In an effort to make the room a bit easier to get around I decided this past weekend to remove the Imeson Park peninsula that sticks out into the middle of the room and move it along the wall, replacing a generic section of the railroad. Imeson Park still has run through capability so I can still keep trains running in a loop if I want.

Got the peninsula disconnected. Then it was time to remove the generic section against the wall.

This also meant removing the bridge that spans the doorway connecting the two ends. It will have to be reconfigured because the new section is almost a foot longer than the old section and the through track is in the middle and not at the back.

While I had the Imeson Park section out it was a good time to install more feeders since I did have some dead spots. Everything will be connected to the bus wires with suitcase connectors and then I'll be ready to re-install the section and connect the track.

The Dixie Flyer running through Emmaville at the posted speed limit of just 15mph.

Connecting the ends

Time to connect the ends of the railroad. Its been a while since I have updated this blog so this is a good time. I have wanted to connect both ends for a while to simulate through traffic while I am switching the various areas. It took a while to get the heavy duty piece of plywood I figured I would need to make it work. 3/4" so there is very little flex as it has to span about a 4' wide space, in an S shape no less.

The making of Emmaville

Had an area at the back of my workbench that was basically just a 4 track stub yard. I hate using up valuable real estate for a yard when I don't need it. So out came the yard and in went Emmaville.

I have always wanted an area where the tracks are right down the middle of the street and thats what I designed this area to be. There is just enough room on either side of the track for vehicles. Of course the rule is no more than 10mph for the train.

At each end of Emmaville are two long sidings. One has already been filled with an existing structure that I had. Its a placeholder for now until I can building something better. But the other end was a blank. Saw a structure in a model railroading magazine that fit the bill perfectly. A freight station, from the 60's that would like right at home in Emmaville.

Emmaville needs a bit more dressing up. More vehicles. Some signs. Maybe a few more people. The nice thing about it is its so close that I can just keep detailing it as much as I want. Theres no end.

No more yard

I have never been a fan of yard tracks, especially on small layouts like mine. Large ones that have a lot of train movements, sure. But on a small switching layout like mine, the yard takes up valuable real estate that could be used for something better. Like more industry! So Sunday the four track yard was removed and in its place will go some additional industry tracks. I think without a lot of switching puzzle track I can get three new industries in a space thats 18" wide by 6' long.

I have started laying out the basic track plan and think I have something that will work. A very large industry along the wall to the left with 3 car spots. Then at the other end I believe will be a feed mill or feed store and then next to it some sort of freight house. Also have to think about an interchange track, since my cars will have to come from somewhere and go to somewhere. There is a shelf right about this spot that I can place cars when not in use so more than likely an interchange track will be located right here somewhere.

New industry and new trees

I have been working on replacing a small industry with one a lot larger and finally finished it last night with the placing of the sign. Its the same company, just in a much bigger building. Also built some new trees to go on the sides of the building and hide the opening behind it. The building was built so the train could pass behind on the mainline but still have it look like its right up against the backdrop.

Take an operations tour with A-215 on the Dames Point Railroad.