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This is a history of the construction of the new Great Northern layout in my basement. Construction started in earnest in November of 2005 although lighting and power circuits were installed many years before. The newest photos are at the top of the web page.

Posted 4/10/2006

The decking is on but yet to be attached

Another view from inside the helix

Looking towards the helix                      The station area and narrow gauge interchange above

Posted 4/4/2006

Accross the room GP 30s #3012 & 3001 reach the first DCC powered turnout on the helix. From here up grade the helix will be single track.

Geep 3012 heads through the turnout. Twin Coil switch machines will be used in hidden staging for their "positive" throw sound.

Geep 3012 passes the first turn out of the wye off the helix into Spokake on the track plan. Up ahead is the 2nd leg of the wye, yet to be installed. The 2nd turnout and track will align something like this with a turnout to the left heading to staging.

The Empire Builder trains 1 &2 are snuggly stored in the staging tracks through the supports of the upper deck.

Once again Narrow Gauge proves it is faster to the prize

461 Breaks into the Standard Gauge territory

461 pulls the coach past Xacto cut

Cut through the wall

Posted 3-6-2006

2 final portions of benchwork need completion, one is how to do the duck under?

Rope Lighting is in place and ready for decking.

                                           Here the bench work is starting for the 3 piers for the port of Seattle

Only the left door opens to view the future electrical panel

                                                                   More of the finished upper deck surrounds the helix.

The upper deck is taking shape around the helix as this panoramic view shows.

Hustle Muscle leads the first train up the helix under dc power.

The benchwork is coming together on the lower level with 2 or 3 small sections to add and adjust. There will be a river crossing by the dog door, so that section will be dropped out and changed. The port facility will be from the extension cord all the way down to the dog door and river crossing. There is pop up access next to the dog door. The bench work on this level is 30" deep. Power wires will be run soon. Across the room above the cabinets will be the interchange yard for the port and receiving and departure yards for Seattle. There will be a fair number of industries to switch as well.

The braces above provide no support required from below for the upper level. The top of the brace will hold the roadbed for the track of the HI-Line through Northern Montana!

The next level will be Spokane and the yard there as well as the narrow gauge interchange with the Holy Cross & Crystal River. A final 3rd level (one helix turn above) will represent the "Highline of Montana" although only 6 inches deep.

That is the 5th level of the helix to be installed. I am just not sure where to end it. The helix has screw adjustment using threaded rod. Its only support is from the benchwork. I will add some horizontal stabilizers so it will not shake when the 2nd level of benchwork goes in.

I am using track lighting with compact flourescent bulbs. They are white as is the ceiling and the area below the benchwork. The light seems good.

Here is a panorama of the new basement  train room. The helix has double track and is mostly complete, maybe one more level.

The cotroversial dog door is just under the window.

It was the only concession in the negotiations for this space: an easment for the dog to have outside access.                                                                 

The helix is built of 19/32 OSB and built with straight cuts at 22.5 degrees at each joint. 1/8th inch hardboard is used at each joint for support and each joint is butt glued. A top snadwich peice was installed parralel to the track before steel rods were installed to seperate the levels. One more single track level will be added.

The room was first painted, windows temporarily drywalled in, water meter cabinet was rebuilt and carpets cleaned. It used to be the kids playroom. When the electical was installed for the Holy Cross & Crystal River in the room next door, 2 additional circuits were installed; a "power circuit" which is switched at the entry for all track power along with a "Hey stupid! I am still on!" light' and a seperate circuit for layout lighting that is also switched.