Planning new Euro layout

[el Gato Gordo]

But first, much prep to be done. This is the space I'm planning to use - my former woodshop which currently shares space with my Rheinland-Bayern Bahn (plus extension yard):

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The yard extension (foreground in first pic) and the R-BB layout are under dust covers. There is much to be done. Everything that is not trains must be moved to the former hay barn, or elsewhere. Then the broken windows , currently covered by foam insulation and plywood, must be replaced. Followed by insulating the entire room, walls and ceilings, preparatory to doing sheet rock. The cost of this will, I hope, be born by the sale of my horse, who bucked me off and tore up my right shoulder back on Cinco de Mayo.

Meanwhile, I'll be working on track plans for this 18' x 22' space. As you may remember, I'm not into operations, though I may do one or two small industries, such as a brewery and it's various suppliers. I'm trying to keep the plan somewhat simplistic, but will be modeling Netherlands on one side, Germany in the middle, and Austria/Switzerland on the other side. Simple, right?

All sections will be linked by high speed rail. Each will have local loops. As yet this project is nameless.

[Scotian_Huntress]

I'll be working on track plans for this 18' x 22' space.

That is a sweet amount of space! Looking forward to this!

[The Ol' Curmudgeon]

This sounds like an exciting project, Gordon. The Netherlands is especially intriguing to me, perhaps because I'm reading "A Bridge Too Far."

The cost of this will, I hope, be born by the sale of my horse, who bucked me off and tore up my right shoulder back on Cinco de Mayo.

So what do you hope to get for ol' Alpo? Seriously, that's got to be tough, given the bonds between horse and rider. Hope you are healing up

[el Gato Gordo]

Thanks, Paul. The bond between Magenta (aka Alpo) and I is not a long-standing one. My previous horse, Galiano, had to be put down two years ago. That has been hard. I was only able (reluctantly) to buy another this April. I was looking for a 13 to 19 year old trail broke gelding. What I bought was a 5 year old green mare. At any rate, since she is a registered Peruvian Paso mare,approved for breeding by the "association", I hope to realize about 4K.

As for a Dutch setting, I'm planning "tulip time" and I also have a two track lift bridge.

[The Ol' Curmudgeon]

At any rate, since she is a registered Peruvian Paso mare,approved for breeding by the "association", I hope to realize about 4K.

Oh, it's the new mare. That's a bummer, Gordon, really is.

[el Gato Gordo]

Obviously, with a badly torn rotator cuff the process of clearing and finishing this space will proceed slowly. There are 5 heavy benches to be relocated and countless items on the walls, as well as much lumber.


Posting my intentions is a motivational tool.

[dave68124]

If you need any help, give me a shout and happy to drive down for the day. Going to be fun watching this one come together.

[el Gato Gordo]

Thanks, @dave68124! Once I get the new shop space organized and some of the smaller stuff out of the way, I will give you a shout.

[el Gato Gordo]

I've been playing with track plans for this area for years, and collecting structures and trains. Here is the latest track plan iteration. This is the north half. The layout will be set 14" from the wall on the left for obvious reasons:

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Local/Regional lines are in red. The high speed long distance lines in "Magenta." There will be a staging yard under the center peninsula. This next shot overlaps the first. There is an electrical panel in the lower left corner, so the bottom left end is two feet from the wall, thus giving access to the tunnels on the south end, and passage to the back side. The light blue is a line going up into the Alps with as steep a grade as those trains can stand. It may be DC, so that I can run back and forth automation.

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Well, this is the concept, my friends. As stated above, there is much to do before benchwork can be commenced, so plenty of time for amendment.

[The Ol' Curmudgeon]

I like it. It's different from the ops-centric paradigm of today, incorporates three different rail networks, beautiful scenery, and heck, you might even devise a way for the Netherlands portion to flood every few years.

[el Gato Gordo]

Thanks, Paul. The Netherlands will test my water skills, what with a ship harbor (far right), canals, and irrigation/drainage ditches between the tulip fields. Time of year will be late April.

I still have not figured out how to use the draw bridge I bought about 6 years ago.

[el Gato Gordo]

Posting here motivates me to relinquish the LaZBoy and get to work. Spent the day working on the former hay barn (new woodshop area). Cleared out 13 pallets that had been used to keep hay bales off the dirt. Arranged for vertical wood storage. Started wiring receptacles for shop power.

And watched a great game between Sweden and England for 3rd place in the Women's World Cup. Tomorrow the championship game between the U.S. and Netherlands.

[el Gato Gordo]

Wiring for lights and receptacles in the shop area is done. Lights are on a timer switch (that my wife bought for me) so the lights turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Started moving lumber out of the new train room and into the new shop. Still trying to figure out how to store scraps and lengths of plywood. Would like to keep plywood stored so I can see and access what I have. Suggestions are welcome!

[The Ol' Curmudgeon]

Suggestions are welcome!

Wish I could offer some, my friend. But I have another hobby: Collecting Pieces of Wood I Might Use For A Layout Someday.

I'm no bloody help to you at all.

Some of that wood has made three moves with me. Before we moved to Sequim, there was plywood that I think I brought with me in 2002 from Wisconsin. Stuff is sitting in one of the condos outdoor storage areas just outside the train room back door.

My wife jokes about my "wood collection."

[aflica]

Im no help either Gordon , but i am follwing this thread . Looks like a fun new project

Steve

[Scotian_Huntress]

Perhaps these could help:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...lywood+storage

[el Gato Gordo]

Vertical storage is the way to go for storing sheet goods like plywood, foam board, masonite, etc. I have few 8 ft lengths, but many shorter, non-dimensional pieces. Since the floor is dirt, I am first laying pieces of Styrofoam on the ground to keep the wood clean and dry. Then dividers at various heights to support and separate, like the Platex Living Bra of yore.

The final (?) lumber issue will be sorting the smaller quality stock, red and white oak, ash, walnut, fir. The pieces are small dimension (1/2 x 2, 4/4 x 3.0, for example) and range in length from 12" to 40". These also include dowels. There could be a woodworking project in my future creating storage in which I can see what is in inventory.

All of this work in the new woodshop area is also making visible progress in the future train room.

Soon, though, I'll have to take a break from the reorganization to run trains and check over the layout. Next show is August 3rd in Palmer Lake, a one day affair. Thank goodness miller moth season is over for the year.

[el Gato Gordo]

Too hot to work on clearing the shop, setting up the new shop. So, playing with the track plan a bit. Here it is with a few track changes. The big mess of three mainlines crossing in the middle has been eliminated, and the solution extends the distance between the main stations - Hauptbahnhof.

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I have also increased the radius on the Swiss helix. The Swiss/Austrian section has been widened to 4 feet, since I can access it from all sides. Some scenery there may need to be removeable for creative access from the back. Starting to populate cities and towns with houses, but nothing there is final - I haven't even drawn in roads.

Considering extending the width of all sections to 48", and getting one of those rolling platforms from MicroMark which enables a person to work over the layout. Has anyone tried one?

Listed under specialty tools.

[tomcook]

That's a really nice track plan I particularly like the peninsular with the line branching off to Bayem. Peninsulas can be hard to get right but I think you've done well.

[el Gato Gordo]

Making progress on organizing the new woodshop. I can't believe how much "stuff" I've accumulated over the past 21 years. Prior to this place I've never lived in any dwelling longer than 5 years, and generally only 2 to 3 years. Forces a person to cull the unnecessaries periodically!

Meanwhile, I've had to use the shop to build a few tools for Kathy's next weaving project. Sanding this morning reminded me why I keep dust covers over the layout!

The afternoons have been too darn hot to do anything out in the barn. It is like an oven out there already today. So I've been fiddling with details on the "Netherlands" portion of the layout. Here is a screen shot:

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