Benchwork - Roadbed

Los Angeles, Pasadena & Cucamonga RR (HO Scale)

Hi all,

 

The new layout is officially underway. Following the design of a bigger layout for a future space, and using TOMA concepts I designed a layout for my current space which includes some key modules from the future layout along with some very few disposable modules.

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-EVOLUTION IN PICS PART VI

Since my last post I had glued hydrocal rock castings to the mountains on the newer section and colored them after having glued the tunnel portals and retaining walls in place. The next set of photos shows the progress.

This is the newest section I mentioned in a previous post with the mountains and portals in place.

Building Oakridge: A Constrction Journal

Follow along over the next few weeks as construction of Oakridge progresses on the Union Pacific Cascade Subdivison.

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-EVOLUTION IN PICS PART V

Now that I have gone over most of the build for my layout up to present day (I will take pics of the newest table with the mountains and rock faces in place and post them soon), I thought I would show some of the details I have been working on like tunnel portals, bridges and structures. Since I didn't take any before pics of the portals or bridges before I painted/weathered them, I found pics online of what they look like out of the box.

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-EVOLUTION IN PICS PART IV

After fixing my problem with getting my locos up a 2% + grade (it was never consistent for the entire run) I then saw another aspect of my original plan that I never really loved. At that point I had my loco run up hill about 4 inches over the course of 8-10 feet or so but coming back down hill was done inside another tunnel on the opposite end of the layout in about 3 feet. Needless to say it was a steep hill downward though a few tests showed that locos would not fly off the track or even move that much faster so it was doable but I didn't love it.

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-EVOLUTION IN PICS PART III

Due to the nature of my job I was unexpectedly out of work from last Christmas until te beginning of May which presented a wonderful opportunity to fill the cold winter days by working on my layout uninterrupted. In that time I feel like I achieved quite a lot on the layout construction itself as well as building structures and whatnot. Like most railroad modelers, I tend to get "on a track" of maybe wiring for a while then when I get bored I shift gears and build a structure or two or maybe work on scenery.

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-EVOLUTION IN PICS

As promised I am including some pics showing the evolution of my railroad over the last 3+ years. As stated previously, this is really two layouts in one with a DC elec loco layout and a DCC steam and diesel layout.

original benchwork and layout dimensions

A New Beginning, Chapter 4

Almost done with the backdrop but first I had to finish running the bus wire. I had run out of 16 gauge and the hobby shop only had 14 gauge but that's okay. They will work just fine. Bus wire attached.

Blue sky backdrop almost done. All three corners are coved. Screw heads will be painted over.

Alpine Railroad in NJ

I have been building an Alpine scene railroad in DCC and DC over the last few years in Z scale and have been inspired by other great blogs to start my own and record my progress/trials/tribulatons. I have learned so much from other member's comments in other blogs and I am hoping my story will help others and I may be lcky enough to have some of my questions answered my my hurtles overcome.


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