Freemo Module "Sullivan Scrap"

[squeaky]

I'm in the early stages of building a Freemo module to take to the Freemo event in September. As you can see it's called "Sullivan Scrap" It will be 2700mm x 500mm which is about 9ft x 18inches.

I have ordered baseboards from Grainge and Hodder which will be about 2 weeks, they weren't cheap however my carpentry skills seem to be getting worse as I get older

 

It's very loosely based on Sullivan Scrap yard in Holyoke, MA

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@42.201875,-72.602426,3a,75y,287.53h,85.02t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1soVvQ2kUS1kf14Mpk6ZvMAg!2e0

 

Mainly because Athearn do some very nice wagons, which I have just ordered from a model store in Canada.

 

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH97584

 

Here is the first thought put down with AnyRail.
 

 

Let me know what you think of the plan, does it work?, it's double track with a sweeping bend, the right 2 spurs are the scrapyard and the left hand one is the headshunt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[squeaky]

Some thoughts: double slips are not common in the US/Canada, there's enough space to use 2 points instead. It's cheaper, not only in purchase but more importantly in maintaining it. I'd suggest to remove the double slip (or crossing, if that's what you intended) and replace it with a simple cross over (leading, so opposite to the trailing entry you have now). You could create a small runaround between the head shunt and lower yard spur. A track mobile could be based here, for shunting. For the rest: I like

Yes it would be a crossing, the only issue with using 2 switches is that it takes more room, thus making the headshunt a bit shorter, is this what you mean?

 

[squeaky]

This is what I meant (schematically, of course):

sullivan_scrap.jpeg

 

HTH!

Ah, sorry I mis-understood what you meant, so something like this?

 

 

I like it, it means that the switching is done off the main

Edited April 10, 2015 by squeaky

[Glorious NSE]

I like the revised one, you might keep the original "flow" of the track better if you moved the crossover to the right of the scrapyard lead though (using one LH and one RH)?

[PaulRhB]

Like the revised one too but is there a reason for the two foot head shunt on the left? Only asking because you could lengthen the loop as much as possible to run round more wagons if you're going to have a loop with a foot long neck. An alternative is to use those same two loop points for two more sidings and have a resident switcher that works the sidings and picks the train up off the incoming loco if it's at the rh end of a train.

One can be an extra loading siding and the second a loco spur with a small shed for the loco that could also act as a repair shop for the odd wagon using fly shunting or a top n tail manoeuvre with an incoming loco ?

[w124bob]

I've weathered up several scrap gondolas including a couple of Atlas ex coalveyers in the Sullivan livery, hard to find now but you may be interested to know that Sullivan have a few of the longer coalveyers that Intermountain did (ex Procor), there now plain with just the EAMX reporting mark. Here is the link, scroll down and there is a link to the EAMX page on Railroad archive pics as well http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/84363-bt-metals-freightcar-fleet-and-sullivan-scrap-loads/. All of my Thrall high side gondolas are the Roundhouse kits picked up of Ebay. Also check the Walthers highside gondola, the DJJX is another common one in scrap service . Can't remember now whether it's PanAm/Guilford or Provident and Worcseter that handle the Sullivan traffic but both handle a fair bit of scrap traffic.

[PaulRhB]

it's not very likely an outfit of this size had a loco shed or even its own dedicated switcher (except the aforementioned track mobile).

Yep but you could suggest a bigger complex to justify it with a track leading off the side

In reality on a small yard they might have a loader with a buffing bar to push wagons around as I've seen pics of that and a machine using its grab arm to move wagons but they're both difficult to model working.

[squeaky]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm trying to design a layout that is interesting to switch but also useful as a Freemo module.

 

The idea with the loop would be to have a resident switcher to switch the cars around once they arrive from the main, so a local comimg off the main could be reversing in or going in loco first. It's very difficult finding a workable design in a reasonably short amount of space.

 

I have made the loop longer and the headshunt is about the same(Paul), I've moved the crossover to the other side of the scrapyard(Martyn not sure how you meant with one LH and one RH), Dutch I understand that an outfit of this size wouldn't have its own switcher, but you could have a couple of locos moving around at once.

 

Let me know what you think

 

Edited April 11, 2015 by squeaky

[Northpoint]

Ready in time for September?

[squeaky]

Nick ,that is the plan, baseboards are ordered, track can be ordered when I finalise the plan.

 

Hopefully myself and Sammy can bring 2 modules, if they fit in the car!

[Northpoint]

I know all about fitting in the car! My last attempt for our Midlands meeting in March failed and I had to ask somebody else to take Foxley Park. Fortunately, it is only just down the road.

[w124bob]

Intermountain are doing another run of their bathtub coal gondola in several liveries including the Sullivan version scroll down http://www.intermountain-railway.com/newshocomingsoon.html

this long gondola runs from EAMX401>439. I have one Procor patch out it's a nice model but a bit fragile particularly the up right end grab rails. The coupler boxes are held on with tiny pins which don't hold up to much. Probably ok with a couple of trailing cars, I've not looked at the Athearn version but I really rate the Atlas Coalveyer, it has a real chunkness to it!

[Scottish Modeller]

Can't remember now whether it's PanAm/Guilford or Provident and Worcseter that handle the Sullivan traffic but both handle a fair bit of scrap traffic.

Hi Bob,

 

Pan Am usually handle the Sullivan traffic.

 

Video at:-

 

 

Thanks

[Glorious NSE]

Martyn not sure how you meant with one LH and one RH

If you put one left and one right together you combine a curve and crossover into one smoother flowing formation, worth trying to see what that looks like with the peco #8s to keep the main line curves smooth?

[squeaky]

Phil, I was watching that YouTube video earlier!!

 

Martyn, is this what you mean?

 

Today I have received this...

 

 

Needs some weathering.....

[w124bob]

Cheers checked my own saved photos from various sources here are some you might find interesting,Pan Am train PL1 East Deerfield 

This has been on my files for ages and I can't give you any details, I just saved it as it looked an interesting setup

Here is a scruffy looking Sullivan stealth gondola

Pan Am also serve Albert Bros scrap at Waterbury CT http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?road=ABSX&cid=6 I have never mastered Google Maps screen grabs but did search and find the Albert Bros yard East Aurora st Waterbury looked one long spur crossing over a river and into the yard.

 

 

 

 

[Scottish Modeller]

Hi bob,

 

Yes - Albert Bros is an interesting site - very modelable indeed!

 

 

Rail access to it is via the kickback siding under Thomaston Avenue, then over the Naugatuck River on the trestle and under the James Darcy memorial Highway.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@41.5699185,-73.0575546,306m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

The line that this diverges from has more additional industry choices if you follow it northwards - leads you right to a small modelable yard as well!

 

Thanks

[SXHALL]

This has been on my files for ages and I can't give you any details, I just saved it as it looked an interesting setup

BRTRP29x.jpg

 

Quick search on Google lead me to the link below...

 

http://www.lirrhistory.com/Bayridge.html

 

Lieberman-Koren Scrap Metal. It is certainly a good way of getting a scrap industry in to small space. Good find.

[PhilM]

I have had my eye on Behr scrap in Rockford Illinois. It is not that much bigger (in modelling terms!) than your plan and it has its own locos eg 

http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/NebraskaZephyr_19Jul2011/Behr502_SeminarySt_RockfordIL_19Jul2011?full=1

http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/centercab,rockford/Timeline

[w124bob]

I have had my eye on Behr scrap in Rockford Illinois. It is not that much bigger (in modelling terms!) than your plan and it has its own locos eg 

http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/NebraskaZephyr_19Jul2011/Behr502_SeminarySt_RockfordIL_19Jul2011?full=1

http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/centercab,rockford/Timeline

I like the switcher,nice bit of street running in the first picture and the driver seems to have left his coffee at the bottom of the steps!

[squeaky]

Phil,

 

Thanks for that, gives me a few ideas, as I said my layout is based on Sullivan, but will take inspiration from other scrap yards, I'll take another look at a Bachmann 44 or 45 ton.

 

Maybe something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-HO-Scale-Train-GE-44-Ton-DCC-Equipped-Yellow-Black-Stripes-62201-/361130744827?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item541511dbfb

 

Does anyone make a model of a 65 ton??

Edited April 13, 2015 by squeaky

[Glorious NSE]

Phil, I was watching that YouTube video earlier!!

 

Martyn, is this what you mean?

new 9ft us2-4-5.jpg

 

Sorta, I had it in mind with the switches the other way round as the previous versions were though:

 

 

Further thoughts - if you're definitely having a plant switcher, I think the runround wastes a bit of space (if it's being used on it's own then a runround is a bit pointless as trains can't actually arrive and leave, and if it's being used with another module there's an inherent runround using the crossover and one end of double track on the main line) - something like this setup would allow for the main line loco to drop and pick up cuts of cars in the exchange sidings on the left for the plant switcher to move between there and the two loading tracks (the two angling towards the bottom)?

 

That uses the same number of points, but I think gives you more loading area, and even if it's used on it's own it can be worked by two crews if you like (one "main line" and one plant)

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2015 by Glorious NSE

[squeaky]

Thanks Martyn, it look more like a Scrap yard now.

 

I will draw it up in Anyrail later.

[Glorious NSE]

Worth a play with, anyhow.

Loving the scrapyard background info, with at least two scrapyards looking likely to be at Armitage this year I guess really need to get my steel mill up and running by 2016!

[squeaky]

Martyn, following your idea.

 

I have done this in AnyRail, the only extra bit i've done is add a loco spur that could have a shed for the loco to be serviced/stored. The resident loco can be parked out of the way if need be. Do you you think it makes it look too busy?