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Slow progress
Things have been moving along very slowly–both because of our summer vacation and waiting for some parts to arrive. At this point, I’ve received my DCC command station, power connectors, and track joiners, so I’m working my way around the main line getting track joined and power distribution done. Nothing fancy, and not much to see, so no photos for now.
Inaugural Run
Here’s the first run of a full train all the way around the mainline loop down on the weed block in the raised bed. That’s the Piko BR-80 as before, but this time with the box car and gondola from the freight set. You can see that there’s still a long way to go, but I think this is the final form of the mainline loop.
Concrete and track down
After several rain delays and other interruptions, the concrete roadbed and track are down.
Click the image for a medium version, or here for extremely large.
Those white pipes are the sprinklers for the lawn (I’m tired of moving our lawn sprinkler tractor around) and a riser for drip watering the plants on the layout.
Track down for a test
I’ve finished putting down some track and ran my Piko BR-80 (0-6-0) around the mainline loop. Our little guy ran along side and gave commentary π
Laying track
OK, I haven’t actually leveled the entire layout area–which you’re supposed to go before starting. But I couldn’t wait π
So here’s my start on track laying: the station siding and rail yard area, plus the first turn on the house end of the layout. I hope to get the full oval laid out this week–but who knows with the crazy Kansas weather?
Almost done with dirt
Garden Started
I’m pretty excited to have started on the “garden” part of our garden railroad. Once I get this all sorted, I’ll be able to lay track :o)
First step: outline the terrace (at 20 x 70 feet, it’s not really a “raised bed” in any real sense) These are landscape timbers I got at Menards. Eventually the “wall” will be three timbers high.
Doesn’t look like muchΒ π
Layout Plan
Here’s my current track plan.
The green is industrial, the red are railroad service buildings, and the blue is the “town”
The layout is planned to be about 20′ x 60′
Starting Up Again
Looks like for the moment I’ll be using WP to track my train progress.