The Plan

 To design my layout, I used a combination of two programs.  I used Google Sketchup to model my cubicle (yes, the layout is in my cubicle) and the bench work placement.  I used XTrackCAD to design the track layout. First, I sketched a mockup of what I wanted my shelf to look like.  My first draft is shown below.

The first phase of this layout was the main yard of Zurich HB and would be above and to the right of my monitors. This first draft didn't last long as it would block most of the entrance to my cube.  

Idea

I lied.
My idea was not a light bulb kind of idea. It has been growing in the depths of my imagination for years. Part of it comes from my childhood and the reason I grew to love trains, part of it comes from my desire to make things out of what I already have, and the rest comes from... well, the things I already have!

My inspiration for this layout is Swiss railroads.  Specifically, the Zurich Haubtbahnhof and the Landwasser Viaduct.

Turnout

I originally planned on transferring all my pages from the Digital Train Lab onto this blog. The Digital Train Lab was my senior project at Utah State University. The purpose was to create a system for detection, identification, and control of a model train system. I am still planning on getting those pages up, but it has been 2 years now and I want to share what I have been doing the past year. So, I threw the switch, and I will share over the next, how ever many it takes, posts my progression from an idea to the best workspace ever!

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Keep reading about this idea in my next post!