3. Construction
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Salida

Salida Yards and industrial area. This area is the other end of my point to point railroad empire.
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I decided to take a day off from work after working some crazy hours. I wasn't really in the mood for laying track, so I decided to start on the intermediate level of the layout.<br /> <br /> This level will link the Cumbres town area with the Mears Junction area, traversing between the Salida yards and upper level on the south wall.<br /> <br /> The biggest challenge was on how to line up the height from the end of the track in Cumbres to the new grade. After 15 minutes of plotting, I think I figured it out.
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I decided to take a day off from work after working some crazy hours. I wasn't really in the mood for laying track, so I decided to start on the intermediate level of the layout.

This level will link the Cumbres town area with the Mears Junction area, traversing between the Salida yards and upper level on the south wall.

The biggest challenge was on how to line up the height from the end of the track in Cumbres to the new grade. After 15 minutes of plotting, I think I figured it out.

  • Here is a close up of the three rail switches (minus the throw bars).
  • Untitled photo
  • The 3rd rail is starting to take shape. At this point only a few more of the three rail switches remain (thank goodness!). Each switch takes out 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
  • Rail work is nearly complete on the Barrel leads (upper level) and the yard leads (lower level).<br /> <br /> Can you spot the lift out section? (Yes...that is a very essential door for my house. Quick access is something that I needed to plan for).
  • Ties are nearly complete in the yard area. The majority of the ties were standard HO ties from Northeastern Lumber. The standard ties were needed for the 3 rail that will go down in this yard. Yup...you read correctly. 3 Rail ! Now if I can just figure out how to make the switches!!
  • Lift out section removed, showing the alignment pins for the left side. <br /> <br /> Water shut-off access intact - CHECK!
  • I decided to take a day off from work after working some crazy hours. I wasn't really in the mood for laying track, so I decided to start on the intermediate level of the layout.<br /> <br /> This level will link the Cumbres town area with the Mears Junction area, traversing between the Salida yards and upper level on the south wall.<br /> <br /> The biggest challenge was on how to line up the height from the end of the track in Cumbres to the new grade. After 15 minutes of plotting, I think I figured it out.
  • The grade has been established by using a piece of 1x2's, screwed into the studs of the basement (metal studs). A section of track has already been mounted and the connecting piece of 1/2" ply has tied together the Cumbres yard limit and the climb to Villa Grove.<br /> <br /> On a side note, a friend gave me a good idea when trying to find the metal studs. Rare earth magnets! Just slide the magnet along the wall and see where it bites. Make a mark on the wall and mount away!
  • A slightly different angle showing the lift out section for the upper and lower levels.<br /> <br /> The upper level climb from Cumbres to Villa Grove is a 3% grade, giving the engines a little climb to the top of this leg of the road.
  • Grade and Micore anchored at Villa Grove. This will be a passing siding for East and West Bound trains.<br /> <br /> I'm not 100% sure at this point, but right now Villa Grove will not have scenery, due to the closeness of the upper level. I'm just not sure that anyone would see it. Time will tell however.
  • Grade heading up to Villa Grove. <br /> <br /> And yes..."There be track on that there grade!" Thanks to some help from Mike Command and a track laying session.
  • Ties are going down on the track to Villa Grove.<br /> <br /> This shot also shows the clearance of the two levels. The lower level is the end of the Salida Yard / Industry area, complete with a Y to turn engines on this end of the railroad. The far lead will be hidden to the folks in the Chama Yard by a back drop.
  • Ties have been laid in the yard area and the climb up to the Barrel Transfer has been completed. At the top of the grade is a small siding for additional car storage, bringing the track capacity up to around 14 cars.
  • Yup...that should hold :)
  • Mark doing some final anchoring of the benchwork for Salida. Note that the yards extend into the closet. I opted to do this to get myself a bit more storage then I would have had with all of the track out in the main yards.
  • Dad and Mark anchor the supports. Legs were added for support after the activities were finished, only in-case there was some leaning on the benchwork.
  • My father (Jerry) and brother (Mark) work on the main support structure for the Salida Yards. These yards were intentionally long and narrow, much like the prototype was.
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