Monday, October 21, 2024

 10-21-2024

Construction of the lower level loop under Fuhgeddaboudit Yard.

This area will be called Sheepshead Bay after another neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY.  If I wanted to be geographically and topographically correct I would have a narrow bay with lots of fishing boats in the water and seafood restaurants along the street.

Instead there will be an oil refinery, a coal dealer and two produce packing companies.  All served by the branch line.  It's my railroad.

The dual track mainline will start its ascent to the upper level and end its descent from the upper level in this area.. The main line tracks will work their way around the walls, for a total of about 100 feet, to reach the upper level at the far end of the room at New Utrecht.

I provided access to work Fuhgeddaboudit Yard with a hinged lift up section using adjustable cabinet hinges.  It creates a 14" wide squeak through so suck your tummy in if you are entering the loop to work Fuhgeddaboudit Yard.  I plan to add a 12" to 16" high platform inside the loop for the yard master.

Next steps are marking the plywood for the roadbed, laying track, soldering electrical feeders, etc, etc.






Tuesday, June 4, 2024

 06-04-2024

The construction phase of Gravesend Yard on the lower level is complete.  A year of my life I won't get back.

Next phase is construction of the turnout controls using the DCC Specialties stationary decoders, single pushbuttons and red/green LED's.

 A couple of short videos below.

The first is a panoramic scan of the yard.  The yard locations are the coach yard, diesel house (base installed), passenger station behind diesel house, turntable, bases for machine shop and round house, diesel fueling area, freight classification yard, refrigerator car icing track, REA depot and an arriving train.


The second video is a UP Big Boy backing out of the round house base and onto the turntable.  The turntable rotates to place on the outbound track.



Gravesend Yard Tower - Turnout control panel