Trains - Kurt's Third Layout

Eagle Valley - Kurt's Third Layout
Building the Benchwork

The benchwork came next, of course, based on a track plan that Kurt has already designed to fit the industries he thought he wanted to model. At this time, most of the sections were still unnamed and only the basic ideas of elevation were known, along with a logging camp, mine area, and a town. Three totals levels of track were planned, two main lines with some spur lines, with mountains at each corner of the layout. One corner would have to have a trestle bridge.

Because this layout is in the master bedroom and ran behind the bed, the benchwork behind the bed would have to have access panels. Liftout sections were planned for multiple areas to allow for access to track and to aid scenary placement. And because we had learned the hard way and had to tear apart the previous two layouts, the benchwork was modularized so that it could be taken apart into manageable sections if we decided to move again.

The legs are in for support, however, later on they were removed and replaced with wall mounted shelf brackets. Two main reasons: 1) removing the legs helped to open the room back up & 2) we had new carpet installed with the layout in place. A wratchet strap was attached from the end where the trestle bridge would be up to the ceiling for support during the carpet laying. After the carpet was in, that leg had to be put back in place for support and the strap removed.

The pink foam board is supposed to help quiet the operations and make the scenary lighter, or so they say. This is the first layout of Kurt's to receive extensive scenary.

(Click on a picture to see a larger image.)

The beginning of the grades for Pine Ridge.	Yes, the track goes behind the headboard of the bed.
Underneath bracing.	Move bracing.
The beginnings of the Devils Gulch area.	Straight line through the town of Timberline.
The base for Winchester Mining.	Side view of the planned gulch with rocky cliff up to the top and two trestle bridges.
The Devils Gulch area.	View from the proposed town to the gulch.
The upper benchwork that will become the Timberline Yard.	Basic curves for the trestle bridges.
The bracing is covered in plywood to form a base.	Benchwork roughed in for this side. The decorative fascia boards will be added later.
The two levels behind the bed. An access panel will allow us to reach the lower track. There are a total offour levels back here, but you can only see two. Two come to the same level at the section between this picture and the one to the right to form a double crossover, then they split out again.	These are for the two hidden tracks under the mountain for Winchester Mining.
The bracing for the mine mountain and tunnels.	The bracing for the mining mountain.