UP St. Marshall Subdivision in HO Scale - Introduction to my new layout

For all that have been patiently waiting for an intro video about my new layout, the wait is over!
This is the St. Marshall Sub of the Union Pacific. It is a Proto-Freelanced layout set in the Post-PTC era, representing various prototype aspects of railroading that I have enjoyed observing as a railfan for most of my life. It is not based on, or inspired by any particular route, town, or locale. Roughly located somewhere in the midwest, probably southwest of Chicago, as there could be an occasional Metra train!
Layout Specs:
-Era 2016-Now
-5 ½ x 15ft. Layout Size
-44” Rail Height Above Floor
-All Track Code 83
-All Switches Walthers
-All Flex Track Peco
-All Roadbed Woodland Scenics Foambed
-Single Track Main
-5 Track Yard
-Engine Terminal with 90' Turntable
-2 Online Industries and an Interchange to Off-stage Shortline
-14ga Main DCC Bus, 20ga Feeders Soldered to Every Piece of Track
-Digitrax DCS210+ 8amp DCC
-Duplex Wireless with UR93 and DT602d/ UT6d Throttles
-ProtoThrottle
-Modern CTC Signal System using JMRI Control Panel Editor, Digitrax SE8c and BDL168 Boards
-Ripped Plywood Open Grid Frame, Glued and Nailed Together
-Plywood Top
-Built Sectional to Move if Necessary
Background: I have been buying layout building materials for years knowing that someday I might have somewhere to build a layout. This let me outrun inflation, and work around a personality trait where I tend to start a project and never finish because I didn't have all the materials yet.
I had hope for a larger space and layout, but as time passed on, it was becoming more evident that space may not materialize. So I had to make a compromise; build a much smaller layout than I ever envisioned, or possible never build a layout.
As you can probably tell from this video, I made the right compromise! I made a list of "Wants-To's" and "Gots-To's" based on many decades of experience building layouts, modules, dioramas, helping friends, visiting and operating on other's layouts, etc.
I wanted to build enough of the layout to test my design thoroughly. This way I could ensure I would move forward long term before announcing it to the world.
I started construction March 21st, 2024 ripping 5/8" plywood, nailing and gluing the frame and top, and painting the fascia before moving the sections to the basement. By the first of April 2024, all track was laid, wired, and tested. In the time since, I have been running trains to test the design, let the benchwork acclimate to the basement, and making small adjustments.
The power supply to the DCS210+ is a Mean Well LRS150F-15, available from several places on the internet, including Ebay and Amazon.
Brenntag Global has a list of different products that they can use to create blends for customers. From that list, you should be able to research what liquids might come by rail.
www.brenntag.com/en-de/products/
I used AnyRail track planning software to design the track plan. I tried several different track planning programs, and found theirs to be the easiest for me to use. They have a free demo version. No time limit on the trial, just limited to a certain number of objects you can use at once.
www.anyrail.com/en
As time moves on, I will add more progress videos to a playlist on my channel, so check back often!

[@williamlee1429]

The only space my wife will let me have is a 38" x 82" layout in our spare bedroom. That means my O gauge Lionel world is a figure eight, with 4 interior spurs. Believe me, you have a fabulous layout.

[@billjacon4527]

Something is definitely better than nothing! Looks great!

[@jasonwilson4069]

I ❤️ my ho scale trains

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Looks ok to me whatever works for you.. Cool video and have a wonderful rest of your weekend.(Steve)

[@BriansModelTrains]

Congratulations. Wonderful smart layout. Thank you for sharing.

[@brunobiava4833]

Nice video, Steven! I really enjoyed it! Given the realities of having to work with a confined area and still wanting to operate both continuous running and industrial switching, I think you have hit a home run with your track plan. Using plywood to insure that you have as straight of lumber as possible is something I learned years ago... I still screw and glue, but in reality nails should work just fine. Looking forward to seeing more as this progresses, keep me in the loop as you work on the Walthers Turntable. I have built a couple of them years ago and sometimes they can be a bear to power and make functional. Mine were both early versions with the built-in drive, but if you have any issues, be sure to hit me up at Lee's and I'll be more than happy to help. Bruno

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

Simple and Scenic is a way to go. You could go to a upper deck too.

[@elleryparsons2433]

We All Are Different in Our Way But we ❤️ the Hobby. We Put a Great Deal Of Pride And Passion That’s Our Story and we Are Sticking To it.

[@roadjdr4678]

Great idea love the layout for temporary until you build your dream layout but how about this idea you may have to backtrack cut out the staging track back to the switch and build an a ramp going down under the layout and build your staging on the back wall under the layout at least maybe four tracks at least you have a place to park like Amtrak train and you don’t have to put it on the layout. Once the other train leaves track. It’ll be parked on the track already, that’s an idea if you want to try, but like I said, it’s more work

[@waynemiller7382]

Although you have used 2 nuts and bolts to connect the sections together, I also use a couple of 10mm or 3/8inch location dowels either side, that go all the way though both ends of the sections, so there can be no twisting (which can happen with just bolts). Just a suggestion to consider, and I suppose it also depends on your humidity changes.

[@billjacon4527]

I was wondering, what's the purpose of removing the ties from the track? I've seen it in other videos also.

[@signalupproductions]

All the brands of flex track I'm familiar with, the ties come right up to the ends of the rail. This doesn't leave any room to slide on rail joiners. Most people cut off the first couple of ties, and save them for later. Once the track is installed, I cut a notch in the tie to make room for the rail joiner, then slip it under the rail filling the gap. I'll show this in detail in a later video covering the construction of the layout!