Dave, if anyone else but me knows how much this layout has changed, it is you! 😄. Thank you so much for your valuable input!
Merry Christmas to you and everyone!!! 🙏 🎄
Mark first A Very Merry Christmas and A Safe, Healthy, Happy New Year to you and your family. Now you are as bad as me keep changing the layout and it will never be finished but do like what you are doing keep up the great work.
Mark, I have to say you are moving right along! Things are looking great, and it looks like it will be a fun layout to run! I am in the same boat as you, but then again that is some of the fun of building a layout! LOL
Keep up the good work and I will keep watching!
Mark, the updates are looking great, keep it up. As far as positioning the top decking on the dowels, I may have a trick for that. In woodworking when you need to position something that’s not easy to measure or see, you can put some lipstick or other substance on the top of the dowel. Then carefully position the top decking and press down lightly. That will give you the exact position of the dowels on the underside of your decking. There is another method but it requires special metal pieces that create an indent in the decking. The lipstick trick (or other handy substance) has served me well over the years, and it’s very accurate.
Andy
Looking forward to the next set of pics!
Peter
I really like the improvements in the new plan. Sure, it's a pain to build it but you'll reap the benefits for years to come!
-Greg
Thank you, Rick, Mike, Andy, Peter, and Greg!
Andy, coating the tops of the dowels and placing the plywood on to transfer the color is a good idea to know where to drill!!
Yes it will be worth it once I get the supports, track, and wiring all in. I’m hoping recent experience helps cut down the time until trains are running again.
I haven’t had a chance to do anything since I cut the dowels a week ago. Two days and nights of 20 mph and more wind really drifted the snow in front of the garage door and my car sitting outside. Besides digging out and Christmas gatherings, I am finally replying. ☃️
@Mark Boyce Looking good on all the progress. Still need to read back through a few pages. lol
I've been MIA with all the buying/selling house dealings. Not to mention trying to line up a moving company. The good news - we close both house's on the 6th. We should be in the new place a couple of weeks after that. I'll try to get a couple pics of layout location options. It will be a while before a new layout is started.
So hopefully by the end of January I'll be back to checking and posting on a more regular timeframe.
Hope your doing well Mark and that the snow and rain are not causing to much of a problem. Here is another tip if you haven't already heard of it. For drilling the upper level holes for power drops I wait till have the track down and use a 1' long welding rod that I flattened tone end and then sharpened the sides to be like a small paddle bit.
I hope it helps you or someone else!
Thank you, RJ and Mike.
RJ, Congratulations on the house buying and selling. I hope all goes through smoothly! I'll look forward to seeing what space you have for a new layout!
Mike, After the cold blast over Christmas, we got warmer weather and rain, so the snow melted fairly quickly. No flooding here up on the ridge. Your paddle bit idea is great!
I got the first 4 supports in and a section of roadbed on top of them. I had some 1/2" shelves from the old kitchen cabinets my in-laws replaced 15 years ago. That wood is nice and solid for a roadbed, but leaves a lot of room underneath. Here are some views from the first section.
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Looks great Mark. Old solid hardwood never goes out of style.
I built my shop bench from some maple case work we removed from a lab in our Science Bldg years ago. They are going on 60 years old and are still solid as a rock. I have another set in my garage. 👍👍
Bob
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Thank you, Bob! Yes, the house was built in ‘68. My father-in-law hung some of the old cabinets on the garage walls. He had the refinishers move a floor unit similar to yours to a nook in the garage. We have been in this house for going on 12 years, and I had forgotten there were some leftover shelves leaning against the wall. I started moving things out of the way to see if I had anything left before I went out to buy. Bingo!!
@Mark Boyce Mark, I keep seeing the photos and try to imagine the perspective and what this will look like when all the track is assembled. Nice progress, keep up the good work. As it turns out TPRR2 will be about 12x12, about the size of Blackwater Canyon.
@RSJB18 Looking at your work bench - my new work area is literally a narrow space under the stairs. I've added shelving under the stairs and put shelves in between the wall studs to gain storage space. I have just enough space to work unless my belly continues its expansion. Slowly turning that around and going in the proper direction. Photo later of the space not my belly.
@RSJB18 posted:Looks great Mark. Old solid hardwood never goes out of style.
I built my shop bench from some maple case work we removed from a lab in our Science Bldg years ago. They are going on 60 years old and are still solid as a rock. I have another set in my garage. 👍👍
Bob
Great work bench! Yes the old cabinets are priceless...
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, RJ and Mike.
RJ, Congratulations on the house buying and selling. I hope all goes through smoothly! I'll look forward to seeing what space you have for a new layout!
Mike, After the cold blast over Christmas, we got warmer weather and rain, so the snow melted fairly quickly. No flooding here up on the ridge. Your paddle bit idea is great!
I got the first 4 supports in and a section of roadbed on top of them. I had some 1/2" shelves from the old kitchen cabinets my in-laws replaced 15 years ago. That wood is nice and solid for a roadbed, but leaves a lot of room underneath. Here are some views from the first section.
Fantastic progress Mark, great eye for detail and working in the z-axis. Gives you a lot of options which you have used to maximize your layout. Beautiful work for sure!
Morning Mark, it took me a couple times looking at your plan and photos of the room before I was able to grasp where you were standing and what section you were working on. But not wanting to give up I got it all figured out. Looks great and I look forward to seeing more!
Thank you, Jeff, John, Mike!
Jeff and Mike, I wish I could make a drawing or series of drawings to show what is in my mind. I tried that a few years ago, and quite frankly failed. I do not have the talent to do so. John is exactly right about working in the z-axis. I used to be able to draw items back in the pencil and T-square days, but those were relatively rectangular, not curved like this. I think I can build it faster than draw it. I hope to have something completed enough to be easier to see where I am going.
Thank you so much for hanging in there with me! 
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Jeff, John, Mike!
Jeff and Mike, I wish I could make a drawing or series of drawings to show what is in my mind. I tried that a few years ago, and quite frankly failed. I do not have the talent to do so. John is exactly right about working in the z-axis. I used to be able to draw items back in the pencil and T-square days, but those were relatively rectangular, not curved like this. I think I can build it faster than draw it. I hope to have something completed enough to be easier to see where I am going.
Thank you so much for hanging in there with me!
Hey Mark, don't rush it, we all know where you're going! It just takes a little to match up the layout drawings with the photos, maybe is you state where you are taking the photo from in relation to your plan drawing.
Either way I in for the long term!
Mark, the spare pieces of scrap you have can come in very handy when you need them most. That looks solid and will serve its purpose.
Bob, the maple casework is solid like you said. It will outlive us.
Andy
Thank you, Andy! Yes, and another thing about using this old wood is that I don’t feel so bad when I realize I cut something wrong. It isn’t like I just spent $50 for a sheet of plywood and now have to go buy another one because my wrong-cut pieces can’t be used for what I am doing! 😄
I was able to get some work done on the high line this week. All of the dowels are in and the roadbed is in place. This takes me to the corner that is in the lower left of the drawings. The track is just fitted together but not fastened down in any way.
This photograph shows the track in the foreground will start the ramp down. The rear track will be the level high route along the lefthand wall to the next corner.
Overall view of the bottom of the drawing.
On to the high line along the long wall.
Today I removed the next corner section of ramp. Only a handful of screws needed loosened. I only had to hunt for 2 screws that were hidden to get the corner section out. This section will be reworked and moved forward about 5 inches once the high line behind it is completed.
This photograph shows the space behind this curve that will be where the high line goes. I will be going with simple risers on each joist with cleats to attach to the roadbed and keep the roadbed level. Go back to the tried and true method. It will be easier.
I thought I would include a photograph of the 4' x 6' space I am working in. The blue rolling cart is butted up into a corner of the layout. Above it in the photograph is one leg of the layout marking a corner of my work space. I need the shop vac and most defiantly the rolling stool. The edge of the benchwork at the double track bridge is in the lower right. I have to keep things organized and sweep up debris often so I am not tracking through it.
Thank you for taking a look!!
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That’s a very impressive endeavor Mark. After seeing the plans it’s nice viewing the implementation of the reality. Your narrative is very interesting and insightful. Thanks for taking the additional time to post the information. You have given me things to consider.
Jay
Keep up the great work Mark. I got both my bridges install over the weekend so I am even starting to make some progress.
Thank you, Jay and Rick!
Jay, I am trying to be better documenting what I’m doing, after seeing how well some forum members do it. Your comment makes me feel like I am getting better at it! 😊
Rick, Congratulations on getting your two bridges installed! I still have to dress up the piers on mine after I get trains running on the high route and ramps.
You sure have packed some operating action into a small footprint Mark! Good stuff!!
It's coming along nicely! It's neat how you're able to pack so much action in a limited space without it looking like a "spaghetti" layout.
-Greg
Mark,
You have really been doing some serious work lately. I am very impressed on what you are doing in your space. It's turning out to look organized and well thought through. Always enjoy seeing your progress.
Dave
Mark, the changes look great! I can start to see what the finished product will look like. The layout feels bigger to me. What do you think?
Andy
You are making great progress Mark. Keeping the worksite neat gets you brownie points from the safety manager too! 
Hopefully trains are running soon.
Bob
Mark, Anytime you are adding grades to your layout, you have a lot of work to do. There is so much more to getting that stuff correct with the placement of risers and sub road bed. The reward will be seeing an engine run up or down is a smooth operation. Good looking job. Bill
Thank you, Bill, Greg, Dave, Andy, Bob, Bill!
Yes, it does seem like I am getting a lot packed in, and I am glad it doesn't look like the proverbial 'bowl of spaghetti'! I can't take all credit for packing so much in. I have had so many great suggestions I wouldn't have thought of from forum members! Thank you everyone who has contributed!!
I do dislike a messy workspace, though it is a bit of challenge in this small space. I think it is looking bigger as I add more features.
I do agree grades make for mare interesting train watching. I would rather my grades weren't 4%, but they really aren't as bad looking or running than I thought they could be.
Mark, sorry I haven't commented sooner, the last couple of days I haven't been up to doing much. You sure are making great progress! I like how everything is coming together nicely! I too like a clean work area and planned on vacuuming yesterday, but it stopped working! LOL
Mike, Thank you! I know how it goes after surgery, you don’t feel like doing much, even to the point I didn’t even feel like reading. If I had planned this high line from the beginning, I would have done it first. It is a bit awkward reaching over what is already done.
Here are some photographs I took yesterday of what I expressed in response to Mike’s comment. Yes, I have had to sit on the layout to get positioned to drill holes and put in screws to hold things together. That includes keeping things level.
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Looks good Mark! Just a heads up I did get sometime in the train room! LOL
Mark good progress. Keep on taking precautions to do this with minimal physical stress. It is going to be extremely satisfying and exciting to watch the progress; just don’t overdo it.
Mike glad to see that you found the train room. Hope that the progress on the knee continues.
Mark, reaching over what is already complete can be a challenge especially with a bad back and any instability. I’m with Bill, take your time it will be worth it.
Andy
Thank you, Mike, Bill, and Andy!
Mike, I’m glad you got to the train room. 👍🏻 Do you need physical therapy for your knee?
Yes, I have had to condition myself to be careful about movements that could aggravate my knee replacement or damaged sciatic nerve, not to mention my back.
I always appreciate someone reminding me, because you never know when I will forget. Truth be told, it may be that walking the 30-pound dog could be when I have to be most careful. I must seem like a ball and chain to him! 😄 I shave to watch I don’t trip with my drop foot! 😱
Mark……it looks great……I’m looking forward to seeing more progress. I especially enjoy your detailed comments because my mind does not work in 3 dimensions.
Peter
Thank you, Peter! I certainly don't visualize things in three dimensions either. I recall an old Kalmbach Publishing book on Scenery from the '60s that I still have but is well worn. The author, Bill McClanahan, wrote about 'imagineering'. He was a good artist and showed drawings of how he envisioned scenes, then photographs of the completed scene. I proved to myself that I could not do that! 
On to the latest. Last evening, I finished putting in all the risers and cleats for the roadbed. I did notice after taking photographs that one cleat slopes, so I will have to correct that. How it happened, I don't know. 
Here are some photographs.
It's funny the things you find when you take things apart. I have been looking for a red and black clamp for a couple years. Guess where I finally found it. Whoops!! I guess I will have to finish securing the last brace for the backdrop while I am here.
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Mark, I like the look that this is starting to create. The fix for the cleat should be simple enough. That’s very funny about the clamp, you rediscovered it! I’m with you and Peter, I don’t necessarily think in 3d. I research first, then I come up with what I want the scene to be (at least in my mind), then work from there. Some scenes come out better than others.
Andy
