With all of the main track in place I started work on the Doodlebug track which will run around the layout in a "U" shape with stops on both ends and an intermediate stop in Hoovertown.  I wanted a little vertical variety so I used the Woodland Scenics 2% included foam to raise the track level from "base" up by 1/2" actual inches which will be about 44" scale inches in HO.  I'll be using Tam Valley Depot's shuttle control to run the trolley.

Oh boy!  I get to work under the layout!

Do you know what is cooler than having your own scratch built structure on your layout? - Having a scratch built structure made by a good friend!  In my case it was my friend Scott Perry who is an excellent modeler and general wise-guy.

With the swing gate mechanically completed today I installed the two micro-switches to protect trains by killing track power when the gate is open.  I cut gaps in the track a foot from the gate on either side and then installed micro-switches on each side of the gate to kill track power to the approach track to the gate.  If the gate is opened even 1/8" on the side opposite the hinge it opens the circuit.  The micro-switch arms can be bent to be adjusted if things change over time.

This is the switch on the end opposite the hinge.

I've been working on my swing gate for my railroad and finally finished the track portion.  This finishes the series of blog posts.  If you would like to follow from the beginning below are the links to the posts going from the most recent to the oldest:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/16048

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/15182

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/15112

I've been putting off doing the trackwork on my swing gate because I've never done it before, but this weekend I bit the bullet and started the process.  Since all of my benchtop is 2" foam I have to add rigid supports for the track where it crosses the swing gate in order to insure proper track alignment.

Now that most of the track work is completed on the railroad I started adding feeders.  I've seen a number of methods of soldering the feeders with most of them soldering to the side of the rails.  I thought about trying to solder the feeders to the bottom of the rails before installing the track but it would have been too difficult.  I decided to solder the feeders to the bottom of the rails after installation and it isn't that difficult.  Here's what it looks like using this method (sorry about the fuzzy pictures - this was a rush photo shoot):

It isn't much to look at presently, but that will change!  You can only determine so much with still pictures, so I put my tripod in the middle of my layout room, attached my digital still camera (640 x 480 - ugh!) and made a little video about 2:45 long to give you an idea of the space.

The track team is rounding the curve by Buck & Loretta's place and it's going well......except for the local interference.  The foreman was stopped in his tracks by the sudden appearance of a local resident, Buck who gave him an earful!  It seems that Buck is none too happy about the railroad and construction near his "lovely" home.