Layout Construction

After several years of changing my mind as to which railroad to model and coming up with a suitable track plan, I have finally started construction of my Northwestern Pacific "Redwood Empire Route" HO Scale model railroad.  I have designed the layout to fit into half of my two-car garage and it measures approximately 17 feet by 11 feet.  My layout is designed for two levels of operation.  The lower level will have a staging yard (Shellville/Lombard) and depict the areas of Petaluma, Penngrove and Cotati.  The upper level will depict the areas of Rohnert Park, Todd Siding and Santa Rosa and have a staging yard (Cloverdale/Willits).

A few weeks ago, I finished the benchwork and placed the plywood table top for the entire lower tier.  I also installed the Masonite backdrop for the lower level.  The benchwork is designed to be somewhat portable.  I have it divided into three large sections that will fit into a moving truck in the event my family and I move to a new home in the future.  I have even begun to errect the support structure for the upper tier on one of the three sections.

I have not installed any track or subroadbed material as of yet.  I have traced some portions of the mainline right-of-way onto the plywood top.  I will not install any track until I have had a chance to patch over the screw holes in the Masonite backdrop material and paint it a base coat of Sky Blue paint.  It is my goal to work on the lower level backdrop over the three-day weekend.