Layout Construction - Update #10

Falls Yard Updates
The yard tracks for Falls have been completed. I guess this means that all trackage for the layout is complete. I probably should have some sort of celebration for a golden spike ceremony, but I am just glad the track work is completed. Now it’s time to begin planning some real operating sessions. I do need to run some trains on a regular basis to discover where the flaws in my track work are and make needed repairs.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Locomotive Storage Area
Now that operations are ready to begin I needed someplace within easy reach to change out locomotives. Rolling stock is stored in moveable drawers at the far end of the layout. Locomotives were being stored in some additional drawers on the opposite side of the room. A situation that is not very convenient for the person in charge staging trains. To solve this problem I installed small shelves above the staging tracks. This also helps to remind me of  work that needs to be done to some of the locos. Details, DCC decoders, paint, weathering and more are just waiting to done, No more out of sight and out of mind!

Layout Construction - June 14, 2009

Now we are starting to look like something
More shelf brackets installed. I determined the height of each level by needing to be above the fireplace tiles at the back of the room and a comfortable viewing level. The window provided a challenge since the studs are on 24" centers along the outside walls.

Larger brackets were used to allow for shelving under the lower level.

Another view.

Layout Room Construction - June 7, 2009

Ahh progress!
The ceiling is finally up! You might also notice the shelf brackets on the right-hand side. I had started testing the heights for the different levels of layout benchwork.

The other end of the room with a few panels needing to be placed.

Layout Room Construction – May 2009

Why I don’t do construction for a living
After months of on again and off again work, the walls have been finished and painted. The ceiling still needs to put up. The pile of crap in the middle of the room, was the only place it could go. It was fun working around the pile to finish the room.

This is a view of the other end of the room.

I needed to find a way to allow good airflow into the room and keep the cats out of the room. I finally decided to buy a screen door and remove the screen. In its' place I purchased some "egg crate" style ceiling panels used for drop ceilings. These were cut to size and screwed to the back of the door. The door is held shut by magnets at the top and bottom. Easy opening, but strong enough to keep the cats out.

Layout Room Construction – March 2009

Where do you start? At the beginning.
Before any construction of the layout could begin, the room needed to be finished. This room did not have any finished dry wall or ceiling. The electrical needed to be re-routed for additional wall outlets and ceiling lights. Oh, the joys of remodeling!

 

The challenge here is to enclose the furnace and water heater while allowing access to the crawl space on the left-hand side.

Another view showing the large window.