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Hi Darren,

I think I'm done playing around with a plan. I followed your design basically with the trestle section, a little closer. Decided not to have most of the lower loop hidden and will probably follow your lead with a trestle at the lower outside. I also realized I can get by with a 30” turntable rather than a 34” saving a little space. For the most part the plan is a guide for benchwork and I'll certainly adjust as I go along. All I need is the nerve to tear down my existing layout! Since I’m really in no hurry, I may build a study model before I proceed with demolition. 

Thanks again for the renewed inspiration!

Joe
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Not sure why the image doesn't show up.

Yes it is walk through and a little tight. It would be a minimum of 18" but I'd like to get it to a minimum of 24"-30". I have a little room to play with to open up that area if I shift to the right. Right now I have a 12" wide walk through for 2' on my existing layout. It's tight and awkward but doable. I'd rather have a tight squeeze than a duck under!

I've been diligently working on the layout and wanted to post some pics and hopefully (If it works) a link to the youtube video I made, I'm crossing my fingers!

I decided to make "to-do" list after "to-do" list, in order to keep myself organized and get things done, though they may be small details like flattening out the roundhouse roof, or making rock molds, or even cleaning up a bit around the layout, it is all adding up.

https://youtu.be/aH96vjD8r4Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

If neither of the links work, its titled "The Caruso Family O Scale Train Layout Part 2"

Darren

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Hey Darren,

The layout is looking awesome. The rock molds look great! I've been looking forward to the update. It's really coming along. I watched the video 3 times taking in all the details. You have a nice space to work with having a number of nice viewing areas. Next to a having a nice size engine facility, a curved trestle adds a lot of drama and excitement. Like I said before, the long run really makes the layout seem larger. Once you have scenery hiding the hidden trackage the railroad will seem even larger.

Thanks for the pictures and the video, keep up the good work and enjoy! 

Joe

Hey Darren,

Hope all is well. How's the layout coming?

I was wondering if you ever tried running your individual trains as a lashup keeping each a considerable distance apart but controlling as one. When I mentioned it a few months back I kept thinking about trying it myself. I  finally did last night, 4 trains about 5 feet apart. They eventually caught up to each other after a few laps. In theory it should work, but it's not like you can set it and forget it.

Joe

Darren Caruso posted:

I've been diligently working on the layout and wanted to post some pics and hopefully (If it works) a link to the youtube video I made, I'm crossing my fingers!

I decided to make "to-do" list after "to-do" list, in order to keep myself organized and get things done, though they may be small details like flattening out the roundhouse roof, or making rock molds, or even cleaning up a bit around the layout, it is all adding up.

https://youtu.be/aH96vjD8r4Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

If neither of the links work, its titled "The Caruso Family O Scale Train Layout Part 2"

Darren

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Darren, great pictures of your layout and wonderful video! Thanks for sharing. I was wondering how big your room is ? I really love how you made it so you can go from different levels! Wonderful job! Please keep posting!

First, thank you all for the wonderful comments, unfortunately the layout progress has slowed to a crawl.  We are short three people at work, which means a lot of extra work!   Great for the bank account but not so much for free time, especially for the layout.  I have been planning somewhat of an expansion in order to create a more pleasing viewing and running experience.  It probably will not get started until spring time.

Joe - I haven't got to try the lash-up, barely got to run the trains at all, but I have made a few purchases that will enhance the layout.

Dave - There is actually an access panel under the layout, big enough that you can crawl into if needed.  There is a 2' x 8' space behind the wall which houses a water shut off.  When I finished the basement I decided to make it one straight section to make things easier on myself.

Mike - The train room area is roughly 28' long by 13-15' depending on where your standing.  The new plan is to make it an "L" shaped layout with a 28' x 28' dimension.  I'm in the beginning stages of working the plans out with SCARM.

Again, thank you all, I will post pictures once I have a plan that I'm satisfied with and I start demolition/remodel.

Darren

Darren,

Sorry to hear you're putting more hours into work than the layout, but like you said at least the bank account is benefiting. I guess the lack of free time has slowed you down enough to rethink the layout. With such a great layout already in the works, I hope it will be more of a renovation than a demolition. I know what ever you come up with is going to be awesome!

Best of luck. Looking forward to the next stage!

Joe

After deciding to part ways, somewhat, with my pool table (I dis-assembled it and have it stored away in our storage room), I'm "All in" on the layout, with literally no obstacles but the norm ($ and time), I got started.  I wish I could have started sooner, but the delays actually helped to solidify the ideas in my head.  It gave me time to accomplish my plans:  More pleasurable viewing space, easier access to almost all areas of the layout, room for everything I wanted to place on the layout, and lastly, an expanded yard area, with the capability to actually store trains.

I've been working on the layout, with the help of my wife (I know I am blessed, to say the least!) and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took to show you all the progress that has been made.  After looking at these pictures myself I can finally see the plans starting to come together.

Enjoy,

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Darren, I'm liking what I see!  That is a much better use of space than a pool table!   So you are coming off the around the walls area into a wider area with a long peninsula with an upper level way up high forming a view block for the other side!  Great!  Your L-girder looks well done, with ample holes for wiring, and a level upper level!  Are there going to be sceniced areas under part of the upper level, or will it be more of a mountain with trains up top?  You have a great wife and great kids as well!  The Penguins jersey tops off the room for sure!  I'm glad to see such great progress in my neighboring county!!!  I am really looking forward to seeing more progress as you get it done. 

I hope to be working on my layout after the leaves are all cleaned up, but wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't happen until right after Christmas!

Thank you all for the kind words!  I have until December 8th to work on the layout as much as I can, work will get crazy again from that date until January 2nd.  I need some additional materials before I can begin trackwork again, but I have enough other work to do, that I will not be slowed down.  

To give you some idea of what things will look like in the future:  The yard area will move to the upper peninsula with the "yard" extending down to the corner of the room.  The former yard area will now be the location of the city scene.  Below the new yard, to the right, near the pool sticks (They too are being put away) will be the location of the mine scene, and the area where I started work on the rock wall, you will see a section that is lower than the lower level track.  This area will house the power plant and office.  I am going to leave room on the upper level, in the corner, for an industrial section that would be comprised of building flats/shadow boxes, etc.

Mark - sorry, but the Penguins jersey and pictures also are coming down.  I am going to relocate them to another room in the house.  I want to put train related pictures in the room, and begin work on another recessed train shelf ( You can never have too much room to store the trains you "had" to buy, lol!)

Seacoast - If I ever get the layout to a point where I am considered for a OGR magazine article I would consider it an honor.

Darren

Darren, that is one great addition! agree with everyone else! What a great wife and kids you have to help you along the trip! It sure looks like your going to have an amazing layout when your are done! But then again they are never really done! Keep up the great work and please keep posting!

I thought I would post a few pictures showing some progress.  I underestimated the required materials and had to make a few runs to the depot, which delayed things a bit.  Almost done with the cork roadbed on the mainline, hoping to get started laying track this week!

I had a friend join me last night, thank goodness he's not camera shy, LOL!

Darren

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Last edited by Darren Caruso
Seacoast posted:

Well done a large addition. I’m smelling an OGR magazine article.

Any time Darren is ready. I'm easy to get hold of and am almost always here. Keep in mind that a layout--his or any other--does not have to be "finished" before an article can be prepared. Almost no layout is truly ever finished, so it's perfectly fine to submit photos of what has been accomplished or to write a how-to article describing some interesting approach used in building the layout or part of it.

Darren, Looks like great progress to me!  Very smooth looking roadbed for smooth track laying!  Mr. Cat found a happy perch to survey the goings-on!  Wait until a train is highballing his way though!!  

Allan, I think I like a layout article best when there is something sceniced and something still obviously under construction.  I know I like that when I visit a layout too.  Often I am caught looking under the table top to see how the builder did something.  Thinking towards sharing construction for Forum members is a first step for me.  I need to get my photographs in general in some kind of order just for showing here, much less an article.

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