Model Railroading > ATSF/BNSF Southern Transcon - Heading West!

I've been putting this off for too long and now I finally have a moment to sit down and get everyone up to date with progress since my last post. Over the past couple of months we took some time away from the layout to do some rail fanning and attending some shows. But, we got to see some awesome locations, look at great layouts, and meet some cool people (if you're reading this, Hi Sonny). With that, here's what we got done.

1. Work continues on the coal branch. We went ahead and installed the rotary dump. It's a Walthers kit and will have a building enclosing it like the real thing. Our will not be operable at this time. However, we'll see what the future brings.

2. Further down, the run around siding is taking shape. One the real railroad, the tracks rise here and there's a road that runs under these and over the mainline. We're doing the same thing.

3. The end of the coal branch on our layout. There's enough room for a 4 unit consist to cut off, clear the switch, and run around their train.

More to come...

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4. On the other side of the aisle, the wye at NR junction is staring to take shape.

5. Overall view.

6. As the title says, the rails continue to grow westward.

More to come...

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7. In July, we did sneak in a running session before the bench work for Emporia yard covers the staging yard. Here's some of the trains that ran.

8. One more.

9. With the running session done, it was full steam ahead with the bench work for Emporia. It's 4' wide here and is attached to the wall while being braced to the staging yard bench work. With the addition of plywood, it makes a nice stiff base for the yard.

More to come...

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10. Plywood attached to the bench work for Emporia.

11, We built a loop that connects the new bench work with Merrick on the other side of the wall. This is also attached to the wall and braced with the staging yard bench work. This is the last of the permanent bench work for the main level at this time. All that's left is to build a temporary loop at the end of Matfield Green so we can run trains. More on that later.

12. With the bench work completed, it was time to start cutting out and gluing together roadbed. At this location, there's 3 main lines and a yard lead.

More to come...

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13. We didn't forget about the end of the tracks at NR Junction. Once the cork was laid at Emporia was laid, rails continued to grow west. However, it's slow going laying 3 main lines at the same time.

14. At the other end, the roadbed is attached to the bench work, sanded smooth, and had track cork glued. On the other side, roadbed for Matfield Green starts to take shape.

15. This completes the permanent bench work for the main level. From here the tracks enters a helix and climbs to the second level. For now, we're going to build a temporary return loop.

More to come...

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16. With the bench work for the main level done, all that was left was to build the temporary loop. Here, you can see how we attached it to the end of the permanent bench work.

17. Coming together...

18. Aaaand.. done. All that's left is to add sides and lay track. Someday, there will be a helix here.

More to come...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/22 10:02 by djh4d.

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19. With the roadbed complete, the tracks continued to head west. These are the crossovers at Merrick. What you can't see is the switch machines are already installed, wired up, and programmed into RR&Co. Also, I've been doing pretty good about getting blocks powered up as the track is completed.

20. Crossovers at Ellinor are 100% completed. Off to the right is the La Junta subdivision that goes to Topeka, KS. On the layout, it's about 25' long and will end at the backdrop.

21. The new addition has been added to the dispatch screen. Here's what the railroad looks like to the dispatcher.

That about wraps it up. Once we get the track for the mail level completed and signaled, we'll have another running session. As of now, it looks like it's going to be early November. As always, question, comments, and complaints are welcome.

Enjoy,
-Dave



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/22 09:41 by djh4d.

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Wow, this is quite the project.  Thanks for posting.  Dumb questiontime:  Why did you paint some of the benchwork blue?  Just curious.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Where is this layout?

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

MojaveBill Wrote:
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> Where is this layout?

Columbia, TN... 'bout 45 miles SSW of Nashville.


~ Mr. MRL
 

I know I've said it before, but I can't help myself. The planning, organization, execution, cleanliness and professional manner this layout is being built is jaw dropping. So fun to see you progress and I much appreciate these updates.

When do we get to come over and run trains....:-)

Just Kidding about running trains, thanks for sharing!

ntharalson Wrote:
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> Wow, this is quite the project.  Thanks for
> posting.  Dumb questiontime:  Why did you paint
> some of the benchwork blue?  Just curious.  
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

The wood was supposed to be for the 2nd and 3rd level. Because you can see that if you look up, we painted it blue so it would blend in with the backdrop. Since it's easy to paint the wood before it's cut and built into bench work, we just started painting everything blue. What you see that's not painted was built before we started doing that.

-Dave

MrMRL Wrote:
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> MojaveBill Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Where is this layout?
>
> Columbia, TN... 'bout 45 miles SSW of Nashville.
>
>
> ~ Mr. MRL
>  

Correct and thank you for answering.

-Dave

Dave, how many people do you have actively involved in construction?

Stunning, abosultely stunning!  And I like the dispather setup, I would enjoy that job for sure with the setup you've got.  

Curious, where'd you find the Santa Fe engine wall art?

Nathan

atsf121 Wrote:
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> Stunning, abosultely stunning!  And I like the
> dispather setup, I would enjoy that job for sure
> with the setup you've got.  
>
> Curious, where'd you find the Santa Fe engine wall
> art?
>
> Nathan


Looks like one of Stoddarts offerings

https://www.stoddartsltd.com/

Posted from iPhone

> 20. Crossovers at Ellinor are 100% completed. Off
> to the right is the La Junta subdivision that goes
> to Topeka, KS. On the layout, it's about 25' long
> and will end at the backdrop.

Did you mean the La Junta sub to Strong City and Newton?  The Topeka sub runs northeast out of Emporia through Osage City to Topeka.  I mean, it is your railroad... you can make it go wherever you want lol!

Love your layout!  Thanks for posting!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/22 18:35 by mpe383.

Spoony81 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> atsf121 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Stunning, abosultely stunning!  And I like the
> > dispather setup, I would enjoy that job for
> sure
> > with the setup you've got.  
> >
> > Curious, where'd you find the Santa Fe engine
> wall
> > art?
> >
> > Nathan
>
>
> Looks like one of Stoddarts offerings
>
> https://www.stoddartsltd.com/
>
> Posted from iPhone

Thanks

Dave, what are those big silver squares that you are using to hold the track in place - I’m assuming while the glue dries?

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

atsf121 Wrote:
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> Dave, what are those big silver squares that you
> are using to hold the track in place - I’m
> assuming while the glue dries?
>
> Nathan
>
> Posted from iPhone

They're just steel blocks that have been polished.

-Dave