Shelf Project Update 3

Here's the completed trackwork, installed and weathered, although some wiring remains, and the tracks need to be straightened and fastened down:

You can match this against the original track plan. I added a space between the two tracks closest to the wall, which will make the track second-closest a team track with paved access.

The stub on the far right in the photo will be connected to a Unitrack 14-7/8 inch radius curve that will lead to a repositioned stand-alone micro layout so that it can be incorporated into regular layout operation.

For now, the new station is named Malabar. Malabar Yard, a few miles away in Vernon, CA on the BNSF, is a favorite railfan spot and somewhat similar to the arrangement here.

I've run one full test train using a switchlist in and out of Malabar. This is leading to some tuning and debugging of trackwork and clearances. I've also set up some locals to serve Malabar on JMRI Operations. Below is a typical switchlist (click for a larger image):

I'm still working out exactly how I will operate this. The clearance on the runaround track is only 152 scale feet, not counting space for the caboose. This limits trains to 3 or 4 cars. One of the King Mill flats I'm using temporarily here is named Huger Davidson Sale Wholesale Grocers, so I'm making it a destination for ice and mechanical reefers and RBL cars. I definitely like the idea of having these spots for reefers, and this will continue, whatever the final industries here will be.

In another development, John R e-mailed me with the information that he'd located a bluebox Athearn WP Bulk Sugar car on eBay, which means we can interchange such a car in virtual ops sessions. Now I'll have to figure out how it will fit into operations. The stand-alone micro layout that's going to be streamed onto the end of the Malabar branch has a factory that could conceivably be used as a sugar refinery. Thois was included in a Walthers low-relief building kit that was based on their Greatland Sugar Refinery, so at least there's some justification for this!

This is also a motivation to continue with the project and get the micro layout mounted on the wall to the right of the shelf.