NTS & B Subway Complete, Mainline Started

Dec 2007 - Merry Christmas. The subway track is complete and wired. Laying in mainline track to make sure everything fits.

The picture below shows the start of the 2 loops for the Modern Era portion of the layout. The half loops under the mainline bench work are permanent track. The remainder of the loops are temporary, and were put in to test the covered track. The inner loop will be 0-34 minimum, and the outer loop will be 0-42. Notice the Hogwarts Express that Santa left under the tree :)

Automatic Train Operation Notes:
To run the trains automatically requires a reverse lock-out (that little lever on the postwar Lionel trains) . After I priced subway sets, my subway turned into underground train stations since I had 2 GG1s and 10 Pennsy cars I could use instead. When they didn't work like expected, I bought an older Williams F3 unit at a good price, which I also couldn't use. Here are the problems noted so far with different brands I have tried:

1. Older MTH Pennsy GG1 (mid 90's), conventional with no sound: I believe this has the QSI reversing board. Although the unit has a reverse lockout switch, it turned out to be more of a suggestion than a mandate. The train would work fine for 10 to 15 tries, then all of a sudden start up in reverse. A real thrill to see the engine PUSHING 10 passenger cars around 0-34 curves at medium speed. Put that one back on the shelf.
2. K-Line Pennsy GG1 with TMCC: The TMCC run/program functions as the reverse lockout in conventional mode when in the program position. That worked great until I hooked up my TMCC on another loop, then it just sat there waiting to be programmed. In run mode, had to manually start up each time it stopped. Another one for the shelf.
3. Williams Older Pennsy F3-No Williams engines .come with a reverse lockout switch, but I knew their web site showed how to add one. I got the engine cheap enough that I was willing to go through the work of adding a switch. Problem turned out to be that the unit was old enough so that they didn't have that particular reversing board on file. Strike 3.
4. Any Lionel conventional units (post war and Fundimension) I tried worked fine. Problem is, most of my Lionel is steam, which is not good for underground stations. Haven't tried modern conventional Lionel, but suspect it would work fine. I do have a unit I could try if needed.
5. MTH Proto Sounds 1: Have not tried. I do have a unit I could try if needed.
6. MTH Loco Sounds: I found a railking baby F3 and railking GG1 at a good price with loco sounds (in this group I might add). You can program the lockout with a series of bells and whistle pushes, which is a problem for us using ZWs. After I got them programmed they work fine.
7. MTH Proto Sounds 2. Have not tried but suspect it would work. I do have a unit I could try if needed.
8. Atlas and others in conventional mode: Don't have any to try
9. Atlas, Lionel and others with TMCC: Would suspect they would not work if TMCC is connected.

Since I don't like so many trains sitting on the shelf, I used an Atlas connector (?) switch (1 with 4 switches). I tied 1 switch to each insulated block, and tied the switch input to ground. That way I can override the stops for the no-cooperating engine, and it will still control the stops for the other loop.

NTS & B Mainline benchwork Started

Nov 2007-The benchwork for the second layer is underway. I have called this the mainline layer. It will be a double mainline using Gargraves Track and Ross Custom switches, with the minimum diameter outside loop of 0-72, and inside loop of 0-63. Tables are made with 1x2 frame to minimize distance between layers, covered with 1/2 inch 4 ply plywood. Strength is derived from subway layer due to many vertical risers between this layer and the lower layer.

The half loop on the bottom level is Marx 0-34 track, and will be the start of the loop going into the post war section of the layout.

NTS & B Flat Albert Inspection

Nov 2007 - Kathy's sisters grandchild in Fla had a school project to send Flat Albert site-seeing. When Flat Albert returned home, he was supposed to report every thing he saw (supplied by Kathy). Here he is checking out my progress on the subway loop. Most of the inner loop is now laid in.

NTS & B Subway loop benchwork about finished

Oct 2007 - Most of the bench work is complete for the subway loops. The outside loop is temporarily laid in and tested. Some of inside loop track is temporarily laid in as well. The track will be a combination of Lionel and Marx. The outside loop will contain Lionel 0-54 and 0-42 curves. The inside loop will be 0-42 and Marx 0-34 curves. There will be no switch tracks on these loops. The loops will be wired with 2 station stops on each loop, with the engines reversing units locked out. The train on one loop will control the train stops on the other loop. There will also be switches wired in to override the stops, for TMCC and conventional train operation. There will be another layer of bench work over most of this track, with only one small section not being covered. The middle of the subway table does not have plywood on it, to allow access to the upper layers.

NTS & B The first leg

Sept 2007 - 2 weeks later, four table tops are completed, and held up by 1 leg ! (Actually, the table is holding up one end of the modules :) ) The 2 modules added are on the bottom level and are 1 ft x 3 ft, and 4 ft x 6 ft.

NTS & B Helix getting painted

Sep 2007 - This picture shows the helix on its side, in relation to the door way behind it. The outside diameter of the plywood is almost 6 foot (58 inches). Lowes picked out the paint color for me. I went looking for a concrete gray, and they had a premixed 'oops' quart for $2. Of course, the next gallon was considerably more expensive.

NTS & B Second section

Sep 2008 - First table of second (mainline) layer is added. Table is 1x2 frame, covered by 1/2 in 4 ply plywood. Size is 8 ft x 1 ft. It is fastened to the bottom layer with 1x4 and 1x2 risers.

NTS & B FIrst section

Sept 2007 - The carpet is in. The layout is finally officially under way. This is the first table created specifically for the planned layout. The table is made of 1x4 frame, covered with 1/2 inch 4 ply plywood. Size is 8 ft by 1 ft,

NTS & B Train room finished

Aug 2007 - Room is finally finished. Ceiling, wall, carpet, and doors ! FInally ready to start thinking about building the layout. Room size is 15 ft 6 inches x 40 ft

NTS & B Layout plan taped on floor

August 2007 - Room is finally finished, minus the carpet. Taped outline of layout on the floor to get better feel of isles. Outside isle was a little tight, so ended up narrowing the layout 6 and stretching the length 6 inches to get better clearances. Of course, now model is off a bit :(

NTS & B Layout Model

March 2007. - These pictures are of a scale model of the layout. Since the layout is multi layered, I needed a model so I could visualize access from underneath the layout. When all is said and done, the full layout should be look pretty close to this model. The model was created using the track plan designed in the RR-Track Software Version 4.02. The track plan was created on multiple drawing layers, with each track and table level being on different layers. Each layer was then printed to the same scale. The scale prints were then glued to thin foam board. After the glue dried, the layers were cut out using sissors and an Exacto knife, and then hot-glued together. I even used the model to help design the table framework to ensure clearance from underneath to the upper levels. This framework was also cut out, and glued to the model. The model was printed at 1 inch=1 foot, so the model 12.5 inches x 32 inches. while the layout will be app 12.5 ft wide at the widest end (actual 15 1/2 ft on ceiling), and 32ft long.

NTS & B Final RR Track Concept views

Feb 2007 - These are the final (7th version) concept views of the planned layout. They show the track plan, and the placement of the various accessories. Room is 40 ft by 15 ft 6 inches. Layout is app 12 ft wide at the widest end (actual 15 1/2 ft on ceiling), and 31 ft 6 inches long. The trackplan was created using RR-Track Version 4.02. The views below were then created using the 3D feature of the program.