Layout Progress Update

[Don Kuhlman]

Just posting an update. I made some more progress on the layout. Have laid 4 of the 6 S Hammond north yard tracks, installed more switchstands, and ran dcc bus wires to the feeders under the Conkey & Downtown Hammond sections.

I'll post some pics after tonight's efforts if I get the chance.

I had to send out my Zephyr to Digitrax to see if they could fix the programming circuit so I'm temporarily out of the water on testing the track work.  If it takes very long to get back, I'll use a DC pack to test the new yard tracks and see if they are working smoothly.

Don K

[Geof Burns]

Don,
Keep up the good work. We are all rooting for you.
Geof

[Don Kuhlman]

Thanks Geof! It's going pretty well - sad to say but the biggest thing was getting off the chair and getting started.  Analysis Paralysis is a bad thing
Now I'm of the mind that I'm going to keep moving along, a little at a time, and if I do something that doesn't quite work the way I expected, learn from it and move on.
Couple hours here and there, and pretty soon, there will be a little bit of the North end in the basement, waiting for visitors!

Don K

[Tom Kepshire]

Best way to approach things. That is unless you have someone design and build it for you. When I built my one HO layout in the basement, I worked on it a little at a time.  It wasn't until I was suckered into including it in a layout tour that I got serious and roughed in much of the scenery.

[Tim T Swan]

Couple hours here and there, and pretty soon, there will be a little bit of the North end in the basement, waiting for visitors!

Where do you live, Don?!

[Don Kuhlman]

I'm in St John Tim.

Don K

[Tim T Swan]

Hmmm!  I'll keep that in mind.

[Don Kuhlman]

Just posting some more pics. These are all just shots I'm taking to get ideas and to help visualize certain aspects.  All su[not allowed]ect to change as I learn more or the mood strikes...
Please feel free to comment on them - constructive criticism always welcome

This is on is from the North end of the South Hammond Yard looking South down the main throat.  It's coming from 165th and Oakhill cemetery would be in the bottom right of this photo around the corner on the layout.

I'm still fighting with the yard track alignment but hopefully this gives an idea of what I'm trying to do.

Don K

[Don Kuhlman]

Here is another couple pictures from broken corner.  It's not accurate, but I'm using it to see what I'm putting where as far as buildings go.

Don K

[Don Kuhlman]

Adding some more...
 These are all from the same area on the layout. Representing various areas in Hammond.  The road will be Hohman when it's done.

Don K

[Tom Kepshire]

Looking good Don. Is that the Blueford Shops International Caboose? I remember them selling them about 5 years ago and they were hard to find. Most hobby shops only were allowed 4.

[Don Kuhlman]

Hi Tom. Thanks!.  The yard tracks I've got down right now seem to be working pretty well with me pushing my test train up and down, through switches, etc so far.  One boxcar is giving me fits so it's going to have to go to the RIP track - DOH once I build one

As for the caboose, I don't remember who made it - I can look later tonight.  I thought that was one I got through the Society though - have had it a while.  Does that ring a bell at all with you?

Or maybe that's one that my wife got for me.

I do know now, that I'm going to need some more after looking at Alan's excellent HO layout pics!

Don K

[Tom Kepshire]

Besides the High Speed Merchandise Service cars, and recently the Rider Cars, there has not been any other N scale cars sold through the Stores.

[Don Kuhlman]

Got it Tom. I think the local hobby shop has some of them in their counter.  Will have to look.

Thanks

Don K