The 'Boys' HO Train
We saw a show on tv where a model train set was suspended from the ceiling above a boy's bed. Robyn and I decided we would do something like it for the boys. Since then it has taken a life of its own. The construction border already existed near the ceiling so we decided to utilized it as a background for the train.
The first step was to add molding around the room to support a shelf. The shelf was made wide enough for at least two train tracks. Then working from one corner all the boards were cut to fit together to span the interior of the room. Mending plates were use to connect the boards to one another. The boards will be screwed into the wall as an extra precaution once they are stained.
There wasn't much problem with the interior corners but the one exterior corner was a big problem. This corner required either a wider shelf or tighter turn. We wanted the longer passenger cars to run on the track so it was decided to tunnel through the wall through a closet instead. The tunnel initially consisted of a wooded box. But once the holes were cut out of the sheet rock there were a few surprises of an extra horizontal stud and wiring. Ended up narrowing the tunnel and cutting it in half to create a turn so that it would fit between the studs in both walls. What a pain, but once completed it turned out pretty cool.
During Christmas (2003) a friend of the family gave us her late husbands train collection. Consisted 100+ train cars and 30+ engines in excellent condition. Ryan and Colin were so delighted when Mom opened the boxes. Now we have to find a place to store them all.
All the boards are stained and up. The layout will consist of two train lines. A train yard consisting of the two lines branching out to four will be over the bunk beds. This will be the place where trains can be added and played with.
Both lines are up and running. Ran into quite a few problems at first which caused a lot of derailments. The guard fencing (consisting of dowels strung together with fishing line) has been completed and its saved quite a few cars from falling already. A trestle bridge was added to add some character to the section above the doorway.
The control panel was more difficult to complete then I thought. Too many wires for the switches and lights. Had to label the wires to keep them straight.
I cut grooves into the tunnel entrances and then painted them to look like rock entrances. Came out better than I plan.
Lastly we added some buildings by the one tunnel entrance and hooked up street lights given the boys received for Christmas. Lights in the form of red and green diodes were added to the top of the trestle bridge. Looks great in the dark! Wanted to get them to blink but was not able to do so.
Another building was added to one of the empty corners. The building lights up too.
To Do: Only a couple of things left to complete. (4/04)
- Need to modify a section
of track that is giving us problems.
- Add some more buildings.
- Start repairing a bunch of engines & train cars.
I created a video of the trains in action but I haven't been successful in reducing its size for viewing from the web site.
Below are the pictures of the track progress (newest first).
 A building in another corner of the track. |
 Entrance & exit of tunnel. The tunnel actually has a slight curve. |
 Other end of tunnel. |
 A train entering the tunnel. |
 Bridge & Buildings. |
 Finished Tunnel. |
 With Track Diagram. |
 Control Panel. |
 Wiring. |
 Temporary control panel. |
 Train Watching. |
The" Bridge". |
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 Corner with the fence. |
 Another view. |
 The "Train Yard". |
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 The tunnel inside the closet. |
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 The completed corner. |
 The first corner being fitted. |
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