Tehachapi, BC

[C855B]

... As part of the re-org, I finished re-packing our overflow book boxes into new, uniformly-sized banker boxes that will live under the Storage Yard,

Double meaning for "Storage Yard".

then went ahead and mounted the first section of bench work for that yard at a height of 36" (the Edison deck above it is still just a mock-up resting in place). ...

Aw. I thought you had found a novel use for CD jewel cases.

 

[GaryHinshaw]

Philip, yes, those last two shots of the Yard bench show the current 8/5.5" separation.  (A few more CDs!)

[GaryHinshaw]

Here is a bit more on the lower deck plans.  As a reminder, this section is to represent Edison to "BealvilleCliffRowanWoodford", like this:



I mainly wanted to mock up the central peninsula to see how the space felt in 3d.  Here is a shot looking towards to door:



Edison is on the left.  This will curve into Sandcut, then across the far wall (and the door on a gate) to the Caliente horseshoe, back around to the Tunnel 2 peninsula, comically mocked-up with Romex on a scrap of plywood  .  In the other direction, it continues the climb towards Bealville through a classic series of S curves, again strung with Romex:



This joins permanent roadbed under the Loop shelf for a 1-turn helix that exits to the upper deck on the back right of the Loop shelf.  This peninsula is loosely based on the area around Tunnel 2:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=333428&nseq=2
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=248824&nseq=27

and it forms the 2nd major scenic LDE on the layout (the first being the Loop).

Happily, the aisle and operator space seem ample with this peninsula in place, so I think I will be able to accomodate a crew of six for sessions (as well as a dispatcher in the house or elsewhere).  My sense is that (eventually) there will be plenty of jobs for a crew that size.

-gfh

[Scottl]

Gary, Romex is your go-to for all sorts of jobs:  track, contours, .....  I like it, and it is always nice to be able to put the mess of a train room in order with some storage under the bench.   It is going to be great to have some operations on the loop and to see your vision come to life, even at this early stage of construction.  I still remember fondly reversing a train down through the loop with nary a hiccup on your fine trackwork!

[basementcalling]

Double meaning for "Storage Yard".

Aw. I thought you had found a novel use for CD jewel cases.

 

Obviously those would be the new and improved jewel cases.    

Liking the look of the lower level there Gary. Will operators have enough room to reach the left end of Edison when switching given it's orientation under the upper deck scene at that point?

[GaryHinshaw]

Will operators have enough room to reach the left end of Edison when switching given it's orientation under the upper deck scene at that point?

Good question Peter - time will tell.  Here is a shot of an earlier mock-up that shows the clearances:



and a grab of the plan in that corner of the room, with the upper deck benchwork outlines superposed, and the approximate verical clearances indicated:



There is indeed only 10" of clearance at the left end of Edison, but only 1 of 4 spurs is located there, and (by design) the left-most two turnouts are near the operator pit in the Loop shelf (indicated by the oval) so it's pretty accessible from there...

-gfh

[GaryHinshaw]

One more brief update, this time with some track & trains... When I first sketched out the plan in CAD, I kept running into a tight constraint that in order to get down from Summit to the south staging helix while keeping the grades in spec, I had to thread the track under Tunnel 9 and over the 1-turn helix to get to a full staging helix inside the 1-turn (don't think about it too hard).  I finally finished laying that bit of threaded track (#3 in the photo):



In order to maintain the clearances below, I had to use 1/4" stock for the flyover, but it's short enough to be plenty sturdy.  The stack train on that stretch is heading into what will be the south staging helix from the Mojave shelf.  (It's actually entering the shoo-fly to return to Walong now though.)  There are 5 layers of track in a bit over 10" of vertical here now:

1. Top of Tehachapi Loop
2. Tunnel 9 in the Loop
3. Entrance to south staging
4. Top of 1-loop helix from lower to upper deck
5. Bottom of 1-loop helix, from lower deck.  Still getting corked there.

(LA is a great big freeway... Put 100 down and buy a car...)

Here is an abstract shot looking from underneath showing the shoo-fly that closes the upper deck temporarily (the bit with the auto-rack in the S curve):



and a look at the current state of the Loop shelf with the stack train negotiating the shoo-fly, about to emerge in front of the end of the train at the right rear:



Cheers,
-Gary

[mark dance]

1. Top of Tehachapi Loop
2. Tunnel 9 in the Loop
3. Entrance to south staging
4. Top of 1-loop helix from lower to upper deck
5. Bottom of 1-loop helix, from lower deck.  Still getting corked there.

-Gary

YOWWWWWW. Talk about bending space-time. My head hurts..
Md

[GaryHinshaw]

Bent space-time is my specialty...

Just received a shipment of decoders today (sooner than expected - thanks Chuck!).  Now all that stands between me and the first ops session is my stamina for installing them and learning how to set up consists (and a few turnout installations, and some rudimentary fall protection, since the lowest elevation on the upper deck is 56" above a concrete floor...).

The goals for session #1 are: 1) run some "roundy-round" with dpus/pushers and meets - no locals, no dispatcher, 2) test performance of the DCC/duplex system with people in the room, 3) test the ergonomics of having 5-6 people in a single-car garage with the space I have carved out.

I'm nervous,
-gfh

[mark dance]

The goals for session #1 are: 1) run some "roundy-round" with dpus/pushers and meets - no locals, no dispatcher, 2) test performance of the DCC/duplex system with people in the room, 3) test the ergonomics of having 5-6 people in a single-car garage with the space I have carved out.

I'm nervous,
-gfh

It's not a commitment without a date!

md

[GaryHinshaw]

LOL.  Check your email!  Shooting for the last week of Aug (before term starts again...  )

I definitely work best to a deadline.

[Philip H]

Don't forget to test JMRI remote dispatching by having Seusscaboose run a train or two from in front of the beastie on an iPad or something . . . . .

[davefoxx]

Bent space-time is my specialty...

Just received a shipment of decoders today (sooner than expected - thanks Chuck!).  Now all that stands between me and the first ops session is my stamina for installing them and learning how to set up consists (and a few turnout installations, and some rudimentary fall protection, since the lowest elevation on the upper deck is 56" above a concrete floor...).

Lee had a neat idea for stapling doubled-over fiberglass screen as a guardrail to keep the trains on the layout in the event of disaster.  Remember, the WM Western Lines had a lot of hidden track.  I don't recall whether the screen was put to the test, but it seemed sufficient to the task.  The advantage of fiberglass is that it's more supple than aluminum screen when you have to reach in there to retrieve a derailed car or loco.  By doubling it over it's not only stronger, but there's no sharp edges to scratch you.

[seusscaboose]

Bent space-time is my specialty...

Just received a shipment of decoders today (sooner than expected - thanks Chuck!).  Now all that stands between me and the first ops session is my stamina for installing them and learning how to set up consists (and a few turnout installations, and some rudimentary fall protection, since the lowest elevation on the upper deck is 56" above a concrete floor...).

The goals for session #1 are: 1) run some "roundy-round" with dpus/pushers and meets - no locals, no dispatcher, 2) test performance of the DCC/duplex system with people in the room, 3) test the ergonomics of having 5-6 people in a single-car garage with the space I have carved out.

I'm nervous,
-gfh

not sure when....
but
at some point... I am going to make a trip West and I need to get Vancover in the mix....
I wanna see the city and i defnitley wanna see this and Mark Dance's place....

At worst, it would be Summer 2015...  (piggybacking on N Scale Enthusiast Convention in Sac Town, Ca.), at best, who knows.

Bottom line is... i wanna get out there... and do Op's.

 

[GaryHinshaw]

Phil, remote dispatching is definitely on the to-do list... but for session #1!   

Good idea on the screen DFF - I'll look into it.

at some point... I am going to make a trip West and I need to get Vancover in the mix....
I wanna see the city and i defnitley wanna see this and Mark Dance's place....
Bottom line is... i wanna get out there... and do Op's.

How about Aug 28?