Table of Contents / Links
July 2015
To Be or Not to Be? 7/14/2015
What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
HO vs N Scale 7/17/2015

Further Thoughts Regarding Sound and Lighting 7-23-2015

Giving Some Thought to the Backdrop Wall Design 7/25/2015
August 2015
New Layout Design 8/5/2015
Planning the Flow of the Landscape: Tweaking the Track Plan 8-7-2015
Road Grading, Structure Pads, and Town Terracing: Preliminary Considerations 8-8-2015
The Wiring Scheme: Thinking About Detection Blocks 8/10/2015
The Naming of Power Districts, Detection Blocks and Turnouts 8/11/2015
What Do I Need 8-12-2015 (updated 9-20-2015)
Selecting Vendors 8/13/2015
Further Tweaking of the Track Plan 8/14/2015
Tweaking the Wiring Schematic 8/15/2015
More Work with Block and Turnout Names 8/17/2015
Doubts 8/18/2015
Block Lists 8/19/2015
Turnout Lists 8/20/2015
Creating a Switchboard in TrainController 8/21/2015
Still More Track Plan Tweaking 8/22/12015
Thinking About the Yard 8/25/2015
Signal Placement and Terminal Track Plan 8/26/2015
Another Design 8/30/2015
September 2015
Further Considerations Arising from a Smaller Trainroom 9/1/2015
Still MoreTweaking of the Benchwork and Track Plan 9/6/2105
Accessing the Hidden Yard 9/7/2015
Chcking Elevations and Grades using XTrackCAD 9/9/2015
More Track Tweaks 9/12/2015
The Luxury of Time 9/18/2015
Rethinking the Removable Corner Mountains  and Resizing the Corner Radii 9/19/2015
Bridge, Viaduct, Over/Underpass, and Culvert Planning 9/21/2015
Road, Terrain, and Topography on the Revised Track Plan 9/22/2015
November 2015
Tortoise Interface 11/4/2015
PM42 and BDL68 Interfaces 11/10/2015
Moving Ahead 11/19/2015
Dwarf Signals 11/21/2015
Labels 11/26/2015
Reconsidering Twisting and Bundling of Power Buses - The Bus Wire Mounting Board 11/30/2015
December 2015
Wiring Color Scheme 12/1/2015
Some Thoughts Regarding Droppers 12/1/2015
Tortoise Interface Prototype 12/3/2015
Rethingking the Train Room Lighting Scheme 12/5/2015
More about the Phillips HUE lighting system 12/13/2015
Preliminary Testing of Phillips HUE System 12/18/1015
Phillips Hue Program Up and Running 12/19/2015
More About Marrying the Layout to the Backdrop 12/31/2015
January 2016
Installing and Programming a Phillips Hue Lighting System on the AB&R1 1/9/2016
Architectural Drawing for the New A&BR2 Train Room 1/12/2016
Atlas or Peco Track? 1/13/2106
Designing and Locating the Main Lighting and Electrical Panel 1-15-2016
Switching to Atlas Code 55 1/18/2016
Weathering Track 1/19/2016
Testing the Atlas Code 55 Turnouts 1/22/2016
Revisiting the Track Plan 1-24-2016
Reworking and Double Checking the Block and Turnout List Agaisnt the TC Switchboard  1/25/2106
Turnout Templates 1/29/2016
Tweaks to HUE Lighting Sunrise and Sunsets Completed 1/30/2016
Some Thoughts Regarding Cork Roadbed 1/31/2016
February 2016
An Easement Template 2/4/2016
Track Plan Revision at Fitzhugh 2/6/2016
Do-ahead Projects 2/10/2016
Revisiting the PM42 and BDL168 Barrier Block Labeing Scheme 2/11/2016
Relocating the PM42 and the BDL168 on the Layout 2-17-16
Mounting PM42s and BDL168s 2-18-16
Thinking About the Benchwork 2-19-2016
Update tothe Train Room Floor Plan Including the Under-the-Slab Conduit Locations 2-25-16
A Power Bus and a Prototype Mounting Board for DS64s 2-26-16
Modifications to the Tortoise Interface 2-29-2016
Layout Lighting Power Bus and Lighting Distribution Blocks 2-29-2016
March 2016
Labeling the Wire Mounting Board 3-1-2016
Installing Turnout Interfaces 3-4-2016
Looking Ahead 3-17-2016
Aux Power Supply 3-22-2016
T Splicing Wire 3-23-2016
Signals and Signal Placement 3-24-2016

April 2016
A&BR2 Specifications 4-11-2016
TrainController Gold 4-10-2016
Servo Controlled Dimmer for Trainroom Fluorescent Lights 4-11-2016
Programming the Lights on the A&BR 4/14/2016
Some File Management Housekeeping for TrainController 4/23/2016

May 2016
TroubleShooting Loconet After a Lightning Hit 5-7-2016
DPM Kits 5-10-2016
A DPM Kit Bash 5-24-1016
Windows 10 Problem vis a vis 7.1 Surround Sound Box (ENCAB-8CM) 5-31-2016
Layout Lighting Power Bus and Lighting Distribution Blocks 2-29-2016

June 2016
Prototyping Layout Lighting Distribution Blocks 6-1-2016
Beginning to Lay Track - Peparing to Construct Prefabricated Sections 6 -7- 2016
Weathering Turnouts 6-8-2016
Wiring Turnouts 6-9-2016
Having to Rethink DS64 Turnout Addresses 6-11-2016
Assigning Board Address Numbers 6-13-2016
Laying Track 6-19-2016         
Installing Tortoise Switch Machines and Tortoise Interfaces on the Prefab Section 6-20-2016
Testing Installed Atlas Code 55 Turnouts and the Prefab Section Wiring 6-22-2016
Rethinking the Layout Lighting Wiring Scheme 6-24-2016

July 2016
Signal Protocol, Programming  and Placement  7-4-2016
Breaking Ground 7-5-2016
Footings Poured Today 7-13-2016         
Block Walls - Train Room Takes Shape 7-28-2015

August 2016
Foundation Walls Complete 8-12-2016
Track Laying Using Xtrack CAD 8-17-2016

September 2016
Slab Poured  9-7-2016
Painting Figures 9-10-2016
Elevation Calculator 9-19-2016
Lighting a Covered Station Platform 9/23/2016
Floor Joists Installed 9/24/2016

October 2016
Contemplating the Completion of the New Building 10-30-2016
Train Room Lighting and Electrical Control Panel 10-31-2016

November 2016
Train Room Lighting and AC Electrical Revisited 11-8-2016
Laying Out the Backdrop Walls and the Overhead Lighting Soffit 11/9/2016
Backdrop Wall Initial Framing Completed 11/11/2016
Final Train Room Lighitng and Electrical Plan 11-28-2016

December 2016
Lighting Soffit Framing Complete 12/1/2016
Final Tweaks to Block and Turnout Names and Addresses and to the Power District Layout 12/2/2016
Manipulating Color in HUE Light Programs 12-7-2016
Construction Blues 12-22-2016

January 2017

Wait Time Preperations 1-18-2017

February 2017

Train Room Takes Shape 2-4-2017
Creating Signs 2-15-2017

March 2017

Train Room Initial Wall Painting Complete 3-19-2017
Painting Clouds on the Backdrop 3-20-2017
Rethinking Painted Clouds 3-25-2017
Working Drawings for the Hinged Bench Tops at Altamont 3-25-2017

April 2017

Working with Mountain Silhouettes on the Backdrop 4-1-2017
Testing the HUE Lighting System in the New train Room 4-2-2017
Working Drawings for the Benchwork 4-3-2017
Further Thought Regarding Mountain Shilouettes 4-4-2017
Constructing a 4 Foot-long Mountain Silhouette and Checking the Scale 4-6-2017
Rethinking the Tree Line and Completing the Mountain Mockup 4-11-2017
Cloud Painting on the Backdrop Complete 4-13-12017
Test Section of the Bench Completed 4/18/2017
Basic Bench Work Completed 4/19/2017
Taking Stock and Planning the Next Move 4-22-2017
Getting Started 4/29/2017
More Detailed Topographical Planning 4-30-2017

May 2017

Fitzhugh Section Roadbed Runners and Terracing Complete 5-6-2017
Wiring Begins 5-10-2017
Hooking Up Prefabricated Turnout Modules 5-11-2017
Cork Roadbed at Fitzhugh 5-19-2017
Track Work at Fitzhugh 5-26-2017
Labeling 5-26 2017
Evaluating the Wire Mounting Board 5-26-2017
Grade Easements 5-30-2017
Completing the Preliminary Work at Fitzhugh 5-31-2017

June 2017

Building the Basic Mountain Framework 6-2-2017
Finishing Up at Fitzhugh 6-3-2017
Preliminary Planning and Work on the Fitzhugh Curve Section 6-8-2017
Track Work at Fitzhugh Curve Complete 6-15-2017
Finishing Up at the Fitzhugh Curve - Mountain Framework, the Lake, and the Curved Bridge 6-20-2017
Beginning Work on the Hidden Yard 6-22-2017
Framing and Installing the Hinged Covers for the Hidden Yard 6-30-2017

July 2017

Topographical Planning for Hinged Cover #2 and the Mountain at the Altamont Curve 7-3-2017
Track Laying, Bridges, and Rough Topography on the Altamont Curve 7-7-2017

August  2017

Track Laying on the Altamont High Line 8-1-2007
Shutting Down the A&BR1, Installing Salvaged Components, and Preparing for Comprehensive Testing on the A&BR2 8-6-2017 through 8-25-2017

September 2017
 
Beginning Work on the South Bench: Altamont Yard to the Little River Curve 9-1-2017
Flex-track Inventory and Weathering 9-12-2017
Decking, Prefabricated Turnout Sections, Roadbed Runners for Altamont Yard 9-14-2017
Wrestling with Electronic Gremlins 9-29-2017

October 2017

Mainline Track Laying on the South Bench 10/5/2017
Designing and Roughing in the Scenery around Little River 10-17-2017
Installing a Permanent Loconet Cable on the South Bench 10-21-2017
Installing the Roadbed and Terracing on the East Bench 10-30-2017

November 2017

Auto-Reversing Problem 11-1-2017
Planning and Installing the Roadbed and Terracing on the East Bench 10-30-2017
Kit Bashing and Installing a Walthers Deco Under Pass 11-9-2017
Preliminary Topographical Planning for the East River Curve and the Town of Westridge 11-18-2017
Dismantling and Storing Components from the A&BR1 11-29-2017

December 2017

Building Roadbed Runners and Installing Bridges and Laying Track on the East River Curve and at Westridge 12/30/2017

January 2018

Removable Hatch at Westridge 1-9-2018
Mainline Track at Westridge and the East River Curve Complete 1-10-2017
Programming Schedules and Testing Track 1-12-2018
Installing a Faller Double Track Arched Steel Bridge 1/17/2018
Constructing the Rough Mountain Frame on the East River Curve 1-23-2018
Constructing the Rough Mountain Frame at Westridge 1-23-2017
Salvaging Components from the A&BR1 1- 26-2018
Installing Mainline Signals on the A&BR2 1-27-2018

February 2018

Mainline Track, Signals and Topo Rough-ins Completed 2-15-2018
Salvage Operations on the A&BR1 Complete 2-16-2018
Planning  a Scenery Section  2-18-2018
Ongoing Tweaks to Track, Wheels, Trucks, and Locos 2-19-2018
Notes Regarding Latex Wall Paint 2-20-2018
Scenery Building Begins at the Mountain on the East River Curve 2-21-2018
Backdrop Silhouettes and Lake Bed at East River 3/6/2018

March 2018

Backdrop Silhouettes and Lake Bed at East River 3/6/2018
Adding Earth Texture, Ground Cover, Shrubs and Trees to the Mountain on the East River Curve: 3/12/2018
New Computers and Monitors Arrive 3/23/2018
New Computers Up and Running 3-27-2018
Creating A More Complex Lake at Westridge 3/30/2018

April 2018

The Mountain at Westridge 4/2/2018

May 2018

Westridge: Town Planning and Construction 5/2/2018
Thoughts Regarding Track Cleaning and Running Trains During Layout Construction 5/11/2018
Completing the Westridge Side of the North Bench 5/15/2018
Moving On: The East Bench and the Town of East River 5/18/2018
June 2018

Trouble with Dry Tranfers as Roadway Centerlines 6-18-2018
East River Left Side Completed 6/22/2018
Completing the Scenery on the East Bench and Some Thoughts About Marrying Mountains to the Backdrop 6/26/2018

July 2018

Scenery on the Little River Curve 7/16/2018

August 2018

Scenery at Little River Crossing 8-19-2018
Second Annual Train Room Clean Up 8/22/2018
Laying Out the Little River Industrial Section 8/30/2018

Sept 2018

Wiring an Additional BDL168 for Atlamont Yard, LittleRiver Siding, and the Auto-reversing Sections 9/18/2018
Finally a Workable Dustcover 9/19/2018
In Praise of NoOX A Special 9/19/2018
Building a Worker Housing Area on the South Bench 9/20/2018
Ballasting Track 9/27/2018

October 2018

Landscaping a Narrow Strip of Rolling Hills 10/04/2018
Worker Housing Area 10/10/2018

November 2018

Track Laying for Altamont Yard 11-2-2018
Marrying the Layout to the Backdrop Along the South bench 11/27/2018

December 2018

Northwest Bench: Planning Overview for the Town of Fitzhugh and Fitzhugh Mountain 3/7/2019
Tunnel Portals and Portal Retaining Walls 3/7/2019
Constructing Fitzhugh Mountain 3/10/2019
Constructing the Mountain on the Fitzhugh Curve 3/24/2019

April 2019

Creating Altamont Lake 4/4/2019
Laying out the Town of Fitzhugh 4/7/2019

May 2019

The Fitzhugh Industrial Area 5/1/2019
Running Trains and Making Adjustments 5-24-2019

June 2019

Beginning Work on the West Bench 6-4-2019
Finishing Up at Fitzhugh. 6/22/2019
Detailing the City of Altamont on the Hinged Bench Top. 6/23/2019

July 2019

Third Annual Train Room Clean Up. 7/8/2019
Lighting the City of Altamont on the Hinged Bench Top. 7/12/2019
Continuing Work on the Northwest Hinged Section.7/15/2019

August 2019

The Courthouse, Fire Station, and Police Station.8/24/2019
Planning the Southwest Hinged Top 8/25/2019

September 2019

Constructing Scenery on the Southwest Hinged Top. 9/2/2019
Installing Lighting Baffles Above the Center Bench 10/2/2019

October 2019

Installing Lighting Baffles Above the Center Bench 10/2/2019
Constructing the Grand, Terraced Altamont Terminal Complex. 10/7/2019

November 2019

Platforms for the Altamont Terminal Upper Level crossing Tracks 11-5-2019
Bringing a Second Computer On line and Installing NET Software 11-8-101
Hillside Transitions from West Bench to Center Bench 11-23-2019


December 2019

Constructing the Altamont Terminal Ladder 12-5-2019

January 2020

Installing the Rest of the Mainline Turnouts on the Center Bench 1/6/2020


February 2020
 
Center Bench Overview and a Rough Layout for the West Slope and an Industrial Park 2-8-2020
Planning and Constructing Structures for the Center Bench 2/15/2020

March 2020

Completing the West Slope and the Industrial Park 3/14/2020
Completing the Altamont Terminal Complex 3/22/2020

April 2020

Installing Turnouts for the Shop Area 4-7-2020
Another Factory Structure 4/12/2020
Odds and Ends 4/16/2020
More Track Side Structures 4-27-2020

May 2020

Laying Out Roads on the South Side of  the Entrance to Altamont Yard. 5-3-2020

June 2020

Incorporating the Center Bench in to the Demonstration Sequence 6/8/2020
Changes to the Phillips HUE Lighting Custom Software 6/9/2020
More Structure Lighting 6/11/2020
Beginning Work the Shops Complex and the Turntable and Roundhouse. 6-15-2020

July 2020

More Structures for the Shops Area 7-16-2020

October 2020
Troubleshooting Problems with the Turntable 10-1-2020

Finishing details on the Altamont Shops Area 10/10/2020

Creating a Large Mountain Landscape 10/17/2020

December 2020

A Few More Structures 12/21/2020
Continuing with the Mountain Scenery 12/31/2020

January 2021

Beginning Work of the Mountain 1/20/2021

February 2021

Running Schedules 2/8/2021

Air Filter 2/8/2021

Ballasting Track 2/19/2021

March 2021

The Back Side of the Center Bench Mountain 3/10/2021

April 2021

Fascia Board, Trim, and Skirts 4/1/2021

Bench Fascia and Trim 4/26/2021

Fourth Annual Train Room Cleanup 4/29/2021

May 2021

Marrying the Scenery to the Bench-edge Trim 5/14/2021

 

 

Alphabetical Index by Topic

Backdrop

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Giving Some Thought to the Backdrop Wall Design 7/25/2015
More About Marrying the Layout to the Backdrop 12/31/2015
Laying Out the Backdrop Walls and the Overhead Lighting Soffit 11/9/2016
Backdrop Wall Initial Framing Completed 11/11/2016
Painting Clouds on the Backdrop 3-20-2017
Rethinking Painted Clouds 3-26-2017
Working with Mountain Silhouettes on the Backdrop 4-1-2017
Further Thoughts Regarding Mountain Silhouettes 4-4-2017
Constructing a 4 Foot-long Mountain Silhouette and Checking the Scale 4-6-2017
Rethinking the Tree Line and Completing the Mountain Mockup 4-11-2017
Cloud Painting on the Backdrop Complete 4-13-12017
Beginning Work on the South Bench: Altamont Yard to the Little River Curve 9-1-2017
Backdrop Silhouettes and Lake Bed at East River 3/6/2018
Marrying the Layout to the Backdrop Along the South Bench 11/27/2018
Correcting Problems with the  Mountain Silhouettes 12/16/2018

Benchwork

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Still MoreTweaking of the Benchwork and Track Plan 9/6/2105
Accessing the Hidden Yard 9/7/2015
Thinking About the Bench Work 2-19-2016
Elevation Calculator 9-19-2016
Laying Out the Backdrop Walls and the Overhead Lighting Soffit 11/9/2016
Backdrop Wall Initial Framing Completed 11/11/2016
Working Drawings for the Hinged Bench Tops at Altamont 3-25-2017
Working Drawings for the Benchwork 4-3-2017
Test Section of the Bench Completed 4/18/2017
Basic Bench Work Completed 4/18/2017
Framing and Installing the Hinged Covers for the Hidden Yard 6-30-2017
Finally a Workable Dustcover 9/19/2018
Beginning Work on the West Bench 6-4-2019
Fascia Board, Trim, and Skirts 4/1/2021

        Bench Fascia and Trim 4/26/2021

Design and Planning

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
New Layout Design 8/5/2015
Planning the Flow of the Landscape: Tweaking the Track Plan 8-7-2015
Road Grading, Structure Pads, and Town Terracing: Preliminary Considerations 8-8-2015
The Wiring Scheme: Thinking About Detection Blocks 8/10/2015
The Naming of Power Districts, Detection Blocks and Turnouts 8/11/2015
What Do I Need 8-12-2015 (updated 9-20-2015)
Selecting Vendors 8/13/2015
Further Tweaking of the Track Plan 8/14/2015
Tweaking the Wiring Schematic 8/15/2015
More Work with Block and Turnout Names 8/17/2015
Block Lists 8/19/2015
Turnout Lists 8/20/2015
Still More Track Plan Tweaking 8/22/12015
Thinking About the Yard 8/25/2015
Signal Placement and Terminal Track Plan 8/26/2015
Further Considerations Arising from a Smaller Trainroom 9/1/2015
Still MoreTweaking of the Benchwork and Track Plan 9/6/2105
Accessing the Hidden Yard 9/7/2015
Checking Elevations and Grades using XTrackCAD 9/9/2015
More Track Tweaks 9/12/2015
Rethinking the Removable Corner Mountains  and Resizing the Corner Radii 9/19/2015
Bridge, Viaduct, Over/Underpass, and Culvert Planning 9/21/2015
Road, Terrain, and Topography on the Revised Track Plan 9/22/2015
Another Design 8/30/2015
Labels 11/26/2015
Designing and Locating the Main Lighting and Electrical Panel 1-15-2016
Revisiting the Track Plan 1-24-2016
Do-ahead Projects 2/10/2016
Revisiting the PM42 and BDL168 Barrier Block Labeing Scheme 2/11/2016
Relocating the PM42 and the BDL168 on the Layout 2-17-16
Mounting PM42s and BDL168s 2-18-16
Update to the Train Room Floor Plan Including the Under-the-Slab Conduit Locations 2-25-16
Labeling the Wire Mounting Board 3-1-2016

        Having to Rethink DS64 Turnout Addresses 6-11-2016
        Assigning Board Address Numbers 6-13-2016
        Train Room Lighting and AC Electrical Revisited 11-8-2016
        Laying Out the Backdrop Walls and the Overhead Lighting Soffit 11/9/2016
       Final Train Room Lighitng and Electrical Plan 11-28-2016 
        Final Tweaks to Block and Turnout Names and Addresses and to the Power District Layout 12/2/2016
        Working with Mountain Silhouettes on the Backdrop 4-1-2017
         Further Thought Regarding Mountain Silhouettes 4-4-2017
        Constructing a 4 Foot-long Mountain Silhouette and Checking the Scale 4-6-2017
        Rethinking the Tree Line and Completing the Mountain Mockup 4-11-2017
        Taking Stock and Planning the Next Move 4-22-2017
        Getting Started 4/29/2017
        More Detailed Topographical Planning 4-30-2017
        Evaluating the Wire Mounting Board 5-26-2017
          Preliminary Planning and Work on the Fitzhugh Curve Section 6-8-2017
        Topographical Planning for Hinged Cover #2 and the Mountain at the Altamont Curve 7-3-2017
        Updating the Track Plan 8-4-2017
        Flex-track Inventory and Weathering 9-12-2017
          Decking, Prefabricated Turnout Sections, Roadbed Runners for Altamont Yard 9-14-2017
        Designing and Roughing in the Scenery around Little River 10-17-2017
        Planning and Installing the Roadbed and Terracing on the East Bench 11-7-2017
        Preliminary Topographical Planning for the East River Curve and the Town of Westridge 11-18-2017
        Removable Hatch at Westridge 1-10-2018
        Planning  a Scenery Section  2-18-2018
        Westridge: Town Planning and Construction 5/2/2018
        Modeling Altamont Yard 12/6/2018
        Northwest Bench: Planning Overview for the Town of Fitzhugh and Fitzhugh Mountain 3/7/2019
        Tunnel Portals and Portal Retaining Walls 3/7/2019
        Laying out the Town of Fitzhugh 4/7/2019
        Beginning Work on the West Bench 6-4-2019
        Planning the Southwest Hinged Top 8/25/2019
        Constructing the Grand, Terraced Altamont Terminal Complex. 10/7/2019
        Center Bench Overview and a Rough Layout for the West Slope and an Industrial Park 2-8-2020
        Planning and Constructing Structures for the Center Bench 2/15/2020
        Laying Out Roads on the South Side of  the Entrance to Altamont Yard. 5-3-2020
        Beginning Work the Shops Complex and the Turntable and Roundhouse. 6-15-2020


Elevations and Grades

Checking Elevations and Grades using XTrackCAD 9/9/2015
Elevation Calculator 9-19-2016
Fitzhugh Section Roadbed Runners and Terracing Complete 5-6-2017
Track Work at Fitzhugh 5-24-2017
Grade Easements 5-30-2017
Building Roadbed Runners, Installing Bridges and Laying Track on the East River Curve and at Westridge 12/30/2017

Lighting, Layout 

Layout Lighting Power Bus and Lighting Distribution Blocks 2-29-2016
Aux Power Supply 3-22-2016
Prototyping Layout Lighting Distribution Blocks 6-1-2016
Lighting a Covered Station Platform 9/23/2016
Westridge: Town Planning and Construction 5/2/2018
Lighting the City of Altamont on the Hinged Bench Top. 7/12/2019
More Structure Lighting 6/11/2020

Lighting, Train Room 

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Further Thoughts Regarding Sound and Lighting 7-23-2015
Rethinking the Train Room Lighting Scheme 12/5/2015
More about the Phillips HUE lighting system 12/13/2015
Preliminary Testing of Phillips HUE System 12/18/1015
Phillips Hue Program Up and Running 12/19/2015
Installing and Programming a Phillips Hue Lighting System on the AB&R1 1/9/2016
Tweaks to HUE Lighting Sunrise and Sunsets Completed 1/30/2016
Servo Controlled Dimmer for Train Room Fluorescent Lights 4-11-2016
Programming the Lights on the A&BR 4/14/2016

          Train Room Lighting and Electrical Control Panel 10-31-2016
        Train Room Lighting and AC Electrical Revisited 11-8-2016
        Final Train Room Lighting and Electrical Plan 11-28-2016
        Manipulating Color in HUE Light Programs 12-7-2016
        Testing the HUE Lighting System in the New train Room 4-2-2017
        Installing Lighting Baffles Above the Center Bench 10/2/2019
        Changes to the Phillips HUE Lighting Custom Software 6/9/2020

Planning (See Design and Planning)

Scale

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
HO vs N Scale 7/17/2015

Scenery

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Planning the Flow of the Landscape: Tweaking the Track Plan 8-7-2015
Road Grading, Structure Pads, and Town Terracing: Preliminary Considerations 8-8-2015
Rethinking the Removable Corner Mountains  and Resizing the Corner Radii 9/19/2015
Bridge, Viaduct, Over/Underpass, and Culvert Planning 9/21/2015
Road, Terrain, and Topography on the Revised Track Plan 9/22/2015
Weathering Track 1/19/2016

          Painting Figures 9-10-2016
        Painting Clouds on the Backdrop 3-20-2017
        Rethinking Painted Clouds 3-26-2017
        Working with Mountain Silhouettes on the Backdrop 4-1-2017
        Further Thought Regarding Mountain Silhouettes 4-4-2017
        Constructing a 4 Foot-long Mountain Silhouette and Checking the Scale 4-6-2017
        Rethinking the Tree Line and Completing the Mountain Mockup 4-11-2017
        Cloud Painting on the Backdrop Complete 4-13-12017
        More Detailed Topographical Planning 4-30-2017
        Fitzhugh Section Roadbed Runners and Terracing Complete 5-6-2017
        Building the Basic Mountain Framework 6-2-2017
        Preliminary Planning and Work on the Fitzhugh Curve Section 6-8-2017
        Finishing Up at the Fitzhugh Curve - Mountain Framework, the Lake, and the Curved Bridge 6-20-2017
        Topographical Planning for Hinged Cover #2 and the Mountain at the Altamont Curve 7-3-2017
        Track Laying, Bridges, and Rough Topography on the Altamont Curve 7-7-2017
        Designing and Roughing in the Scenery around Little River 10-17-2017
        Preliminary Topographical Planning for the East River Curve and the Town of Westridge 11-18-2017
           Installing a Faller Double Track Arched Steel Bridge 1/17/2018
        Constructing the Rough Mountain Frame on the East River Curve 1-23-2018
        Constructing the Rough Mountain Frame at Westridge 1-23-2017
        Salvaging Components from the A&BR1 1- 28-2018
        Mainline Track, Signals and Topo Rough-ins Completed 2-15-2018
        Planning  a Scenery Section  2-18-2018
        Notes Regarding Latex Wall Paint 2-20-2018
          Scenery Building Begins at the Mountain on the East River Curve 2-21-2018
        Backdrop Silhouettes and Lake Bed at East River 3/6/2018
        Adding Earth Texture, Ground Cover, Shrubs and Trees to the Mountain on the East River Curve: 3/12/2018
        Creating A More Complex Lake at Westridge 3/30/2018
        The Mountain at Westridge 4/2/2018
        Westridge: Town Planning and Construction 5/2/2018
        Completing the Westridge Side of the North Bench 5/15/2018
        Moving On: The East Bench and the Town of East River 5/18/2018
             Trouble with Dry Tranfers as Roadway Centerlines 6-18-2018
        East River Left Side Completed 6/22/2018
        Completing the Scenery on the East Bench and Some Thoughts About Marrying Mountains to the Backdrop 6/26/2018
        Scenery on the Little River Curve 7/16/2018
        Scenery at Little River Crossing 8-19-2018
        Laying Out the Little River Industrial Section 8/30/2018
        Finally a Workable Dustcover 9/19/2018
        Building a Worker Housing Area on the South Bench 9/20/2018
        Landscaping a Narrow Strip of Rolling Hills 10/04/2018
        Worker Housing Area 10/10/2018
        Marrying the Layout to the Backdrop Along the South Bench 11/27/2018
        Modeling Altamont Yard 12/6/2018
        Correcting Problems with the  Mountain Silhouettes 12/16/2018
        Returning to Work on Altamont Yard 1/16/2019
        The Altamont Curve 2/7/2019
        Ballasting the Westridge and East River Sections and Other Finishing Details 2/14/2019
        Tunnel Portals and Portal Retaining Walls 3/7/2019
        Constructing Fitzhugh Mountain 3/10/2019
        Constructing the Mountain on the Fitzhugh Curve 3/24/2019
        Creating Altamont Lake 4/4/2019
        Laying out the Town of Fitzhugh 4/7/2019
        The Fitzhugh Industrial Area 5/1/2019
        Continuing Work on the Northwest Hinged Section.7/15/2019   
        The Courthouse, Fire Station, and Police Station.8/24/2019
          Constructing Scenery on the Southwest Hinged Top. 9/2/2019 
          Constructing the Grand, Terraced Altamont Terminal Complex. 10/7/2019
        Hillside Transitions from West Bench to Center Bench 11-23-2019 ]
          Planning and Constructing Structures for the Center Bench 2/15/2020
        Completing the West Slope and the Industrial Park 3/14/2020
        Completing the Altamont Terminal Complex 3/22/2020
        Laying Out Roads on the South Side of  the Entrance to Altamont Yard. 5-3-2020
        Beginning Work the Shops Complex and the Turntable and Roundhouse. 6-15-2020
           Finishing details on the Altamont Shops Area 10/10/2020
        Creating a Large Mountain Landscape
10/17/2020
        Continuing with the Mountain Scenery 12/31/2020
        Beginning Work of the Mountain 1/20/2021
          Ballasting Track 2/19/2021
        The Back Side of the Center Bench Mountain 3/10/2021
          Marrying the Scenery to the Bench-edge Trim 5/14/2021

Signs And Signals

Signal Placement and Terminal Track Plan 8/26/2015
Dwarf Signals 11/21/2015
Signals and Signal Placement 2-24-2016

        Signal Protocol, Programming  and Placement  7-4-2016
        Creating Signs 2-15-2017
          Installing Mainline Signals on the A&BR2 1-27-2018
        Mainline Track, Signals and Topo Rough-ins Completed 2-15-2018
Troubleshooting Problems with the Turntable 10-1-2020

Sound

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Further Thoughts Regarding Sound and Lighting 7-23-2015

        Windows 10 Problem vis a vis 7.1 Surround Sound Box (ENCAB-8CM)

Structures

Bridge, Viaduct, Over/Underpass, and Culvert Planning 9/21/2015
DPM Kits 5-10-2016
A DPM Kit Bash 5-24-1016
Lighting a Covered Station Platform  9/23/2016
Kit Bashing and Installing a Walthers Deco Under Pass 11-9-2017
Removable Hatch at Westridge 1-10-2018
Installing a Faller Double Track Arched Steel Bridge 1/17/2017
Modeling Altamont Yard 12/6/2018
The Courthouse, Fire Station, and Police Station.8/24/2019
Platforms for the Altamont Terminal Upper Level crossing Tracks 11-5-2019
Completing the West Slope and the Industrial Park 3/14/2020
Completing the Altamont Terminal Complex 3/22/2020
Another Factory Structure 4/12/2020
More Track Side Structures 4-27-2020
A Few More Structures 12/21/2020

Track Work and Roadbed

Atlas or Peco Track? 1/13/2106
Switching to Atlas Code 55 1/18/2016
Weathering Track 1/19/2016
Testing the Atlas Code 55 Turnouts 1/22/2016
Turnout Templates 1/29/2016
Some Thoughts Regarding Cork Roadbed 1/31/2016
An Easement Template 2/4/2016

        Beginning to Lay Track - Peparing to Construct Prefabricated Sections 6 -7- 2016  
          Weathering Turnouts 6-8-2016
        Wiring Turnouts 6-9-2016
          Laying Track 6-19-1016
          Installing Tortoise Switch Machines and Tortoise Interfaces on the Prefab Section 6-20-2016
        Testing Installed Atlas Code 55 Turnouts and the Prefab Section Wiring 6-22-2016
          Track Laying Using Xtrack CAD 8-17-2016
          Fitzhugh Section Roadbed Runners and Terracing Complete 5-6-2017
        Cork Roadbed at Fitzhugh 5-19-2017
        Track Work at Fitzhugh 5-24-2017
        Labeling 5-26 2017
        Grade Easements 5-30-2017
        Track Work at Fitzhugh Curve Complete 6-15-2017
          Beginning Work on the Hidden Yard 6-22-2017
        Track Laying, Bridges, and Rough Topography on the Altamont Curve 7-7-2017
        Track Laying on the Altamont High Line 8-1-2007
              Beginning Work on the South Bench: Altamont Yard to the Little River Curve 9-1-2017
        Flex-track Inventory and Weathering 9-12-2017
        Decking, Prefabricated Turnout Sections, Roadbed Runners for Altamont Yard 9-14-2017
        Mainline Track Laying on the South Bench 10/5/2017
        Planning and Installing the Roadbed and Terracing on the East Bench 10-30-2017
        Kit Bashing and Installing a Walthers Deco Under Pass 11-9-2017
        Installing a Faller Double Track Arched Steel Bridge 1/17/2017
        Building Roadbed Runners, Installing Bridges, and Laying Track on the East River Curve and at Westridge 12/30/2017
        Programming Schedules and Testing Track 1-12-2018
        Mainline Track, Signals and Topo Rough-ins Completed 2-15-2018
        Ongoing Tweaks to Track, Wheels, Trucks, and Locos 2-19-2018
            Thoughts Regarding Track Cleaning and Running Trains During Layout Construction 5/11/2018
          In Praise of NoOX A Special 8/19/2018
        Ballasting Track 9/27/2018
        Track Laying for Altamont Yard 11-2-2018
        Ballasting the Westridge and East River Sections and Other Finishing Details 2/14/2019
        Running Trains and Making Adjustments 5-24-2019
        Constructing the Altamont Terminal Ladder 12-5-2019
        Installing Turnouts for the Shop Area 4-7-2020 
        Troubleshooting Problems with the Turntable 10-1-2020
 
Train Room Construction
        Architectural Drawings for the New A&BR2 Train Room 1/12/2016
        Update tothe Train Room Floor Plan Including the Under-the-Slab Conduit Locations 2-25-16
        Breaking Ground 7-5-2016
          Footings Poured Today 7 -13-2016
         Block Walls - Train Room Takes Shape 7-28-2015
          Foundation Walls Complete  8-12-2016
        Slab Poured  9-7-2016
          Floor Joists Installed  9/24/2016
        Contemplating the Completion of the New Building 10-30-2016
        Laying Out the Backdrop Walls and the Overhead Lighting Soffit 11/9/2016
        Backdrop Wall Initial Framing Completed 11/11/2016
          Lighting Soffit Framing Complete 12/1/2016
        Construction Blues 12-22-2016
        Train Room Takes Shape 2-4-2017
        Train Room Initial Wall Painting Complete 3-19-2017
        Second Annual Train Room Clean Up 8/22/2018
        Third Annual Train Room Clean Up. 7/8/2019
        Air Filter 2/8/2021
        Fourth Annual Train Room Cleanup 4/29/2021


TrainController (Railroad & Co)

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
Creating a Switchboard in TrainController 8/21/2015
TrainController Gold 4-10-2016
Some File Management Housekeeping for TrainController 4/23/2016
Signal Protocol, Programming  and Placement  7-4-2016
Programming Schedules and Testing Track 1-12-2018
New Computers and Monitors Arrive 3/23/2018
New Computers Up and Running 3-27-2018
Bringing a Second Computer On line and Installing NET Software 11-8-2018
Incorporating the Center Bench in to the Demonstration Sequence 6/8/2020
Running Schedules 2/8/2021

Wiring 

What Would I Do Differently? 7/15/2015
Things I Would Not Change  7/16/2015
The Wiring Scheme: Thinking About Detection Blocks 8/10/2015
The Naming of Power Districts, Detection Blocks and Turnouts 8/11/2015
Tweaking the Wiring Schematic 8/15/2015
Tortoise Interface 11/4/2015
PM42 and BDL68 Interfaces 11/10/2015
Labels 11/26/2015
Reconsidering Twisting and Bundling of Power Buses - The Bus Wire Mounting Board 11/30/2015
Wiring Color Scheme 12/1/2015
Some Thoughts Regarding Droppers 12/1/2015
Tortoise Interface Prototype 12/3/2015
Designing and Locating the Main Lighting and Electrical Panel 1-15-2016
Switching to Atlas Code 55 1-18-2016
Revisiting the PM42 and BDL168 Barrier Block Labeing Scheme 2/11/2016
Relocating the PM42 and the BDL168 on the Layout 2-17-16
Mounting PM42s and BDL168s 2-18-16
A Power Bus and a Prototype Mounting Board for DS64s 2-26-16
Layout Lighting Power Bus and Lighting Distribution Blocks 2-29-2016
Modifications to the Tortoise Interface 2-29-2016
Revisiting the PM42 and BDL168 Barrier Block Labeing Scheme 2/11/2016
Labeling the Wire Mounting Board 3-1-2016
Installing Turnout Interfaces 3-4-2016
Aux Power Supply 3-22-2016
T Splicing Wire 2-23-2016
TroubleShooting Loconet After a Lightning Hit 5-7-2016
Prototyping Layout Lighting Distribution Blocks 6-1-2016

          Wiring Turnouts 6-9-2016
          Installing Tortoise Switch Machines and Tortoise Interfaces on the Prefab Section 6-20-2016
        Testing Installed Atlas Code 55 Turnouts and the Prfab Section Wiring 6-22-2016
          Rethinking the Layout Lighting Wiring Scheme 6-24-2016
        Train Room Lighting and Electrical Control Panel 10-31-2016
        Getting Started 4/29/2017
          Wiring Begins 5-10-2017
        Hooking Up Prefabricated Turnout Modules 5-11-2017
        Track Work at Fitzhugh 5-24-2017
        Labeling 5-26 2017
        Evaluating the Wire Mounting Board 5-26-2017
          Shutting Down the A&BR1, Installing Salvaged Components, and Preparing for Comprehensive Testing on the A&BR2 8-6-2017 through 8-25-2017
          Decking, Prefabricated Turnout Sections, Roadbed Runners for Altamont Yard 9-14-2017
        Wrestling with Electronic Gremlins 9-29-2017
        Mainline Track Laying on the South Bench 10/5/2017
             Auto-Reversing Problem 11/1/2017
        Installing a Permanent Loconet Cable on the South Bench 11-7-2017
        Installing Mainline Signals on the A&BR2 1-27-2018
        Mainline Track, Signals and Topo Rough-ins Completed 2-15-2018
        Westridge: Town Planning and Construction 5/2/201
        Wiring an Additional BDL168 for Atlamont Yard, LittleRiver Siding, and the Auto-reversing Sections 9/18/2018 
          In Praise of NoOX A Special 8/19/2018
        Track Voltage Anomalies 1/10/2019
        Beginning Work on the West Bench 6-4-2019

Yards
           Thinking About the Yard 8/25/2015
            Decking, Prefabricated Turnout Sections, Roadbed Runners for Altamont Yard 9-14-2017
         Track Laying for Altamont Yard 11-2-2018
         Modeling Altamont Yard 12/6/2018