Barry,

I have set up an Excel spreadsheet in which I list all my rolling stock.  First column identifies the car (eg: Box car, flat car etc) second column is the originating line, third is the road number, fourth is the model manufacturer if known, and finally there is a comment on how well the unit performs (couplers, wheels etc...this later becomes work orders for maintenance). Incidentally, I would love to learn how the real railroads keep track of their stock.

Your idea of specifically insuring a layout is a good idea.  I haven't done it yet. I don't think it would be too expensive...it would be a rider on your homeowners insurance.  I would take a wild guess and estimate it would be around $100.00 per year for several thousand dollars of insurance.  Just a guess though.

Bill

Guys, thanks a million for all your great suggestions.

LD and Virginian:  You two have sold me on the idea of a hinged section.  With your ideas of alignment I think any derailments would not be a problem. 

CJ: I like your idea of an "H" or I Beam support.  That method would sure seem to prevent warpage.  As far as protection of my rolling stock, I have plans to use about 6 or so arch bridges (I think Atlas makes them) to span the doorway.  I already have two, so I would need to get only 4 more.

Joe S: Thanks for the link. I'm going to start construction next month using the ideas presented here. If I run into any problems, I've copied the link and will refer to it later.

Thanks again everyone,
Bill

Rich,

How do you attach your wire to the pole arms?  A spot of glue perhaps?  To achieve your line sag, could you not affix one section to your pole arm, allow that spot to dry, then affix the next section, and so on? To me this would seem to allow you to form your sag before moving on to your next section.

Bill

Gene,

By any chance are you going to paint your rails and/or ties?  I would start it about now before you get into ballasting and scenery.

This is a great thread.  Keep it going.

Bill

Check out this website for telephone wire products and also their traffic lights.  Click on the link "scenery improving products" for a picture of their elastic wire.

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/

LD,

Thanks for your reply. I really like the idea of using a hinged section. I would have never thought about slipping the rail joiners back over the gap. That, I assume, would preclude having to wire the liftout seperatly.

What type of hinge did you use?  I've looked at piano hinges but they are too wide.  Perhaps a simple door hinge would work?  At least something that didn't have any play in it.  By the way, do you remember what year the MR articles were written.  I have a hit and miss collection going back over 7 years, but I can't seem to find it.

Thanks again,
Bill

Absolutely, Virginian, I agree with you.  They guy is 56 years old and lives in Ohio.  A person with those attributes is indeed welcome. 

This Spring and Summer I plan to construct a building in my backyard to house my new layout. In order to have the track plan I want I'm going to be compelled to have a double track liftout. I'm concerned about the expansion and contraction of the track during the winter and summer months.  Although the buildling will be heated and cooled, neither utility will be running constantly.

Does anyone have any experience with a liftout?  And if so, how do you address the problems with track alignment? Or, is this even a problem?  I've talked to a few guys who have connected modular sections together and they don't seem to have a problem. I plan to have the liftout section constructed with two 2x4s screwed together with my roadbed and track running across the top. The distance will be approximately six feet.

I would appreciate any advise.

Do any of you guys have a small black hole at your work bench that swollows up tiny screws, springs and tiny accessories?  I hate to think how many KD springs I have bought from my local hobby shop. I have a well illuminated area I work in and several flashlights, but still these items disappear.

Do you think its my glasses? 

I read on the old forum that some guy was pushing break fluid as a great styrene cleaner.  Later it was reported that this guy had a grudge against model builders and was merely trying to sabotage their models.  This not only included model railroad cars but model airplanes and model automobiles.

I agree, center line.

The 2006 special issue of "How To Build Realistic Layouts" has a picture on page 21 of a guy that made an operating mail pickup system. His RPO car has a magnet in the door and as it runs by the sack pole, a small metal extension of the RPO reaches out and grabs the mail sack (which is made from metal) and it is captured by the magnet. Really cool looking operation.  I wish I knew how to post a link to show the picture.

I used thread for my wires and placed it towards the back side of my layout.  Still, it got hit every so often.  My new layout will have thread running from simple single arm poles in the down town area only.  I like the looks of running "wire", but if you look at some of the greatly detailed layouts like George Sellios, he doesn't have any wires and you hardly notice it.

As far as the distance is concerned, I placed the poles about every block or so in my town area and it looked nice.  I guess that would be about 60 scale feet or so.

Ahhh, a trip down memory lane.  Around the early 50s I had a Lionel 027 on a large board. Big oval with track running down the middle. I had the automated milk car, one gondola, one flat car, one box car and one caboose.  During this time my dad gave me three brown (Lionel?) passenger cars.  Then in the mid 50s I got a Lionel Rock Island PA with three passenger cars. Then there was the fire.  Started again in HO in the late 60s. Built a 4-6-2 from a kit and had about 10 or so freight cars. Lost all of that in a divorce....I still can't figure out what she wanted with the train set, but she got it!  Then started my 2nd HO layout in the 70's in the garage, tore it down when I moved in the 80s.  Had about 5 engines and 20 or so freight and passenger cars at that time.  Started my 3rd layout in the mid 90s with around 10 engines both diesels and steam and 50 or so freight and 10 passenger cars.  Currently in the process of disassemblying that and am starting my 4th layout in a 16 x 24 shed built in my back yard.  It will be mostly steam with a little diesel every now and then.  I'll be modeling the transition era in a free lanced "Central Arkansas" theme.

Jeez!  I feel like the Federal Computer Police are going to knock on my door at any time.  Nope, sure didn't know all that.  All I wanted was a stupid, little Rock Island logo....and now I'm heading for San Quinton.

Thanks Scot, I'll just pass.  It would be my luck that I would get the Photo Bucket people angry at me too.