What lies ahead

After talking with a nice guy from Wiengas, who assured me that the  replacement of the gas line that's going through the layout room will not be replaced within the next 2 years, but certainly thereafter, I decided to give it a go.

So, the last session on the St Paul Pass I will be held on June 18th. After that, there might be a limited video session to document the old layout, but after that it will be history.

The new layout will be having the following features (which will hopefully increase our fun):

Atlas Code 55 turnouts

Atlas Code 55 track on mainline

Handlaid Code 40 with wooden ties on selected sidings

Switching puzzles will be conveniently located near the edge of the layout. Most levels will not be deeper than 50 cm.

Cork roadbed, 3 mm high.

Intermediate blocks cut halfway

1.6mm diam. Bus wires

18mm Plywood as subroadbed, fastened to the wall by shelf brackets.

9mm Plywood as subroadbes in every helix.

I got my main ideas from Tony Koesters book"Designing and Building Multi-Deck Model Railroads", published by Kalmbach, ISBN 978-0-89024-741-9

After the Video session the layout will be dismantled and the rolling stock stored.

The dismantling procedure is scheduled to take 4 months at least. It will include several changes to the electrical outfit and the rebuilding of a blocked doorway.

About at the end of 2011 we will be able to start the new benchwork and lay the first tracks. A first test session with a few selected guests is scheduled for June, 2012.

Stay tuned!