Benchwork construction is making slow, but steady progress.  I manage to get more done each weekend.  I’m still working the corner of the room that I wrote about in my last post, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have the risers and roadbed complete along a 35′ length of layout now, and that will contain about 120 lineal feet of track.  About two-thirds of that will be hidden staging track, and that track is ready to be laid.  This past weekend saw the completion of the roadbed for that, and I’ve drawn the track centerlines out.  I spent Sunday afternoon (after watching the Giants crush the Saints…ouch!) studying the wiring diagrams for the Atlas code 83 switches that I’ll be using in the staging areas.  My intention is to solder a jumper onto every single piece of rail, not depending on rail joiners or pressed joints for electrical continuity.  That will probably be a PITA, but not nearly as much as trying to find open circuits a few years down the road when mechanical connections begin to fail.

I’ve had a couple folks comment about my slow progress.  Well, it’s been quite a few years since I did any layout construction, and even though I know generally what to do, I still feel like (and make the mistakes of) a rookie.  Since I haven’t established myself as a famous model railroading guru, I find that I don’t have legions of volunteers begging for the chance to assist in the construction of the next great model railroad.  Therefore I’m mostly stuck with doing this virtually alone, save for some occasional help from my friend Wayne (he provides those extra hands for ripping lumber and things of that nature).  The result of my inexperience and generally slow nature, and lack of experienced help, is somewhat tepid progress.

But, progress is being made!

After I get some track down, I’ll file another report, and probably post a couple photos on the website.

Merry Christmas to all…

-Jack