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Peter the shelves will look great when the are holding all of your trains. I’m wondering if you have a display plan in your mind as you place them on display? Or as they come out they will go up? Just curious since my limited display walls are only segregated by prewar on one and postwar/MPC on another. Enjoy your next few days on your display journey.  

Sort of......basically, winging it.....I suspect I'll re-arrange when I'm done

Passenger trains on one wall.

Engines grouped together in a few areas.

Favorite PostWar and MPC/modern cars/sets  store of together.

Peter

More trains unboxed and set up on shelves......I suspect I'll re-arrange before I'm done....

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Stay tuned for the next installment.......this has been a blast!

It is so much fun to take these beauties out and think about where to put them......in the case of the Bradleys .....they were my Christmas present from 2020 and have never been out of their boxes before......

Peter

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Last edited by Putnam Division

One thing I didn't consider but I bet you have is how much are you going to pop onto shelves before the layout is built? I would not think to over populate the shelves if you are going to be swinging layout bits about. How is this going to play out Peter?

Dave....I already know that I can fill all the shelves, probably twice over.  I'm also using this as a time to thin out my collection and update my excel spreadsheet. I'm going to be selling stuff off that that I will not be using.....

In addition, I'm not putting my coal drag cars or juice train cars out....they'll be in ready boxes in the storeroom. I'm also going to thin out my PostWar sets by at least a 1/3.

It's time.....

Peter

Dave....I already know that I can fill all the shelves, probably twice over.  I'm also using this as a time to thin out my collection and update my excel spreadsheet. I'm going to be selling stuff off that that I will not be using.....

In addition, I'm not putting my coal drag cars or juice train cars out....they'll be in ready boxes in the storeroom. I'm also going to thin out my PostWar sets by at least a 1/3.

It's time.....

Peter

Just make sure you don't bonk anything when doing layout work. I'm sure you will be fine though. I know if it was me, you would be hearing stuff fall all over the place.

Well, in less than a week, I went from empty to nearly full. It's still a little chaotic, but that will improve with time to sort things out......

Some of my unit trains, like my coal train, my Juice train will be stored in "ready boxes" to take out and put away quickly......

Now, I am working to thin down the herd. The big pile is the stuff that I think I will sell.

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The pile to be sold......I have to go through it to be sure......

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You can see into the storage room here.....

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I think doing this and getting organized before the layout is being built is a fortuitous....

Have a great and safe weekend......and a thank you to all who have been following me on this journey....

Peter

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Getting all the trains out and inventorying them to see what you want to pass on to others is a good idea, Peter!  The walls look very impressive now.

Richie does have a point about sawdust, etc.  I kept my few trains in another while doing the heavy construction, but in an 11x11 room I couldn't do it any other way.  If I recall correctly, you have a good bit of room to maneuver between your shelves and planned layout.  Dust would still filter over, unless you had someone using a shop-vac to pick up everything as it is being cut.  Or....do you have a special sawing room, that will be sealed off from the layout room?  I know you thought of everything!!! 

@Richie C. posted:

Someone may have alluded to this before, but how will you keep the trains on the shelves from collecting sawdust or getting accidentally whacked by a 2 X 4 once layout construction begins ?   

Mianne Benchwork for the layout frame......

We'll just be careful when we cut the plywood sheets.....most will have minimal cuts.

Peter

Last edited by Putnam Division
@Mark Boyce posted:

Getting all the trains out and inventorying them to see what you want to pass on to others is a good idea, Peter!  The walls look very impressive now.

Richie does have a point about sawdust, etc.  I kept my few trains in another while doing the heavy construction, but in an 11x11 room I couldn't do it any other way.  If I recall correctly, you have a good bit of room to maneuver between your shelves and planned layout.  Dust would still filter over, unless you had someone using a shop-vac to pick up everything as it is being cut.  Or....do you have a special sawing room, that will be sealed off from the layout room?  I know you thought of everything!!! 

Mianne Benchwork.

We'll just be careful when we cut the plywood sheets.....most will have minimal cuts.

Peter

Still got stuff to go through......it's like Santa keeps coming.....

Peter

Peter how I know that feeling I have unpacked stuff for the first time that I bought 15 years ago and forgot I had. I just finished another room in my basement that gave me more room to put up more shelves and unpack more stuff. But unlike you I don’t plan on parting with any yet! You are doing a fabulous job and the displays are looking fantastic. Keep up the great work and progress.

@Mill City posted:

Love the shelving, looks great and very functional. I do wonder who has the pleasure of dusting...

Peter I have found away to keep the dust to a minimum I have two very large air filtering machines with HEPA filters that run 24/7 in my basement/train room/man cave and they do a great job of keeping the dust down. Still dust but not near that often.

Peter, your train room and shelves are beautiful, but I'm curious to know what you and others think of having railroad backdrops.

I'm a big fan of around the walls layouts with railroad backdrops. IMO, the backdrops enhance the scenery, especially if they blend in nicely with the scenery, thereby enhancing photos and videos of the layout.

Here is an example of a photo of my layout with a homemade backdrop in the background:

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The above photo or a similar one appeared in the Photo Albums section of CTT magazine about 2 years ago.

I believe it may be possible to have both: shelves and backdrops, with the backdrops a foot or two away from the walls.

What do you folks think?

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Peter,  You are better stocked than any O gauge train store.

Nice work there Arnold, I totally agree.  One of my favorite benchwork jobs used this around the wall mural from Backdrop Warehouse:

benchworkbenxchwork VThis was a N&W logging branch line.

The Virginia Creeper  along the Abingdon VA line.  The 40" high bench work with a 36"  tall mural and coved corners brings you totally unto the setting when you are standing in the aisle walking your train from town to town.  Very immersing.

Always try to get the backdrop installed before the bench work.  Otherwise it is a back breaking job.

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Last edited by Tom Tee

Peter, your train room and shelves are beautiful, but I'm curious to know what you and others think of having railroad backdrops.

I'm a big fan of around the walls layouts with railroad backdrops. IMO, the backdrops enhance the scenery, especially if they blend in nicely with the scenery, thereby enhancing photos and videos of the layout.

Here is an example of a photo of my layout with a homemade backdrop in the background:

The above photo or a similar one appeared in the Photo Albums section of CTT magazine about 2 years ago.

I believe it may be possible to have both: shelves and backdrops, with the backdrops a foot or two away from the walls.

What do you folks think?

Arnold......I love backdrops.....but I wanted the trains out more......if they are out, they will be run.....if they are packed away and a headache to take out, they'll stay packed up.

From the OGR article that I co-authored in Run 320; the area, with and without backdrops:

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It's all about your goals.......and mine is to have the trains out......ready and available.....on the layout, I will use large structures as "backdrops in place" and scenic blocks.....

Peter

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@WRW posted:

I’ve been following your impressive and most inspiring progress since 2019. I am curious though. How has the downstairs rebuild of the dining area turned out? Surely your bride is delighted to have that space back.

The overhaul of the vacated basement is part of the overall " 20+ yr old house refresh" plan.

I still have a lot of stuff down here and once the layout building is started, most of this stuff will disappear.

The basement is divided by a stairwell.

The plan is for new flooring and cabinets...... a floor to ceiling library wall with rolling ladder for my books.....wall mounting the TV.....a new couch and easy chairs.....and, a wet bar where the small bookcase and mirror are currently located (it's already plumbed). Whether the old dining room set stays or goes to auction is still up for grabs.....

I may bring my railroad history books back down here and just keep the model railroading books in the attic......

I suspect Fall of this year is when construction starts. We're in no rush.......maybe early 2023.....

Peter

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Update on the timeline.....

1. I will know this week when the Mianne Benchwork will be arriving......likely by the end of the month.

2. I acquired a layout-essential supply....pigtails for wiring.

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I will put an update this week after I talk with Tim. I have used the time to arrange the storeroom. I have also dropped two Pilot/SUV-sized loads of trains to Cabin Fever in PA. I have worked on my inventory list.

I have taken the delay in stride.....everything that I'm doing in the layout room is probably easier done without the chaos of a layout build going on......However, the gang in Midlothian (Richmond) are getting excited to help me put the benchwork up. It was March/April of 2011 when the modular group gang helped me put together the Mianne Benchwork for my 6x16 layout.....and they are looking forward to a rematch!

Peter

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@Apples55 posted:

Congrats, Peter… great news. Now you face a major quandary… as of this post, there are 8d. 14h. 59m. until spring York. If your benchwork arrives before you leave, do you start assembling the new layout???

P.S. is that a transfer table on your plan??? Lionel???

Paul......that is the circa 2000-05 PostWar Lionel 350 remake and the remake extension. They were on the old layout and worked flawlessly. However, I've done well selling trains I no longer run and am considering a Ross 27" five stop transfer table.

Here is a picture from the old layout.....

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Peter.

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@BradFish1 posted:

Peter,

  Great track plan! Whose track are you going to use?

Brad.....I'm using Ross...........the former layout main level was all Atlas......and, I loved it.......However, I'm not a fan of their switch machines and all mine were eventually replaced by D1000s. When you add supply chain issues and price, it was no question that Ross was the way to go for something this size......

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Hi Peter, I see that I have a bit of catching up to do, since I just discovered this thread. Many congrats on your retirement and amazing progress to re-imagine your layout and new space. About the only way to describe the new layout space is to quote Ned Beatty in "Rudy" when he entered Notre Dame Stadium "This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen".      LOL Congrats again on building an O gauge Field of Dreams.   

Mianne Benchwork has arrived (an addition to the pieces I already had from the old layout). It made its way to the attic and some preliminary work has been done.....

Post-York, I will be get modular group members together for a build session.....

4 boxes.....the small box has the motor for the lift bridge......

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Lift bridge supports.....

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.....more lift bridge components.....

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....and so, I can really get started, soon!

Peter

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Maybe a vertical support or two........but it will wait till a post-York building party!

I need nine (yes, 9, yikes!) 4x8 sheets of 1/2" plywood after that.....I'm hiring young guys to carry those up the stairs.....

Peter

Yes indeed you need young guys to haul that plywood upstairs!!

Have a great time at York!!  I will certainly miss seeing so many great folks like you!  I think that is the best part of York or any other meet or show; seeing great friends!

I am 6 weeks short of 69, and, I wish I could still do it!  

Peter

That's why I was so glad our new club was able to recruit a bunch of young guys this winter.  They took care of moving our modules up a flight of stairs that has a 90 degree bend in the middle plus a 90 degree bend at both the top and bottom.  At Christmas we had 4 retired guys including me and 2 guys in their 50s.

I should add they young guys brought in a lot of enthusiasm, new ideas, and the determination that we could accomplish more than we old guys thought we could.

NJCJOE that was a good gag, though!

Putnam Division, Peter, your new layout is so inspiring, from the remodeling of your New train room, from floor to ceiling, new shelving for your amazing train collection, to the real layout plan, and now the beginning of your Dream Layout, after a fun trip to York, it’s Awesome. Keep the pictures flowing as we learn from your organized workmanship. Have fun at York, I wish I could attend, maybe in October, just keep showing us your progress. You have it going on, Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

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