Photographs of On-going Layout Construction

This section of the web site covers the construction progress on the layout. Photos are added from time to time as progress is made.

Construction on the layout trackage slowed for a while as structures were built for the Narrow Gauge Yard, as well as for the Mainline Yard and the town of Springfield. Some of the structures for the Narrow Gauge Yard have been completed and installed, allowing ballasting and scenery work in that yard to proceed.

Construction of the trackage for the Branchline has been completed, completing the construction of benchwork, subroadbed, roadbed, and track for the entire layout. Structures for most of the industries have next to be built along with the scenery in which they will sit.

Storage Yard

Construction on the layout began with the construction of the Storage Yard. As the name may imply, it will be used to store equipment that is not active in operations on the layout, until they are brought back up to the Mainline Yard to return to service. Cars will be moved between the Ridgely (Mainline) Yard and the Storage yard by way of a large helix which will provide the needed change in elevation over a run long enough to provide a reasonable grade.

Work on the connecting track has begun with the construction of the benchwork for the Helix and for the track between the Storage Yard and the Helix.

The Helix was completed and put into operation. Guard rails (segments of 1/8" masonite attached to the subroadbed) need to be installed around the Helix to prevent unscheduled meets with the floor.

Ridgely (Mainline) Yard

The deck for the Mainline Yard was erected and covered with cork underlayment, then trackwork was spiked into place. In addition, a small industrial switching area was added to the side of the Mainline Yard. This will be treated as part of the Springfield industrial area representing the city of Springfield.

Work has started on ballasting and scenicing the Springfield Ridgely Yard area, including the Springfield industries, but this work goes slowly since it is done when other activities on the layout are at a low ebb.

The ballasting and scenicing of the Springfield Ridgely Yard has been completed. Scenery for other parts of the layout can now be addressed.

Main Line

Construction of the Mainline Trackwork commenced with the first piece of benchwork along the West wall of the room.

The Mainline has grown from the West end of the Mainline Yard to the Pana switching area where dual gauge trackage will one day allow a mainline train, a branchline train, and a narrow gauge train all to visit the passenger station at Pana.

The construction of the Mainline has been completed. Trains can now be operated continuously on the loop from Springfield, through Taylorville and Pana, and back to the Yard.

Narrow Gauge Line

Once some of the benchwork was in place, construction started on the Narrow Gauge Line. The Narrow Gauge line started at the logging company sidings near the Springfield sidings at the West end of the yard. It then proceeded up the hill to the Narrow Gauge Yard. Along the way a wye was constructed for turning the trains and to provide a point of departure for a system of switchbacks that will lead to the junction with the Branchline. Dual gauge trackwork will carry narrow gauge trains on down to the passenger station and the Livestock Interchange at Pana.

Narrow Gauge Yard

Once the mainline track beneath it was constructed and wired into the Mainline, the Narrow Gauge Yard was built, installed, and wired up. A turntable was added to the yard and a roundhouse was constructed and installed. Other engine service facilities (water tower, coaling tower, sand facility) were constructed and installed.

Industrial Areas

As the layout develops, industries start to appear to provide traffic to the three railroads.

Springfield: The first industrial area is the city of Springfield, located around the Springfield Ridgely Yard complex. The first industry to be installed, near the West end of the yard, was the J. C. Ayling & Company, a toy and game manufacturer.

Near the East end of the yard a grain elevator has been installed, representing the Rink and Schieb Elevator.

In the middle of the Springfield Ridgely Yard area some industries have been installed along the view-block. These industries are the Springfield Mattress Company, the Charles Underfanger Warehouse, and the Capital City Paper Company. In addition to providing an industry to switch, the Mattress Company also hides the track that drops down from the Ridgely Yard, through the view-block, down the helix, to the Storage Yard.

In addition to these industries a passenger station and a freight station have been located near the Mattress Company.
Taylorville: The Taylorville Industrial Area is being created now that the tracks for the mainline and the Pana switching area are built and the backdrop between the Taylorville switching area and the Mainline Yard is in place.

The first industry to be installed will be the Taylorville Implements Company.
Pana: Tracks have been constructed and are ready for the Pana Industrial Area industries. Construction of the industries will begin some time soon.

The first industry to be installed will be the Livestock Interchange Company.

Branch Line and Branchline Yard

Construction has begun on the Branchline, which has been named the Central Illinois Railroad. The yard and the switching areas have been named after towns located in Central Illinois. While the CI is a fictitious railroad, it is inspired by such railroads as the C&EI, C&IM, and other lines in Central Illinois.

The Litchfield Yard, Girard Industrial Switching Area, and the trackage serving the Carlinville Sawmill are now all in place, with the Central Illinois Loop encircling the Yard and Switching Area.

Tortoise Switch Machines

On the Storage Yard, the Narrow Gauge Yard, and the Springfield Ridgely (Mainline) Yard, Circuitron Tortoise switch machines were installed in a somewhat different manner from that suggested in the Tortoise instruction sheet. This installation method is shown in the Tortoise Installation page.

Last Updated: 02/08/2014