Alcanman Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I've wanted to build a New England layout ever since I visited the area in 1993 and 1994. Looking for small branch operations I came upon this video of the Pan Am/Guilford branch from Portland, ME serving the Sappi paper mill at Westbrook, ME This provided a name and inspiration for a new layout, although I won't be modelling the actual location. The mill appears to receive only clay slurry (kaolin) cars. The layout plan is very simple, with a couple of spurs serving a warehouse (possibly paper products) and a grain (feed) unloading facility using a new Walthers kit. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-4036 Although the a run around is not really neccessary with both spurs facing the same direction, I like to see trains 'arriving' with the engine leading. Also the run around allows the incoming cars to be left on the front track while outbound cars are switched out. Rather than simply shoving and pulling cars Inglenook style. The layout can, of course, be operated as an Inglenook with the front track being used a team track. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor quinn Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Great video Mal, the Sandersville Center-flo in the middle is interesting, I wonder if the mill receives both kaolin slurry and bulk powder. Look forward to seeing progress on the layout. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I agree with Nick - super video. I love the train comes "onto the layout" from between the trees in the video - very inspirational for a model. Good looking plan, Mal. I like the use of the non-rail served warehouses. A refreshing break from the idea that every inch of layout real estate has to have a spur serving an industry. Nice one! I also agree with your philosophy of having the negine leading - it just seems right somehow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor quinn Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Definitely engine leading onto the scene, as someone pointed put to me, running round is another train movement on an exhibition layout. The shot when the train is going into the distance; five cars and a GP40 running long hood first - very modellogenic. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thanks guys. I pleased you like my idea for presenting the layout. Having watched lots of videos like this in New England, I'm struck by the way the trees arch over the railroad tracks creating a natural scenic break, perfect for modelling. I may try this at right hand end of the layout. This should be possible to create with Sea Moss trees (Super Trees) as they often have curved tree trunks! Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp55aec Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Its a pity NECR changed their nice colour scheme, I stayed in the Boston area with family for 2 weeks a couple of years ago and took a trip to Maine, saw lots of track and at night could hear plenty of horns but other than the MBTA trains didnt see any others Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 "Tree Tunnels" are very evident in New Jersey and Pennsylvania too on bucolic shortlines - I'll get some photos this Summer. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Without the run-around you could have operations with a shoving platform (converted caboose). Push the train on scene, drop the platform out of the way, switch cars, hook up the platform, pull the train off scene. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalLamer Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Good looking plan, Mal. I like the use of the non-rail served warehouses. A refreshing break from the idea that every inch of layout real estate has to have a spur serving an industry. Nice one! Another use for non-served warehouses along the line is to add some realism with abandoned/cut-out spurs. Most industries built along a railroad were built there for a reason... but that doesn't mean they still do receive rail service. In fact, I'd go so far as to say MOST buildings alongside the track that once received service no longer do. So you can add some realism by putting in something like this... https://maps.google.com/maps?q=28202&ll=35.27149,-80.910828&spn=0.00079,0.001032&hnear=Charlotte,+North+Carolina+28202&gl=us&t=h&z=21 See here, the mechanical workings of the switch are still there but the connecting rail has been taken out. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=28202&ll=35.268944,-80.910411&spn=0.000791,0.001032&hnear=Charlotte,+North+Carolina+28202&gl=us&t=h&z=21 The switch here is completely gone and all that remains is the spur running towards the track that's still in-service. (The "main" here isn't really as screwy looking as it seems, it's just where two images are stitched together badly) http://binged.it/1eZtIgq Another example of the switch taken out completely. http://binged.it/1jnv05H And you could even go further. Here's a steel place that used to get service. The gate is still there in the fence and the track in the asphalt remains too, but the whole lead has been taken out. You can still easily make out where it used to run, however. The gate is circled. Of course, there are plenty of places where someplace is out-of-service but the track or switch hasn't been removed. You could simulate this too... model a tiny little orange lock to put on the switch and heavily rust the spur, cover it with weeds and saplings growing up between the ties, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Nice idea. I did model a disused warehouse with rusty track on a previous layout. However, it occurs to me I could simply lay a short length of track next to one of the warehouses and use it to store spare stock. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalLamer Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 However, it occurs to me I could simply lay a short length of track next to one of the warehouses and use it to store spare stock. Mal Oh yeah, absolutely. This is common in industrial parks and whatnot. Examples from the same area... Here there's a long cut of cars stored on one leg of an old wye... (The other leg is out-of-service). Here's a long cut of cars stored on an old runaround... (The switch on the right side of it is out-of-service. You can also see a track just above that runs beside that long warehouse. This was also used to store cars until the track got so bad it had to be taken out-of-service and of course the owner of the building isn't going to pay to fix track they're not using for themselves. Later on there was a derailment around that area and the switch was removed in the clean-up.) Here's another example... not quite the same. The industry at the end of this lead is still in-service... you can see 2 of their cars at the top. They get 5 in, 5 out every night (3 are inside the building out of view). But that doesn't mean that exactly 5 cars come into the yard every day. Sometimes they'll get in 10, 15, 20 at one time. So what they'll do is store extra cars on the lead towards the industry, or at least as many as they can fit to free up space in the yard. Can't put too many in this particular place though because the hill is STEEP up towards the plant and the job that works this place usually only has 1 motor or a slug-and-mate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotalLamer Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Storing cars on spurs for out-of-service industries can also add a lot of detail to operating sessions. Just as an example from those previous two pictures... all those tank cars are stored for a big transloading facility. But when they're worked, they don't take just any cars. You have to spot SPECIFIC cars. And of course they're not going to be in order in the storage tracks! So you'll go out there each day and have to dig out a bunch of cars from the Wye and the Runaround. So you might have a bad day and end up with a situation where your "spot cars" are the ones circled here! But it gets even better. Not only do they want specific cars spotted, but the spot cars can't just go in ANY track. They have to go in SPECIFIC tracks. And of course, when you dig them out, they won't be in perfect order either! You might have 2 cars that go to the same track separated by cars that go to other tracks... etc. So while this is a pain in the butt for crews, it makes for lots of interesting switching in an operating session! But wait, there's more! If you DO have a layout with both an industry and a storage track, your train that comes in can have cars in it that are destined to be both spotted AND stored! So not only are you digging spot cars out of the storage tracks, but putting cars from your train back in for storage too! And of course, they're often jumbled up. For example, it's plenty common to be in a situation like this when you get a ride across the street to your train. Red cars are spot cars, blue cars are storage cars! You can imagine, that'd make for a long, crazy operating session! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Thanks TL for the fascinating insight into switching operations. I really like the storage track idea, it'll give me a chance to display more stock. When designing the plan I wanted to avoid using 1 spot industries which are often used on small layout plans but not common on the prototype. The warehouse has 3 spots which means that cars which are not fully loaded have to be returned to their spot during switching. This can add to the time taken to switch the warehouse. Despite the simplicity of the plan, the design offers quite a variety of switching operations. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 I've made good progess with the layout, mainly due to the mild winter weather which has enticed me into the garage. Also, as a serial small layout builder, I'm aware of the amount of waste as each successive layout ends up on the council tip! I must have bought enough Peco track and turnouts to build a layout the size of Rod Stewart's empire! So, for this layout I'm trying to re-cycle where possible. Firstly, I re-cycled the timber framework from the previous layout and the MDF for the baseboard top didn't cost a penny as I used loyalty points at Homebase. Total cost of benchwork - £0.00 ($0.00) Peco turnouts were also re-cycled and the warehouse was made by joining together 2 structures from previous layouts. Track is now laid and tested. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Very similar track plan to my current build Mal: Trying to keep it simple this time with just 2 industries and a run round, but with plenty of switching potential. Jez Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Very nice, Jez. I like the spacious look although I'm envious of your warehouse which has 5 spots - mine has only 3! Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrossouw79 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Very nice Mal! I must say I really enjoyed all your other layouts and can't wait to see this one develop into another great little switcher. Cheers! Jacques Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Thanks Jacques. After throughly testing the track and locos running smoothly at slow switching speed, I proceeded to hand paint the track with my usual mix of Humbrol enamels and then ballast with a slightly darker grey mix of Woodland Scenics fine ballast than that which I used on my Florida layouts. My observations of ballast in New England being generally darker than Florida. As usual, the weeds quickly grow on my layouts! The ground cover between the tracks has had a little 'garage dirt' sprinked over the ballast. 'Garage Dirt' is simply dust collected from the concrete floor in my garage. I'm always sweeping the garage floor and thought the dust might be useful. It has to be sieved, of course, to get rid of the spiders! Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Looking good Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Mal I am going to have to stop looking at your threads - they are far too inspirational !!! I also like the idea of a siding (to give it the correct US term) on the board so the loco can arrive "properly" ... I'm planning one for my new O scale layout, but it'll be on a yet-to-be-built extension, so won't be at this year's TVNAM Talking of which, Mal - I know it's a long way for you, but if you were to bring your old layouts and sell them at the show - instead of - shock horror - throwing them on the Council Tip - you'd easily make some money.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Thanks guys. I'm already enjoying the simplicity of operating the layout. At 3ft 6ins the siding (run-around) is long enough to hold both the loco and 3 x 50ft cars. Visually this looks much better than the much shorter siding on my Deerfield Beach layout. That layout had, additionally, 2 trailing spurs, which offered more operating potential but became something of a switching puzzle, timesaver style. For now I'm liking the 'less is more' arrangement. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 You're making great progress Mal, much quicker than I have :-) Looking great :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted February 1, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hi Mal, Agreed on 'it's looking good' comments! Query - Freight cars.. Is the Clarendon and Pittsford box car the Atlas Trainman one? I've been trying to find one ever since they came out. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Phil - you have email Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Phil - you have email So do you Jack.....MR Mar has plalns for car float. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.