More Layout Progress

With the drop leaf section complete and access to the layout room facilitated, I'm now focused on extending the benchwork and trackway around the room. In this view, the section of benchwork to the right of the access way will be the Town of Columbia Crossroads. A short passing siding will be located here along with sidings serving with an elevator and a feed mil. A frame combination station is also located here and that should provide some action for the local setting out and picking up cars.  In the era that I model, no passenger service will occur here.

After coming down the 1% grade from Kendall, the grade flattens out here and drops again between Columbia Crossroads and Troy where it will descend further much of the way beyond.

This view offers a panorama of this half of the layout room. To the left side of the room is the Seeley Creek Bridge and Kendall Tower with the entirety of Southport Yard extending to the far corner of the room. On the right is the benchwork for what will be “X-Roads” incorporating my new standard for construction using a 3/4” thick plywood base.  No more Homasote! I use cork for the trackway on top of the plywood and that seems to work well.

There are no electrical connections across the drop leaf bridge. Layout power is fed overhead above the suspended ceiling and dropped down to the layout’s benchwork using the chase behind the coves formed in each corner to eliminate the 90-degree corner bend. That way I didn’t have to cut any walls or fish wires between them.