Seaboard Central 2.0

[basementcalling]

The other project I wanted to start this weekend: a two-track storage yard on a shelf that swings under the layout for stowage.  This is based on the design of the swing-out section on MR's project layout, the Winston-Salem Southbound.  I'm just testing the hinge in the following pictures, to make sure it works and clears the table leg.  Obviously, it's not finished, as it needs a spine to straighten and stiffen the shelf, roadbed, track, and Masonite fascia.  Please ignore the temporary leg, as a folding leg will be constructed that swings up under the shelf when stowed.



Here, is what it will look like when stowed out of the way.  Nice.



DFF

"Is that a folding yard extension leg in your pants or are ya happy to see me big boy." Maye West

[davefoxx]

I recommend some guard rails on the little yard tail... it's a long way down to that concrete floor!

Glad to see you can still read.

I still need to install the Masonite fascia/guardrail and build the folding leg. . . .

I've got plenty of scrap Masonite that's been laying around since I put the fascia on the layout a few years ago that I'm going to use- just like I did on the cassette that used to hang off the layout in the same spot.

DFF

[OldEastRR]

 If you're going to sell the layout have you thought about keeping some/all the kitbashed and homebuilt buildings? You can substitute regular stock plastic kits and structures for them when you sell the old layout (or sell it w/o buildings). The one good thing from tearing down an old layout is there are lots of things you have ready-made for use on the new one.  On my new NH layout I've got structures (or their kitbashed remains) from 3 or 4 (or more) layouts ago. Nice bridges are something else to save and re-use.

[davefoxx]

Besides messing around with my new Atlas Seaboard System B36-7s (one decoderized and broken in; two to go), I built the leg for the swing-out staging section.

Here's the two-track staging yard deployed with the leg supporting and leveling the yard:


This shot demonstrates the first step of swinging the yard under the layout.  The leg has been folded up and stored under the shelf:


The shelf has been stowed:


This is a shot of the stowed shelf.  I used a hook and eye to secure the section under the layout:


Now, I just have to wire the tracks up and fabricate the Masonite fascia/guardrails.

DFF

[davefoxx]

The first train has made its way on to the staging section under its own power, pulled by my brand new SBD B36-7.  I've got feeders to the tracks run and have terminated them at a terminal block under the shelf.  For now, two wires are temporarily run from the bus wires of the main layout to provide power.  I just need to find a nice way to conceal them as much as possible and still allow the shelf to swing under the layout.



DFF

[wazzou]

You might consider some bumpers at the end of the line.   

[davefoxx]

You might consider some bumpers at the end of the line.   

Nah, I like living life on the edge.  Ooh, get it?  Haha!

[wm3798]

If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room!

I used a simple phone jack to make the connection to my aisle bridge...  Nice 4-pole wire, eminently flexible, and easily replaced!



(the fat white wire was the control bus... I used an 8-pole jack for that!)
Lee

[davefoxx]

@wm3798,

Ooh, Lee!  Thanks for the inspiration and idea!  I've been looking for a clean way to disconnect the wiring run between the HCD and the staging section, in case I want to remove the section from the layout.  My Digitrax panels in the fascia have those RJ12 connectors.  Those could work!  I've already got plenty of wire, connectors, and crimpers.  I would just need the connections to hook conventional wiring to the RJ12 wiring.  Off to Home Depot after work this morning!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Sides!  However, I need to buy a new random orbital sander, because my old sander died.  So, while it may not look too bad in the photos (no close-ups, please ), I'd like to do a bit of sanding on the shelf to clean it up before paint.



I also bought a telephone jack to wire up the staging section, but I need a specific size hole saw to cut through the fascia.  Back to the home center tomorrow!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Oh, and I decoderized the other two B36-7s this afternoon.  This is quintessential Seaboard System: fast GE four-axle power hauling a hot intermodal train:



This puts a smile on my face!

DFF

[Chris333]

You should go a head and finish all the trees too. 

[davefoxx]

You should go a head and finish all the trees too. 

@Chris333,

Yeah, there's that.  But, seeing the glacial pace that you're moving at on your trees , although I know you are working hard on their construction, doesn't give me much incentive to go there.  Besides, I have no materials left to build new trees right now, as I need to invest in another box of SuperTrees or build my own.

I'm not sure I want to invest a lot of time and effort into scratchbuilt trees for this layout, since I haven't decided how long it's going to be around.  I'll admit that I have sort of fallen in love again with this little HCD layout.  While I miss the mainline run of the expanded version, the layout was just getting out of control.  The new swing-out staging yard (which requires no trees ) added a lot of flexibility and capacity (see my next post).

DFF

[davefoxx]

It works!  I'm not disappointed with the capacity of the new swing-out staging section.  In fact, I was able to add one more 89' flat car to the train I was running last night.  As seen below, this staging holds two locomotives, eight 89' flats, and one caboose.  Not bad for a HCD layout.



DFF

[wm3798]

You might want to put a guard rail around that.  It's a long way to the concrete floor.