Yet another great video! It is amazing how things that don't work on the computer just fall into place on the actual layout. I always look forward to your videos on Saturday mornings. Thanks for all you do.
I can well understand your apprehension about making a major change to an existing layout, who of us hasn't been there, thinking "this might be a BIG mistake..." Sometimes the realization that no trains can be run for a significant amount of time until work reaches a certain stage of completion renders us inert and we procrastinate. But you're moving forward and I'm looking forward to each update. I admire your work ethic, you make regular progress with your layout and never miss uploading a video on time. Wish I was nearly as disciplined! See you next video!
Great to see that it has all come together after the planning software didn't seem to work out. Thanks for the layout update Roy. It's always a pleasure watching them, take care.
It's very interesting watching the changes coming along. The layout will be really neat when you can run several trains continuously. Keep up the good work, have a great week.
Decisions! Decisions! Another fascinating Saturday watching progress. Such a common problem, bridging a door, and so ,any ways of overcoming it. Bit like the old Saturday matinee cliffhangers! Roy, always a highlight of the week, many thanks.
Roy, Well that was a week of major progress. If I had'nt seen it with my own eyes I couldn't imagine how you would get the third track to fit. I also like that the new board will hinge to the back wall.As alway's Roy, just another great episode. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Hey Roy... like your improvising and adapting to the vision you have for the layout. I like trains running. It is sort of therapeutic. Keep up your work. and if you bend the "rules"...........I certainly look forward to your future bending of them rules!
Good Morning Roy, Wow! Outstanding start to the bridge and new track plan. It looks like things are fitting together good so far. I spend more time sitting, looking and imagining the finished project then the actual work on it, however I believe that leads to a much better conclusion. I hate to see the engine display blocked or moved, but I think lifting it in that direction is the better way. That is too large of a bridge to make it a removable section I think. Thanks again for sharing this amazing railroad with us and continued good luck.
Hi Roy, very exciting. If it were me, I would do a drop down. That way you do not have to move the engine storage shelves. You might be able to incorporate the framework of the cabinet with your hinges. Just a thought. As always, great show, looking forward to the next one. See ya around the community.
Love the new addition of the third track - creates more visual and operating interest. Building a lift-up bridge will mean you will not be able to have 3-dimensional scenery on this section of the track, just as with a drop down. Any structures, trees etc will need removing before moving up or down. The radius on the inside of your curves (and foam) looks like it almost matches the outside radius of your helix, that's why if it were my layout I would build a swing gate, enabling you to have 3 dimensionality and visual consistency across the whole scene. By trimming the foam on the wall side and some slight adjustments to the Pocatello side to ensure the correct angles, you may even be able to then incorporate Pocatello as a scenicked, operational part of the layout. Just my 20 Aussie cents worth!!! Keep up the great work Roy...
you have to love when things just fall into place like that . excellent. yout locomotive shelf, if you don't have to move it, don't. they gate will only be open when you are going into and out of the room.. so as long as you can reach it . let it stay where it is.
Wow! Fun to see the changes. Continuous run might seem uninteresting to some but I enjoy that. I'm less of an operator and more of a turn-them-on-and-watch-them-run kind or railroader. Fun stuff Roy!
Panama! What a cool plan Sir. The track plan is looking good. You put in a slip switch too? How neat. This channel should supply popcorn as well, LoL. Awesome update Roy, keep rockin Sir.
I like how this is coming together. I probably do to much thinking about my layout and just need to get my hands dirty. Take care, only 70 days to Steamtown...Anthony
Roy Great job. I think that I would use a total lift out bridge, by using the KATO expansion tracks. Also using guide pins at both ends as to keep the bridge inline. This is the way that I did mine when I had N-Scale. It worked great with no problems at all, and it was cheaper. But this is your layout and you should do things your way. All I have is an Idea. Once again you have a great layout. Your friend Gary from central PA.
Roy, The track is looking good. I think with the added track you have created a reverse loop. Make sure of your track electrical circuit and add a reversing device if needed.
Great progress Roy, just a thought. you may want to consider moving the crossover off the bridge and onto the staging and changing it to a double crossover giving you more routes and a little more flexibility with the staging. I also vote for a drop down so you don't have to move you loco storage
Hope you get a chance to model part of the Columbia River Gorge on the way to Portland, it is beautiful and you can see the BNSF running across the river on the Washington State side. Can hardly wait for next Saturday.
That would be fantastic, Bob. I wish I could model a part of the Columbia River Gorge. In fact, there are a number of locations I would like to model, such as the Bear River Gorge, but they are too far from the area I'm modeling to fit into my layout. We model railroaders never seem to have enough space for our layouts. ...Roy
Looks good, Roy. Thanks for letting us follow your progress. Have you thought about making it a lift out section instead of hinging it? Ken Patterson has done a few videos on how to build a lift out section using magnets on Model Railroad Hobbyists’ UA-cam page.
Hi Roy. I would avoid a swing down bridge since it will be too easy to bump into it with knees and legs. You will certainly be careful, but your visitors may absentmindedly brush against it. I would always be nervous about that if it were my layout. You could always move the display case outside the train room as it's basically hanging art!
wow! thats a fair bit of work done there Roy....I forgot about that ballasting. a bit messy for sure. I hear you can cut down the 'deflection' of the foam board by using 'dulux' gripper with fibreglass 'flyscreen' to make it stiffer on the whole but still really light..or 1/8 ply baltic birch [or balsa?] -a little heavier but not as heavy as 1/4 ply. my two bits worth... as usual i find your endeavors to be very informative !
Pros and cons of lift up versus drop down, my 2 cents worth. Pros for lift up: minimal benchwork, your existing boards to hold the bridge when down. Maybe add an alignment pin? Cons for lift up: You get to see all of that wiring under the bridge. Moving the display case. Minimal scenery on the lift bridge. Pros for drop down: Less benchwork needed. 2 alignment pins on each side? Leaving all of that real estate beyond that third outside track for more mountains or a deep cut ravine for all 3 tracks! 6" deep cut, still plenty of room to walk through or you can make the ravine deeper and it is then removable from the bridge when down? Cons for drop down: keeping your rails aligned! Simple solution: sliding rail joiners or KATO Expansion track segments? Also create a dead switch to the bridge. Bridge is up, no power to the bridge and or to the track connecting to the bridge. 1 other suggestion, on your removable white mountain top, the cut edge should have been made str a 45 degree angle out from the center of hole. I've seen other people due access panels this way. Easier to hide the cut line. Oh. Looking real good! RH
Looking really good Roy! I think this will work out great for you and bring you a lot more enjoyment. And it's OK if you take some time to think this through as you want to get this right the first time. By the way you had left a comment on my page about EOTs (or FREDs), I had picked mine up from a small company called GATR Works. You can check them out.
I've always wanted to do an N-Scale layout - specifically the Canadian Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver at the turn of the century. The route would follow the Canadian Pacific's main line through the Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels, Roger's Pass, Eagle Pass, and Hell's Canyon. I was also planning on doing some of the branch lines that the Canadian Pacific had at the time too. Specifically Lethbridge, the Crowsnest Pass, and some of the Southern Alberta prairies. I've even gone as far as planning track layouts and space considerations and started designing a modular system for this layout. I'd even started designing some of the landmarks for this layout such as the Stoney Creek Bridge in Roger's Pass, the rail yards in Golden, and everything in between. It was really starting to come together before I pulled the plug on it. However, real life got in the way and I never got to do it. Maybe someday I'll do it - especially with the Canadian Pacific Railway being such a big part of my family's heritage and all that.
Hey Roy this plan is perfect. I was wondering if you can reach comfortably across the bridge to reach the shelves. Then you wouldn't have to move it. Or if you have it drop you might be able to leave the shelf. Either way it's looking great. And the long time thinking will help you not make mistakes. Keep on rolling
Flip up versus flip down, if you flip it down you will not have to move the display case. Either way, you need sturdy scenery as it will be vertically stored. Also, on your track close to the edge of the layout, you may want to add some form of protection from the floor such as clear plastic/plexiglass. You don't want equipment scattered across the floor if you have a stringline or derailment. How do you attach the Unitrak to the subroadbed? i.e. Bolts, screws, nails, chalk, or something else? The crossover interlocker near Pocatello, curious to see what that is all about............ Keep crankin', Roy
Roy, watching this video and seeing the "fit" of that new bridge configuration..have you considered a "lift out" with alignment pins? Your pink foam is sitting nicely on two wood strips..those strips could be beefed up some so alignment pins could accept the bridge precisely without having to hinge anything. As far as track power..I'm thinking thin copper strips..bent into place and applied to both the ledge holding the bridge and the bridge itself. Solder feed wires from the track to the copper so that when the bridge is in place you then make connection. Tom
The foam template was an excellent idea. I feel the hinge placement at the rear is also a good way to go. I doubt the 2" foam and 1/4" plywood will bridge so large a gap without sagging over the long run. It may be successful for a time, but over time gravity usually has it's way. I'd suggest adding vertical ribs to the underside of the plywood. These ribs needn't be massive, but some more support will be beneficial.
One thing I'm slitlly confused about is why the diamond cross over. Then your will have two trains going into the wrong siding. Where if you have them going into staging tracks 4 & 3 then it will be easier to contain and move freight
Roy, really enjoying this addition, happy to see it coming along so nicely. I’m impressed with the under-the-Benchwork shots at about 6:02. Where do you get the terminal blocks and joiners? Do you cover your underground wiring in an earlier video? I hope I can have neat wiring like this, it will make troubleshooting and any changes to the layout so much easier. Thanks, Roy. -Mike
Thanks, Manny. Me, too - I want to get it hinged so that I can move it out of the way. Right now, I have to duck under it to get into the train room. I will paint it and apply some ground cover and maybe some very low scenery, but if it's to be a lift-up, I can't put much scenery on it, because the scenery would hit into the locomotive storage shelf. I do plan to add a photo backdrop at Pocatello, along with painting and ballasting the tracks. ...Roy
This is going to be great Roy! The right ratio between thinking and doing is the key to success. Thank you for sharing.
It's getting better each week....thanks for sharing....Jack
Looking good so far Roy, I enjoy watching you bring this layout together.
Yet another great video! It is amazing how things that don't work on the computer just fall into place on the actual layout. I always look forward to your videos on Saturday mornings. Thanks for all you do.
I'm so glad you were able to integrate the suggestion of an extra line across the bridge. I bet you'll be glad you did!
Excellent addition to your layout, thanks for sharing.
Lovely Roy
Thanks for sharing
Coming along nicely, Roy!
I can well understand your apprehension about making a major change to an existing layout, who of us hasn't been there, thinking "this might be a BIG mistake..." Sometimes the realization that no trains can be run for a significant amount of time until work reaches a certain stage of completion renders us inert and we procrastinate. But you're moving forward and I'm looking forward to each update. I admire your work ethic, you make regular progress with your layout and never miss uploading a video on time. Wish I was nearly as disciplined! See you next video!
Great to see that it has all come together after the planning software didn't seem to work out. Thanks for the layout update Roy. It's always a pleasure watching them, take care.
Looking really good Roy. Can't wait to see the new part in action. Cheers, Bob
Very nice, great improvement to the layout Roy. This layout just gets better and better each week!
Looking great so far Roy.
Mike
It's very interesting watching the changes coming along. The layout will be really neat when you can run several trains continuously. Keep up the good work, have a great week.
Looks great Roy!
Decisions! Decisions! Another fascinating Saturday watching progress. Such a common problem, bridging a door, and so ,any ways of overcoming it. Bit like the old Saturday matinee cliffhangers! Roy, always a highlight of the week, many thanks.
this will be very great looking Roy
Great update of your progress! Tony
Very well executed Roy, you do have the best of both worlds now. Proto and freelanced track for twice the running!!!
Great job you have a really great little N-Scale Railroad pretty awesome😎👍👍👍
Roy, Interesting developments. Looks like these changes will increase the fun factor! Regards Stephen.
Great episode Roy. Boy you are full of surprises. I really like the new and improved track plan. That’s going to be great. Papadan
Looks like a good plan Roy! Can't wait to see how it turns out. Cheers, Dan
Lookin good, can't wait to see trains running on the new setup
Roy, Well that was a week of major progress. If I had'nt seen it with my own eyes I couldn't imagine how you would get the third track to fit. I also like that the new board will hinge to the back wall.As alway's Roy, just another great episode. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Good progress Roy! One foot in front of the other will get you there! Looking forward to more.
Hey Roy... like your improvising and adapting to the vision you have for the layout. I like trains running. It is sort of therapeutic. Keep up your work. and if you bend the "rules"...........I certainly look forward to your future bending of them rules!
I spend a lot of time thinking also, enjoy your videos
Wow it's looking great, I can't wait to see more.
I really like the new track plan can't wait until you can let us chase a train around the new track plan.
Nice update Roy. At least you come out of thought and get things accomplished. To often I get hung up in analysis paralysis.
Love the way this is coming about Roy.
Happy Little Accidents! Great work Roy! That track plan works a lot better. I am always improving mine as well- Joey
Looking real good Roy. I vote for drop down.
Good Morning Roy, Wow! Outstanding start to the bridge and new track plan. It looks like things are fitting together good so far. I spend more time sitting, looking and imagining the finished project then the actual work on it, however I believe that leads to a much better conclusion. I hate to see the engine display blocked or moved, but I think lifting it in that direction is the better way. That is too large of a bridge to make it a removable section I think. Thanks again for sharing this amazing railroad with us and continued good luck.
Nice work Roy, I likr the idea of the 4 tracks and that extra run time will be nice to have
Love the video its looking great 😄😄
Hi Roy, very exciting. If it were me, I would do a drop down. That way you do not have to move the engine storage shelves. You might be able to incorporate the framework of the cabinet with your hinges. Just a thought. As always, great show, looking forward to the next one. See ya around the community.
Roy, you are such a nice, pleasant man.
Great progress, can’t wait to see it finished.
looks good Roy
Wow amazing video I look forward to seeing your next video to see how it turns out
This is great Roy!!!!!! I love it when a plan comes together!
This coming out great.
Well Done! I spend too much time thinking and not enough doing too Roy!
So far I'm liking the changes and can't wait to watch the fist train over the bridge.
Thanks, my friend. The first trains across the lift-up should happen in this coming Saturday's video, if all goes well. ...Roy
Love the new addition of the third track - creates more visual and operating interest. Building a lift-up bridge will mean you will not be able to have 3-dimensional scenery on this section of the track, just as with a drop down. Any structures, trees etc will need removing before moving up or down. The radius on the inside of your curves (and foam) looks like it almost matches the outside radius of your helix, that's why if it were my layout I would build a swing gate, enabling you to have 3 dimensionality and visual consistency across the whole scene. By trimming the foam on the wall side and some slight adjustments to the Pocatello side to ensure the correct angles, you may even be able to then incorporate Pocatello as a scenicked, operational part of the layout. Just my 20 Aussie cents worth!!! Keep up the great work Roy...
you have to love when things just fall into place like that . excellent. yout locomotive shelf, if you don't have to move it, don't. they gate will only be open when you are going into and out of the room.. so as long as you can reach it . let it stay where it is.
Nice one, Roy, I hadn't even thought about hinging the bridge at the back... It's the best idea though.
I very much enjoy your videos i also like the music
that came out looking very good
Thanks, Joe. I'm really pleased by the way the whole thing seems to be just falling together. ...Roy
Look good roy.
Wow! Fun to see the changes. Continuous run might seem uninteresting to some but I enjoy that. I'm less of an operator and more of a turn-them-on-and-watch-them-run kind or railroader. Fun stuff Roy!
Panama! What a cool plan Sir. The track plan is looking good. You put in a slip switch too? How neat. This channel should supply popcorn as well, LoL. Awesome update Roy, keep rockin Sir.
Nice roy looks awesome buddy I have train show in my town talk to u soon looks awesome
I like how this is coming together. I probably do to much thinking about my layout and just need to get my hands dirty. Take care, only 70 days to Steamtown...Anthony
The third track on the bridge was a great idea
Thank you for being honest. You are awesome!
Thanks, my friend. I appreciate your very nice comment. ...Roy
Roy Great job. I think that I would use a total lift out bridge, by using the KATO expansion tracks. Also using guide pins at both ends as to keep the bridge inline. This is the way that I did mine when I had N-Scale. It worked great with no problems at all, and it was cheaper. But this is your layout and you should do things your way. All I have is an Idea. Once again you have a great layout. Your friend Gary from central PA.
Roy, The track is looking good. I think with the added track you have created a reverse loop. Make sure of your track electrical circuit and add a reversing device if needed.
Thinking before doing is always best. Sort of like measuring twice and cutting once!
Great progress Roy, just a thought. you may want to consider moving the crossover off the bridge and onto the staging and changing it to a double crossover giving you more routes and a little more flexibility with the staging. I also vote for a drop down so you don't have to move you loco storage
Great job Roy im lovin your progress...I too do what you do and stare at the layout to see what I'm going to do next,,,,gw
Hope you get a chance to model part of the Columbia River Gorge on the way to Portland, it is beautiful and you can see the BNSF running across the river on the Washington State side. Can hardly wait for next Saturday.
That would be fantastic, Bob. I wish I could model a part of the Columbia River Gorge. In fact, there are a number of locations I would like to model, such as the Bear River Gorge, but they are too far from the area I'm modeling to fit into my layout. We model railroaders never seem to have enough space for our layouts. ...Roy
Looks good, Roy. Thanks for letting us follow your progress. Have you thought about making it a lift out section instead of hinging it? Ken Patterson has done a few videos on how to build a lift out section using magnets on Model Railroad Hobbyists’ UA-cam page.
Hi Roy. I would avoid a swing down bridge since it will be too easy to bump into it with knees and legs. You will certainly be careful, but your visitors may absentmindedly brush against it. I would always be nervous about that if it were my layout. You could always move the display case outside the train room as it's basically hanging art!
wow! thats a fair bit of work done there Roy....I forgot about that ballasting. a bit messy for sure. I hear you can cut down the 'deflection' of the foam board by using 'dulux' gripper with fibreglass 'flyscreen' to make it stiffer on the whole but still really light..or 1/8 ply baltic birch [or balsa?] -a little heavier but not as heavy as 1/4 ply. my two bits worth...
as usual i find your endeavors to be very informative !
Pros and cons of lift up versus drop down, my 2 cents worth. Pros for lift up: minimal benchwork, your existing boards to hold the bridge when down. Maybe add an alignment pin? Cons for lift up: You get to see all of that wiring under the bridge. Moving the display case. Minimal scenery on the lift bridge. Pros for drop down: Less benchwork needed. 2 alignment pins on each side? Leaving all of that real estate beyond that third outside track for more mountains or a deep cut ravine for all 3 tracks! 6" deep cut, still plenty of room to walk through or you can make the ravine deeper and it is then removable from the bridge when down? Cons for drop down: keeping your rails aligned! Simple solution: sliding rail joiners or KATO Expansion track segments? Also create a dead switch to the bridge. Bridge is up, no power to the bridge and or to the track connecting to the bridge. 1 other suggestion, on your removable white mountain top, the cut edge should have been made str a 45 degree angle out from the center of hole. I've seen other people due access panels this way. Easier to hide the cut line. Oh. Looking real good! RH
Looks very cool! Maybe not truly "prototype" but it looks fun to run.
Looking really good Roy! I think this will work out great for you and bring you a lot more enjoyment. And it's OK if you take some time to think this through as you want to get this right the first time. By the way you had left a comment on my page about EOTs (or FREDs), I had picked mine up from a small company called GATR Works. You can check them out.
9:10 ghost in the hallway.
I've always wanted to do an N-Scale layout - specifically the Canadian Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver at the turn of the century. The route would follow the Canadian Pacific's main line through the Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels, Roger's Pass, Eagle Pass, and Hell's Canyon. I was also planning on doing some of the branch lines that the Canadian Pacific had at the time too. Specifically Lethbridge, the Crowsnest Pass, and some of the Southern Alberta prairies. I've even gone as far as planning track layouts and space considerations and started designing a modular system for this layout. I'd even started designing some of the landmarks for this layout such as the Stoney Creek Bridge in Roger's Pass, the rail yards in Golden, and everything in between. It was really starting to come together before I pulled the plug on it.
However, real life got in the way and I never got to do it. Maybe someday I'll do it - especially with the Canadian Pacific Railway being such a big part of my family's heritage and all that.
Hey Roy this plan is perfect. I was wondering if you can reach comfortably across the bridge to reach the shelves. Then you wouldn't have to move it. Or if you have it drop you might be able to leave the shelf. Either way it's looking great. And the long time thinking will help you not make mistakes. Keep on rolling
Flip up versus flip down, if you flip it down you will not have to move the display case. Either way, you need sturdy scenery as it will be vertically stored. Also, on your track close to the edge of the layout, you may want to add some form of protection from the floor such as clear plastic/plexiglass. You don't want equipment scattered across the floor if you have a stringline or derailment. How do you attach the Unitrak to the subroadbed? i.e. Bolts, screws, nails, chalk, or something else?
The crossover interlocker near Pocatello, curious to see what that is all about............
Keep crankin', Roy
Roy, watching this video and seeing the "fit" of that new bridge configuration..have you considered a "lift out" with alignment pins? Your pink foam is sitting nicely on two wood strips..those strips could be beefed up some so alignment pins could accept the bridge precisely without having to hinge anything. As far as track power..I'm thinking thin copper strips..bent into place and applied to both the ledge holding the bridge and the bridge itself. Solder feed wires from the track to the copper so that when the bridge is in place you then make connection. Tom
The foam template was an excellent idea. I feel the hinge placement at the rear is also a good way to go. I doubt the 2" foam and 1/4" plywood will bridge so large a gap without sagging over the long run. It may be successful for a time, but over time gravity usually has it's way. I'd suggest adding vertical ribs to the underside of the plywood. These ribs needn't be massive, but some more support will be beneficial.
Definitely, Jerry, I will be indtalling vertical ribbing as part of the benchwork under the plywood. ...Roy
flexibility on running a layout is first in my book...don;t know how many guys have torn apart layouts to make it fresh.
One thing I'm slitlly confused about is why the diamond cross over. Then your will have two trains going into the wrong siding. Where if you have them going into staging tracks 4 & 3 then it will be easier to contain and move freight
Roy, really enjoying this addition, happy to see it coming along so nicely. I’m impressed with the under-the-Benchwork shots at about 6:02. Where do you get the terminal blocks and joiners? Do you cover your underground wiring in an earlier video? I hope I can have neat wiring like this, it will make troubleshooting and any changes to the layout so much easier. Thanks, Roy. -Mike
Looks GREAT MR ROY! Can’t wait to see that bridge in active service. Are you going to scenic it or leave it barren like the Pocatello Sub?
Thanks, Manny. Me, too - I want to get it hinged so that I can move it out of the way. Right now, I have to duck under it to get into the train room. I will paint it and apply some ground cover and maybe some very low scenery, but if it's to be a lift-up, I can't put much scenery on it, because the scenery would hit into the locomotive storage shelf. I do plan to add a photo backdrop at Pocatello, along with painting and ballasting the tracks. ...Roy
Nice to see things are going really well Roy. I'm curious about the diamond crossing near Pocatello - why are the tracks not parallel?
Roy, as always. fun and informative. One question, why the crossover on the bridge? Thanks! - Dean from cold Minnesota
Looking good Mr Roy , and there is always someone who has to give the thumbs down...shhhh
Hi Roy, Coming along great. Do you plan on adding minimal scenery to the lift out bridge? Mike
Roy, what is Kato's Unitrack largest curve?
Hi Railfan! Katie's largest radius of N-scale curved track is 28 and 1/4 inches (#20-150). ...Roy
Thanks Roy!@@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569
Roy please don't throw the track in the trash it be used for a abrandit track or scrap scenes if you don't want the old track I will take it
Rodney
Roy, a smart man thinks before acting. A dumb man acts and then thinks about what he did wrong.