I received in the mail the chimney John @Aegis21 3D printed for my Thomas WV Station. This is his photograph. What a nice job! Thank you, John!!!! I was waiting for the chimney to arrive to cut the hole in the roof for it and drill the holes for the snowbirds.
Thanks Mark,
Glad it made it in the mail in one piece. The printer does 95% of the work, so taking credit would be deceitful at best. Now if I asked for the pitch of the roof and added flashing to that chimney, then I could accept some credit. I appreciate all the great work you have done on your railroad, and have learned a lot from you and all on this forum. I am sure you will do a great job with that chimney.
John
Mark: Glad you are enjoying the picture looks great framed I did not think it would look that good again. ENJOY.
Thank you, John and Rick!
John, I would rather put a hole in the roof for a chimney than try to get the pitch right. I can't seem to get angles to look quite right even with an adjustable miter saw. 
Rick, my wife really likes the picture as well! Thank you.
Mark, enjoying following along with this project. I wondered if one of the things you might add is a staircase separated in the middle with a landing (like a vee shape). Was there a staircase in the prototype to provide access to the lower level for the railroad employees? Might provide some visual interest.
Andy
Andy, I’m not sure where you mean to put a staircase. There was one inside between floors and one to the basement on the prototype. I am not aware of anything exterior, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
I worked on an alteration to the removable platform for the station, but will wait until it is farther along to say anything more.
Mark, I was thinking on either side of the station as shown by the arrows.
Andy
Andy, Yes I see now. That is a good idea, for either of those locations. I'll keep that in mind as I move along.
Ever since I started making the upper level platform for the station, I have been bothered that the station wouldn't sit parallel to straight track like we normally see. The track at the end of the passing siding made an 'S' curve with a carlength of straight track in the middle. I got the idea of what would it look like if the siding extended across a double track truss bridge when I saw a forum member offer one for sale. I contacted him about possibly purchasing it. Since it is already built up he wanted to deliver it at York or have someone locally buy it. The trip to his house wouldn't have been out of the question except I still don't ride well with my sciatic pain. I finally told him that and to try to sell it to someone else. However, I had a couple GarGraves turnouts I didn't use on the layout. I was really happy that one of them would replace the section of flex track in front of the station. I cut about 3/16" off the one end of the switch and some tie ends off the other end for a good fit. So I have a straight siding now that dead ends at the bridge just as if a double track bridge was replaced with a single track bridge. I ran two test trains last evening without incident. Here is how it looks over head.
The section of Northeastern scribed sheathing will be trimmed a little narrower for the walkway with the to-be-built railing. Andy's staircase idea could be located anywhere along there. Then I will put more scribed sheet for the platform along the end and along the other side of the station. The platform and railing will be a mirror image of this.
Here are a couple more views.
As can be seen, I still need to put in some roadbed for the new track since it is in midair right now. I just wanted to mock it up to see how the concept would look.
I think it looks great Mark! Glad you had the extra switch on hand to help resolve that issue. The scribed sheathing adds a nice detail. This project is unique and adds a great scenic feature to your layout. Well done.
Andy
Looks good Mark. Would a single coach fit on that stub? Just parking a car in front of the station would look neat. Looks a little short but pictures can be deceiving.
Bob
That looks very impressive Mark. The detail is really nice and I like the uniqueness of the stone foundation showing.
Thank you Andy, Bob, Jay!
Yes how often do you have the right thing and the right size on hand? I think I’ve used my quota for the year at least! 😄
Bob, that’s a great idea. I was thinking of a boxcar. My 15” cars are a little long, but I have 2 oddball 12” cars. One fits with enough room to spare.
@Mark Boyce how about a ROW work car or caboose in the siding?
Jeff, a work car or caboose would look great too. Thank you. Switch them out for variety.
I laid out the platforms the last few days. I had to build up the station site with more lauan and styrene so the platform material would come up to rail height. The photographs show the results.
I extended the platform planks beyond the supports far enough to make some reasonable looking steel support and the railings. I had to make a split in the platform so the station module can be removed when necessary. It all could look better, but it doesn't look bad to me.
I think I will take a break from that and paint and install the chimney and snow birds to the station istelf.
FWIW, have you checked wheel and truck clearances and drivers from any steam engines?
@Mark Boyce posted:I laid out the platforms the last few days. I had to build up the station site with more lauan and styrene so the platform material would come up to rail height. The photographs show the results.
I extended the platform planks beyond the supports far enough to make some reasonable looking steel support and the railings. I had to make a split in the platform so the station module can be removed when necessary. It all could look better, but it doesn't look bad to me.
I think I will take a break from that and paint and install the chimney and snow birds to the station istelf.
Very nice, Mark!
Peter
Hey Mark, that's a really nice looking station. Nice job.
Tom
Thank you, Jay, Peter, and Tom.
Jay, good question. I ran my Premier Russian Decapod and a GP7 on the spur past the platform with no issues. The platform doesn't quite come up to the top of the rail. The station is far enough from the track for my longest cars (18" passenger) to not come close when taking the diverging track back to the main line. I'll keep checking others before I proceed further.
Not sure of the dimensions but, instead of a static display, I wonder if that would make a good location for the Lionel barrel loading/unloading platform ?
It looks fantastic Mark! Really coming together, very nice.
Andy
Thank you, Richie and Andy.
The barrel loading/unloading platform is 19" long. My straight track is 28" long, that is counting the track the station faces. You hit a good point about my layout. My areas of straight track that could accommodate those long accessories are where the bridges are and where the 4% grades are. I tried to fit in a siding for my coal ramp unloader or my log loader, but they don't fit unless I give up on the mountain scenery I want to include. I do have a sawmill and coal loader that would fit. If I had grandchildren, then I would have done things differently, so I am saving the accessories for when/if we have grandchildren.
Let's move to a different part of the layout. I mentioned up this page on April 24th that I have the opportunity to buy a built up Atlas double track truss bridge from another Forum member. That is what led me to put in the siding in front of the station to the single track bridge. Since I didn't think I could drive the 2-1/2 hours each way to pick it up, I finally told him to try to sell it to someone who could pick it up at York. Today, he contacted me that it is still available and he is willing to meet me half way for the delivery. I can do that, since it leaves time for plenty of stops to get out of the car. The question is how would it work out on the layout. Here are a couple angles to imagine how the double truss would look. I'm asking for opinions of issues I may face.
As far as operations go, I would like one longer siding to park a long train to get a shorter one around it. I could have the switch just at the end of the bridge and extend the upper loop a little longer. I forgot to take a photograph of that area. Any opinions on this change are welcome. Thank you.
Mark, do you mind posting a close up of the top of the transformer station, I picked one up at a local RC shop knowing it was broken but did not see the lighting insulators were completely missing (broken off) . That will help me decide what to do.
I have a few operating accessories but have sold off more. As much as I enjoyed them on my buddy's layout, I don't think they will fit in with my current layout. At some point maybe an homage to Lionel postwar, but with a separate layout.
The double track truss would look good, but how are you going to modify your trackage. Room seems to be at a premium. - Saw the note after the photos but still wondering.
Not sure what you might run into but a double track bridge is going to be awesome there.
Thank you Jeff and Bill.
Jeff, is this the view you are looking for?
I agree about the operating accessories, they don’t fit here either.
I agree with you both it would be neat. The switch that would be moved is 13-1/2” long. The straight section on the other side of the bridge is 5” long. That leaves 8-1/2” to move the upper loop back track. It would fit with little clearance, but overhang would be in the open window except one spot. I would actually have better clearance to reach the switch under the track. I am still thinking of moving the town to the upper level with a lift out section.
Incidentally, I have been painting the station chimney as well.
Mark, if you do decide to get that dbl track bridge, what r u going to do with the single track. IF u decide to sell it, maybe i can come up and take a look at it and maybe we can negotiate a new home for it - in Georgia. Just sayin.
Tom
Tom, yes I would sell it. I thought of replacing the lower bridge with it, but it is too long and I need some variety anyway. I’ll let you know. Thank you!
Mark,
Your station looks really great! Nice work. The layout is really starting to come alive. I think the double track bridge would look great in that spot if you decide to go that route. Keep it up!
By the way, I think @ScoutingDad might have been referring to the model of the power sub station you have below your bridge, but I could be wrong.
Michael
Thank you Michael! Yes, that is probably what Jeff was referring to. Jeff, Sorry for another senior moment. 
Here is an earlier photograph I took.
I mocked up some 054 track so I could see if I would have enough clearance at the wall if I extended the straight track coming off the bridge by using the switch mentioned above. I had to clamp things down, but it looks like it would work giving me as much clearance as I have in the curves on the adjacent wall.
Mark - with the elevated track best look into a grounding wire along side or foil under the track to stop the TMCC/Legacy signal from interacting with the base level signal. You will know if you have issues if a loco on the base level track stops and the front light starts blinking.
The wire or foil can be covered with ballast or scenery w/o affecting its performance.
Joe
Thank you, Joe. I have mostly MTH engines, but do have a couple of Legacy ones. I have noticed sometimes one of them stalls going under the overpass by the new station. At first I thought it was something else, then realized it is probably the issue you mentioned. I just haven't done anything about it there yet, and will certainly have the issue if I close in the track that is now up on piers.
I really like that Transformer Station. I think I'm going to go to my trackplan and see if I have some space for one!!
@Mark Boyce posted:I mocked up some 054 track so I could see if I would have enough clearance at the wall if I extended the straight track coming off the bridge by using the switch mentioned above. I had to clamp things down, but it looks like it would work giving me as much clearance as I have in the curves on the adjacent wall.
So much for track plans......😂😂😂🤣
I'm all in Mark!
" Another 10 pack of track for me and the boys"
Bob
Thank you, Bill and Bob!
Bill, the substation should fit somewhere. The control house is on a separate base, so you can move it to fit.
Bob, I would only need a couple straight sections. The track plan for that curve was different than how it is now anyway. 😄
Mark, a layout is ever evolving, and we face the task of solving a puzzle of sorts. I think your plan will work. To that end I have some flex or possibly some straight sections that I do not/will not use. I can send them to you so you don’t need to travel. I’ll get back to you later today.
On another note, where did you get the power sub station? Is that from Woodland Scenics? That would be perfect next to my sub station building on the layout.
Andy
Thank you, Andy!!
I have left the mock up sit for a couple days, looking at it from every angle, taking measurements, and just pondering the concept. I sent a PM back to the forum member who has the double track bridge, but haven't heard back from him.
Thank you for the offer on the track. I'll have to take inventory myself.
Yes, the power substation is a built-up Woodland Scenics product. I haven't changed anything on it yet, but having worked most of the first half of my 43 years in electronics in substations I have a couple things to change. I know too much for my own good of how an old substation should look. It is a very well done model. Last summer I tried to build the Walthers' HO substation. It is a nice kit, but it told me why I stopped modeling in HO. 
The parts are so small, and many have no tabs for physical connection, that even with fast acting CA, I couldn't keep things straight. I can use it for a background forced perspective model, such as it is.
One forum member wrote me an email about raising the town up to the level of the upper track and some ideas of what to do with scenery for the lower tracks. His ideas are good, and it wasn't the first time the idea was brought to my attention. Initially, I had wanted a town on the mountain on the other side of the high bridge, and a town in the valley on this side of the low bridge, separating the two in my imagination. With the twice around, over and under track plan, there will always be a place that is tough to scenic. Such are the issues of building an O gauge layout in an 11 x 11 room.
Mark we really like the idea of the double track bridge and the fact that it fits the available space.
Steve Nelson showed us how bridges can add a lot of additional action by going up. It appears that you are well on the way.
Mark,
I have 5 pieces of 3’ flex track and 2 pieces of 29” straight track. Let me know and I’ll send them your way.
Andy
Thank you, Bill and Andy!
Bill, It is funny, our younger daughter and son-in-law think the lift up bridges are the most interesting and impressive thing on the layout!
Andy, I will send you a private message. Thank you!
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