Few more pictures of the covered bridge

Only the roof needs to be done and will be able to start on the other bridge.
Hope you like.

Later

Covered bridge will fit nice on the layout

     This week I've been working on my covered bridge and some roadbed. The covered bridge roof, walls and track platform are done, but not without a major problem found just in time. Nothing is assemble yet, that's why I build a little jig so that the walls could hold in place. Everything fit perfectly, checked the inside height with a locomotive and some freight and everything was ok......... until I tried a car carrier....... OH NO, I need to raise the roof by 1/4 inch, glad nothing was assembled. I was able to add an 1/2" extension which fits very nice.

     What's next for the bridge, front and back top wall, touch ups, paint, weathering and then assembling.

     As for the layout, all I did was installing more roadbeds. For the coming week, I'd like to finish the roadbed and elevation work on the sub roadbed just past the village (before the peninsula). I also want to start work on my next bridge which is a trestle bridge. The covered bridge is for the passenger train while the trestle bridge is for freight.

Later

A bit of everything at the same time

Latest update,

      I'm so anxious to get trains running that I've started working on installing some roadbed. In reality I've divided my time on frame work, roadbed (tracks soon), and structures...... so much to do.

      Here's my Sunrise Feed Mill almost completed. I still need to do some touch ups here and there. I had planned to install some lights in and out but went to fast in building and forgot about it. I need to build a schedule of things to do so I don't forget......age does that to you...lol. Also 3/4 of the way through I also forgot I wanted to take pictures and videos of the build.....oh well, got to remember for the next structure.

     When I was building the structure, I had taken the base to measure where to put my track on the layout so that I would have enough room for the building. I then went ahead and installed my roadbed. Well my first mistake of this layout occurred. The overhang of the building prevented the boxcar from going through. I had to remove the roadbed which was glued down and install it a little further, now everything is honky dory.

     My next structures are 2 bridges which are going to be build from scratch. One is a covered bridge which is mainly going to be used by the passenger train near the wall and the other will be a trestle for the freight train.

     By the end of the year, I would like to have all the elevations and roadbed done, just pass the peninsula, so I can start installing some tracks in the new year.

      For now, back to the grind on the layout.

Later

More work as been done

     It's been a week, so it's time for a new update.

     Only got my wood Friday so it was a slow week, but a busy weekend.

     

     While waiting, I decided to work on the the track framework elevations. Even though the design showed a flat track, I wanted to put some elevations, so needed to do lots of calculation to keep the slope at a max of 2%. Also the design is a double track, but I wanted the tracks to spread out before they each hit the bridge, so I can put a rock outcrop between the tracks. Even with these changes, the rest is still intact................for now.

      On the weekend, I finish the length of the back wall for the framework under the tracks.

 

     I'm printing my track plan in sections, here's the first peninsula.

     Working on the second peninsula. This one is a long one, measuring about 16' long and between 4-5' wide. Once this is done, this whole part of the layout is what I'll be working on till my wife moves out of her office in May. Then I will start on the second half of the layout.

     So I've got plenty of work waiting for me. So far 70 1''x4"x 8' and 900 screws. I pre drilled before every screw so that the wood wouldn't crack. I've got this useful drill bit/screw bit flip, saves lots of time. Oh and everything is level and sturdy.

     Will try to make a video next week explaining the layout.

Later