As on Sunday 21st December, I have started the next phase of the never finished layout (is there any other kind?). I purchased the framing and baseboard, and have painted some of them so I can start the actual construction of two new modules. The two modules will each be 1800mm x 300mm (about 6 x 1 feet), making an extension to the layout of 12 x 1 feet.

Following the 'shrinking' of my layout to fit the available space, I was communicating with a member of the virtual interchange group I am a member of, and the suggestion was made for us to run a 'virtual' transfer run from Silvis to Calumet South using Rock Island and C&SFT motive power.

So...

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to see how the new configuration for my layout handled more than one operator. And I am glad to say that it is still able to be operated by more than one person at a time.

After settling into our new location I decided I would get motivated and do a Trains of Thought episode about the re-assembled and 'new' C&SFT, so I added a video on YouTube featuring the layout.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lVagwLHBoU to view the video.

Having recently made my layout smaller, I had to re-construct the train sequence. I thought of just taking some trains out of the old sequence, but in the end I felt it would be better to start the train sequence from scratch. I also felt that to give a little more operational interest that I would re-open the East Branch, so I had to figure out what trains could run along it realistically.