Now on to the Layout

Well, I just couldn't wait to at least start working on the layout even if all of the walls are not up yet. The focal point of the layout will be Elmira Yard with it's engine terminal. Because it's a yard and completely flat, the benchwork will be a series of tables, or modules. With that in mind, I can easily work on the modules and them slide them in place when the walls are finished. Here's a photo of the yard throat and a transition to the corner piece:

The yard modules are constructed upon a 1" x 4" pine framework with a 1/4" plywood top and 1/2" Masonite surface. Turnouts are all hand built on pre-stained wood ties and constructed at the workbench. When complete, they're dropped in to place on the layout. Most turnouts are No. 7's. I like the No. 7's because they have the look of a No. 8 but save a lot if space, and really long cars operate nicely through them. The balance of trackwork is Tomalco Flex-Track. I use code 100 for mainline and code 83 for yard trackage. I haven't yet figured out how to weather the flex-track to make it blend in with the random weathered look of the stained ties, but it's something that I'll have to experiment with. I will probably do some hand laying of track on sidings to represent track in poor service where tie spacing is more random and tie quality has diminished. On previous layouts, it was my goal to hand lay everything, but as I get older I'd rather get trains up and running. Besides the Tomalco track looks really good, so why hand lay.

This photo shows some of the trackwork installed to-date:

The two tracks on the left are mainline tracks with the west yard lead on the right. A No. 6 crossover can be seen between the mainline tracks. Elmira Yard had its main tracks running through the center of the yard, so my scaled down version will have the same feature. the crossover permits cars from the east yard to access the west yard. Since only freight traffic (with most of it being coal hoppers) will use this crossover No.6's should work just fine. The photo also shows my method of turnout construction. The switch ties are glued to a pattern mounted on 1/16" thick mat board. Once the switch ties are assembled into a panel then the rails and switch components are spiked down. Everything its then gauged, checked and debugged at the workbench before final positioning on the layout.

Another photo of the yard throat: