Since my last blog entry I have tweaked and tuned (and added guard rails to) the double cross-over until it seems to be happy.  I had trouble running steam through it - I think because of too tight flangeways - so I broke my rules and bought a diesel.  It's a sweet-running Atlas MP 15DC (n scale DCC).  I may convert to diesels permanently.  It is a lot more comfortable on my cross-over than the steamers and is very smooth in switching.

One spur to be added later.  Except for the crossover on servos,all turnouts are manual. Atlas #7 with Caboose Industries on the lower and ME#6 direct point throw on the upper.   I still have some track glitches to smooth out and wheel and coupler conversions and then perhaps some scenery.

March 2010 - The platform - recycled from my S scale layout.  Graphic on wall is panorama from S scale - not suitable for N scale.

Sept 2010 - lower level complete - 2% grade started

I have waited to post this until I knew the layout was going to work.  I have been workin gon it for about a year and today was the first full circuit of the track under loco power - forward and reverse

Well, I got my servos installed.  The first one took a couple hours  I had to learn the accessories functions of my NCE PowerCab as well as the servo features. I had never used accessories before. The fourth servo took about 15 minutes to install. The programming is straight-forward once you get through the first one.. 

I just started installing Tam Valley servos on my n-scale layout and had problems programming their addresses.  I sent an email to Tam Valley and had a quick reply that boiled down to "read the instructions."

If you have Google Earth enter Tehachapi Loop as a destination and you will see a beautiful photo of an 83 car train - I think container carriers - going around the loop.  It has already crossed over itself but the impression is still dramatic.  If you follow the tracks south to Mojave you get a good idea of what the route consists of. - no straight lines.

Great computer entertainment - and it's train related. 

If you don't have Google Earth I urge you to get it.  Incredible photo presentations of the planet we live on.

Art Armstrong

Some will laugh at this (I did) and some will not.

Joef - better check it first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umTTPFfiiY

Art

I just finished my Rock Island caboose and wanted to show a picture.  Material is styrene with commercial trucks, couplers, smoke jack, brake tank and valve.  The prototype was built on a re-cycled boxcar - hence the outside braces.  More prototype information is here

http://eid.mcor-nmra.org/PDFs/WigWag200612.pdf