Track Plans for North American Layouts

[DavidB-AU]

As discussed on another site, there are some intersting ideas on the Cloquet Terminal Railroad based in Cloquet, Minnesota. CTRR has 6 miles of track mainly serving a paper mill, but the really interesting bit is its headquarters and shops located on an island.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/m68og

http://binged.it/1AhFLPi

 

Note the old box car (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=246642) used for storage and the old combine used as a crew room. Also note the old hoppers on the MOW siding, one of which has since been painted in a heritage livery (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=397051).

 

CTRR's fleet is a GG20B, an SW1000 and three SW1s dating from 1941!

 

CTRR took over the Duluth and Northeastern Railroad in 2002. CTRR shops helped cosmetically restore a D&NE steam loco owned by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/9758944662/). One could imagine it was being restored to operation and did some shop switching during testing.

 

Cheers

David

[k-59]

Huh that island terminal is interesting. I had an idea for railroad into Washington DC that was going to cross the Potomac river via an island and I thought the island would be cheap land on which to build a yard.

[craig]

I recently purchased a Broadway-Limited CSX EMD SW1500 Switcher with sound. I Started off with larger models in hindsight this was a mistake as my working area is just over 8'. I have a plan where I will pull or push two 50' or 57' boxcars or covered hoppers around the layout the switcher is 6" in length and the sound it produces is very good.  The Layout size is just over 8'x 18" and I will use Peco 75 streamlined track that I have had for years and it will incorporate a "double Slip" to assist with operations. This layout is set in Savannah USA  but its not based on anything, just a fictional place. I would like any constructive or negative comments with any suggestions for improvements 

 

Thanks Craig 

 

 

HO scale  Savannah CSX 8' Shelf layout 

Edited December 14, 2014 by craig

[shortliner]

That should work fine for you

[DavidB-AU]

An interesting small prototype yard in Carrboro, NC. This is the end of the J Line on the NS Piedmont Division.

https://goo.gl/maps/bdCo8

http://binged.it/1FJiic3

 

And if you pan south east to the end of the line, you find two Inglenooks!

 

A concrete plant that receives cement by rail. I'm not sure if it receives sand and gravel by rail but on a model it could.

https://goo.gl/maps/nnmWz

http://binged.it/19aPyPz

 

University of North Carolina cogeneration facility, an eco-friendly heating plant that receives coal (fuel) and limestone (removes sulfur dioxide from the exhaust) and sends ash for use as structural fill.

https://goo.gl/maps/bKESk

http://binged.it/1FJiU1v

Note the pad for the UNC Trackmobile: http://www.dwevans.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/UNC-Cogen.jpg

 

Cheers

David

[Mike Kieran]

Chris Gilbert's Layout build had me thinking about a small shelf layout for an 8x9 foot room or shed along 2 and 3 sides. The theme is a short line serving a furniture factory and a food plant.

 

I envision the crew switching the yard to set up the trains, pulling 1-3 cars out half way up the branch line to switch the furniture factory. after switching the furniture factory, the crew would return to the yard and go to beans. After lunch, the crew would then pull 1-3 cars for the food plant and shove them there for switching.

 

Here's the 2 sided plan:

 

 

And here's the 3 sided plan.

 

Edited April 10, 2015 by Mike Kieran

[DavidB-AU]

John Pryke's HO Union Freight Railroad layout is one I have admired for some time. The prototype was a subsidiary of the New Haven and linked the NH and B&M. It incorporated sharp curves and a lot of double track street running.

 

Until recently it would have been unthinkable to do such a layout in N, but locos the Spectrum GE 44t, Atlas Alco S-1 and the forthcoming Arnold EMD SW1 make it possible. This design is based on UFRR using Atlas code 55. As it is only "based on" it could be a fictional interchange between any suitable pair of railroads, with through transfers plus LOTS of local switching. It would ideally be set in the 1940-1970 period. A Denny-style fiddle yard or individual cassettes would be the simplest form of staging to represent the "interchanges" with the larger railroads.

 

 

Cheers

David

[Gordy]

just sketched a plan for someone O scale 2 rail in 8.5ft x 5ft, quite a challenge!!!

[Ian Holmes]

I was looking around Duluth, MN for some inspiration. OK I was using Google Maps, but is a 2 1/2 hour drive up there from home and it is 9pm right now... 

I found this little location on the map that I'd never seen before. It's tucked away on the edge of a residential district underneath some freeway overpasses. That's probably why I hadn't seen it before. 

Street view would seem to indicate the industry is out of use. The spur runs though the undergrowth in front of the Minivan

Certainly an interesting locale, lots of greenery, concrete and interesting houses.

Might make an interesting micro.

 

Ian

 

[M Graff]

I am now building the benchwork for this bilevel HOn3 layout (with staging underneath).

It is 450x350 cm.

 

 

It is freelanced with a Colorado setting in the 30's.

Any input on improvements would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Edited November 26, 2015 by M Graff

[Steveg]

SMS Lines in Pureland, New Jersey is another interesting railroad. It may be small but it takes it’s business very seriously - also very friendly if you get a chance to visit. Nearest city - Philadelphia.

 

http://www.smsrail.com/

 

Best, Pete.

SMS are friendly?! I'm booking my flights now.:-) Edited November 29, 2015 by Steveg

[skipepsi]

A first attempt at an anyrail  track plan 13 foot long and 15 inches wide although it could be wider the wardrobe sides it is to be built on are 23 inches wide but that is too much for ease of handling. The concept is a track wandering through a mix of old and new buildings to the silo at the left hand end. Two main questions is it too derivative ie a model of a model or lacking in interest for operation?

 

 

[Zomboid]

There will be operational interest there if you have some specific locations for spotting cars. Otherwise not a whole lot tbh.

[shortliner]

Mick - I'd very seriously suggest swapping that right-hand turnout top left, for a left hand one - you have currently a horrible dog-leg through there. TBH it wouldn't hold my interest long enough to build it

Edited January 19, 2016 by shortliner

[skipepsi]

I see what you mean Jack I can go back and alter that, what I meant by running through industries is the concrete canyon effect so I would have plenty of possibilities for spotting cars but they would then block the track behind the loco. Should I adopt a circular path or add more sidings?

[shortliner]

An interesting small prototype yard in Carrboro, NC. This is the end of the J Line on the NS Piedmont Division.

https://goo.gl/maps/bdCo8

http://binged.it/1FJiic3

 

And if you pan south east to the end of the line, you find two Inglenooks!

 

A concrete plant that receives cement by rail. I'm not sure if it receives sand and gravel by rail but on a model it could.

https://goo.gl/maps/nnmWz

http://binged.it/19aPyPz

 

University of North Carolina cogeneration facility, an eco-friendly heating plant that receives coal (fuel) and limestone (removes sulfur dioxide from the exhaust) and sends ash for use as structural fill.

https://goo.gl/maps/bKESk

http://binged.it/1FJiU1v

Note the pad for the UNC Trackmobile: http://www.dwevans.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/UNC-Cogen.jpg

 

Cheers

David

This was featured in CM or RM, a long time ago, possibly around the turn of the century, and I had great temptation, but couldn't squash it down enough to suit my available space. AFAIR their version fitted into an L shape

Edited January 19, 2016 by shortliner

[shortliner]

Mick - if you want a concrete canyon - it might be worth a PM to Ian Holmes (post#469) - a good while back he did a rather nice design in one of his small layout blogs but I can't find it. His was, I think, based on a similar plan to John Allens Timesaver , with several short sidings. I had thoughts about doing it with see-thru' buildings on the front using Perspex( or similar) and car window-tint film to have them see-through but dark enough to indicate that they were there. I have a thought that your loop is very large for very small industrial sidings - I'd shorten the loop and lengthen the sidings - but rule one applies

Edited January 19, 2016 by shortliner

[skipepsi]

I put it up to get suggestions Jack it is my first NA layout and i would like to get it rightish first time. It will also be couple of other firsts first adult layout to be completed ( hopefully) and first DCC layout.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Add a crossover about half way along the loop would be my suggestion if you're liking the idea of 2 tracks in a concrete canyon. This gives you options to get past cars that have already been spotted, or rather than the layout being 1 big passing loop to sort cars in it can create more interesting switching challenges.

[skipepsi]

I have now got plan b. Ignore the slight glitch where two pieces of track are slightly out of line

Edited January 19, 2016 by skipepsi

[Ian Holmes]

That was very kind of Jack to mention my "concrete canyons" concept from a good few years ago. You can find it here http://iholmes.com/pages/journal/planning_06.html

(all the links in the inspiration box are now dead I'm afraid)

 

Ian

[F-UnitMad]

Hopefully it's not too crass of me to put forward one of my layouts as inspiration..? And it's a favourite of Jack's, I know.

This is the plan for an O Scale layout I built a few years ago now...

 

It was 15ft by 1ft in O. For HO (or even N Gauge) I'd keep it the same size (or slightly shorter in your case) and just stretch everything out a bit. The Interchange at front in the street acted as an "on scene" fiddleyard. Hidden sidings are a pain at home, when the layout is usually against a wall.

You could link the rear spurs in front of the garage, to make two loops. As it is, the kick-back spur to the Freight Forwarder might look awkward to work, but in HO, if the Cold Store was shorter, there could still be space for a Switcher & 1 or 2 cars without having to clear the whole spur first. The silos are on a loop, as most often they are positioned so that a train of cars can be pushed through as they are loaded one by one, rather than located at the end of a spur so that cars have to be constantly swapped about to load.

Making the one leg of the loop also a loading point was just one idea to make operations a bit of a challenge - in fact if the loco leads the train in then only cars for the Cold Store need to be run round. I planned to top'n'tail trains with a loco and caboose at either end, & not worry too much which way round. Another 'restriction' I had was that freight cars could not be left on the road/Interchange track during switching. So it looked simple, but took some head scratching to work.

Hope it helps with ideas, anyway.

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

Ian, the links to Progressive Rail are still live, and very interesting.

 

I guess my little pikelet could be considered to be a concrete canyon...

 

[shortliner]

No problem Mick - everyone has to learn and asking questions is far and away the best way. Ian - thanks for posting the link - I have now added it in "Favorites", where it should have been.  Jordan - You might be interested to know that Portway Terminal in HO, is leaning against the wall about 3 feet from my right shoulder, on two 66" x 8" boards - awaiting the spring warm up, for some backscene boards to be added. I'm still awaiting my Plymouth switcher.

Edited January 20, 2016 by shortliner

[skipepsi]

This was the inspiration even if it is in Los Angeles http://www.patchrailroad.net/The_Patch/Patch_Photos/Pages/Prototype_Photos.html#17