Cisco Bridges: a new layout concept

[Kevin C]

Chris333. You have just opened my eyes to another easier way of controlling the turnouts on my entire layout.

I am old school and have been shying away from the computer / JMRI control systems. I was originally going to lasercut panels and use bi color LED's with hard wired push buttons. This is much easier. I think I will start drawing my panel layout this evening. Thanks for the links.

Kevin

[Scottl]

Those touch toggles are very nice, but pricey to install a bunch.

I've found the macro function on my NCE makes route selection super-easy now.  I'm never going back 

Back from Toronto and armed with concrete tie flex.  Time to finish this layout. 

Update:  Finished.  ME flex is kind of strange, but I like it in a way.  The weathered rail is great.

[Scottl]

The golden spike is in, so to speak.  I laid the ME concrete flex last night and tested it today.  I ended up cleaning the weathered rail head but I suspect it is partially conductive.  ME track is very stiff and strange to use compared to Atlas, but I think I like it and I can see the advantages.  Certainly, it is the only game in town for concrete and I am happy I held out for it.

Afterwards, I pulled out the rest of my locomotives and built up some consists to run and test the track.  The DCC macros for the turnout routing is flawless, and everything seems to work well.  A few dragging couplers have emerged but nothing too serious.

I carved out a rough bank for the Thompson River and finished the fit of the paper template to build up the landscape.  I think I will widen the river bed in the foreground to maximize the photographic possibilities, but otherwise I can see this coming together nicely now.

Here is an overall view:



Some views of the rock sheds at Skoonka:







From the other direction:



I have been thinking I can freelance a small MOW area in the transition between the Skoonka and Cisco scenes.  This would give me a place for some vehicles, tie piles, rail, a radio tower and some old containers or trailers for the MOW crew.   I also roughed in a siding that would disappear into the distance but would be cosmetic, mostly to pose a few beat up hoppers or put my Rapido CN caboose to use.   It would go in this spot:



While in Toronto, I came upon the latest issue of CN Lines, the CN historical society magazine.  It had an article and dimensioned drawings for several of the Skoonka rock sheds!  Great find.  I also realized that Rapido's world headquarters were down the block from George's Trains.  I might need to stop in next time to give the crew a hard time. 

[Chris333]

You're gonna end up with competition for best scene on the layout!

[Cajonpassfan]

It's gonna be a great scene, but there is something odd about the "s" curve to my eyes...doesn't quite flow right?
Otto K. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Scottl]

Otto,

You are right!  The ME flex is quite stiff and I missed that little bump.  It will be mostly hidden by a tunnel but I will correct it.

[Cajonpassfan]

Those touch toggles are very nice, but pricey to install a bunch.
I've found the macro function on my NCE makes route selection super-easy now.  I'm never going back 

What, no jmri? Lol...
Otto K.

[Scottl]

Neither confirming nor denying 

[rodsup9000]

You are right!  The ME flex is quite stiff and I missed that little bump. 

   Hey Scott,
 Soak your ME flex in warm water in the bathtub and it will flex a lot easier. It will almost flex like Atlas.

[Scottl]

I had forgotten about that trick.  Too late for this layout, but I am sure I will be using ME track again.

[GaryHinshaw]

Great to see the progress! Given how well executed the Cisco scene is, this one will be pure gold.  I was surprised to see that you did not use any cork here, but then I took a look at some proto photos like this one, and it appears there isn't much of a ballast profile on the real thing either.

That staging sure fills up fast, eh?

[Scottl]

I'm already at four trains, and have room left for one CP train.  I have enough kits and finishing work to do to keep me busy filling staging for a long time.

I debated roadbed for quite a while.  You actually hit on something that I noticed too, the lack of ballast profile on this line.  Much of it has regular rock falls that are cleaned up by MOW, so the track is ballasted but pretty much inset into rock debris.  I used 3 mm foam from the hobby store as my "roadbed" and it is firm enough to support the track well, and is quite quiet as well. 

Fooling around with camera views, I am really glad I went with the taller backdrop.  It should make for some interesting scenes.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Coming along very nicely Scott. Rod.

[Scottl]

On to the good stuff.  I've been casting rocks and today I was able to pick up some foam board to start roughing in the landscape.  There are still a few sight line issues here, but I'm reasonably happy where this is going.  The white peaks will be removable 3D scenery, and the backdrop will be painted beyond.  The river in the foreground will be wider too- I am going to extend the benchwork about 4-6".  Lousy phone pictures, sorry.







I ran out of foam, but the distant horizon will be built up as well.  Too finish it, I'm going to take a crack at those really cool exposures of river gravel that are found in the Thompson valley.

[Scottl]

Lots of progress this weekend.  I secured the key elements of the foam so it is all curing.  I used a can of spray foam that I had sitting around and I think I will get some more- it is a great filler material.  I used scraps of sheet foam in the mix to extend it further.

As that cured, I ballasted the track that will be in the tunnels and rock sheds.  I also made tunnel liners out of styrene and foam board and then painted them outside, so they are ready to install when the ballast is dry.  I finished the last of my rock castings and they are drying now in the spare room. 

All in all, great progress and this is starting to come along nicely.  The next big step will be the backdrop, so it is time to get out the paint and brushes.