i know you all are wondering...

[asciibaron]

well, after a few weeks of looking at the market vs. our desire/needs in a house, i think we will be staying put for another two years.  looks like the L&HR will resume construction.  doubt i'll have the track in place by 1 Jan, but i should have the staging yard complete and the grades in place.  would love to run a train around the layout on Christmas, it might happen if i can get highly motivated.

so yeah, the L&HR in N scale is much like that of the prototype - it stalled a the start of construction, but now it will getting going in earnest.  maybe.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Good!

In the meantime, you can always work piece by piece on the equipment to bring it up to your level of expectations. Ignore the patches, because this is gorgeous: http://public.fotki.com/LiquidFantasy/187-locos/cr2076_4.html

[asciibaron]

Good!

In the meantime, you can always work piece by piece on the equipment to bring it up to your level of expectations. Ignore the patches, because this is gorgeous: http://public.fotki.com/LiquidFantasy/187-locos/cr2076_4.html

wow.  that looks awesome.  totally nailed the dire paint and lack of care.  go ConRail!

[asciibaron]

i was looking at the current plan/benchwork and am starting to rethink things.  the entire run between "towns" is on grades - steep grades.  the duck under is going to be a problem, so i think it's time to remove that piece of the modular bench work and rethink the layout into something more like this:

http://www.piedmont-div.org/trainshow/images/raffle/raffle2009_overall.jpg

as much as i dislike the classic dog bone along 3 walls, it probably is the best solution for my space.

[Dave V]

Steve,

That's a neat little layout.  Can you tell us more about it?

[Philip H]

Steve,
That plan does look like it will work well for you, and done right, you could run a track off one of the end curves to a lower level staging yard.  Done really right you could have a huge double ended staging set up, with relatively easy grades in and out.

[asciibaron]

Steve,
That plan does look like it will work well for you, and done right, you could run a track off one of the end curves to a lower level staging yard.  Done really right you could have a huge double ended staging set up, with relatively easy grades in and out.

that's the problem for me, i can't seem to figure out how to do it "really right"

[asciibaron]

Steve,

That's a neat little layout.  Can you tell us more about it?

here's all i know:

http://www.piedmont-div.org/trainshow/raffle

[wm3798]

To quote Mr. Nike, Just Do It.  Sometimes you just have to take a break from the head scratching and and just dive into it.  (really, you've already done that, now you're just needing to alter the course to deal with the obstacles you've encountered, and get back in there.)

I really like the feel of that Piedmont layout.  Compact, but it looks like it can still support 20 car trains.  Lots of visual appeal, too.  The mine scene is reminiscent of the mineral loader you've posted pictures of.

Lee

[Philip H]

Steve,
That plan does look like it will work well for you, and done right, you could run a track off one of the end curves to a lower level staging yard.  Done really right you could have a huge double ended staging set up, with relatively easy grades in and out.

that's the problem for me, i can't seem to figure out how to do it "really right"

Well, off hand, if you look at the photos you posted in your last reply, you'll see on labeled "the local town."  There are four trakcs up front there - a main, with what appear to be two interior passing tracks; and a siding that dead ends in a building.  If I wanted to add a grade down to staging, I'd pull that main off in front of the switch, and start a gentle 1.5% grade down the back o fthe layout until it came about 8 inched bwloe the level of the current thing.  That should get you really close to the back, then start a yard ladder from the back to the fron, run the staging across the back and around the otherside.  ramping back up would be tougher.

And I bet if you emailed them, the Peidmont folks would be happy to send you their track plan . . .

[wm3798]

...and while you're at it, send them a buck for a raffle ticket!

[asciibaron]

...and while you're at it, send them a buck for a raffle ticket!

the show was in March.  i emailed them, awaiting reply. 

[asciibaron]

i never thought of this...



instead of a drop leaf or swinging gate - make a ferry.  no more duck under to access the under stair storage.  can be left in place until decorations need changed out...  

some of the issues that have cropped up since installing the benchwork are;

- wife can't access understair storage for luggage, season decorations, craft supplies
- difficult for exterminator to access understair and sump pump areas for inspections
- difficult for me to access servers in sump pump area.
- overall, i have a large amount of wasted space due to access requirements - movable "ferries" could be used to better use large center area.

[John]

- difficult for me to access servers in sump pump area.

You have servers in the sump pump area? Good grief ..

[asciibaron]

- difficult for me to access servers in sump pump area.

You have servers in the sump pump area? Good grief ..

sump pump is in the floor, servers are on shelves above.  what's the problem?  the flood waters in he basement go away from the sump, don't you know that?