Advice on a major decision updated (July 13 update)

Kris,  didn't build a jig but instead built many of the same size individual frames and then connected them all together. Once they are all connected the layout is very strong and doesn't have any give or rocking to it.  Wife actually joked if there is ever a tornado the safest place will be under the layout.

Mark, I belong to a few groups and we do have open houses all the time.  (not to the extent that Alex is having) and I already signed up to host one in August for my Friday night guys.  I kind of strive on deadlines if not I would probably be sitting around all summer watching old reruns of 80's tv shows.

Paul, thanks for the compliment and I am trying to get enough done that I can have the Tuesday night crew over in the fall.

Bryan...kickin butt and taking names...the ONLY way to build a railroad is to do it !!.....looking real good now youve a major league layout. **** the torpedoes full speed ahead !! john

Bryan, nice job. Making slow steady progress

Since I start back to the 11 hour a day grind teaching and coaching tomorrow I figured I would post an end of summer update on the progress of the layout.  When school let out at the end of May I had 2 pieces of benchwork framing done.  10 weeks later all benchwork is done, 2 subway lines running, 4 track mainline running, sidings and yard wired, elevated line cut out and hopefully will get installed over the next week or two, a couple of buildings built, and the roller coaster kit put together.  All in all not a bad summer of progress.  Time will be at a premium until Christmas Break but hopefully I can install and wire the elevated level and then start to work on different scenes/areas. 

I do want to thank everyone who has been following this thread and to others who have sent private messages of encouragement and accolades, I really appreciate it. 

On a side note I belong to a few train groups and one of them is a twice a month Friday night group.  We rotate who host and it is just a great time to talk trains and see the different layouts and progress that each of us are making.  It is very informal and guests are more than welcome to come, in fact we really enjoy new people.  With that said I am getting back into the rotation and hosting Friday August 26 at 7pm and if any of my fellow Northeast Ohio forum members want to stop by email me for details.

Looks great.

Major League Bryan.....

Bryan 

This looks absolutely amazing , every aspect is done so  meticulous. I tip my hat to you. 

Keep the progress photos coming 

Thanks, Alex 

Bryan, it's looking pretty good. Let me know the details about August 26th. Email me and let me know. Tom Jr. & Tom Sr.

Fantastic work!

Peter

Bryan,

You have done a lot this summer! It really looks great!

Great workmanship. Awesome details.

Bryan, you made me tired. You got a lot done during the summer before the grind of school started again. I am going to keep the 26th opened for a visit to you. I'll try to catch up to you while you are working. By the way in the one pic that prison sure looks good. Keep on tracking...........Paul

Nice job Bryan. Understand progress will slow down but keep us informed. 

Thanks guys your compliments mean a lot especially from some of you that have more ability than I could ever imagine. 

Tom- email sent about the 26th

Paul- Can't wait to see you glad you can make it.

It looks awesome Bryan, great work.

Fantastic progress, Bryan.  I also did a mad dash building benchwork and laying 300' of track, starting back in Sept. 2015.  Admittedly, I've now been sitting back and running trains rather than jamming 12 hours of work into an evening.   All in good time.

Bruce

Bryan,

Great Job! You could have titled this "What I did on my summer vacation!" I agree with John P - you're moving into the big leagues now.

Can't wait to see it in person.

Andrew

What a great night, I had my first true unveiling to my old and new train friends tonight of the new layout.  Nothing but positive thoughts and encouragement, it really made the last 9 months of hard work worth it and it will give me that extra motivation to keep adding more to the layout.  Despite all the different opinions on a wide range of topics where we all don't agree I think we can honestly say that the friends we make in this hobby are some of the nicest friends you will ever have.  I was fortunate enough to make some more tonight.  All told I think close to 45 people came through and I couldn't have done it without a great wife who spent the last couple of days getting the food ready and making sure everything went off without a hitch on that end.  As we move into fall I hope to get the elevated line up and running, wire some more switches, and work on the hillside/baseball field area.  With that said here is the official "end of my summer work" pictures. 

As Hannibal Smith says I love it when a plan comes together and yours has. What a difference  from when I saw the layout at the beginning of summer. Goes to show if you do your homework first (no pun intended) everything falls into place. At the rate you have worked to get the layout to where it is by the end of next summer you will be ready to show off one impressive layout. Great job Bryan and if you noticed at the end of the night I did not take my Z4000 home with me LOL.............Paul

Bryan..good time at your hse last night made some new friends. Great work on the new and improved layout.and lastly a big thanks to your wife for all the nice food !  conrail john

Hi Brian!

What city do you live in in North East Ohio?

I am in Berea by BW college.

Great looking layout!

I started in O gauge a few years back and no where near as far along as you are.

Great work and thanks for sharing!

Wayne

Bryan:  Thank you SO much for the invitation.  It was great to see your layout and even nicer to meet you and some other OGRR members.

Can't wait to do it again.

-Tony

Would you sell (or trade) the Tri Rail cars pictured on your layout? I have been looking for some for years.

Paul & John:  thanks for coming by and seeing the new beginning.  Hopefully I can keep making progress and have it better each time I host.

Wayne:  I am in Willoughby Hills in Lake County.  Thanks for the compliments and the next time I host you are more than welcome to join.  Send me an email and I will add you to the list.  I belong to a Tuesday night group as well and will probably host sometime in October with those guys.  My email is in my profile.

Tony:  Great meeting you also and I let you know when the Friday guys get together again.  As you can see meetings are very laid back and just a great way to meet new people that have the same passion.

Nick:  Sorry but there is no way I will ever sell or trade the Tri Rail cars, they were a gift from my wife for my 40th birthday 2 years back.  She heard how I always said some those were the nicest cars when I saw them in real life in Ft Lauderdale.  When I found them online she said go for it and I will make it your birthday present.  I know they are hard to find.  I have seen other bombardier road names but the Tri Rails are the most difficult to find in my opinion.   

Bryan my son and I had nice time. when are you going to have another open house. we would like to come also where do you go on tuesdays  my son and I would like to come also, email me and let us know.    Tom SR. 

Hi Brian!

Thanks for getting back to me.

I use to go to Stewart's hobby shop every now and then when I raced 1/32 slot cars with the guys I race with out that way. A good friend of mine lives in Concord out there.

Do you guys have a club that meets on Tuesday nights?

You have peaked my interest?

Thank you for the invite and I will pop an email over to you with my info.

I have been collecting post war lionel mainly but I am putting together a polar express currently also for my kids. I have enjoyed following your progress on your layout and look forward to future posts!

Wayne

Nicely done Bryan

Bryan,

Great job on the layout and the event! For those who never saw Bryan's previous layout in the "back room" you really can't appreciate the amount of work involved to get the old layout down and cleared out and then move on to a new larger layout. Bryan really took advantage of his time off.

I agree that getting together with friends adds to the enjoyment of the hobby.

Andrew

Andrew,

Thanks for the kind words and even more for introducing me to all of these guys in the area. 

Very impressive!! Looking forward to more updates. 

Hi Bryan,

 I missed this last update, the layout is really taking shape and looking great. I'm enjoying the updates as progress is being made.

Thanks, Alex

Great progress Bryan. I know you'll be slowing down a bit with school, but I think the "heavy lifting" is over. Looks like a fun layout, nice work.

Andy

Another great night with lots of compliments and friendship from my Tuesday Night Train Crew.  Now that all my groups (OTTS, Tuesday Night Train Crew, and NMRA Div 5) have seen the summer progress of the new layout time to take it down and start over.  (JUST KIDDING) Actually now I can park the trains in one area and start the elevated track line. 

Bryan 

looked like a great night. !! 

The layout looks great !! 

Thanks, Alex 

Bryan, great Tuesday night at your place. You impressed everyone there. Got so much done in such a short time. Everything ran so good. You did a great job and no gremlins...........Outstanding........Paul

Someone else in northern Ohio it looks like. Though we are on opposite ends of the state. I like the direction you are going with your layout. Good Progress, a lot better then mine going on two years and still don't have all the wiring done.

I know its been awhile since I did an update but that's because I don't get a lot of time during the winter to work on the layout with all the coaching that I do after work and on weekends.  Some of the highlights that I have done to the layout besides buy more stuff and just sit it on the layout include:  building shelves to display trains, finished a skirting project to hide all the boxes and materials that are under the layout, and today I got the first 20 feet of elevated line cut and put on the layout.  I should be able to update a little more regularly over the next few weeks as I have finished all my house and rental property projects so I have some huge chunks of free time to really get this going again. 

Looks great Bryan!!  I like the neat looking shelves on the wall too.

Well Bryan, it is about time you quite dragging your behind and started finishing that upper line. I mean 6 years of those bridges going no where. LOL. Of course I am kidding. You have gotten a lot done. It is looking good........Paul

Excellent work, Bryan....as usual!

Hope to catch up with you and your crew again....soon.