Well they asked and I guess I will step up. MRH asked for articles on small layouts and I guess my 31.5 square foot switching layout qualifies as that. So I sent a message to MRH and got back an affirmative response. This will give em some incentive to get cracking on the railroad. And besides that, its getting towards summer here in Florida which means it'll be too bloody hot to be outside during the daytime. Directly the opposite of you guys up north where you want to be outside in the summer.

I have not made a lot of progress on the railroad of late but did get some additional brick work laid this weekend. Very delicate trying to fit the bricks between the rails in turnouts but with some patience and a very sharp xacto blade it eventually comes together.

Progress is slow on the railroad but only because I am really taking my time wanting to do this right. So far about 2 feet of track buried in the street. Brick pavers in the middle and on either side with 12' wide vehicle lanes. So far I am pleased with the look.

Okay guys you will have to use your imagination a bit with this picture. Its part photo and part clip art.

Hello all. I have been away from MRH much too long and away from my layout much too long. But life has been busy lately. 

I have been giving a great deal of thought to how I am going to do convincing tracks in the street on the switching layout and after much doodling and drawing I think I have finally come to a plan. I have attached a drawing I think will explain it better than my words.

This long weekend I finished setting down the sub roadbed and making sure everything was glued down securely. Next step, drywall compound laid in the cracks between the pieces and all of the screw heads. Get that sanded so everything is perfectly smooth and flat as a piece of glass. Then dark brown paint on the entire length. Once that dries, its time to start drawing the track plan and laying track.

I did give some thought to actually hand-laying the track, but that thought lasted about 3 seconds! :-) 

Well this will work. Just use your imagination as you view the short video. Imagine the road surface is asphalt with plenty of potholes and broken pavement. The hole in the street will look just like a typical pothole. It it works great!

This weekend I hope to build a sample of how I want to operate the turnouts on the new C&E. Here is what I have in mind.

The first step in getting the updated C&E built is done. The benchwork has been reconstructed with some seriously large carriage bolts. Guaranteed not to move until I am ready to move. Bus wire is run from one end to the other. Black in back makes it easy to not get them confused. The subroadbed follows next them we can really get serious.

Well in the process of moving, the railroad sort of got mangled. Which is okay because I planned on pulling it all up and rebuilding to the plans that I have shared in recent weeks. So track is up, subroadbed is in the trash. That will be replaced by something else that I haven't quite decided on yet. But the process will be slow and carefully done as this is the last model railroad I want to build. Famous last words, right?