Phase II Taking Shape

Didn't really have much to take any pictures of, so another long dry spell for posting to the blog, but been busy working on the new benchwork at a steady pace.  Phase I was construction of the workbench that integrates into the new expansion.  Phase II is the staging yard deck.  Then Phase III will include a siding above the staging area, with possible Phase IV adding yet another siding into the mix on a top level....
All the modules for staging have been assembled, and most of the plywood top sections have been cut.  Finished assembling all the modules together today that make up the new expansion, but still have some fine tuning to do...  Pics of where construction is at this point:

 

Pretty cool to see it all go from XtrakCad drawings that Ray made for me, to actual benchwork in the layout room where I can see it all first hand.  I think we crossed the line so now we can call the layout a "G" shape configuration instead of the old "C".  Still kind of on the fence reagarding occupancy rate of operators in the room since loosing a fair amount of square footage, but I think we should be OK with the four foot isles on three sides, as long as we hold back to the original number of crews.  

With the new construction taking place, I revised the sketches of the trackplan to help visualize what is taking place. 

Trains headed "East" out of Irving (Eugene Yd) will go into the helix and make a 180 deg turn to send them into Portland Yd Staging.  From there they will get stored in the staging yard until the next run where they will then originate out of Klamath Falls at the other end of staging.  From KF trains head back up the helix toward Summit where they then make their way back down the "East" side of the Cascades.  A new siding Hampton will be added for the track section between Natron and Oakridge that will find a home above the staging.  The upper deck will be notched around each staging yard throat to allow operators to see their trains enter and exit staging.  By comparing the upper and lower decks one can get an idea of how this will appear.  Once we progress further along with the project it will be easier to see if a second siding can be added for the stretch from KF to Summit....
Coming next will be the install of the modular plywood tops, then it will be time to lay the 10 tracks that make up the staging, minus the transitions that connect staging to the helix...  the later will be one of the last steps when commissioning the staging.