NTS&B First Raised Mainline Loop-Some Progress

Sometimes its hard to tell what direction of progress has been made. I usually lay most of the accessories and track in temporarily to make sure everything fits (see previous entries). When its time to finalize it, then I have to tare it down and do it again. When laying it out, it became obvious that the fire station looked too big next to the other buildings. I decided to gut the plywood table to drop it down 1/2 inch. I also had to cut an access hole. These had to be cut prior to permanently installing the raised track, so when I took the raised track down for painting, I cut out the required holes.
The cut out on the left is for the fire house, the other one is for access to the inner portion of the layout and the ceiling.


I recently discovered I need ceiling access directly over the largest part of this section. I had planned to cut an access hole, but now realized it had to be big enough to fit a step ladder with me on it.

Starting to come back together. Newly painted roadbed is back (still temporary) up. Have another post to re-cut, and supports for the upper raised track to put in before laying down final trackwork.

NTS&B First Raised Mainline loop unboxed

Or is that de-boxed ? Anyway, the support replacing the last box is now installed, so trains can again be run on the lower layer. Still have at least 1 more support to add. Track for the upper layer will come later.

Only 1 little problem. The MTH Helicopter doesn't fit. So much for that plan. Looks like a little adjustment is in order

NTS&B First Raised Mainline loop progress

Made quite a bit of progress this weekend. Have all of the plywood cut and fitted. Have 1 more support to make, then the loop will be 'box free', and trains can run underneath it again. It will also need 1 or 2 more for support. When finished, The sides closest to the camera in the 2 pictures below will be easily removed for access to the tacks and town behind it. Before the raised track is finished, I have to take it all down and paint it and finish laying in the town, including cutting access holes and 'sinking' the fire station so is level with the layout.

NTS&B First Raised Mainline loop started

The first raised section of the mainline is now in process. Notice how perfectly the supports (boxes) go with with the rest of the layout :) The inner loop is 0-63, with one section of 0-80 on the reverse curve. The outside loop is all 0-72. I also posted a temporary video with my K-Line switcher and Williams passenger car running on the inner O-63 loop.