The K&BH continues to show progress. The material shared in this edition reflects work completed throughout most of the month of February, but we plan a major work session on Sunday the 29th and coverage of that is published separately.
February 17 was a significant day because, at 5:30 PM, the last piece of rail was installed in the large staging yard. I had purchased a box of 100 pieces of code-100 rail and only five pieces remain now. That means that this yard has 285 feet of rail and 32 turnouts installed. The gaps are in, the wiring is nearing completion, and then I will move into the interior staging areas before I begin to lay track in the scenery portion of the layout. That day comes closer and closer and it is great fun to anticipate.
Once again in this update, I refer to the layout curves by number as a way of guiding you around the layout. If you are new to the site (or just have a short memory like mine), I urge you to consult the layout schematic. That should help you navigate through the many reference points that I introduce in the copy explaining the photographs.
One of the nicest revelations in the experience up to this point will not come as any surprise to those of you who have built layouts previously: There is wonderful value to be found in the opportunity to hold quiet conversations with friends as the layout takes shape and is refined. The design process has already presented change ideas to me — some minor, some quite significant — and this period while working on the large staging section has given me (us!) the chance to ask "what if" in those areas where change makes more sense now that we see the bigger picture. For those of you who might be contemplating a new layout, I urge you to nourish those contacts and friends so that you, too, might benefit from the wisdom of their input. Stay flexible. Be a listener. Solicit questions. You are sure to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others.
Here you see the technique Art Jones used to create those big curves in staging. Building on three-inch center lines, we had to position that first track (from the backdrop) carefully. From that point on, however, he used a compass set for the three inches, put the point against the rail as you see here, and neatly marked the line for the next outside rail. We proceeded to do that after each track had been layed — all the way out to the seventh track on the curve. This gave us a consistent three-inch center for all of those tracks and the curves were quickly and accurately drawn.
The staging curve is now complete. You see the westbound main (WB) on the right, then the EB, and then the staging tracks #1 through 5 leading to the outer edge. Crossovers show here between staging 1/2 and 4/5; staging 3 connects only to the ladders at each end of this large part of the railroad. The red tape marks the spots where I need to gap the rail due to facing frogs. More on the subject of these Post-It tapes in a moment.
This shot shows the EB staging with its small fiddle yard in the left foreground. The mains on the right exit here (closest to the camera) into Curve #3 scenery. All staging is Atlas code-100 rail nailed to the sheet cork. I used three Atlas code-83 #8 Insulfrog turnouts off the main in the foreground and large PECO code-100 turnouts everywhere else in staging. "Art's Curve," leading from staging five toward the camera will allow direct entry onto the EB main without blocking an exiting WB train crossing over to enter the staging ladder. This design revision was one of the best ideas that came from one of those quiet conversations mentioned earlier. As you see, the storage/display shelves are already full in this area.
In this photo, I've turned around and aimed the camera back toward where I was standing for the previous shot. This shows the exit to the scenery on curve three at the back. It also provides a good view of "Art's Curve," a great gentle curve as it heads out to the EB main. UP #841 awaits its next assignment, sitting wrong-direction on the EB track here! Again, the red tape marker indicates a place where a gap will be cut. (I enjoy these available-light photos because they show nice detail.)
We've come around the curve and are back in the WB staging. You see the run-around track located between stage 4 and 5. I've used red push pins in the foreground to indicate the need for gaps, but the line of them crossing all the tracks in the background marks the limit of the WB staging DCC power district. All of the pins will be removed as the gaps or wiring are completed in this area.
When dropping feeder wires from the rails, I position Post-It tape tabs in this position against the rails. It makes it easier for me to see the grouping of wires that will go to the bus wires under the layout shelf. Holes have already been drilled through the sheet cork/foamboard/plywood so the wiring crew (me!) must be getting close now.
Here you see the WB ladder and fiddle yard. Note the DPDT control resting at the left edge of what will be the DCC program track when it is not being used to position cars as a train is put together. You'll see that the blue Post-It tapes have been re-positioned in this photo compared with the last one. I place them flat on the surface after the power leads have been soldered to the rails. Then, I remove them completely once the feeders have been attached (and tested!) to the bus wires under the layout shelf. We're about ready to extend the main lines out into curve one (background) here once all staging tracks have been powered and tested.
It was a busy month on the railroad. Lots of progress. Quite a few visitors, too, and that has provided a new source of pleasure for my experience with this first layout-construction project. Lots of good questions. Lots of suggestions have been shared. Much has been learned from all of that interchange and now I'm eager to move into the scenery portion and begin laying the code-83 rail that will be used exclusively out there — in the interior staging areas, too.
On February 29, Art and I will paint the horizon haze and install the valance above the layout, among other smaller projects. There will be big changes made that day so I hope you'll come back for the next view of the railroad.
As always, the Management of the K&BH extends a hearty welcome to you. Thanks again for your interest in this lifetime dream.