Fascia installation

I was inspired by this post, so I decided to go ahead and install much of the fascia for the layout. It may be premature in some areas (no doubt I'll complain to myself at some point about lack of access to something), but is very necessary in other parts to start working on some basic scenery landforms.

The contours in the photo are obviously very rough; once the scenery profile is more determined I'll cut it to a nicer shape.

Staging track complete

I now have track laid from the main (lower) yard, across the visible main line, to the top of the hill (sawmill yard), down the helix and back through the 4-track staging area, and linked back in with an optional continuous-run track (not used for normal operation, but nice to have for just letting a train run every now and then.

Roadbed is done up to the logging camp, and track is laid partway up, but I haven't yet finalized the track arrangement in the logging camp itself so I don't want to lay track too far and then have to move it.

Main line connected

Right on time (according to my prediction of two weeks ago) I've finally got the main line laid from the throat of the lower yard to the top of the hill, and then down the helix.  All that remains is to lay the staging yard track (plus of course all the industrial track, two yards, and logging branch line). Budget prevents the acquisition of the quantity of switches required for the yards and industrial areas for a few more months, but the staging area and some sidings can hopefully be done this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

Mainline cork complete

I actually managed to finish laying all of the cork for the entire main line tonight. Further progress on laying track is hindered by 4 turnouts I'm waiting for my local hobby shop to get in stock. I'm told they should be here by the end of the week (Thursday if I'm lucky). So I guess tomorrow's task is to figure out where the logging branch subroadbed should go.

Construction: mainline subroadbed complete

Yes, I'm still here. I had to take a 2-month hiatus, so not much has progressed since last update, but now it's time to continue!

In this first shot, you can see the helix is complete (5 levels) and half capped with plywood for the lumber mill / helper turning yard. The rest of the plywood cap is on the floor ready to be placed.

Here's a shot a few days later with most of the cork laid out for the lumber mill yard.

That area is quite high off the ground (just below eye level for me) and from there the as-yet-unlaid lumber branch should gain another 6" or so of elevation, so I put in a raised floor to keep everything enjoyably viewable.

Due to a previous re-alignment of Marshall Hill, my original track plan for this area no longer fits, so I've had to scale it back a little; this is what the plan looks like now.

There are two major bridges that for now exist as bare subroadbed hanging in space, but will be replaced with more bridge-looking structures once the scenery starts to take shape.

As of tonight I have all of the subroadbed laid for the main line. The logging branch line, the paper mill complex, and the main yard are all 0% done. I have about 70% of the mainline cork laid, and about 50% of the track. If all goes according to plan, I hope to have the entire main line track laid by the end of the week, except for the staging yard, which will probably take another week. Soon after I want to rough in the logging branch (subroadbed at least). The I guess I need to start wiring so I can start running trains, right? :)