Gibbon, Cozad & Western - "The 100th Meridian Line"

[NARmike]

Have you given steel studs a thought? Various sizes and grades so check with contractors to see what you would need... much stronger than wood and much lighter for the same load bearing capacity.

Mike

[GaryHinshaw]

Are you sure you actually want a suspended ceiling?  That could make the space seem a lot smaller than you might predict.  Have you thought about suspended lighting, perhaps in combination with a simple treatment that de-emphasizes the roof, like dark paint?  (I'm picturing a theater here.)

[nscalemike]

Are you sure you actually want a suspended ceiling?  That could make the space seem a lot smaller than you might predict.  Have you thought about suspended lighting, perhaps in combination with a simple treatment that de-emphasizes the roof, like dark paint?  (I'm picturing a theater here.)

I was thinking the same thing.  Give it a good cleaning of anything that is not needed up there, conduit the wiring, paint it dark, and let the light shine on the layout!  All kinds of retail places do this now, from clothing stores to restaurants and typically you wouldn't even notice it unless you look up.

Mike

[Specter3]

Suspended ceilings are supposed to keep the layout cleaner. But that is from folks that are building in basements. Since there are not occupied living spaces above the layout the clean issue may not be as much of an issue as in other places.

[DKS]

Suspended ceilings offer all kinds of advantages, in addition to dust control (even with no living space overhead--dust is our enemy in any building). Advantages such as sound deadening (I can only imagine what sound does in that cavernous space), as well as a support structure for lighting fixtures and all manner of overhead stuff. Wish I could provide input on a viable solution, but I can only say that I'd definitely opt for the suspended ceiling. Perhaps a grid of steel cables strung under tension between the wall beams? That's the only thing that comes to mind at the moment.

[C855B]

Great discussion, guys.

Main motivation for the grid is insulation. You can have up to R-38 on top of the tiles - that I have direct experience with. It will otherwise be very difficult to reasonably insulate the exposed underside of the roof, and then we're still stuck trying to cover-up the exposed insulation batts (or whatever). The cleanliness issue afforded by grid is also a factor. And like David mentioned, troffer lights make space lighting easy - I've even found some "wafer" LED 2x2 troffers that are hardly thicker than a standard 5/8" acoustic tile.

For a while I considered the "paint it black" idea. Not only are you used to seeing it in retail and restaurant spaces, if you've ever spent much time on performance stages... well, there you go. Same thing, like Gary said. But the insulation issue again.

As far as it "confining" the space, we're talking about a 14' ceiling with the grid. Plenty cavernous.

To tell you the truth, Mike may have the solution with steel studs. Once fastened so they can't torque, they're amazingly stiff, and quite light. Plus they make good chases for the occasional cable run. 16' 2x4 equivalents should be an off-the-shelf item locally. Thanks for refreshing my materials palette, Mike!

[C855B]

Work has been nuts this week and a train show ate my weekend, so no progress on anything, building-wise. But there is news of a disappointing sort - the new roof leaks. A lot. Worse than the old one. Contractor is coming by tomorrow morning, but I can't let his guys up there - sub-freezing temps and metal roofs = no traction. They might be able to put up the roll-up door, but that's going to have to be the extent of their activities this week.

In tangential news, today we closed on the purchase of an empty lot two doors south of us, about a third-acre. It was silly-cheap. One more lot on the block and we can build a hotel. Robyn was making noises about a "garden railroad?", which on further query she didn't mean G, but 7-1/2" gauge. I had to school her on the time and expense of live steam. Yikes.

[C855B]

Contractor installed a new window yesterday. Didn't plan for it to have a view of the crossing, it was just luck:

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[Specter3]

I hate to hear that about the roof. Leaks are horrible to deal with. Especially in winter! Been there done that on my moms house in NY. Ice dams on roof used to funnel water to areas where it shouldnt be. Nothing like being up on a ladder with a heat gun in single digits to make your life insurance guy nervous!

[Dave Schneider]

Contractor installed a new window yesterday. Didn't plan for it to have a view of the crossing, it was just luck:

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This might be the first train we have seen in this thread! 
Just kidding...I am amazed at the scope of this project and look forward to seeing it evolve.

Best wishes, Dave

[C855B]

Mostly minor updates:

NARmike's suggestion of metal studs to solve the grid ceiling support situation was absolutely spot-on. Installed a test beam between two of the trusses (13' span) and it deflected no more than 1/4" under my full weight. Far exceeds specs. Thanks, Mike!

The old breaker box is gone! Three circuits were run this past week to support the remaining work-area lights on the old power entrance. This was a big one on the "do" list that is now checked-off. Much old Romex is in a pile waiting to go to the recycler.

New roll-up door is in, and oh is it nice. If the sun decides to come out today I should take pix.

Train spot of the week: not one, but two NS Heritage units on a coal drag - Interstate in the lead, and NKP in the #4 position. I was on a ladder and couldn't get down fast enough to snap a phone picture. The train traffic around here is picking up to an amazing level; while we haven't hit the 50-a-day mark, I swear we're getting close. There are times when you can hear horns from three different trains queuing-up for the diamonds. CN is apparently ramping-up, too, as just last week they completed a ribbon-rail install on the formerly-jointed #1 main. I have got to install that internet drop and get the railcam going.

Speaking of horns, train fun of the week: the CN and BNSF locals trading "mating calls" as they were prepping for their twice-weekly transfer hand-off.

And now for some [sigh] retrospection. I was browsing the first page of this thread, reading the starry-eyed optimism that we expected to be starting layout construction "in the fall". Ha! We occupied the building the first week of July, and here it is, next February, and in spite of a fairly steady effort we are nowhere near ready to do anything remotely close to actually putting down benchwork. My "project manager" credentials are clearly in jeopardy. OTOH, we are enjoying the "task creep" and sense of accomplishment of making a difference in turning this sow's ear into a silk purse, and it's getting seriously noticed by the community. I guess we'll take it.

[davefoxx]

Train spot of the week: not one, but two NS Heritage units on a coal drag - Interstate in the lead, and NKP in the #4 position. I was on a ladder and couldn't get down fast enough to snap a phone picture.

Shame on you.  But, I'll let you slide on this, because someone caught a picture for you.   

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3364924

Seriously, keep up the good work.  Keep those updates and pics coming, please.

[NARmike]

NARmike's suggestion of metal studs to solve the grid ceiling support situation was absolutely spot-on. Installed a test beam between two of the trusses (13' span) and it deflected no more than 1/4" under my full weight. Far exceeds specs. Thanks, Mike!

You are more than welcome. I only wish I wasn't so far away otherwise I'd give you some "hands-on" help too!

[C855B]

Interesting few days at and about the studio. Two recent rains confirmed no more roof leaks - the guys did their job and sealed it up, so we're dry, finally. Alphonzo has been shoulder to the wheel getting the remaining dismantling done and the recycling organized, and doing some big cleaning up and straightening up. We loaded up the truck with metals not including any building siding over to the scrapyard yesterday and I was shocked by the total take, a couple of hundred. I don't know what the total of each metal type came to, but evidently the old A/C compressor, 40 feet of (smelly, dusty) ducting, the old roll-up door frame and five boxes of Romex cuttings added up big.

Made a truck run to Lowe's last night to stock up on known supplies needs before Robyn's 10% coupon expired. This time was mostly insulation and drywall, and we filled-up the 14-foot box. A few electrical tidbits, too, as I should be wrapping up the rough electrical in the studio today.

In a little bit of project planning introspection for the layout area, I realized with the high ceiling 1) there is going to be entirely too much time on a 16' ladder at many potential stages in the work, including ongoing maintenance, and 2) renting a scissor lift "for a couple of months" is not going to cut it, our work pace is too slow for that. So with Robyn's wholehearted approval and damn the budget, we are buying a small scissor lift. We found a used-industrial-equipment dealer in the area who had the smallest Genie lift (GS-1530 for those keeping score) with very few hours for a great price, so we make another truck run on Friday to pick it up. Biggest challenge is getting it out of the truck - no dock. It weighs 2600 lbs. We'll think of something.

Robyn commented this is perfect timing to solve the lift issue, as now is the time to tweak the benchwork plan to accommodate the lift. It's 26" wide, so should fit handily down the 42" minimum aisles at this point without too much alteration to the plan; just need to consider turning radius.

I owe you guys pictures. Duly noted.

[C855B]

Nice view from the back of the building earlier this week. Can't accuse CN of being short on "variety":





New roll-up door:



Scissor lift mentioned in the previous post. Getting it out of the truck will have to wait until Monday, when I can get a rigger (or flatbed tow truck) to handle it. You should have seen the guy get it in there, sorry I didn't film it. There was like 1" of clearance at the truck door opening, and he was doing it with one of those monster outdoor forklifts. Didn't bump a thing... talk about a gentle touch: