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Having purchased trains since 1990(adding to my childhood trains), the beginning of my train layout has finally commenced.  Obsidian has designed the layout. He and his son are helping with the benchwork.  They have been very helpful and I am very excited to finally see the beginnings of the "South Fork Railroad" after all the years looking at boxes.

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  • image: Needed to clear room of inventory
  • image: Painting room Nevada Sky Blue
  • image: Bench work begins finally
  • image: Winding down first day
  • image: Hellgate Bridge sizing for layout
  • image: Layout designer Obsidian & son helping with benchwork
Last edited by W&W
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Hope to post progress this weekend with RR-track design.  Layout will have three main lines with elevated subway.  Lionel Grand Central Terminal will be focus point with four tracks running underneath.  Hellgate bridge will be focal point with two Lionel Lift Bridges.  GCT area will be elevated from main level As will a yard area and a 34" Millhouse round table with minimum of 13 spurs.  Lionel carnival accessories will be used, also Lionel Back shop, Irvington Factory, coal tipple etc.  Will use MTH DCS & Lionel Legacy control.  Lionel, MTH, K-line, Atlas, Williams rolling stock, power units.  Hope to use Atlas track, turnouts.  Future plans to have storage tracks under the main level.  Thanks for everyone's interest.  Also plan to post videos.

Second day of construction for the "South Fork Railroad" completed.  A lot was accomplished. Completed 99% of benchwork. Levelers placed on legs. Next - complete benchwork, place/cut plywood tops/grades to upper level etc. Original RR Track design being tweaked with some minor changes. Determining how to get track down under the main level which will provide storage tracks and possible reversing loop. The construction crew had a good time working together.  The day started with our Dunkin Donuts, work, Lunch provided by my train buddy/wife Judi, followed by more work.      I am very much appreciate for the help of my model railroading friends Ken, Austin & Joe helping build the "South Fork Railroad".

Room approx. 26'x14'.   Have room for expansion to adjoining room, maybe in the future.  Concentration now for this area, 3 mainlines, plus elevated subway and want to have line, storage tracks under main level.   Holdup now is waiting for track.  Meanwhile, will be doing backdrops etc.   In the meantime, if I can obtain some curved track(min 072) to use for templates, may begin placing plywood for track inclines etc.

Started laying plywood for level one of layout. Next steps are to paint plywood tops and secure to benchwork. May secure plywood from bottom side to make it easier to remove if need to in future. Received small shipment of Atlas track. Have few 072, 081, 090/099 curves to attempt to cut plywood for areas where three mains go to the second level of layout. Isle edges will be trimmed back when I receive enough track to see where everything falls.  I have been told track should arrive in October. Layout is going slower than I like, but I'm at the point that I need track to make further progress. Layout is three mains on two levels, with a third subway level. Am still hoping to have amother level below the main for staging etc.

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Originally Posted by W&W:

Having purchased trains since 1990(adding to my childhood trains), the beginning of my train layout has finally commenced.  Obsidian has designed the layout. He and his son are helping with the benchwork.  They have been very helpful and I am very excited to finally see the beginnings of the "South Fork Railroad" after all the years looking at boxes.

Wow, All that stuff and you have to wait on track?

Originally Posted by spwills:

Which South Fork would this be? There's one here in PA made infamous by the nearby dam.

 

Nice work!

South Fork is a road in Hardy/Pendleton Counties WVA.  My mother and aunt grew up on a farm there, which remains in the family.  My aunt worked for the PRR in Baltimore, gave me my first train(still have), an American Flyer 3-rail PRR steam freight set,  when I was five yrs old. That was the beginning of my love for model railroading, and having fond memories of my aunt whom gave me each Christmas something for my train, I decided to name the layout "SOUTH FORK RAILROAD".

Love the story:

South Fork is a road in Hardy/Pendleton Counties WVA.  My mother and aunt grew up on a farm there, which remains in the family.  My aunt worked for the PRR in Baltimore, gave me my first train(still have), an American Flyer 3-rail PRR steam freight set,  when I was five yrs old. That was the beginning of my love for model railroading, and having fond memories of my aunt whom gave me each Christmas something for my train, I decided to name the layout "SOUTH FORK RAILROAD".

 

Peter

 

Started to make three main inclines leaving Grand Central Station.  Have received some Atlas track to make templates. Hopefully will receive my Atlas track order this month! Will start electrical panels etc soon.  Have received much help from Steve Horvath from Atlas and his company Montana Rail Power. Will meet with Steve next week at York to go over electrical plans and pick up equipment. Will be using Lionel Legacy, MTH DCS and conventional to run trains on the four mains.

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Per ATLAS at York TCA meet, I should be receiving my track order by mid November. I can't wait.  I need track to make sure my RRTRACK plan is accurate in cutting plywood for inclines etc.  Meantime, working on electrical areas, planning control panels, etc.  Need to order more plywood this week.   Hope to at least have track down to test prior to Christmas.

Installed three electrical panels, Sub panel, Main panel "A"' and Auxillary panel "B". Will place MTH TIU/AIUs on the three panels. Track roadbed "FLEXBED" by Hobby Inovations to be delivered week after Thanksgiving.  Hopefully my ATLAS track order will arrive soon so I can start laying track, construct inclines/declines and second level. Appreciate electrical guidance from Steve Horvath of MONTANA RAIL POWER & ATLAS O. Steve has been great to work with.  This is my first experience doing carpentry/electrical work. Learning a lot and having fun!

 

 

 

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Images (3)
  • image: Sub Panel   Will Add MTH TIU
  • image: Main Panel "A" Will add MTH AIU
  • image: Auxillary Panel "B" Will add MTH AIUs

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