New video out on recent purchases and the GSMTS last weekend

A recent video on some new freight cars and the recent train show I attended last weekend.

Update video on the new track: Trains are running again

Here's the video of my updated trackage.  Got trains running again on the lower level.  Still a ways to go.

Monday evening track work

Not a whole lot happens on the Virginia Midland on the weekdays, but I've been trying to get better during the week to get a few things done if possible.  Thirty minutes to an hour is what I try to squeeze in if possible, per day.  Tonight, I continued to get the new trackage down to at least get trains running again.  Trying to get the best possible plan is always fun.  I have not changed much, but the tedious work continued.

Nothing new here just upgrading roadbed and adding a longer Tortoise wire.

Had to move the desk out to get to what I was working on.  It's nice to be sitting down to work!

This is my main work area right now.  Many tools are a necessity for track laying.  

The boxcars are on the continuous run track and a leg of the wye.  The straight track towards the wall will lead to the helix.  That track leading to the helix will also have a passing siding.  

Overall view of the area I'm working on.  The turnout on thr bottom of the pic goes to an industry spur.  I had to move the bridge too.  The background on the right will be replaced also.  

Latest video is out! Update on lower level trackage

New trackage is well underway!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and good start to the New Year!
Spent the last week I'm off completing a freight car project for a client and getting started on my new trackage.  The last couple of days I decided to start on the hardest part of the project, the removable section across the aisle.  This is not an easy straight piece of track that is on a square piece of wood, but an angled piece of wood with curved track.  So, definitely not easy.  I went down to the Home Depot to get a quality piece of wood, cut in a 2' X 4'.  Knowing I would need only a small piece of it.  Turns out, I need all of it because of cutting mistakes and redoing it.  Definitely the third time is the charm.  I also did an adjustment on the track plan.  A passing siding will be added to the trackage which will enhance the operational state of the layout.

The passing siding will end here at the canal.  

Trackage will extend through the wall towards the helix.  This area will be renamed Parker, where there was a passing siding was in the 1920's.

Here is my outline for the removable bridge. It will be more narrow.

The outline in place.  

Testing out with track.  The track will be easy compare to getting the removable bridge correct.

Here is my 3rd try at the removable section.   It's a nice snug fit.  

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The removable section "holder".  These will be painted black to match the fascia.  

Holder on the other side.  The right bracket is really not needed but would look better.  Have I told you how much I hate angles?  Glad I have a nice saw to do all this cutting,  Equipment for the woodworking in MR is a big plus!

Construction starts on West to Orange trackage project.

Yesterday, I finally got started on my replacement of the Mine run branch or the area on the lower level below Battlefield Yard.  I ripped up the track and sub-roadbed to make way for my new trackage.  The new track plan will include a wye, a new entrance from the helix, continuous running on the lower level, a removable bridge and and new industries.  There also will be staging near the helix in the garage.  That's alot of stuff but only minor track changes.  Most of the track changes will be what I tore out yesterday.  Stay tuned!

The new trackage will come from the helix and out the wall behind the propane tanks in the pic.

Clean slate to start planning.

Here's the layout for the new trackage.  I have to contend with the canal which will be minimized by filling it in.  I will still need a bridge.  A siding will extend down to the cars in the distance.  The woodchip loader and possibly another industry will be located there.

This where the removable bridge will be located to span the isle.  The track shows appropriate placement.  This bridge will be the hardest part of the project.  

Mid-December Update

Christmas is real close and it's that time when model railroading starts to begins to take off.  A lot of young kids will get their start in the next few weeks in this great hobby.  My oldest son worried me to death about putting a train around the tree this year.  He will be 11 next week. We have not put the train up in a couple of years but he saw it in the attic when we were getting out the rest of the Christmas decorations.  So I definitely got it down to put under the tree.  It's a Lionel North Pole Express and we have extra track and cars for it.  An actual oval under the tree.  After getting the wiring fixed on the track, it worked well.  Him and sister have played with it just about everyday since its been working.  They do occasionally run trains on the layout.  I definitely need to get them involved more!

I also finished up some aggregate cars for a customer of mine:

MCTR 1472 getting it's finishing touches

2 bay Greenville hoppers by Walthers are a favorite of mine.

VMID #281 prepares them for interchange.

A railfan grab on the street.

VMID #281 continues to switch the aggregate cars.