K Tower Washington DC

Railroad Pictures IMHO Don't get any Better Than This
Approach to Washington DC Union Station.  Metro on the left
From: http://position-light.blogspot.com owned by Jersey Mike

Hand Laying Track

Here is the first of 15 videos on Hand Laying O Scale track.  You can find the whole series at the following address.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYJl-a0TWqA

12 Videos on Hand Laying

Also 3 videos on Coloring Ties in O Scale

New Penn Station section framework, plywood, and homasote in place.

I have finished building the benchwork and the road bed (3/4 plywood and 1/2 Homasote) for the rebuild of Penn Station area.  Below are some photos of the finished area.  I have marked off center lines for track and turnouts.  I am in the process of ordering rail, fish plate, spikes, and the parts for turnouts so that hand laying can begin.  This will be highly detailed track and will certainly take some time to complete.   But hopefully the results will be worth the effort.  There is a total of 110 feet of hand laid track and five turnouts to be completed in this area.  Also some trolley tracks are planned as part of the Baltimore Transit Company.

On the left is the South end of Union Tunnel.  To the right is the approach tracks to Penn Station.  Also the WMRY track coming from downtown Baltimore and Hillen station.

This is the main portion of Penn Station.  Three tracks in front and the WMRY track behind the station.  Just above is power district 4 with detectors and two CMRI SMINI boards.

On the left is the entrance to B & P Tunnel.  To the right is Fulton Junction where the WMRY connects with the PRR tracks to enter the South end of the tunnel.  The local control panel for Penn Station is sitting on the Homasote.  The upper level on the back right is the connection with the C & O at Durbin, WV.

Penn Station area that is being rebuilt. These are the "Before" photos. Once the plywood is in and the Homasote laid I post the "After" photos.

Just South of Union Tunnel

Left end of Penn Station tracks

Right end of Penn Station

Approach to B & P Tunnel Portal at upper right.  Also one of the CMRI districts and the local panel for Penn Station

The rear is the B & P tunnel and in front is the Norther Central track to Harrisburg

Fulton Junction and Local Panel for the junction and PRR South Staging

Some more of Cherry Hill Model Railroad Club

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR LARGER IMAGE

Newest Revision of the Layout

Below is a revised drawing of the layout as of today.  A number of things have changed.  I am in the process of rebuilding the Penn Station area to provide better radius for the PRR GG1 engines.  Also eliminated the S curves coming into the station from the South.  Also were able to run a WMRY track in front of the station as it was in the prototype.  Also will show the station's actual depth rather an the previous 2/3 depth version.  The red lines are a rough sketch of the Baltimore Transit co. trolley line.  At the North PRR staging the tracks will extend beyond the existing bench work to under the steps to handle longer passenger trains into NYC.  Also the platforms at Penn Station are longer for the same reason.  A turntable for WMRY Hillen station will be beyond the existing bench work as shown.  Basically the aisle will be a dead end so as to improve operations.

Most of the scenery from C & C Jct to Big Spring Run trestle is basically finished.  I have built five structures so far so that is moving ahead.   Signaling in on my list for later this month as well as redoing the CTC to represent the changes primarily on the PRR.

Dip in track causing GG1 to Derail