Change of plans on the east end of the layout and the On30 layout.

Well did some bench work altering in the last week.  Against the wall where the hidden staging goes to the garage, I had a grade trackage that went down to the lower level.  This was part of the of the Virginia Central (VC) trackage.  the grade was very steep and  led at one time to a 3 track staging yard.  This did not work out because of the steep grade only short trains could make it up.  I eventually changed it by lowering the last part to put a sand loading facility and trackage. One backfire was I had to put in another grade in to switch the sand facility. I really liked it because I used the 2970 hoppers and they were small.   But I could only bring down 2 hoppers at a time to clear the switch and end of the track.

The view from the completed layout.   The hole goes to hidden trackage in the garage.  The new branch line will continue to the gray building (On30) and head to the right.  The original grade started here on the right side of the bench work.  Taking it out gave me more space against this wall.

The hole leads to different hidden staging in the garage.  The crossing gives me more options.  The track to the right was the staging for the On30 layout.  The left is the staging for the RF&P railroad. 

  Well let's change it all.  Above this side of the layout was a On30 layout completely wired and ready for scenery.  I did at one time have have a around-the-room HO layout complete with swing bridge near the door.  I took the swinging bridge out and that side became an On30 layout.  Well the On30 trackage was removed this weekend.  I will put the On30 below on the lower level (sand facility) and add a some to it.  It's almost like a shadow box, with lighting and at chair level.  It's about the same space as above.

   On the window side, where the On30 layout is probable become branch line with a pulpwood customer and the hidden trackage(from the On30 layout) will become a offline industry (probably the sand facility) The trackage to the hidden trackage will lead to the facility.  I obtained the 2 separate hidden stagings to the garage by putting a crossing in the wall.  Remember On30 runs on HO track.  

Notice how my work bench is below the bench work.  Looks as if my work bench is kinda neat today.