[sherman 89]

I am in north central Florida and got started in HO a few months ago with a 5'X11' multiple layout on a non used pool table. A few pics are attached to show my industrial area.

 

[Mark VerMurlen]

Welcome! Great start!

 

[Spence]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[MichaelE]

Welcome.

 

[DonR]

Sherman

Great to welcome another Floridian to the Forum. Keep us posted on
your progress and know that you have a lot of friends here who will
be glad to help with any problem that pops up.

Don

 

[sherman 89]

I added a 12,000btu a/c to the garage to keep things cool this summer and will be starting on an expansion to a U from the end of the table top to a wall run, I will be using existing shelving that may work out but the problem is I have an uphill run of about 7-8' with a 7" rise with 90 degree bends at either part of the crosseover from the tabletop to the shelving so I am surveying the situation. My experience with an earlier over/under layout did not bode well and was scrapped.

 

[Magic]

You may want to rethink that grade, that's about 7% or more. (7 inches in 100 inches = 7%)
Most model RRs try to keep grades at 2% if possible or at most a 3% grade.
Even the best of locos won't pull 7% without cars let alone a train.
The 90° curves make matters even worse.

Magic

 

[sherman 89]

I hear you loud and clear, I have to figure out how to elevate the tabletop to reduce the climb because the shelving that I want to use is already in place and cannot be changed or scrape the shelving which will be very difficult at this point in time.2X4s on edge will reduce the slope by 4' which still means 3 degrees which is still unacceptable----2X6 will work but lifting the tabletop will be a problem that I will just have to work out without stripping everything off and starting over.

 

[Lee Willis]

Hey there Sherman 89, welcome.

 

[cole226]

welcome. active looking layout. 🇺🇸

 

[sherman 89]

I fresolved the elevation problem with a complete change to the shelving and reduced the grade change to 0 degrees, ordered up 150' of flextrak and cork so tracktime is coming. What does everyone use to drive the track nails?

 

[sherman 89]

This the resolved start of the U expansion, the shelving was originally stack four units high.

 

[sherman 89]

The exisiting second level of shelving has had 6 1/2" removed from each post lowering the top of the shelve to the same height as the tabletop 32".

 

[MichaelE]

I fresolved the elevation problem with a complete change to the shelving and reduced the grade change to 0 degrees, ordered up 150' of flextrak and cork so tracktime is coming. What does everyone use to drive the track nails?

A punch and a small finishing hammer.

 

[sherman 89]

All 3/4" ply is down including the bride between the wall and the tabletop with paint to follow today.

 

[sherman 89]

Painting is complete now we wait for the track, cork and accessories show up this week and the track laying begins.

 

[sherman 89]

Here is a pic of the additional track to the layout with the turnaround.

 

[sherman 89]

I have since moved to Digitrax DSC52 DCC control and have now added a new extension the layout.The last pic shows the progress through time comparing the same angle of pic back to the beginning of the layout. I am now able to run 8 trains.Three scratch built engine garages have been added to the layout to keep the locos out of the "weather and for maintenance". I have also got into painting and decalling cars to make up different company trains.

 

[sherman 89]

My layout now consists of 232' of mainline track and 85' of sidings with 24 switches(turnouts) I have 8 trains with up to 22 car tows. The pandemic has allowed me to keep going on the layout adding buildings.

 

[Magic]

Very nice layout, kind o cool to have all that space.
Lots of operating options there.
Keep the pics coming.
This is a new member introduction thread so might be a good idea
to start a thread in the HO or my layout thread for further discussion.

Magic