Organizing progress -- shelves built and mounted

 The headline speaks for itself.

My goodness building shelving took quite a long time -- a month and change. Seems like every time I thought I was ready to assemble a shelving unit, there was one or two more pieces of lumber to cut. 

The shelving units are 14-feet long in total. Two four-foot units and three two-foot units. All two-feet high. they are screwed into the studs and have a ledger board underneath. 

Finally, I got them done. 

I needed help and fortunately my across-the-street neighbor, Brad came over. Hanging them was a two-person job. I also have a torn rotator cuff. That's slated to be fixed on Nov. 10 and will keep me out of commission for a while. So, I wanted to get this done and out of the way. With these shelves up, I'll reorganize a lot of the stuff in the garage, move a bunch of stuff off the floor and have a more pleasant work space. It's amazing how much stuff goes in to building a model railroad. Too much of it has been acquired in advance. but, it will eventually be used.

One benefit of the shelf project was that I consumed a bunch of sheet and dimensional lumber that had been in the garage. I still have more to use or throw out. Getting it out of the way will be a big advancement. 

Here are a few pictures of the process of building and installing the shelves. 

This is the first cabinet, completed.

An in-progress shot of the first 4-foot section. 

My neighbor, Brad, helping install the first shelving unit -- just four more to go. Thanks Brad. 

First three units are up. Two more to go. 

All the shelving units are in place. Hmm the shop light is in the way. 

Next up --- filling the shelves. That should not be a problem, there's plenty of stuff to put on them. Might need to get a few organizing tubs. 

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Progress report -- the organizing continues

Sometimes when straightening a mess you have to make a bigger one.

That's the case currently. I'm making a lot of fine-particle sawdust -- as I cut plywood to make wall-mounted cabinets and drawers for on-going projects.

The idea: build some temporary, but desperately needed storage units. These units will be two-feet high, 16-inches deep and range in length from two- to four-feet. They will be mounted on the wall, at ceiling level. Should they be more permanent than temporary, they will be ideal to hang layout lighting above the top level. 

This project consumed a 4'x8' sheet of 1/2-inch plywood that has been hanging around in the garage, getting in the way. I'm cutting up other sheet lumber to add to the project. It's a two-fer. I'm getting rid of sheet lumber and adding more storage. Getting rid of the sheet lumber will give me access to some stored rolling stock and locomotives. I'll use a locomotive for track testing. (more to come on that.)

One of the wall units will have a section for drawers housing on-going project kits. The drawers will keep rolling stock projects, track work, fasttracks switch assembly, structures. The drawers will have all the needed tools and supplies. Easy to find, pull out, set up and when done, easy to put away. 

Next up -- cut some 1/4" plywood for drawer runners and stabilization blocks. 

One other update -- all the helix sections have been trimmed and are ready to be assembled -- once the storage cabinet project is done. 

Here are a few in-progress pictures:

Trimmed helix sections -- ready for installation.

Framing for project kit drawers. They will have either hardboard bottoms or 1/4" ply bottoms.

Sheet plywood cut to make wall storage units. Next up -- sanding and assembling. 

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Organization -- Not always my strong suit. A new learning opportunity for me

An empty box of possibilities? Really, an empty box that once held stuff now stored, categorized or tossed. One step in the process of organizing the layout work space.

Building a model railroad requires participating in a multitude of hobbies. The larger the layout, the broader that multitude. 

The B&OCT in N scale is the largest layout I've ever attempted: multiple levels, several helixes, multiple yards, interlockings, signals, DCC, urban scenery, multiple operators (some of them likely participating remotely). There's a lot for me to learn.

Historically, I'd take a scattershot approach to working on trains. It was not always satisfying. In approaching a project of the size that I am imagining -- and it's by no means a huge layout -- I can't be scattered. 

There needs to be method and structure to the madness. Projects need to be identified, prioritized and executed upon. There needs to be accountability.

In the past, my workspace would be cluttered and overwhelmed with started and not-quite-ever-completed projects. I'm looking to make a change. I'm trying to keep a diary of layout projects. It's online -- so easy to access from my computer, tablet or phone. 

One of the first priorities is organizing my layout space. And that's the significance of the top photo. Big whoop, its an empty box. Its a box of things that have been sorted, organized, stored or trashed. I have to get the garage cleaned. Building storage over the layout is on my to-do list. Under layout storage really isn't an option until my construction is further along. 

Next up -- dust mitigation. The garage is a home for the dust stirred up by the mow-blow-and-go landscapers. I'm looking into better weather stripping for the doors -- as a start. I need to reduce the dirt that gets into the layout space and settles on the track, rolling stock and other flat surfaces. 

To mitigate dust created internally I'm trying to move most of that work to the outdoors. 

Tied to dust mitigation is cleaning the Barr Staging track, again, along with locomotive wheels. I'm nearing the end of testing the track -- just need a couple of Atlas locomotives back on the front lines. Another task to put in the diary.

Anyway, until next time.

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I'm my own worst enemy!!

The process of building a model railroad has not been as linear as I had expected. There are numerous obstacles that present themselves.

Sometimes the obstacles are external, sometimes internal. 

Let's talk about the external ones: no power to the garage. Can’t do work. 

Nearly two weeks ago, the main circuit breaker to the garage tripped. I tried to reset it, but it would immediately trip. The fact that it was immediately tripping suggested either a bum breaker or some other source of an open circuit. But, I did not know how to diagnose or fix the problem. I’m not about to dive into fixing a 100 amp household circuit. That’s a task better left to a qualified professional I asked a friend to recommend an electrician.

Someone should be by next week. Hopefully, the problem will be easy to fix.

With power restored to the garage (and the irrigation and garden lighting systems) I can test the Barr staging and move on to building a helix. This “external” obstacle is pretty defined and definitely fixable. 

Internal obstacles are a worse problem. These are the roadblocks that I create. 

I’ve had an irrational fear of dealing with DCC. I think the concept is great. Yet, it's a mystery to me.  I have a Digitrax Zephyr system. Up to a point, it works well. I don’t think that Digitrax is the most user friendly system. This is not meant to be a rant against Digitrax, but rather a look at why I don’t roll up my sleeves and figure things out. I’m going to use a Digitrax Zephyr to run my HO logging layout. 

I’ll eventually install an NCE system for the n-scale layout. Meanwhile, I’m using Digitrax to test the layout. It’s doing the job. 

But, one of the things that I needed to do was connect it to my computer, so I can have a better look inside the Zephyr and inside the decoders in each locomotive. 

I have been testing the Barr Staging section track. I want to run more than one locomotive around -- in order to ensure that I have debugged the trackage for all locomotives, not just the primary test engine. The problem is that the slots were full on my Zephyr. The easiest way to solve that problem is to connect it to the computer. I have an old Acer designated for the job. But, it's clunky. Then I created a massive roadblock in my mind. This would be a hard task - given some of the issues with the Acer and the bias against Digitrax.

I could look for a DCC guru to help - but that’s hard to do in this Covid time. I decided to take the plunge and try to solve my problem. 

We took a family trip for a few days last week and I made myself a little DCC travel kit. A couple of locomotives, a test track and programming track, a locobuffer USB and my old Acer computer. 

I tried plugging everything together and firing up the older version of JMRI on my computer. Not much was happening. Then I did a quick search on YouTube and found help.

In about an hour and a half, I had downloaded the current version of JMRI and Java and followed the instructions and I was up and running. DCC is less scary for me now. I may even start installing decoders. Now, on to the testing.

This is not the first time I have created mountains out of molehills. I see that some of my other procrastination relates to these internal obstacles. 

Barr Yard Staging -- another step closer to completion

I'm trying to take a different approach to building a model railroad.  Speed of construction is not the goal. Precision of the finished product is.

As I have discovered in modelling N-scale -- the tolerances are more precise and there's less room for error. Much to my surprise I can work in this smaller scale. 

With this approach in mind, this summer has been consumed with putting the final touches on Barr Yard staging. This has involved hours of testing the track.

For the most part, the testing went smoothly. An eight-car freight train made more than 90 circuits of the staging yard. It found tight clearances with wiring drops, a turnout needing a guard-rail shim, a switch machine to switch linkage needing replacing.

The big fix centered around the entrance to staging track 9. As the train entered the track, I was mildly concerned about the freight cars snaking on to the track. 

I assembled a consist with full-length passenger cars -- and boy did I see the effect of an inadvertant S-curve.

The cars never uncoupled, but it didn't look good. This will be a covered section of layout, so I didn't want to leave any landmines.

A track re-alighnment was required. 

Cut out the right hand switch that created the curve , installed a lefty on an adjacent track. Carved out the cork to provide a channel for the throw rod. managed to correctly bend a throw rod on the first try, updated the arduino data file and things are back in action.  The white styrene rectangle covers the throw rod channel. (See photo).

The last issue, which seems to have been resolved is fixing a dead spot on the frog of the switch leading into track 0.  I shimmed the reverse route guardrail and painted a dot of fingernail polish on the frog. 

The takeaway lesson -- this will be the only section of the layout built with PECO track. I have had good experience with PECO before. I decided to use PECO code 80 track for the staging yards because it would be more forgiving.

The flex track does work great, but the turnouts have their deficiencies. I have solved most of the issues, but I know that I will not use this system going forward.

The plan -- to be discussed in a future blog post -- will be to have standards. From a track perspective -- it will be Atlas Code 55, FastTrack #6 minimum switches. 

Here are a few pictures as things currently stand. 

This photo is looking at the entrance to Barr Staging. The track on the left is the return loop track. This track that will lead from the bottom of the helix, loop around by the wall and approach the staging yard ladder. Note the wiring bridges and servos in the background. In the background on the right is the control panel for the servo routing.  

This photo is looking down the length of Barr staging toward the staging yard exit. The Pennsylvania passenger train (on the right) has been performing yoeman work testing the trackage. Note the wiring bridge. This was originally intended to supply power to that section of track. Originally Barr Staging was built in 3 sections that would come apart. That idea was abandoned. The wiring bridge will remain as a power distribution system. The plywood panel beyond it is temporary, for now. It is stabilizing the uprights holding up the benchwork.

Barr staging exit. This shot shows the track and servo arrangement at the exit of Barr staging. Note the wiring bridge carrying power and communication to the servos and servo activition boards. The routing control panel is in the middle background. The servos are friction fit into 1/2" aluminum channel, screwed to the benchwork. The servos are shimmed with 0.01 styrene.

All of this leads to . . . 

The double-tracked helix (yet to be built) that will bring trains up to the scenicked portion of the layout -- at 75th St. tower. The pile of junk in the middle of the photo is where the helix will rise. 

Why all the wiring bridges and surface-mounted servos? The below picture should help explain. This is the L-girder support system awaiting Barr staging. This will be about 20 inches off the floor. No way am I crawling under that to perform maintenance. Hence, the deliberate progress on this first section of layout. Access will be difficult. So, get it right. 

The next step is starting helix construction.  More to come . . .

Layout development ideas -- from RBTB

The NMRA 2021 RBTB convention is over. A lot of hard work, got to meet some really great model railroaders. And I still have a bunch of videos to watch. I didn't even make it to 25% of the clinics.

From the clinics I did attend, I got a bunch of good ideas.

1. Layout concept -- I remain steadfast in my commitment to the B&OCT. Nope, not switching to narrow gauge, steam in the early 20th century or KCS in the 2020s.

2. Standards --From several clinics - including Joe Fugate's Make it run like a dream -- Very important to establish standards for benchwork, track and rolling stock. 

    Benchwork standard is 1/4" plywood over 1/2"x3" plywood framing. It will be sealed to minimize dimensional adjustment.

    Track standard - Staging -- code 80 Peco flex and Medium insulfrog switches. Visible track -- code 55 Atlas Flex and FastTracks #6. Grades 2%, Minimum radius - 15 inches.

    Rolling stock and locomotives -- Digitrax decoders, Atlas Locomotives (predominantly), eventually get to body mounted couplers. Before running on the layout: All rolling stock to have a basic coat of weathering, metal wheels, resistor on one wheelset, properly weighted, coupler height checked, wheels roll freely. (More to come on this).

    2A. The layout will have NCE DCC and signals. I suspect that my signal needs will be less than I had imagined. 

    2B -- TEST, TEST, TEST -- test everything multiple times, ensure that everything is solid and works properly. It will payoff when operations begin. 

3. Goals and To Do List -- need two sets of goals -- long term and short term. Need to do lists to support the goals. The to do lists are those projects that can be picked up and set down in less than an hour and those that take 90 minutes or more.

4. Layout design -- I'm pretty happy with the layout design. 

    Need to check on the whether I have enough crossovers on mainlines. 

    Need to add a Brighton Park crossing view scene on the helix connecting the upper level and middle level. (This will provide operational interest and give operators a chance to check on train progress while in the helix.) Predominantly, the signals will be set to proceed. But may have a restricted or even stop indication. 

5. Operations 

    The highlight of the layout are the interlocking towers. They are a part of keeping train runs interesting. These might be operated remotely. Let others play.  

    There will be switch jobs and yard jobs. But, there will be a big need for transfer runs. These enter and exit the visual area from many locations. They will pick up and drop off cars at the main yards. They will need to navigate a busy mainline, need to follow signals. 

    Passenger trains will always get the priority and will run to whatever timetable and time system is decided upon. The B&O passenger trains will have to visit servicing facilities -- so it's not just a simple run onto the layout and run off. 

    Communications -- another major emphasis is communications. The tower operators will need to report train passage to other operators, yard masters and the dispatcher. They may be the point of contact for road crews. Eventually there will be some kind of phone system. But, there's more to this -- Yardmasters will expect to report car counts to the dispatcher -- who will be assigning locomotives to over the road freights. the dispatcher will have car counts from inbound transfer runs -- no surprising the yard masters. In fact -- that's a big goal -- as problems arise -- they are properly communicated across the system and a team approach is taken to solving problems. The goal is to minimize surprises. 

6. Documenting the layout -- This blog is one tool that I expect to use to keep ideas and document layout progress. I may try to post videos. I dropped in to a breakout room talking about YouTube videos during the convention. I was encouraged to try making some videos. Ok, here goes -- look for one by the end of the week.  

7. Keep perspective -- No job is outside my capabilities. I have friends who can offer advice and help. This will be the largest layout I have ever attempted to build, but in context of others, it's on the large end of medium. It's very achievable and probably in a shorter time frame than I might think.

8. Take a break -- work on my logging layout. I have an HO logging layout -- in the steam era. That's an opportunity for a diversion. 

A new feature for this blog -- I will close with a goal and an update on a previous goal.

New goal - complete track testing of the Barr Yard Staging by July 26.

Progress check - Barr Yard staging testing: 39 of 140 forwards runs complete, so far. Another 70 reverse runs to complete. The first 39 runs revealed the need to paint clear fingernail polish on the frog of switch 0 to eliminate a short. Switch 3 at the turnback end had one derailment -- cause unknown. 

It's about more than just the models - the backstory can provide benefits

I'm modeling and researching the B&OCT - with a specific interest in the late 1960s and early 1970s (before Chessie). But, I also have a tangential interest in the Penn Central PC - as it will be represented on the layout. I found out an interesting tidbit about the PC's operation on that railroad from a big SP fan.

I was conversing with Bill Decker, of Oregon, a new model railroad friend. I got to know him while organizing the clinics for the NMRA Rails By The Bay conference. 

Anyway, I shared the following picture with him while we were chatting recently. 

PC Geep and SP Caboose -- cross the B&OCT mainline just north of 75th St. tower. Photo by Thomas White.

An interesting photo -- a PC GP with an SP caboose. The time is the late 1960s. And the train is in Chicago --  crossing the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal RR, just north of 75th St. tower. It's heading for the old Pennsylvania RR 59th Street Yard.

Bill is not only an SP modeler, but also a font of information about the railroad. In a few minutes he had identified the class of caboose, but the likely year of this photo. Because earlier it would not have been in Chicago.

Here's what he said in an email to me:

Definitely not a delivery of a "new" caboose!  SP 1558 is a C-40-4, built in 1961 by Pacific Car and Foundry, a 200 caboose order.  In many ways this class was the definitive SP bay window caboose.  Under 200 were built in three classes in the post-WWII period, but it was this big class that really made the SP a bay window caboose operator.  This is the Athearn caboose--blue box era.  Athearn has done great work since then in the Genesis line for more modern cabooses (what I mostly run right now), but these ware the ones that set the standard.  

Presence on Chicago trackage likely is via a UP pool, likely with CNW, although MILW was possible by this late era (Penn Central, post-1966).

Penn Central 5957 is a GP7, without dynamic brakes and what looks like a steam boiler up front.  Got to be a story there, as well, but my PC resources are scant--other than my own photos from two years spent in central NJ along the main to NYC.

The lesson for me -- I learned something new, learned a lot about Bill and was grateful that we had another reason to make a connection. Thanks for the information Bill and thanks for the photo Tom.

Bill has a blog about his prototype and modeling interests here: https://espeecascades.blogspot.com