The Saga of My Ever Shrinking Railroad

This is an update for some, for others this may be new, if so you can catch the full history of my on-off-on-off-on-off saga of trying to build a large scale RR on GR, MLS or LSC forums, theres no way to relate 10 years of history leading to my current status, so the rest of your will just have to jump in at this point, suffice to say after 9 years of struggle to build a layout outdoors, moving indoors into the garage then last year tearing out my 10 x 20 foot fixed laout, I ended up last summer with a 5x6 mobile layout with folding wings that made for a 5' x 9' layout...
 
...well the fold downs turn out to be a real hastle in actual operations, way too much fiddling around with took too long just to get one side set up, so I just left them up, then the misses started fussing about how much room the layout took up and it did take up quite a bit of room so I did some pondering and reevaluation and eventually came up with this reworking
 
Revised right side with fold downs removed, back to original configuration:
 

 
Reworked front

 

 
Revised left side, fold down reduced in size and fixed in place
 

 
Revised left side new tunnel face
 

 
Still have a nice outside loop to run bigger equipment on but now have a fixed platform without the hastles of the folddowns or the space problems of the former layout. Plus I can use the outside track as a point to point for the LGB Auto reverser I have and have been trying to intigrate for a while now. This will be getting scenery very soon now.

BTW total size 5'6" x 5'6"

 Have fun with your trains

Thats one of the smallest G Scale layouts i´ve ever seen.
You are an artist of dimensions!

Frank

..how slow must a man be to be run over by a shay?
www.g-scale-structures.de

Yep...who says there's no room for a layout in "G". 
Nice job.

"That democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who will not."

 Thomas Jefferson

I got the 2-pole switches installed and aside from one dumb wiring move (connecting a feeder wire to the wrong rail, D'oh!) its now completely operational, next step will be to add the LGB Auto reversing unit to the outside track, if I can find them. Time to clean off everything and fiddle with the foam scenery at the new tunnel portal

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Well I tore up the layout today... no wait, that should be I tore everything OFF the layout, and then tipped over, well on its side.
 
The reason for this wonton destructive behavior was so I could remove the 2” wheel castors and replace them with great big honking 4” castors. This was necessary as I have fairly large control joints in my garage slab that the contractor provided with ½” rounded edges, so whenever I rolled the layout around with the 2” castors (price effective at the time) when they hit those joints it was they dropped into the Grand Canyon! And everything on the layout got a nasty jolt. Well I just got plain sick and tired of it so after a pricey trip to Home Despot, it was off with everything! It took more time to remove everything than it took to knock it over, replace the castors, and tip back upright. But the upshot is that that now not only does the layout roll over the joints with just the slightest of blips, it now turns and rolls with far less resistance, and the deck gained 2 inches in height!
BTW 99% of the stuff is back on the layout

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Its been a while since I posted anything on this but I have been working on it
 
Some progress pics:
 
The mine completed:

 
Water tank finally painted and weathered

 
Gas station begun:

 
Beginning to get the scenery finished:

 
More pics as I work around the layout

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My my what a difference.

Casey Jones Snr

If it looks right, it is right.

Some more progress pics:
Cut out a section to add a trestle, its the last major Item the layout really called for.
 

 

 
I ran out of blue foam so I thought I'd try an experiment, using spray foam insulation mixed with what few blue foam peices I had left. The initial results were, well, quite scary!
 
After some, alot, of cutting, tweeking and using caulking in an almost sculptural way, its getting better. Paint will cover most of the odd looking connections
 
More pics as I progress.

 Have fun with your trains

Interesting geology!  Look forward to seeing the trestle as it is built; at least planting the bents into the rocks should be no problem.

C&S


Interesting geology!  Look forward to seeing the trestle as it is built; at least planting the bents into the rocks should be no problem.

Its the footings that I have to figure out, I can at least cut them straight into the foam. I have a pair of LGB short truss's I'm going to use under the track, and make a pair of girder plate spans on either side its now just the the piers to figure out.

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The Borracho Steel Works in action:
 

The new steel high bridge over Borracho Gulch mocked up in the shops
 

In place, with additional plate girder deck sections on each side (cut up Lionel O gauge bridge)
More pics:

Track inspection:

 

The piers are 1x3 lumber w/ basswood sheets added to create a widening effect ner the base
 
Installation complete:

This is probably the last major piece of construction I had wanted on my layout, now just to finish scenicing the rest of it.

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Nothing like a bridge to add a bit of drama, but I don't know how you're able to fit it all in!

C&S


Nothing like a bridge to add a bit of drama, but I don't know how you're able to fit it all in!

You seem to have more detail in that tiny layout than I have on my own in the garden. Well done.

Fantastic ! I`ve got as far as getting a 12ft x 8ft shed up. Next step is the baseboard and then the layout. I have had several layouts over the last 30 years and I must admit the most enjoyable have been the small one`s.

seanlisle


Fantastic ! I`ve got as far as getting a 12ft x 8ft shed up. Next step is the baseboard and then the layout. I have had several layouts over the last 30 years and I must admit the most enjoyable have been the small one`s.

How much are you planning o get into the shed?  I did try to plan for a shed, but with only a small London garden already full of shrubs and trees, an indoor line was the easier option.

Well I`ve got 120 feet of garden, but for reasons including money and wife and small children and a massive dog (Collie / Foxhound cross with a small horse) I am planning to have most of the railway in the shed with a small extension going outside. I will use R1 or the Peco setrack (prefer the latter for the look) and cram in as little as I can ! I like the Welsh rail gauge scene with the railway crammed into high walls and small spaces between terraced houses so the smaller the better really. I will post pictures as I get under way.

Finally ballasted the track last week, using my patented "kitty litter" staining technic with consists of simply dipping the litter in a strainer into a small bath of water/acrylic paint mix, then setting that onto a plywood sheet to dry in the sun.
Main town area:


High Bridge area:


Fiddle yard area:


Mine spur area:


Cleaning the glue residue off the track after was a pain but so far everything is running well again.

 Have fun with your trains

Looking good. Talk about selective compression! Always enjoy seeing your mini-locos.

Amazing - and very well done. With all that rock work you must have found Geology 101 a snip!

How come Mr Smith's pictures hardly ever (if ever) show on my screen? These are the only ones that do not appear. After seeing people's comments I begin to wonder if I am missing something

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

I just think that goldarn layout is so clever, it is just brilliant, artistic yeah?

Scenery substantially completed at the town and spur area, this is time consuming stuff:




Gas station installed, still need to add the station sign, its coming:



This is actually behind the station but then the best beleivability lies in what you only see from askew:


This is just one corner of one side, 3 more sides to go!

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The detail around the filling station - brilliant!

I find this all rather annoying - there is no indication on Vic's postings of any pictures (only gaps in the text) - no bottom bar with thumb nails - nothing at all other than text.

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

trammayo


I find this all rather annoying - there is no indication on Vic's postings of any pictures (only gaps in the text) - no bottom bar with thumb nails - nothing at all other than text.

Mick

Mick, try clicking on the link below. It's the last current image of this topic, maybe your computer settings have a problem with the website in question.

http://1stclass.mylargesc...5x5%20Scenery%2007.JPG

Please do not adjust your mind, there is a fault in reality.

Hi Neil,

Tried the link but couldn't get on (Server Not Found). Don't understand these things - no indication that it is blocked  - at a loss really. Thank you anyway - I'll just have to use my imagination.

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

Mick I really dont understand why you cannot see anything, all my photos are posted on the Mylargescale site, but its not like their any secret handshake or fee or permission required to access the site, its a public site, try accessing the MLS site directly here:

http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/aff/6/aft/25315/afv/topic/afpgj/2/Default.aspx

If that doesnt work try Google searching www.mylargescale.com  If you can access regular .com sites on the web, there should be no reason you cant access the site that I can determine.

 Have fun with your trains

Hi Vic - thanks for posting - have tried links and both say server not found. I've also tried google with same results. Its odd really because if anything is blocked it usually says so ( although Firefox sometimes blocks aspects of Adobe that it reccomends for updates!). It is strange but I wonder if there is more information than my system can handle and it times out before the handshake is complete!
There is no hint of any photos other than gaps in your text and other forum members commenting on what they see.
I do know (through frustrating experience) that my broadband link - via satellite - is heavily trafficked out here in the West of Ireland because hard wire broadband is out in these rural areas.
Often it locks up because nothing is getting to or from the server.

I will persevere (until I give up at least).

Regards

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

Mick, can you see this - a tiny version of one of the above pictures.

Attached Image(s)

Alan.

The Oxney Island Line in the heart of Kent.

http://www.pendleburymodels.com/

 
Got alot more scenery done, at least to what I consider the "basic level" of scenery
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Chief Mechanic Homer is lovin his new ride!
 
Realizing its kinda tough to shot pics without catching all the junk that surrounds it in the garage. Gonna need a graphics program to edit that out.

 Have fun with your trains

Thanks Stockers - hadn't looked at this thread after posting my dissapointment! Yes no prob with your pic. When you say "tiny version", it implies to me that the originals are too big for my PC to cope with.

Again, Vic's new posting shows no trace of pics only a space in the text.

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

Here is a overall picture, kinda crowded but it gives a good idea of it overall:
 


The upper layout is removable, I designed it so the top could go to shows, but so far its only been to one (1) show since 2008...so I might just fix it permanantly.

 Have fun with your trains

trammayo


Thanks Stockers - hadn't looked at this thread after posting my dissapointment! Yes no prob with your pic. When you say "tiny version", it implies to me that the originals are too big for my PC to cope with.

Again, Vic's new posting shows no trace of pics only a space in the text.

Mick

Sorry Mick, send me a PM with your personal e-mail, I'll send you pics to bring you up to date

 Have fun with your trains

trammayo


Thanks Stockers - hadn't looked at this thread after posting my dissapointment! Yes no prob with your pic. When you say "tiny version", it implies to me that the originals are too big for my PC to cope with.

Again, Vic's new posting shows no trace of pics only a space in the text.

Mick

Vic is linking his pictures from an external source to GSC, rather than uploading them direct to GSC - this is a perfectly normal way of doing things. For some reason your web browser is not accessing that site. Unfortunately there are many reasons why this may be so. I dont think that size matters here!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Alan.

The Oxney Island Line in the heart of Kent.

http://www.pendleburymodels.com/

Have PM'd Vic - many thanks for your offer - look forward to seeing your work.

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

Thanks for posting the overall picture Vic - it just shows how much you can pack into a small space. However, I have a question...
 
 
Wossdissden ?

Attached Image(s)

David
Home of the Cottam Strassenbahn

stockers

trammayo


Thanks Stockers - hadn't looked at this thread after posting my dissapointment! Yes no prob with your pic. When you say "tiny version", it implies to me that the originals are too big for my PC to cope with.

Again, Vic's new posting shows no trace of pics only a space in the text.

Mick

Vic is linking his pictures from an external source to GSC, rather than uploading them direct to GSC - this is a perfectly normal way of doing things. For some reason your web browser is not accessing that site. Unfortunately there are many reasons why this may be so. I dont think that size matters here!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Hi Alan - well that's probably cleared up that question - I'm using Firefox but as I am clueless about settings, I'll have to wait for one of my sons to come down to alter things! Meanwhile, I'm getting 'one to one' pics from Vic (which is very kind of him - I'm no longer in the dark:thumbup.

Mick

Mick - always learning something new (then forgetting it).

Dtsteam


Thanks for posting the overall picture Vic - it just shows how much you can pack into a small space. However, I have a question...
 
 
Wossdissden ?

 
Ya mean dis? Still a work in progress

 Have fun with your trains

 Ya mean dis? Still a work in progress 

 
That a new loco, too?

C&S

 Ya mean dis? Still a work in progress 

 
That a new loco, too?

 

Naw, thats one of my early HLW Mack bashes
 

 Have fun with your trains