Maybe it depends on the project, and how the builder wants to do it. For this project, the sleeve for the water line was installed under the footer before it was poured. The conduit for electricity was installed on the top part of the footer before the concrete set. They did set a sleeve for the sepctic in the forms for the stem wall yesterday.
One subject I want to touch on real quick is outlets. For the layout room, I have it drawn up so that there is a set of outlets that are always live, and another set that are controlled by a light switch. I've essentially divided the room in half so that there's two separate switch controlled circuits to help distribute the electrical load. See attached diagram Additionally, I've made plans for lighting as well. I really like the "recessed" lights we put in our house. With the advances in LED tech, there not truly recessed anymore because they don't have to install the can up in the attic, instead they install right over a standard junction box. I like to call them "pucks" because they look about like a hockey puck. The specific lights my builders put in fan out nicely. With the 9 ft ceiling, I can space each light out to about 6 ft and still have good coverage. The diagram I drew might be a little hard to follow. Essentially, there's two sets of lights: a set right over the bench work, and a set right over the aisles, then take each set and divide it in half with the room, that gives us a total of 4 light switches to control the lighting in the layout room. The switches for the lights are on the wall above the Kansas City staging yard. There's a back drop to separate staging from 19th St Yard, so the light switches wont actually be visible. The switches for the outlet control are over above the spot marked for the dispatchers desk. Let me know what your suggestions are
Ethan, Looks like it's going to be a great destination. ++good on EF in bathroom! Ha. Remind me which room is workshop? Bottom left? Separate switch for some workbench lights? A cold water run/drain there for cleaning paints, etc? Window there? -Bob T.
The work bench will be located infront of the top window of the crew lounge, hence the extra light by itself. It'll be on wheels so it can be wheeled out of the way. The bathroom will have a utility sink in it for washing of paints and paint equipment.
An area of the layout I've been undecided on is the the spot behind the north end of Rosedale Yard. Lately I've had it drawn up as a condensed Glenn Park yard for the MKT. I've kicked around designs for an industrial area, and I started thinking about that again last weekend. While I would like to keep the MKT yard, the KC area just feels incomplete without more industrial trackage. The design I put together with the bit of space I have includes 2 mills I've really wanted to model, Rodney Milling and Sunshine Biscuit. There's also a bit of trackage based on the area known as "The Hill" with a handful of industries picked from the zone 3 listing to be represented. I guess the question here is which of the two options should I go with? I've attached a snap shot of the area were discussing, but I'm also including a high resolution full PDF like I normally do.
Ethan, I have really enjoyed watching your progress on this. I am always impressed with your design PC skills. As I have none. You represent some significantly complicated trackage. Having built a 30'X50' MRR, may I offer you some earned wisdom, my friend. On a big MRR, at the end of the day, less, will be more for you. As on the prototype, every switch will eventually represent maintenance, whether electrical or physical. I have literally 100's of switches, (almost all Shinohara) with only one, less than a #6. But they are moving mechanisms, and you as a farmer, having operated and fixed, take for instance a combine, (many moving parts) can see the colossal potential endeavor of this outfit your proposing. IMHO try to simplicate as much as you can, where you can. I have spent a couple days getting ready for an op session, just trying to fix a switch or three. And my building is basically sealed. Please carry on my friend.
Complex vs simple has been my dilemma through this whole process. I understand the concerns with maintenance with a more complex designs, but my concern is getting bored with the layout before maintenance becomes an issue. This is why I took the time to go through several different design types with my previous building, I found out that too simple of a design will bore me too quickly. I do have some simpler designs started on my computer, but I never finished any of them. If I come up with some spare time, I may finish out and post one just for comparison's sake. My goal with the designs I've stuck with so far are to have as many operating options as possible, so no matter my energy level, I always have options when I go to the layout.
Things are moving forward with the building. The slab is poured and finished. The exterior walls are already framed and up. Roof trusses are supposed to go on Monday.
Wow, looks much larger that when I visited and saw the posts marking the corners! I have got to get back and see this soon... -Bob T.
Ethan, Your sentiments are completely understood by myself, as well. However, I don't really think you will get bored. There's just too much to do on a layout. My little layout is only 20' X 20' with a 6' X 12' peninsula. It's tiny compared to Tom's and compared to what you are planning. I can't tell you how many times I went out to work on a new project and found something that had to be fixed or repaired. It's constant. There's one other thing that I'd add to what Tom said. Not only will you have TONS of maintenance but a layout can also end up looking cluttered. There's something to be said for some empty space. Go outside and look around. Even east of the Mississippi, there's empty space everywhere. Out where I live, that's what predominates the landscape. There are hundreds of small projects that are fun and fulfilling that will create neat little details for your layout. I build custom trucks and trailers; scratch build small warehouses and garages; scratch build outhouses; etc. That's what makes it fun and prevents boredom. After awhile, just collecting rolling stock and running long trains will get boring, no matter how complicated your track plan is. Another "small project" is creating realistic scenery. That, and a painted backdrop, make the layout come alive. Ground is seldom truly flat. Even living in west central Texas, the ground is constantly small (or large) ups and downs. Go out to streams and rivers and study how they follow the landscape. Several times, both living here and when we still lived on Colorado, I corresponded with Karl Brand on the forum regarding the geology and geography of an area I was about to model. Karl is a petroleum engineer with a background in geology. He's a fantastic resource for getting ideas on the area you are modeling. I've spend countless hours bicycling and motorcycling to look at and photograph items of scenic interest. My wife and I wanted to live in the country--got tired of crowds, cities, etc., and bought 3 acres with 50 pecan trees. If only I'd knows how much maintenance it would take to water, care for, mow, weedeat, etc., 50 pecan trees!! It seems like every week I have to replace a hosebib, fix some other piece of small equipment, etc. It's constant. It's like the guy on Ed Sullivan years ago who spun plates. After awhile he had no time to put up new plates, but could only keep the ones spinning that he had up. Anyway, it's your layout, but a simple track plan with two yards, several industry sidings and a couple of mainline sidings can keep you busy for years to come. Have fun!!!
20’ x 20’ “little?” HAWHAWHAW!!!!!! Then mine must be “microscopic.” I agree about the open spaces, and that a whole lot of Model Railroaders don’t understand that simple concept, but rather jam in everything possible on every square inch. I have a 50 foot mainline, and only have nine structures on the layout and will have no more. I also put no figures or vehicles on the layout. Keeping things plain like that allows very easy changes in era by swapping rolling stock out. George Selios is a master of claustrophobia. It can’t be denied that everything he does is a masterpiece. But there’s just too much stuff on that layout. That kind of overheated overstuffed hyperdetailed urbanity drives me up the wall. Maybe cities are like that and people want to model what they grew up in. I grew up in open farm country and that’s the only thing I’m ever going to want on my layout. I remember that guy spinning the plates. That’s how my job was.. that’s why I retired! Nowadays, the Dear Lady creates daily schedules just like spinning those plates all over again!
I understand the concerns with the layout looking cluttered. Believe it or not, this design has a lot more open space than previous designs. During the design process, I continually challenged myself to leave more scenic openings in the layout. It really came down to what am I willing to give up, and I gave up a lot to take 20' off the layout space. I do have some scenic notes on the layout design that give a rough idea of what I'm going for. I've got a vision in my head on how to give the layout some rise and fall, it's just hard to show it on a 2D image. I've said it before, but area that can be cut back significantly is the second level. I've been planning for stuff up there, but I can always just cut it back to scenery and staging yards only if need be. I understand a big complex layout will be a lot of upkeep, but I have to go for it. I'd rather build what I want the first time and take a chance on having to redo it later, than build something simple first that I KNOW I won't be happy with and WILL tear out to build what I originally wanted. My experience with my previous space let me test this theory a few times, the results were always the same. As always, I very much appreciate the feedback and words of caution. I feel like if I can read and defend all the critiques, it helps assure me I'm making the right choice.
Ethan, I think you are dead right about those windows, that is a view worth having. At my old model railway club in Essex (UK) we were in a level crossing gate keepers cottage, 10 feet from the GE main line. Nothing better on a warm summers evening than to go out to the "garden" (about 6 foot square!) within touching distance and feel the breeze as ther trains rolled by at 80 plus...... Looking forward to the next update. Rob
Time to update again. Things are moving along a light speed with this building. The roof trusses came in last week and were installed in under 2 hours. Its amazing watching this crew work. After the trusses went up, they quickly got the roof sheeted and shingled. Next up was house wrap and windows. They started working on siding today and already have one of the big walls done here before lunch time. I would imagine the outside will be done by the end of the week, the inside wont take too long once they get started on it. As an added bonus, we finally got our granite countertops in today, so we're finally getting close to having a full kitchen again.
Things continue to move at a quick pace with this building. The outside was basically done last Thursday, except for the concrete at the door. After waiting for the rain to clear out, we were finally able to pour concrete yesterday. With the outside mostly done, were now moving along with the inside. The interior walls are up, wiring is mostly done already. Insulation started going in today as well. At the pace things are going, this building may be done way before I have time to start building a layout, which I suppose is a good problem.
I have been known to get ahead of myself Prefab all the way. Joplin Truss company built the trusses for both buildings this year. Their crane operator is a big reason why that part went so quick.
