Daley Train Log
Page 17
This has been a grey-matter day. Lots of thought, little action.
It began innocently enough. I decided to play with the idea of extending my existing layout to include a loop around the perimeter of the room. The first step was to remove a filing cabinet so I would have room for a small additional surface near Black Diamond. Done. So far so good.
The next step was to identify some of the features I would like to include. Basically this was a series of bridges. I have a two spans that are built for double track. This would mean having a section of double track at some point on the perimeter loop. I also have a wooden trestle (single track) and a kit for making about a 41" long high steel viaduct (similar to the large bridge in Lethbridge).
I could place the high steel viaduct in front of the clothes closet and install the two double track bridges across the entrance to the room. This really leaves only one place for the wooden trestle. It could span a gap between Black Diamond and the new surface that would be where my work table presently sits. In a sense this would be a duck-under, but not really as there would be little need to ever to that. And if I did, I could access the space by going through the furnace room. Thus I think I have everything under control.
The next issue was to imagine the possible routes that a train could take. Going counter-clockwise would present no difficulties. All of the new track to Site 1 (above my work table) and Site 2 (above a bookcase in the hallway) would be accessible. But going clockwise was another story. I could traverse the loop around the room, but I would not be able to enter either Site 1 or Site 2 because of the way the turnouts would be facing. Also, when going clockwise I would not have access to the reversing loop.
The solution to this would be to have a second reversing loop on the layout. I then realized that this would be relatively easy to insert on the peninsula. Done. It took a couple of hours to remove the existing track and then re-lay it to form a reversing loop.
I will not be able to test this until I buy a second reversing loop module, but I have everything ready for it. The existing layout should still be operational as long as I don't use the reversing loop.
I can now proceed on two different fronts. One is to build the necessary benchwork to hold the track, the second is to begin building the two high steel viaducts. The viaducts are not really necessary for the loops around the room to work as I can simply use a board in place of the viaducts until they are ready.