Citrus Model Railroad Club HO Layout Update



	The Otto Allen Building, Citrus County Fairgrounds, U.S. Route 41 - just 2 miles south of Inverness, Florida
	HO Railroad Rebuild Update! (Latest Update: 12-10-2011)

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HO Layout Rebuilding Project

The original HO layout in the Otto Allen building was begun in 1993 with a U-shaped (2-peninsula) figure 8 track arrangement. A third peninsula was added about 6 years later with staging yard, helix and several new towns, converting the layout to an E-shaped (3 peninsula) point-to-point track arrangement. This layout offered good prototype operation, scenery was fully completed, and it served the Club well for 15 years. In 2008, it was decided to completely replace that layout with a new one that would have a similar 3-peninsula arrangement, but with two levels, thus doubling the length of main line track, improving operating potential, and using higher standards of design and craftsmanship. Because the new layout will occupy the same space as the previous one, and because we must have it operating for the public every Saturday, we are removing the old layout one section at a time, and replacing that section before we move on to the next. The first phase of the reconstruction began in November 2008, after nearly a year of planning. The new layout utilizes many innovative techniques, including a train elevator that serves both as a vertical staging yard and a means of moving trains from one level to the other. The photos below illustrate some of these techniques; the photos are up-dated periodically to show our progress.

The Train Elevator is a unique feature of the new layout, and an article describing its construction and use will appear in a special Model Railroader Magazine issue entitled “More Layout In Less Space” due to be published in August of 2010. You can order a copy at www.modelrailroader.com. The elevator has six shelves with two tracks on each. Each shelf is 10 feet long, and will hold a train with locomotive, caboose and 16 or 17 boxcars. It can store eleven such trains and this serves as a very space-efficient vertical staging yard. The twelfth track is reserved for moving trains from one layout level to the other, thus serving the same purpose as a helix, but requires much more space. The photos and video below illustrate how it works. Click on the thumbnail for a full view - a new window will open - simply close it to return!

HO Rebuilding Project Coordinator Dave Marquis sent in a write-up describing and illustrating the new alignment devices on the Citrus Model RR Club train elevator. Simply click the Adobe Icon (below) to download and view the document.

Very Early Photos Taken In 2009 By Rick Hall Of The HO Rebuilding Construction Progress For The Newer Layout:

(Click On Any Photo Below For A Full View)

Fig. 1 - A train leaves the top shelf of the elevator to begin its run.

Fig. 2 - A train enters the elevator from the upper layout level, is moved down to the lower layout level, and then continues on it way. During operating sessions, a staging yard master controls train movements in and out of the elevator. We operate the elevator manually, and see no need to motorize it.

Fig. 3 - The elevator is counter-balanced with two boxes connected to the elevator via pulleys and wire cable.

Fig. 4 - The elevator staging yard holds many trains; all shelves can be aligned with either the upper or lower layout levels, and in the middle position, shelves are aligned with both layout levels allowing independent and continuous train running on both levels.

Fig. 5 - Magnetic proximity switches on each shelf and on the two levels control track power to the elevator. Elevator tracks are not powered unless they are properly aligned with one of the layout levels, and the approach tracks are not powered unless a shelf is aligned with that level.

Fig. 6 - The elevator has its own control panel to control the turnouts that route trains to one of the two tracks on each shelf. There is also a reversing loop on the upper layout level to allow trains to be turned; this operation is also controlled from this panel.

Fig. 7 - Smooth and precise movement of the elevator is achieved via two 8' tall commercial aluminum t-tracks mounted to the elevator support wall and 4 self-lubricating bearing blocks attached to the elevator backboard.

Fig. 8 - The elevator is supported on a free-standing vertical framework, which consists of 3" x 4" laminated plywood posts anchored to the floor in laminated plywood feet. This view shows the side of the support that will contain the counter-weights.

Fig. 9 - The opposite side of the vertical support where the elevator will be mounted. This type of vertical support will be used throughout the new layout.

Fig. 10- Notches were routed in the elevator backboard to firmly support the shelves and keep them straight. However, about 16 inches at each end of the shelf was left un-tethered so that shelf level adjustments could be made.

Fig. 11- Shelves and all other parts of the elevator were made of cabinet-grade plywood, Shelves were ½" plywood with ½" homosote. Each shelf was shellacked to limit moisture absorption, and then painted.

Fig. 12- With the backboard installed on the t-track, elevator shelves are being attached. Shelves were screwed from the back side , and angle brackets were used on the front side.

Some other interesting techniques being used on the new layout are shown in the photos below:

Fig. 13 - The vertical framework in figures 8 and 9 above are supported in feet fastened to the floor with angle irons. This same vertical framework is being used throughout the new layout to support the two track levels.

Fig. 14 - Horizontal cross members attached to the vertical framework support the town modules and spline roadbed on both layout levels with no visible support members to mar the view of the layout details.

Fig. 15 - All towns on the new A&LE are being built as independent modules that can be worked on at any location, and turned on their side on saw horses for convenient work on the bottom. This module is 15' long by 26" wide and is ready for track.

Fig. 16 - The track plan, printed full size from a computer track design program, has been taped to the module surface, and the track locations are being transferred to the module with a ponce wheel, which leaves tiny impressions in the homosote roadbed.

Fig. 17 - Track in between town modules, which is usually just a single track, is built on spline roadbed, rather than modules. This makes it easy to form smooth curves with transitions, and to place scenery at, above, or below track level for interesting effects.

Fig. 18 - This stretch of spline roadbed supports a coal branch against one wall of the layout room. This spline roadbed consists of 15 layers of masonite on edge, glued together to form a rigid sub-roadbed. Homosote cut in the shape of the ballast profile tops off the spline roadbed.

Fig. 19 - A special joint in the town module allows the spline roadbed to attach to the module without a vertical kink that might cause derailments. This joint also allows the module to be taken out of the layout at any time for repair or renovation.

Fig. 20 - Control Panels on the A&LE utilize a technique we learned from the Plant City Club. The face of the panel is drawn in a computer drafting program with track diagrams, track indicating LEDs, toggle switches for turnouts, uncoupling magnet actuators, and other information important to train operators. The face is printed full size, laminated between plastic, and mounted to a masonite panel front with double-sided tape.

Fig. 21 - Because work space is very limited, we have built rolling carts to hold all of our supplies and tools under the layout. They are readily accessible there, yet out of the way, and the carts can be rolled to the actual work location if needed.

Fig. 22 - We have nearly completed the first phase of our layout re-building. In August of 2010, we hope to remove the second peninsula of the old layout, and begin replacing it in the space vacated. This section of the old layout has had all salvageable parts removed in preparation for dismantling.

Photos Of The HO Layout Reconstruction Project (October 2011)
It's all gone! Today we removed the last section of the old layout. It consisted of Woodbine (Pic 1) and Coal Hill (Pic 2) on opposite sides
of a peninsula. We saved the rock faces that made up the background of each of the two scenes for use on the new layout.

- Picture 1 -

- Picture 2 -

Carefully moving the background of Coal Hill (Pic 3) and Woodbine (Pic 4) to tables where the empty voids behind them
were filled (Pic 5) with expanding foam [Great Stuff] to stabilize the scenery for storage and to prepare for reuse.

- Picture 3 -

- Picture 4 -

- Picture 5 -

The last vestiges of the old layout were removed (Pic 6) and finally gone (Pic 7).
We plan to have the new peninsula installed and the lower level trackage running by the end of November.

- Picture 6 -

- Picture 7 -

(Above Photos Submitted By David Schuster)

Photos Of The HO Layout Reconstruction Project (Early 2011)
(Photos By David Marquis - Click On Image For Large View)

Work Session On The Allegheny & Lake Erie Railroad (November 5th, 2011)
(Photos By David Marquis - Click On Any Image For Large View)

Work Session On The Allegheny & Lake Erie Railroad (December 10th, 2011)

The HO layout is progressing right on schedule with three more modules being assembled and installed on the newest peninsula.
(Photos By Spud)

Run Session On The Allegheny & Lake Erie Railroad (December 23rd, 2011)

Good News! Trains are running again on the lower level of the new Allegheny and Lake Erie RR! Last Friday, (December 23), track was completed on the spline roadbed connecting the new Coal Hill and Grand Valley modules with earlier parts of the new lower level. Track was also completed on the new Woodbine module, which has not yet been installed in the layout on the upper level. Work is still under way to complete supports for the upper level, framing for the backdrops, and support for foam scenery on both levels.

Inaugural Run on lower level of new A&LE RR: