12. 19 April 2025 The Loop through the Shed is Finished

The loop that runs through the shed is now complete; it is essentially a large passing siding but I plan to put some scenery that suggests a township behind it.
 I now have a function loop of track to run trains on as I work on the two point to point sections of the layout as well as getting the servo controlled points working..

My 1:20.3 Bachmann Consolidation (Connie) was used for a few test runs as it is the largest wheelbase with the biggest overhang of all my locos and all went well.

Track into LHS of Shed

Track Loop crossing Shed under Upper Shelf

Loop Curving toward RHS of shed

 

Track into RHS of Shed

 Included in the loop is a 3D printed G scale point (link below), this is the first time I have used 3D printed track work so I will watch it with interest.  As it is out of the sun it should last a fairly long time.

 G-scale switch - compatible with LGB R5 (18050/18150)

11. 16 April 2025 The Gravel Pit Siding

Next to the entry into the shed of the Lower Line a siding for a Gravel Pit industry has been constructed.  This is right next to the low bridges over the dry river bed which is where the gravel is being dug from.

This gives me a shunting opportunity for my Gravel Train and also gives another passing siding on the loop line coming out of the shed.

 

Gravel Pit siding looking toward shed door

Gravel Pit siding looking from shed door

Gravel Pit siding looking toward the dry river bed

Gravel Pit Siding from side of layout.
Dry river bed in background

 

 

10. The Ethanol and Sugar Sidings

 At the End of the Passing Siding on the lower level 2 sidings have been constructed.

At either end is a set of LGB 3 Way Points.

Each siding will have a separate loading facility, one being a bulk sugar loader and the other an ethanol loading facility.

The sugar and the Ethanol come from the Sugar Mill precinct via an underground conveyor for the sugar and an underground pipeline for the ethanol.

The original plan called for the construction of a bridge across the valley between the sugar mill and the main railway which would have allowed wagons to be shunted into the precinct.

When engineers did a feasibility study the found that the cost of building the bridge the cost far outweighed the benefit due to the small amount of traffic that would use it so a decision not to proceed was made.

This now puts the lower line into the shed through which it will run on a loop and exit out the other doors.

3Way at Shed End

3 Way at Passing Siding End

Sidings looking from the Shed

Sidings looking toward Shed

Looking along Passing Siding

 

9. 31 March 2025 Construction of the Lower Loop Baseboards through the Shed is finished

 

It has taken a bit of time but finally the baseboards for the loop through the shed are complete.

Originally they were going to be for a single line but as time went on a passing loop has been added to the plan.

Now they are finished it is planned for a small township scene to be built to give passing trains somewhere to stop and to add a bit of shunting to increase interest. 

 

Looking into the LHS side of the shed

Looking out of the LHS of the shed

Lengthwise of the bench work

Across the corner

Out of theRHS of the shed

Looking out of the RHS of the shed

Looking into the LHS of the shed

 

To get through the roller doors 4  lift up bridges (flaps) had to be built so that the doors can close.

 

Lower flap raised at RHS entry

Upper and lower level entry flaps

LHS entry flap Down

LHS entry flap UP

 

The baseboards are on one side of an aisle the other side is going to be a yard area