Helix progress

An old pic of mine...

Kodak Disc Cameras...Remember them?

Well that's the reason this photo is so grainy.....But at 15, that's what I had.

In this photo taken in December 1984, we see a SD50 #8591 sitting in the yard. In the distance are the New GE Units that were shipping to China via Newport News. The turntable still exists at this time.

Enjoy!

Parts to start the......

HELIX!

Tonight I started cutting the trapezoid segments for the helix. The helix is a 2.5 turn 30" radius helix at roughly 2% grade.

I wanted to use radius cuts, but the wasted plywood was an issue. I'm using 3/4" cabinet grade (8 ply).

The joints will be glued and kerf jig joint screwed. I've used this system for the valances as well as some furniture I have built. It's very strong and reliable.

Merry Christmas

Today's picture is the Southern passenger station used by Amtrak even still today. Amtrak service at the C&O station stopped sometime in the 70's. This view from the C&O side shows the station prior to its refurbishment. This is how the station will be done on the layout.

Union Station 1996

Historic Pictures

I've decided to start posting pics of my modeled area that I find on the web. One of my favorite sites is Steve Trumball's "Charlottesville - Then and Now".  Steve finds historic photos taken around Charlottesville and shows the current "today" view.

His site is also a blog site, found at http://charlottesvillethenandnow.blogspot.com

This Ed Roseberry photo shows downtown Charlottesville in 1972. Matacia Fruit Co. is in the lower center.
Charlottesville warehouse district aerial view 1972

I'll continue to add more as I have the time.

PS - walls have been painted, more Masonite backdrop is up, drop ceiling partially installed.
Yes, I'm getting something done!

Looking down the aisle.

Left side:
Lower is Charlottesville
Upper will be Staunton, VA
Right:
Lower will be redone as west of Charlottesville
Upper will be Brand siding, start of Staunton

Experimenting with LED striplights

I started using 4100k t-8 bulbs, horrible CRI....Ordered LED striplights, suppossed to be 4000K, not even close - that upper light blue and lower dark blue IS the SAME color paint! There are actually three colors of light used in this pic - The upper left is GE Sunshine 5000K high CRI bulbs, the lower is the LED... and past the boxcar and drawings is the 4100K lighting. I will slowly switch to 5000K bulbs, and order some LED's that are 5000K. If they don't work, I'll use GE Sunshine CFL's in some areas.

Charlottesville - lower deck

Still need to build the upper deck here. It will be Staunton, VA. To the right is the Southern Crossing at Union Station. You can really see the 3 different backdrop colors in this pic (see LED post)

More...

Here in the lower level is Ivy, VA. There we have the Westvaco Pulpwood loading and a grocery warehouse siding.  Upper level will be Fishersville with a small grain siding.

Continued...

The lower section here will be Afton, VA - the entrance to Blue Ridge Tunnel. After entering the tunnel, and rounding the helix, it will exit the tunnel on the other side of the stairs and reach the upper level here- (Paper Roll) From there, we go downgrade into Basic/Waynesboro and interchange with the N&W. Still need to add the backdrop in this area.

More progress pics

Upper deck will be Waynesboro, VA and lower will be Crozet, VA. Towns will be offset from each other. I really should have cleaned up before taking these ......

Progress pics

New peninsula under construction. Upper deck will be close to Fishersville, VA and the lower deck is between Ivy, VA and Mechums Creek Bridge.

How time flies....!

My last post was Jan 2nd....I really wanted to keep this updated.

The good news is that most of the layout that needed to come down, is gone.

And even better news is that I have made a bunch of progress. I started with the teardown, then moved aisle lighting and associated electrical. Since I was trying to gain more aisle space, the studded walls were torn down and rebuilt closer to the foundation, insulated, and new drywall hung.

The new peninsula from Ivy to Crozet on the lower deck is now built with most of the masonite backdrop installed. Once the peninsula is almost complete, I will start construction of the helix and benchwork.

I need to take some pictures to post...And a few minor changes have been made to the trackplan, I'll post the new plan and pics soon!

My New Years Resolution...

For 2012 is to get working on the railroad!

And that will begin with DESTRUCTION of about 1/2 of the layout starting this week.
I spent New Years Day laying out the perimeter of the new plan on the floor with tape to make sure everything fits and the flow is good. I'm very happy to say that with this plan, there are no duck-unders, lift-outs, or bottlenecks. I think that I will even be able to add a few inches to the aisles in a few spots.
I will be giving the fascia more of a flow, unlike the straight sections before.

I would like to thank those that offered their opinions and tips on the redesign.

Happy New Year!
Bryan