Louisiana Central Railroad Company

Construction Photos

In this section I am documenting the final stages of building construction. The exterior shell of the building was constructed when my home was built. It was completely finished on the exterior, but the interior was nothing but bare studs. In the early years, no attempt was made to finish the building as it was in use primarily as storage for myself, family members and even a friend. Interior work was performed in kind of a hit-or-miss fashion mainly as time and finances permitted. The plumbing rough-in was completed, the central air and heat was installed and the electrical systems were all roughed-in. But it wasn't until after Labor Day of 2009 that work was begun in earnest to get the interior completed so that layout construction could commence. And that is where this page starts.

Click here to jump down to the latest photos.

Bulletin - September 15, 2009: Building construction has resumed! After literally years of delays, work is being done to prepare the building interior for sheet rocking. The electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and heating work have been completed. The walls are almost finished being insulated. A few minor details remain, and then the gypsum board can be hung. After that, the final trim-out work, cabinets, painting and carpeting will occur, and then layout construction can finally commence. I'll document the work via this page.

Bulletin - November 22, 2009: The gypsum board (sheet rock) has been hung! Today the floating and taping began. This should be complete by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Good progress is being made now, and layout construction should not be that far into the future. I'll try to post a couple photos of the train room as soon as the sheet rock finishing is complete.

Bulletin - December 10, 2009: The floating and taping was completed the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the primer/sealer has been applied to the gypsum board. The finishing coats of paint should be starting by the weekend. The photos below were taken just before the primer was applied.

Click on image to enlarge


	View of the new train room from the room entrance.	In this view, we've moved left of the room entrance.	Moving forward to the opposite end of the room and looking back toward the entry.	And finally, we've moved left to the other corner, still facing toward the entry.

Bulletin - February 28, 2010: Slow, but steady progress is being made for the train room (and the building overall). The electrical receptacles, switches and general lighting are complete, and the HVAC grilles and diffusers are in. The cabinets are installed in the shop area, and painting is well underway. Doors, trim and other millwork are complete. I'll be using strip fluorescent lighting behind valences for layout illumination. The strips were specially ordered and have just arrived. When all this work is completed, the only remaining tasks will be to install plumbing fixtures, insulate the attic, and install the flooring. My unofficial schedule calls for benchwork to commence in the late spring, and so far it looks like I'll be able to make that.

Click on image to enlarge


	Here's the same view as in the first photo below, after priming and painting.	Here's the same view as in the second photo below, after priming and painting.	Here's the same view as in the third photo below, after priming and painting.	And finally, here's the same view as in the fourth photo below, after priming and painting.

Bulletin - September 5, 2010: The layout lighting has been completed. I decided to use 2x4 lumber attached to the ceiling to serve as an attachment point for the valences and to mount the fluorescent light fixtures. The first step was to screw the 2x4s to the ceiling with their outside edges directly above the outer edge of the (future) benchwork. The accomplish this, I drew out the edge of the benchwork on the floor with a large felt tip pen. Dimensions were taken directly from the CAD drawing I have used to design the layout. Then, with help from my able bodied assistant Wayne Robichaux, I transferred key points to the ceiling using a simple plumb bob. We measured and cut the lumber, located the joists above with a joist/stud finder, then screwed it to those joists. In a couple places where the 2x4 had to run parallel to the joists and didn't coincide with a joist location, I went in the attic and added some bridging between the joists so as to have a place to attach the 2x4s. To meet the building code, 1/2" gypsum board was cut the width of the 2x4s and screwed to the bottoms. The whole assembly was primed and painted with the ceiling white paint, and then the light fixtures were installed. The following week, we ran the electrical power to the lights, and then over the next couple days, I got all the connections made and the fixtures closed up. When I finally flipped the switch on, I was almost blinded! This many fixtures produces PLENTY of light. I fully expect that the light level will drop significantly later as the room, and then the layout, is completed. The carpeting will be on the darker side, the backdrops will reduce reflectivity from the walls, the layout itself will tend to absorb light, and the valences will contain the light somewhat and prevent areas from being lit by several sources all at once. I'll pass on comments about the lighting level from time to time as these things develop.

Click on image to enlarge


Here's a shot of the 2x4 stripping that will be used to attach the valences and light strips.	Here's a view from the other end of the room. The can lights are over the (future) aisles.	The return loop of the stripping is over the orb at the end of a peninsula of the layout.	And finally, here's a close up view of the 2x4 / gypsum board assembly prior to priming and painting.

And here is what the lighting looks like. This view is from roughly the same vantage point as the shot above.	And the view from the other end of the room. There is no doubt that the can lights won't be needed during layout operations!	Here is one of the return loops over an orb at the end of a peninsula of the layout.	This last photo shows the strip fluorescents off and the can lights on. Valences will be installed next.

Return to Top

Last update: 05 Sep 2010