With a train show on the near horizon (Jan 21/22 - WGH on Tour in Seattle), pressure is on to get this new module operational. Over the last two days, I installed both mainlines and have them running solely through track connections back to the Canyon Module.
All of the visible mainline track is Marklin flex with the mainline tunnel section being Rokuhan track. In the view above, the mainlines enter at the bottom left with the inside path routed through the turnout that will lead to the logging branch line yet to be installed. Also visible in the distance are the mainlines returning back through the tunnel section that hides mostly within the sawmill section of the module.
Below, the mainline travel down the 1% grade and into the bend leading to the lowest area of the layout.
Here is a view as the mainlines reach the lowest portion of the module before turning back under the trestle and tunnel section.
Much of the track in this section seen above is installed only temporary as I intend to remove it while I work on the water feature. The bridge sections are cut in but aren't fully installed.
All of the other track is installed using foam-compatible CA to tack the track down as needed to hold everything in place until I add the ballast which will effectively cement everything down permanently. I found that I could readily install the track by allow a drop of the CA to wick under the ties in locations roughly every few inches and holding the track down in place for only 15 seconds or so. Once I had the first mainline loop installed, I added the second one and used a rule to verify the spacing was maintained evenly along the route. It should be noted that I normally use 1 inch (about 18 1/3 scale feet) centerline spacing but for the sections through the water feature area and trestle, I've added a 1/8 inch (about an extra 2 1/3 scale feet) to that spacing to allow the bridges over the water to have a bit of separation and to allow room for a trestle bent to readily fit with adequate clearance between the mainlines. I get that extra separation gradually by allowing the outside route to diverge slightly through the main curve leading into this area.
Had to run some trains of course ... as I haven't added any electrical wiring yet, the nearly 21 foot long (0.875 scale mile) mainline loops are operating solely on track connections back to the rest of the layout. Per my usually operation, I run the inside mainline on DCC and the outside on DC. Here is my AZL Northern Pacific passenger set making a pass under an imaginary trestle bridge and into the tunnel section.
