Commercial Street

The upper photo is midway down Commercial Street (East), the lower photo is where the street running began (West End).

Track Plan

The tentative track plan. I will adjust the whole street running area as I layout the tracks. Any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

The other side of the room, what is left of the benchwork where the peninsula was, soon to be 2 piers. The tracks will run along the wall and be street running modeled to have the feel of Commercial Street from when I used to roam it in the 70's. I will take specific details from that area and era and put them into the scene. More details to follow on that. Including my photos from the 1970's of Commercial Street.

The yard as seen from the door way.

P&R Redux

The new yard being laid out. I still need to cut the Homasote and mount it.There will be three through tracks on the left a 4 track yard, which you are looking down the ladder a through fare next to the edge and an engine facility off the through fare at the lower right. Three 4' x 18" Modules.

Disassembly Complete

All of the previous layout has been removed down to the benchwork! I have left all of the wiring intact and should be able to reconnect the leads to the new track when installed. The new layout will be built on 18" wide by 48" modules that will be mounted to the existing benchwork. The only other sections different from these will be the wharf module, staging module and the module across the front of the closet. Still need to scan the track plan for posting. Not traveling for work but that does not mean the hours are any shorter.

Lessons learned

If you are like me and change your concept or idea often, never glue the track to the roadbed. I will always spike it from now on. Used liquid nails to apply the track to the corak roadbed, next to impossible to remove with out damaging track. I am glad I spiked all of the switches as they are easily removed for reuse.

Foam core scenery support is great until you tear it out, what a mess. Cardboard strips and plaster cloth only from now on.

Less is better, less area to scenic especially. I had only partially sceniced the peninsula and it was a real time consumer and material consumer. This next design will have the shelves as narrow as possible to fit the track work flats against the back drop and smaller structures if any between the bench edge.

Using linoleum for the back drop is great if it is not to high. I had used 2-1/2 foot high sections of linoleum for my back drop. It was hard to install and keep flat against the back board. As time went by its weight started to pull away from the back board. I would only use it up to 1 ft high if I ever use it again.

Layout is 50% dismantled as of today.