dave.

I need to catch up.

[dmidkiff]

Looks great Dave!  I'm interested to see how you incorporate the trackwork and topography in the Raeford area coming off the original layout.

Doug

[tappertrainman]

Beautiful "feng shui" with the curves and the superelevation.  I regret not making the effort to superelevate, but I think it's too late now with the layout 95% ballasted.  :/

James

[High Hood]

Hey Dave, how much longer does it take a train running at track speed to complete a lap now on the whole layout compared to the original part?

[davefoxx]

Thanks for the compliments, guys.  I appreciate it.

[davefoxx]

Hey Dave, how much longer does it take a train running at track speed to complete a lap now on the whole layout compared to the original part?

High Hood,

I set up a train to run at a scale (reasonable) speed.  I timed the train under one route and then switched tracks to let it run on the other route without ever touching the throttle.  I'm not sure what the actual speed was, because I don't have a speedometer.  I'm guessing at 40-50 smph.  But, it really isn't critical to know the actual speed, because one can figure the ratio of time between the old and new loops to calculate the increased mainline.

Original door layout: 53 seconds
Extended mainline: 110 seconds

Just slightly more than twice the length of mainline.  Nice.

Thanks,
DFF