Transition to Scenery and Operations

Since my last post I have laid the track and wired the West (fold-down) staging track.

Folding staging deployed at the west end of the layout.

Now that all of the track for the initial "U" of the 4th Subdivision is in place and wired, my focus will be shifting to scenery and operations. While all the track is in place, some final testing should be completed and some joints still need soldered.

A major part of the transition from a focus on track laying and wiring to a focus on scenery is the trestle and creek scene. It is the one location where some scenery must be completed before the track-work can be finalized. At the least, the initial landforms must be in place for the trestle with its bents rising out of the landforms to be installed. A later post will discuss the technique I chose to use.

For a final test of the track-work I want to prepare for and conduct a first "operations" session. This will require that I complete a few more steps as well.

First Steps for Scenery:

• River bank and hills/cuts around trestle--initial landforms
• Complete trestle
• Track ready for paint
• Paint any bare plywood

Next Steps for Operations:

• Mount Willow Springs control panel
• Final NCE UTP installed
• Bill boxes and labels in place
• Program locomotive