Hidden Pass Junction RR < >

Incredible imagination and workmanship, Alex.

After viewing all 8 pages, I can say that you guys will never see any pictures of my layout....I would be embarrassed for you to see how little skill I have. Fortunately my 3 year old grandson won't care.

I love the tiered look and I hope to copy it as well as I can....once I get my room built in the attic. :-(   It's just too hot to work up there this summer.

Hi Alex such a beautiful video, I've been waiting for you to post a great video going

around your layout. That was a great ride, I watched it twice and will watch it again

tomorrow morning. Thanks very much, Alex

Leandro, Bill Alex -

Thanks for your comments!

Bill - That is a great picture of your grandson - he is welcome to 'engineer' my trains anytime!

Alex - Funny thing is that immediately after I posted the video and watched it on YouTube, I noticed several areas that I had intended to finish (scenery wise) before taking the video, but forgot. I had watched the video many times, but overlooked those details.

Sort of similar to proofreading what we write; we can read over our own mistakes time and again and not detect them until we 'publish' the piece. Oh well, it took me only a day to finish those areas, so they will be ready for the next video, on which I am working right now.

THANKS!

Alex

Somewhere in this thread someone mentioned oiling a switch motor with light oil.  I don't think that is a good idea.  The only thing I can recommend for lubing stuff is 5W-20/30 motor oil  It will never dry out and become gummy like most other lubes do.  3 in 1 oil, most greases, Lionel Lube, etc., all dry out and become hard or gummy.

Alex, fabulous workmanship on that layout.  Loved the tour!  The INSIDES of those tunnels are neater than my office!!!    Seriously... I don't think I've seen the inside/underneath of a layout look so neat.  It's gotta be a joy to work on if you ever need to debug anything.  Definitely an inspiration for us all.

Thanks again for sharing your talents!!!

David

David,

Thank you!

I added black foam core board to some of the tunnel insides if visible from the viewing areas so they wouldn’t look bad for pictures. I attempted to paint a couple to resemble a rock interior, but really did not spend a lot of time on those. Eventually, I plan to install Heiki rock foil that I have left over inside some of the more visible tunnels.

Other than that, the video shows part of the the 2x4 main frame and assorted 1x2,1x4, and 2x2 upper level support frame. The area under the layout is clear except for a couple of rows of boxes along a corner under Etieca Valley, so working under the layout as for wiring is very easy. Also, the lower level is 4-ft high, so the clearance from the floor to the bottom of the 2x4s is around 44 inches, and this helps a lot also.

Early on I made a small dolly/scooter to sit on and scoot around under the layout. I made  its height such that I have about an inch or two clearance between my head and the bottom of the 2x4s. The picture below (click to enlarge) shows the scooter and service cart, and where I stored them.

The comments, suggestions, ideas, and solutions to problems I read from the forumites most definitely are an inspiration to me!

THX!

Alex

Alex, I was watching Eric Siegel's latest video blog and found what may be the problem you had with your Legacy Signal at that tunnel entrance. I cant find the post you started on it for some reason, maybe you have already solved the problem, but I thought you would want to take a look.

Starts 9 minutes into the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X80bPgzmagA&feature=g-all-u

Great video Alex. Thanks for posting.Still laying my track on my layout but your posts and others have given me guidance. The 50 + sheets of quiet brace have worked out very well.

Dale H

Zett,

Yes, I solved it pretty much the same way as Eric showed. I ran a wire from the actual ground connection of the outlet, up to the layout and under the upper level for the length of track that was giving me problems; about 6-feet or so. I used insulated wire and it works fine.

A minor point about Eric's video: He said that the ground on the outlet runs to a ground rod. Actually, the ground terminal wire (usually bare wire) and the common terminal wire (white) of the outlet both run to the same bus bar in the electrical or circuit breaker panel, and on to ground. When I finished the basement – from scratch – (the 6th I have done and hopefully last one) I did all the wiring myself, as everything else, so I know that the outlets are properly wired.

To avoid removing the outlet plate and working on the outlet itself, some suggested using a three prong plug to connect the ground wire (ground plane is a misnomer) to ground. Others suggested the method Eric used; i.e., using the screw that holds the outlet plate as the conenction point since it screws into the outlet frame, which should be at ground potential. This last method is probably the best for anyone to use.

Dale,

I am glad your layout is coming along well and that you are doing well yourself! Looking for your progress reports too!

Thanks for the nice comments.

Alex

I think you may need these?

MTH Catenary Hardware Pack

And I think you need these...

RealTrax - MTH 8-Piece Catenary System

Hi, Jake!

As F.Smaritano mentioned, the ovehead electric cable/wire system used to supply electricity to the trains is called a Catenary. There have been several threads posted by contributors who have these on their layouts.

I would suggest you start a thread on the "3-rail, O-27 . . ." forum section and entitled it "Your experience using a catenary system as the actual power source." Ask how easy or difficult it is to install one.  I am sure that you will see many good answers.

Here is one on the subject:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d...400#3400749726000400

Good luck, and thank you for your P.S.

Alex

P.S. FWIW, the word catenary actually means the curve described by a cord when suspended from its ends.

Jake,

Regarding catenary hardware - If you want to know what is available 'new' and what is needed, you may call Jason /Jason's Train Shop at (814) 495-4329 and ask him those questions. You can tell him Alex suggested that you call him .

Also, I see that you posted your questions on another already on-going thread; this may or may not work. Don't be bashful about asking until you get the answers that you need.

Good luck!

Alex.

Friends, it has been a while since I updated my layout construction thread, but that does not mean I have not been working on it! I have been making progress on some scenery details to three corners of one portion of the layout. I also have a new Amtrak passenger train. 

The NW corner has a couple of houses next to a railroad grade crossing, the NE corners now has an archery range, and the SE corner is the venue for the superb ALARCO granary, which as many of you have already seen, I covered in it own thread.

Here are some pictures - (click to enlarge or click on the small pictures below for a really nice black background - new feature of the forum?)) 

Thank you for looking!

Alex

Alex,

Your layout is beautifully done. Please post more pictures and a track plan. Keep up the good work.

Lou

Absolutely amazing photos.  The scenery looks fantastic, keep the photos coming.

Alex....

I am becoming ashamed of my layout!!!  Your pictures of the progress are amazing....just beautiful.  By the way, got the piping you made for me installed last night.  I will post some pictures soon.

Thanks,

Alan

Alex such amazing beautiful scene's, and craftsmanship

I enjoy your photo's very much. Thanks, Alex

Lou, Chris, Alan, and Alex -

Thank you for your nice comments!

Lou, the track plan for my Hidden Pass Junction RR has proven to be more enjoyable than I had envisioned, and even I sometimes lose track of where the trains will be coming from and have to look at the diagram or at the control panel. The stairwell, which I thought was a big impediment, turned out to be a nice division between the two sections of the layout.

The Hidden Pass Mountain, as you can see below, is behind the stairwell, and is where the junction occurs for both the upper and lower levels of the two sides of the layout. Another feature that is not readily seen is that each of the two mains has a double reversing loop.

I have most of the scenery done for the lower level of Madera Heights, and one block section of buildings on its upper level is also done. Now I am ready to start ballasting the second level of Madera Heights, after which I will start on Villa de Rocas and Etieca Valley. Following that, I will continue working on the controls until I have full computer control. I have enough fun to last me for a good while.

Here are a few pictures of trains crossiing the Judy Jane Trestle.

And the yard just outside the subway shopping center.

Thank you for looking!

Alex

Thanks Alex, it is as beautiful as can be, and I am sure that it gives you many hours of operating enjoyment. 

Lou

Alex & Alan, Very nice job on the Silos!!!! tHEY REALLY LOOK GREAT on the curve.

Excellent Alex,

Looks great!

Alex once again I must say your layout is pristine

          JUST BEAUTIFUL

ALEX

Awefully quiet lately. You still recovering from the visit?

Alex,

I have 2 Questions, which I am hoping you can provide some fairly detailed answers to.

#1)  What type of wood (dimensions of wood) did you use for the foundations/ piers for your transition ramp from the upper to lower level?  Part II of that question is; how did you figure/ find the measurements you needed to determine your angle of elevation from the Starting Pier to Ending Pier?  And Part III; how did you cut the angle on each pier?

#2)  Did you build your curved trestle from scratch?  If so, what type of materials were used to build it?  I'm asking this question because, for my layout I would like to build a 4 foot long trestle with a straight section of 32 inches, and the remaining 16 inches having a curve that would line up with an O-72 radius.

James,

I am sorry I waited this long to answer your questions, and wonder if I am too late. I wrote an article for OGR Magazine, which appeared in Run 256 (April/May 2012). In those nine pages I described most of the details of construction. And yes, I designed it and built it from scratch.

And thank you all for your comments!

Alex

If you do not have the magazine or otherwise have any questions, please email me - I'll be glad to help you out any way I can.

Thx!

Alex

I have not updated my layout is this forum for a while, but that does not mean that I have not been working on it.

Here is a video to bring you up-to-date (same as posted in the 3-rail 0-27 . . . forum)

Enjoy!

Alex

Hello Alex. I recall that you chose to use QuietBrace for sub-roadbed noise reduction. How's that working out for you?

Alex,

Your layout is amazing.  I really love your trestle bridge.

Beautiful layout. The word has been used before but you are an amazing talent. I just marvel at your creations.

My wife and I recently were guests at Alex and Judy's.  His layout is beautiful and runs perfectly.  The quiet brace has worked as planned and greatly reduces the noise level.

Alan

Alex WOW the layout is looking WONDERFUL!! i REALLY liked therBNSF POWER and coal train. Very very nice indeed. Thanks for shating with us.

Boy Alex,

I cant get over how well your layout is coming out. Just superb and something to really admire.  I may have mentioned this before but I just love when the engine comes out of the tunnel and down the long  sweeping S  grade. Fantastic layout from a fantastic person.

Alex,

I watched the video last night on my big TV.  Really looks great.

-Ted

Stellar layout.The video was fun to watch too!

WONDERFUL! You make it all appear to be so easy....but I think we all know it's FAR from easy. You're doing a fantastic job and thanks for dedicating so much time to posting your pix and comments on the forum.

Be safe, be well.

Great Pictures as always Alex. I really enjoyed visiting with you and Judy with my "friend" a few weeks ago.

Hope all is well and please keep the pictures coming.

Hi Alex,

You really got a lot of scenery work done, and it really looks beautiful. Very well done

thanks for sharing, and you know I'm looking forward to seeing a video!!!

Alex