Well it has been awhile

Howdy all!!

   Well I have been gone for a good while, but I am back with a vengeance!!! I  have been on mission acquiring the material needed for a serious upgrade. Also accomplished during this mission was getting a loco buffer/USB. After many head scratching sessions, emails to all corners of the earth....I finally was able to get it installed and working on Windows Vista. Now I just have to enter all loco data into JMRI to make my roster.

I was able to get the following items, along with other stuff...(freight cars!!!) I was hoping this day would come, to prepare I have been buying supplies here and there,, spikes,,, wire,, solder, etc etc etc. Because once I start,, I don't want to be in holding siding because the train master did not plan and purchase properly!!!

Homasote

1/2" sanded plywood

1/8" masonite

Code 55 track 

Cobalt switch machines w/DCC

Various tools to accomplish the job

I plan on tearing out the existing trackwork along the wall that the industrial section is attached to. Remove all 3/4" plywood and replace with the 1/2" plywood. I also plan on painting the homasote before one screw is used to fasten in into place. 

Here is picture of what there is now. The trackwork right now is code 80, which will be changed over to code 55.

What you do not see in this picture is where the helix used to be. Let's just say the helix is no longer with us,,( moment of silence).

The plan is to re-construct the helix using double track super elevated Kato unitrack. I am going to try a different method this time,, I going sandwich 1/8" masonite together and use all-thread supports and clear 3/8" PVC for spacers. After having my first helix being single track,, I am now going to double track. The goal is to have two trains of the 86' auto parts cars pass each other with ZERO  issues. We will see what we will see.

Well that is all for now, hopefully some more pics of work in progress to come.

See ya,

Greg