The Union Pacific Elmwood Route

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With the backdrop almost done, I began working on the next phase of the layout; laying down roadbed.

The first thing I needed to do was transfer the trackplan to the plywood. I decided on a rather simple (but kinda tedious) method of basically hole-punching the center line into the plywood.

Using a scratching awl, which is almost like a giant ice pick with a tiny, pointy end, I simply poked holes through the track plan paper on the centerline of the outer track every inch or so (little further apart on straights). This resulted in a dotted pattern on the plywood I could to line the roadbed center too. I only did the outer track because the inner track roadbed will simply butt up against the outter track roadbed.


Here's a look at the first strip of roadbed glued down on the Elmwood side. I used wood glue to secure the cork down. It's actually quite tacky and held the cork in shape even on the curves without much assistance.