Laying track...

It's been a couple weeks since our last round robin at The Rutland.  Everybody came ready to work, and work they did.  I was looking forward to putting down track and envisioned miles of cold, hard steel, starting in Bennington and winding through the country sides of North Bennington, Arlington, Sunderland and into the Manchester yard.  As it turned out, it became a very constructive brainstorming session, figuring out how to fit in the features that make Bennington Bennington, within my available space.  So this means these features may not wind up in their prototypical footprints but will still give sufficient nod and recognition to the yard and surrounding area. 

The focus this session was the Bennington Yard.   The phrase "Relatively Rutland" (coined by another Rutland enthusiast and passed on to me by Jim O.) is one which I embrace fiercely.

So let's take a look at this week's round robin session, shall we?

 

In spite of dilated pupils from an eye doctor appointment, Ron lays down some pretty sweet track.  This particular bit of track is a turnout that will take us past the water tank & coal tower and proceed  to the turntable.  

Visions of the future.  Bennington side of the view block...

...and on the opposite side of the view block will be Manchester.

Some tools of the trade...

Facing south, the turntable will be against the far wall (not prototypical location, but that's where it fits.  Nod.)

Discussing track plans laid out in Nimke's books (prototype) vs. functionality within available real estate (nod).  ~Is that George in the background?~

Northern sky constellations?  Treasure map? Champagne bubbles?  No!  Just some more radii calculations; looking for an elegant way out of the southern end of the Bennington yard.

 

The Mountain patiently rests and waits for civilization to arrive.  It's going to be a while.

Two buildings from RailroadKIT, soon to be part a bustling town.  Well, as "bustling" as Rutland towns might get.

 

Harley tries his chops in Management as "Acting Supervisor" while Max enjoys some much deserved vacation.

 

The ever-present controlled chaos...

Busy, happy hands...

 

...and feet...

 

 George, (with non-dilated pupils), works on some cars...

Discussing progress

Boston and Maine box car.  Nice work, George.

 

 

Checking out the track work with some rolling stock.

 

Discussing track location for the water tank, coal tower and proceeding to the turntable.  Also discussed; the possibility for a caboose track.

 

A view from the future turntable location.

 

The tree machine is currently moonlighting as a turnout storage area.  Not to be confused with the stationary bike moonlighting as a coat rack, nor the punching bag moonlighting as a towel rack.

 

Nice shot of Bennington so far.  SRMW's newest kit is a Bennington prototype and is currently slated for right here.

 

...ring, ring...ring, ring... ring, ring...

"Hey!  Don't make me take that phone away from you!!"

"Uh oh... trouble among the Gandy Dancers?"

 "Nope... no trouble.  Good.  I can return to my  important Managerial duties..."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ~snork~ zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

In no particular order...

In spite of the lack of blog updates, my layout is progressing.  The guys came over for a work session (or two or three) and completed almost all the benchwork (thanks guys).  All that's left is the section in front of the circuit box which still requires a decision:  Pull out (wheels)?  Drop down (hinge)?  Lift out (muscle)?

Track is being staged, a mock view block put up, even a little practice with cloud painting...

So, without further adieu, and in no particular order, some progress pix:

...Finishing up the back wall benchwork (between Bennington & Rutland)...

 





Upper Management "supervising".  Yeahhhh, supervising.

 

Plywood queued up, waiting for it's next life cycle as benchwork sub roadbed.

 

An unusual sight: union worker supervising management...

 

Back wall done.

 

View block between Bennington & Manchester mock up.

 

Possible location for SRMW newest kit; a Bennington prototype!

 

The Mountain has finally found its home, losing two feet of altitude in the process.

 

View towards what may be Rutland.

 

Fun with clouds.  Amazing what can be done with just a template and a can or two of spray paint.

 

Another long-shot view towards Rutland, pending bench work in front of circuit box on left.

 

Mock up track in Bennington looking south.

 

Southern section of Bennington yard, radii calculations underway.

 

Northward view of Bennington yard.

 

Construction chaos still reigns under the bench...

 

...and more chaos...

 

Possible location of Railroad Kits' Impervious Mill.

 

Roughing out HO radius, re-purposing O gage construction tool.

 

Harley the union worker and Middle Management Max, taking a rare break together.

 

 

This post shows the progress pre- Fine Scale Model Railroader EXPO 2013.  Now I'm all charged up with fresh ideas (and not just a few new kits), ready to dive back into completing the benchwork and finalizing the Bennington Yard trackage.  Stay tuned!



Normal life resumes...

...and the layout is back on the front-burner. 

My scribe and webmaster wife was sidelined for a while, recovering from a somewhat serious accident.  But all is well now.  She's back on her feet, ready to resume all things normal, happy (walking, blogging, emailing, picture-taking) and not so happy (punching the clock, paying bills, re-establishing some kind of exercise routine).  

Summer is turning into Autumn.  Vacations have been taken.  And it's time to get back TO it!!!

So where were we...

Work continues as the benchwork extends around the perimeter of the room. 

 

Measure twice, cut once, and form a committee to discuss.

Yup.  Looks good.

Transfer box has already been relocated (moved up) for the new HO layout...

...and all patched up.

 

 Plywood, going down!

 Slight variations in thickness... to be adjusted/filled in/feathered out.

Swapped out task lighting with lay-in drop-ceiling lights.

And the ever-patient mountain continues to wait for its final home.

 

 



And while Harley is helping me on the layout, a little drama unfolds upstairs...

 

 



Harley's precious marrow bone, left unguarded...

...The coast... 

 

...is clear... 

...oh boy, this is going to good...

 



Psh.  Dogs are so dumb.