Page 2 10-16-11 Assembly Day The long awaited big day arrived. Assembly day of the sections finally was here. After all the planning, building and wiring it was time to take down the temporary work platform, put on the real legs and connect the sections. Many things had already been done along the way and were waiting for this day like the legs were predrilled for the mounting holes and had the elevator bolts feet installed. I had the jumper wires to connect the section terminal blocks made since February. It was time to put the pieces of the layout puzzle together! There are currently 11 sections. They all had to be put in their specific locations. I was doing this all by myself. By now the sections are probably 60+ pounds each but are large and awkward to handle given the height of the legs. I basically just bent over under a section, put a cross member on my shoulders and partially stood up to move them.

It was particularly challenging to put all of sections in perfect position, getting down to a matter of splitting mere inches. I had 2 factors to contend with; the corner of the bathroom as a clearance pinch point and a support pole - which if it was another 12” in another direction would have helped me greatly. But of course the support pole won. All in all there is pretty good walking clearance around the entire layout which was absolutely mandatory from the beginning of the plan.

I joined the track across the sections with various techniques including using bridge rails. I then soldered the bridge rails in place. This area is mostly going to be the passenger terminal complete with train sheds 4 feet long and an REA building.

I am considering all of the track going on this section to be temporary for now. The intention was to just complete the loops and get running. My intent is to make this area freight themed with a yard. We will see what it actually becomes as for now it is not planned at all. Getting through installing and wiring another 20 or so turnouts was too much for me to handle going straight through from the beginning. I needed to get the trains running to reinvigorate me!

I used 2 pieces of 1/8” x 3” aluminum flat bar 12 feet long to mark the track center lines.

On 10-29-11 Charlie & I found and fixed the last of the stubborn short issues. Let the trains roll!

This is from my first quick n dirty photo shoot on 11-3-11. I called the locos “3 Modern Faces”

Updated 11-6-11

All photos and content © Lanes Trains 2005-2012