The original Boston Line BACK on track!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I may be able to fund the finishing of my basement sooner than expected, maybe even as little as a few months from now. Early work will be getting the basement dry, installing a french drain and a multi-stage sump pump. After that, I plan on moving the oil tank boiler and other appliances to a single location per Dave Smith's suggestion. If all goes well I should have about 20 x 30 feet to play with.

Anyone near Mass feel like pitching in? As a bonus you will be able to watch me make a fool of myself with power tools!

->tom mann edit, spelled "original" correctly

[Guilford Guy]

I live in Arlington, but have access to only bicycles and public transportation. I'd gladly help if I can arrange away to get to you.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Like everything else in life, funding took a little longer than expected. Money is now in hand to start work. Here is an updated timeline:

April/May get estimates for front porch work as well as the french drain in basement. Besement will also need some work to the concrete as some ares are starting to deteriorate.

June/July gut and demo basement in preporation for contract work

July/August contractor to install french drain and sump pumps, fix concrete, assist me move the oil tank to the other side of the basement.

September-November I will put the insulation, studs and drywall up myself, along with basic wiring.

Jan-March 2013 figure out a ceiling and install, basic lighting install and have a contractor check my wiring and hook it up to the box (this will alow me to do most of the work while still having it certified).

Summer 2013 basic layout plans.

Winter 2013 benchwork begins!

The Boston Line will follow its namesake west to Worcester, MA. The layout will cover an area roughly 40 x 25 feet. The layout will be segmented into three unique areas: Worcester/Grafton with interchanges for P&W, Guilford and Grafton & Upton; Westboro/Framingham which features yards and industries such as dairy and bottling (Cumberland Farms) Corn Syrup (Staley and Cerestar), auto distribution (GM); and Boston which features plastics, newspaper, and intermodal.

Point-of interests will include:
Full sized South Station
Various stations designed by H. H. Richardson (Framingham, Westboro, Possibly Aashland)
Full SIzed Worcester Union Station
Elevated Worcester trackage
I90/Beacon yard toll plaza
Boston University high-rises
A section of Fenway complete with operating Citgo sign (thank you, Miller Engineering!)

Layout features will include:
Paneramic dioramas of areas modeled close to true scale. Physical locations are segmented to you will not see Westboro directly connected to Worcester for example.
Full enviormental control. The layout will be built for day and nightime opperation. Lighting will be all LED to reduce heat and power consumption. Vehicles, buildings and signs will light up. I'm also looking on a way to integrate fog and mist.
DCC and full computer control. I want to theyout to run itself if I so choose. I am also looking at using alternative control methods, such as touch screen tablets and a full reporduction constrol stand.
Designed to come apart. I plan on building this for a VERY long time. When we retire, my wife and I are moving to Thailand. This layout will be shipped in a 20' container.

Anyway, I'll try and post photos of the basement tomorrow. Anyone in the area up for some layout construction?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Well I guess I will use this thread for all future updates.

Today I had the contractor come by an estimate. He will be putting in the french drain and sump pump as previous mentioned. He will also be doing repair work on the concrete in a few spots.

I took measurments of the area. The layout room will be "L" shaped 35' x 35' x 15' The remaining 15' x 15' will be used to hold the boiler, water heater and oil tank along with storage. This should be big enough for a good sized layout.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is awesome.

But where are you putting your Carl Weber temple?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Heh... I had to Google him to know who he was. I assume you are talking about the pulp author and not the 18th century composer.

OK now on to the pictures:

We are looking down the stairs into the "finished" part of the basement. This area measures 15' x 15' and only gets an inch or so of water when it rains 
That forward bulkhead goes to a closet under my front porch. This will probably be walled off and an access hatch placed under the layout.

You can see my well organized paint booth to the left 


OK, I'm standing next to the scarecrow for this photo looking back. While I will probably demo everything except the left wall. This forward wall and closet are the first to go. For whatever reason, the former owners decided to make the ceiling two levels. Since it’s a fairly low ceiling anyway, that just isn't going to work. I plan on using green board for the ceiling and walls with the pipes sticking down and painted a contrasting color to give the appearance of an industrial sprinkler system.


Looking through the doorway further back. Here we see the infamous oil tank that needs moving, a random sink and some windows. The windows will be filled and sealed. The sink well be removed as will the plaster walls and ceiling.


Standing from the oil tank looking to the Northeast side of the house we see more plaster, a wet floor and visible water damage along the walls. To the right (by the bike) we see the rear walk-out and my current pumps, which may or may not work when its wet. Obviously all this needs to change.


Looking from Northeast to Southeast we see the oil tank again, more windows that need to be filled and the water tank in front of the chimney. If you look left over the bike, you will see that the water line into the house actually needs a garden house segment to attached to the other half of the house. This will need attention as well.


The water heater is a great example of the many generations that did strange things to this house. Why is there a random wall behind it when the chimney makes a natural wall in front? I can't answer these questions but I will tell you there will be a wall along the chimney to portion of the utility area.


Finally the utility area measuring 15' x about 20'. Again, that funky rack thing is going to be torn out. In its place will be the oil tank on the right, a work bench with large tools on the left. The boiler and water heater are just out of view to the left. Because of all the wires, pipes and gas lines, I will not be finishing this area.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh, I was talking about this Carl Weber: http://thecrhs.org/ScenicAndActionGallery/CarlWeber

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Ohhhh man I am dense.
Nice pictures.

[GaryHinshaw]

Cool.  After some work, that will be a great space.  If I understand the plans correctly, the oil tank will be moved to the opposite corner of the house.  Is your oil dealer ok with that, access-wise? 

When do we start track planning?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

OK, I got my first estimate for the concrete, sump-pump and window work: $11,000. Thats a big chuck of change but still within budget. I want to get two other estimates before moving forward.

I am also gathering a local group of N scalers to work on the basement and layout. My main focus right now will be the demo of the current basement and assistance with electrical and dry-wall instalation.

I am pretty sure I want to install a dry-wall ceiling rather than a drop ceiling. I plan on making the walls sky blue, with the ceiling white. The valience, pipes and fixtures will be painted black to contrast the ceiling.

I also called the fire department and oil company. The oil company has to pull the permits for a tank relocation, but that should only be $400 total for permits, pumping, labor and parts. Thats nots as bad as I thought.

[Scottl]

I love a blank canvas, er, basement.

[Specter3]

I wouldnt exactly call this one a blank canvas...

More likely to be a canvas the kids got a hold of and spilled some things on before you caught them...

But, sounds like you are upbeat and moving ahead. Great to hear!

[Bsklarski]

Depends where you are. I live in the Palmer area.

[mcjaco]

If it were me, I'd stick to a drop ceiling.  Just in case you need to get in at some pipes, hvac, or electrical.  Lot less messy than tearing up drywall.   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

OK, I got an estimate frome Basement Technologies for a full french drain system, pump and battery backup for $8200 installed. The system comes with a lifetime warrentee from floods, so we went with them. The drain is getting installed Wed, which leaves me only 4 days to remove the stored trains and demo the areas around the concrete.

Obviously this has moved up the time frame quite a bit!

I plan on using dry wall ceilings becasue I like the finished look. Drop ceilings looks half-assed in my opinion and the extra effort needed when a repair is needed is easilly worth it.