There has been work in a number of areas since the last post. First, a review of the schematic with the locations:
And now each of the three levels working from the top down. The numbers locations above correspond to the numbered locations in the plans of the three levels.
Track arrangements at the major locations in the train room were refined. The drawings below have been oriented to correspond with the plans above:
On entering the room on the left is Piney River on the lower level. The drawings below show the original plan and the lower drawing the current thoughts on track arrangement. The inspiration here is American Cyanamid plant that used to be at Piney River, VA, served by the Virginia Blue Ridge.
Continuing along the aisle to the left and on the upper level is Ozone. The "Shay branch" takes off here and its inspiration is the Brimstone RR that served both coal and a sawmill with two very pretty Shays. Based on experience on a layout operated last year, have changed the "Shay branch" to have an initial ~10% grade out of Ozone. The original Ozone is on the Southern Rwy line in east TN that previously was the Tennessee Central Railroad. Ozone business has as inspiration the Old Granddads distillery that had the Frankfort and Cincinnati serving it. The plan on the left is the original idea, the one on the right shows current with the "Shay branch" having the shorter, steeper run but now it is NOT running behind 14 ft of flats.
The upper level of the peninsula had several iterations of Saltville, VA. Two intermediate ones are below with the upper drawing showing the outline of the lower level extending beyond the back edge of the upper level:
The next two drawing show the original idea on the below the new, and correct to built dimensions, of the upper level. The track that runs into the 2 ft reach line inspiration is the Olin Mathieson plant in Saltville, VA, that had its own industrial line reached by the N&W. The simpler track arrangement next to the aisle has as inspiration the plaster plant that was located on the N&W line just outside of Saltville.
The next two drawings are the Morley after an L&N town/location in east TN. This is the more "free lanced" location. The lower drawing is the first thought
Work was done on the gates at the door where the lower level, nolex and upper level cross the doorway, the lower two with drop leafs and the upper with a raise leaf. Since there is less brackets at this location to support the added weight and handling of the leafs, I decided to reinforce support of the three levels against the right hand wall. Three 1 X 4 were put against the sheet rock wall and 2 X 2 blocks were glued and screwed at the proper levels.
The various levels of subroadbed were used to draw lines on the supports. The 2 X 2 blocks were clamped to the vertical supports, and level/grade established [the no-lex has both X and Y grade through this area].
Hinge added to the wall side of the no-lex:
Sometimes the bracket has to be installed over a screw:
When this occurs it is necessary to grind out the area between the two tabs to clear the screw head and also grind the upper tab a little shorter to clear the threaded portion of the screw. The modified bracket is on the left.
The original solid "cookie cutter" curve for the Shay branch was replaced by plywood that was slotted on the underside to provide flexibility in the X and Y directions as the line curves up. This first photo is the rigid piece of curved plywood coming down to Ozone on the left.
Here is the "10%" "adjustment jig" level check on the slotted plywood that has some flexibility in the X and Y directions:
A stiffener of steel channel was added under the upper level crossing of the window at Ozone like was done for the peninsula under Saltville. Here the bolts are being cut to length.
Here are the bottom and top views:
Two of the through wall connections were made between the closet and the train room at the upper level. Quite awkward getting the clamps in place on the back side and dealing with the cork that had been installed on one side and not the other. Each plate connection was glued and screwed.
Inspiration photo of the Southern tunnel in Alexandria for handling the visual of how the train goes through the wall show on the lower level.
This through wall connection is from the closet in the hole onto the peninsula on the right.
The passing siding at Solitude that was at the window on the no-lex under Ozone was moved slightly upgrade for a bridge/trestle in that area and the sub-grade modified with a removable section screwed but NOT glued in place. Here the 2.8% jig is being used to check the grade.
I tried to get "flat"/unbowed plywood, it has a way of bowing some of the time when cut. Here is the piece coming upgrade from Ozone.
Most of the no-lex, the upper level and all the Shay branch have had the plates joining the individual sections glued and screwed and a lot of the risers put on place on these areas. As noted before, getting the clamps in place where the sub-grade is against the wall can be a real task. Paper used to keep the glue from gluing the clamp to the roadbed.
Roadbed after installation of connecting plates. The first photo is the lower end of the no-lex.
General views of the train room:
Piney River wall:
Under Ozone looking towards Piney River:
Saltville on the upper level of the peninsula with, in the distance, the inspiration photos resting on the 1.2% no-lex grade under the Shay Branch.
You may have noticed some "inspiration" photos set in place. Have some for the Brimstone, Saltville and Piney River. Since the area being modeled is so compressed, the track arrangement cannot be replicated on the model layout. At one time the Olin Mathieson trackage ran 10 miles distant.
And went ahead and bought some step stools in anticipation of operation:
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