Your layout is amazing already Sean! The automatic lift gate is my favorite part....something you don't see on other layouts. Your woodworking skills show also. Great job and can't wait to see more!
Sean, great videos. I have purchased a Mianne LIftgate and your video will be what I will follow when I put it together. However, I did not see anything on how to get power to the tracks on the liftgate. Any info on that/ Thanks
I just ran feeder wires up side of liftgate and under track bed on liftgate. Used stranded wire, not solid and left enough slack for it to go up and down. Some try to use sprig contacts where tracks meet but that is not reliable connection. You can see the feeder wire running up the side of liftgate in video.
Hello Sean. I have been a subscriber for years and very much enjoy watching all your videos. Thank you. What kind of sound deadening material do you recommend for FASTrack?
Sean, do you have a video or diagram for wiring liftgate track to power? I know you said all pins need to be removed from liftgate track and connecting track. Thanks
I don't have a video, but you see those red/white wires running down the side of the liftgate? Those are the power feeds for the track that is on the liftgate. You just run feeds down and then into the main layout and tie them into the track power. Just put liftgate in highest position, then run the power leads down and across into you main layout. I just left some slack in the wires after they cross over into main layout from liftgate. The horizontal bars of the liftgate structure will keeps them from getting tangled or caught as it goes up and down. Never had an issue yet. Just use flexible stranded wire.
doing my first MRR on a 9x10 Platform using Fast Track Love the Lift gate I doubt if I will have 20 switches but, am sure Ill have some. Bet u have a easy 3 k tied up in that Layout...
Sean, When you run the feeds down the liftgate then to main layout don you have to run the feeds back up to main layout? Seems if you do not it will pull the leads off the main layout when you lower the liftgate? What am I missing? Thanks
Yes, that’s what you do. But you do it in the highest position which would be the longest length. As the gate goes down the wire just collects on the inside of the left support structure which is attached to main layout. Like Big U
Also the leads don’t have to go back up to the track on the main layout, they can tie into any power block fed by the transformer used for track power under the layout, which is what I did.
You have to take the track apart to get the pins out because they have a pin that holds them into the roadbed. You don't have to take the whole rail off, just get the end pried up a little. So, you have to unbend all the tabs about halfway down track, then pry the rails up just enough to get pins out. I have a video coming out this weekend on it too.
Sorry Sean I am not astute as you are with this wiring would you have a picture? I guess your saying dont connect to the wires running around the layout from the transformer but tp some other power source? Thanks
Yeah don't overthink it. The power wires coming off your transformer to power your track. You can split them so they go to the track on your main layout and also under the layout to feed the wires going to the liftgate tracks.
@@seanstraindepot Thank you good idea, I bought the lift gate but not sure I have the talent to construct it myself know any model train table services in Northern NJ?
QUESTION : can you elaborate on the planning process of the layout ... did you generate a drawing of the track plan or just start laying out track on the table top ??? ... did you plan the buildings and accessories in advance of incorporating onto layout ??? ... great to have all the reversing options ... over and under action (bridges) ... and grade changes ... good job ... did you have any help in putting all this together ??? ... a lot done over the four year run ... love your videos ...
I tried the planning things and it was just to hard. So what I did is plan just the shape of the table based on the space I have, built it and then I made my track plan just by laying things out. Luckily my hobby shop let me buy a bunch of track and return what I did not need. But you could buy a few key pieces (straight, curves, switches) and then use those as templates to draw on the table top to get a basic idea of what will fit.
Like I said previously, It was a soundproofing material specifically made to go between floors. Unfortunately it was some name I don't remember and It came in a roll in plastic packaging that I discarded way back when I was laying the track. It is not carpet padding. I'm sure if you do a simple google search you can find it or similar soundproofing materials.
BTW, Sean, thanks so much for your series of videos. I'm just embarking on building a smallish layout (9X20) and I've been watching your videos for what must be the fifth time. Each time I find them interesting and learn more. Great job.
Hey Sean, I really like what you have done with your layout. What did you use for the layout design? would you mind if you shared the layout map? I am creating my first layout on a 8'X8" square and I find it hard to get the track to link up besides doing a simple large oval. I would like to add some switches and inclines. thanks for your time..
Do you feel like your square footage of the basement would be the smallest someone should run for O gauge? My personal goal is to have a layout twice the size of yours or more, depending on my future basement. But I always wondered when one should go HO instead of O gauge, I really love the proto smoke and sound options on O gauge and I also feel I wouldn't enjoy HO being so small..
Everyone always wants a giant layout, but I realized after building this one how long and how much work it actually takes. Years. So a lot of guys never finish. I am glad its this size now as I can actually have a finished layout, not keep spending money and enjoy actually running trains.
Your layout is amazing already Sean! The automatic lift gate is my favorite part....something you don't see on other layouts. Your woodworking skills show also. Great job and can't wait to see more!
AWESOME NICE VIDEO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEO AND YOUR INFORMATION AND DETAILS VERY INFORMATIVE NICE LAYOUT 👍
Looks FANTASTIC Sean! Thanks for the video bud!
Thanks so much!
Very Impressive! Thank you very much for sharing. I love your lift section and how you did it. Iv'e subscribed too!
NICE work Sean!
Outstanding work!!
Cool layout I like what you are doing.
Sean very nice layout and track plan!
Thanks Again
Sean, great videos. I have purchased a Mianne LIftgate and your video will be what I will follow when I put it together. However, I did not see anything on how to get power to the tracks on the liftgate. Any info on that/
Thanks
I just ran feeder wires up side of liftgate and under track bed on liftgate. Used stranded wire, not solid and left enough slack for it to go up and down. Some try to use sprig contacts where tracks meet but that is not reliable connection. You can see the feeder wire running up the side of liftgate in video.
How do you get the trains from the train stall back to the mainline from the yard
Hello Sean. I have been a subscriber for years and very much enjoy watching all your videos. Thank you. What kind of sound deadening material do you recommend for FASTrack?
Sean, do you have a video or diagram for wiring liftgate track to power?
I know you said all pins need to be removed from liftgate track and connecting track.
Thanks
I don't have a video, but you see those red/white wires running down the side of the liftgate? Those are the power feeds for the track that is on the liftgate. You just run feeds down and then into the main layout and tie them into the track power. Just put liftgate in highest position, then run the power leads down and across into you main layout. I just left some slack in the wires after they cross over into main layout from liftgate. The horizontal bars of the liftgate structure will keeps them from getting tangled or caught as it goes up and down. Never had an issue yet. Just use flexible stranded wire.
doing my first MRR on a 9x10 Platform using Fast Track Love the Lift gate I doubt if I will have 20 switches but, am sure Ill have some. Bet u have a easy 3 k tied up in that Layout...
Sean, When you run the feeds down the liftgate then to main layout don you have to run the feeds back up to main layout? Seems if you do not it will pull the leads off the main layout when you lower the liftgate? What am I missing?
Thanks
Yes, that’s what you do. But you do it in the highest position which would be the longest length. As the gate goes down the wire just collects on the inside of the left support structure which is attached to main layout. Like Big U
Also the leads don’t have to go back up to the track on the main layout, they can tie into any power block fed by the transformer used for track power under the layout, which is what I did.
Sean, I have the liftgate assembled how do you remove the pins?/ Having trouble dont want to ruin track. Thanks
You have to take the track apart to get the pins out because they have a pin that holds them into the roadbed. You don't have to take the whole rail off, just get the end pried up a little. So, you have to unbend all the tabs about halfway down track, then pry the rails up just enough to get pins out. I have a video coming out this weekend on it too.
Sorry Sean I am not astute as you are with this wiring would you have a picture?
I guess your saying dont connect to the wires running around the layout from the transformer but tp some other power source?
Thanks
Yeah don't overthink it. The power wires coming off your transformer to power your track. You can split them so they go to the track on your main layout and also under the layout to feed the wires going to the liftgate tracks.
is that nkp 765 in the engine house because i seen that before.
Sean, what size screws to fasten fastrack down? The Lionel recommended screws are too small and difficult to power screw down
I forget it was so long ago, but all I did was take a piece of track to Lowes and found some that fit perfect. They came in a package of like 200.
@@seanstraindepot Thank you good idea, I bought the lift gate but not sure I have the talent to construct it myself know any model train table services in Northern NJ?
The name is quiet walk underlayment.
QUESTION : can you elaborate on the planning process of the layout ... did you generate a drawing of the track plan or just start laying out track on the table top ??? ... did you plan the buildings and accessories in advance of incorporating onto layout ??? ... great to have all the reversing options ... over and under action (bridges) ... and grade changes ... good job ... did you have any help in putting all this together ??? ... a lot done over the four year run ... love your videos ...
I tried the planning things and it was just to hard. So what I did is plan just the shape of the table based on the space I have, built it and then I made my track plan just by laying things out. Luckily my hobby shop let me buy a bunch of track and return what I did not need. But you could buy a few key pieces (straight, curves, switches) and then use those as templates to draw on the table top to get a basic idea of what will fit.
@@seanstraindepot thank you sir
What is the soundproofing pad called? I have fastrack and could really use something to soundproof.
Has anyone figured out what the name of the soundproofing is and where it can be purchased?
Like I said previously, It was a soundproofing material specifically made to go between floors. Unfortunately it was some name I don't remember and It came in a roll in plastic packaging that I discarded way back when I was laying the track. It is not carpet padding. I'm sure if you do a simple google search you can find it or similar soundproofing materials.
BTW, Sean, thanks so much for your series of videos. I'm just embarking on building a smallish layout (9X20) and I've been watching your videos for what must be the fifth time. Each time I find them interesting and learn more. Great job.
Hey Sean, I really like what you have done with your layout. What did you use for the layout design? would you mind if you shared the layout map? I am creating my first layout on a 8'X8" square and I find it hard to get the track to link up besides doing a simple large oval.
I would like to add some switches and inclines.
thanks for your time..
I just winged it honestly. No track design plan. And if you watch the last episode you will see I had to make a design change.
Thanks for the reply Sean.. are all your curves and switches O72?
All except one which is 060
Sean, great videos. Where did you buy the sound proofing pad? And how did you attach it to the platform?
Do you feel like your square footage of the basement would be the smallest someone should run for O gauge? My personal goal is to have a layout twice the size of yours or more, depending on my future basement. But I always wondered when one should go HO instead of O gauge, I really love the proto smoke and sound options on O gauge and I also feel I wouldn't enjoy HO being so small..
Everyone always wants a giant layout, but I realized after building this one how long and how much work it actually takes. Years. So a lot of guys never finish. I am glad its this size now as I can actually have a finished layout, not keep spending money and enjoy actually running trains.
Nice
Impressive even at this point.
That's an amazing layout, can I borrow you for about 2 months.
Kids like the sound
I like the sound I meant