Hello,

I first started my Ontario South Central Blog 6 years ago (if you can believe) when i constructed my layout in the main room of our condo in Toronto with the premise of building a small switching layout and blending it with mine and my partner's common area living arrangements. Also, the layout was constructed with the thought of moving it with ease, even torn down and set up in a morning for operation or viewing elsewhere. So real estate or impedance on our living arrangement was not an issue. Upon moving the layout, I literally could carry one 6' section in one hand and the other 3' in the other in one trip down the elevator. The layout's light weight construction was the use of foamular framed by 1'' x 2''s. A few of the taller buildings removed for transit. 

I am now in my third location with the OSCR with an additional 4 feet added.

Here is the full layout at a glance: [attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/OSCR/whole%20layout.jpg]

And interchange/staging/switch lead:

[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/OSCR/staging.jpg]Recording studio workstation is round the corner at right hence the microphone. Work station below.

Since the Condo, I gained an extra 4' along the wall and extended my IKEA 'GORM' shelving that the layout securely rests on with a few more shelves and an extra upright I purchased initially for the first part of the layout.  The GORM shelving was suggested by generous and knowledgeable readers/writers up here on MRH.

Here is the expansion. It's a bigger Industrial complex I call 'Northern Silicates'. Loosely based on 'National Silicates' in Mimico, Toronto, Canada. I chose this particular industry as it receives both covered hoppers and tank cars of delivery. I blew out another industry that received tank cars so I was able to have use for them. So here is Northern Silicates roughed in.. Scratch built without much detailing for now. I may get around to purchasing a Walthers cement kit to work into it. Also the industry in front is not present as of yet but will soon have tank loading racks and an office building. The parking lot at right for the pub is roughed in experimenting with photo roadways a la Lance Mindheim design. 

[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/OSCR/Northern%20Silicates.jpg]

So just a wee update. Lots of work to do for such a small layout.

Here are a couple more cel phone shots that hone more into a scene:

My first and only DCC locomotive. Loaned from G&W 'South Carolina Central'. Mock up photo building again a la Lance Mindheim.

[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/OSCR/5032%20on%20resurrected%20backtrack.jpg]

View down Station Rd under construction. Backdrop mock up too.[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/OSCR/station%20road.jpg]

I hope you enjoy as much as I have been building the layout and sharing it with you.

Happy Railroading,
Brad