Oliver Hill VT - Industrial Switching Layout

[long island jack]

i have a similar off stage industry on Franklin falls, Hoffman building supplies, which has 4 spots, spot 1 boxcar-bagged cement/timber, spot 2,PS2 hopper-sand, spot 3 open hopper -stone and spot 4 gondola/flat steel loads, can take some switching, as everything must go in the right order.

 

 

[Liam_uk]

4 hours ago, long island jack said:

i have a similar off stage industry on Franklin falls, Hoffman building supplies, which has 4 spots, spot 1 boxcar-bagged cement/timber, spot 2,PS2 hopper-sand, spot 3 open hopper -stone and spot 4 gondola/flat steel loads, can take some switching, as everything must go in the right order.

 

 

 

I must admit I got the idea for the Transrail facility that is a part building that goes off scene from your layout. When I was looking at mine it popped into my head and remember I had taken several pictures at Stafford.

 

In terms of cars having to go in certain order. I was thinking of that already. But not to the degree that you have outlined, which would make switching more varied. 

The town of Oliver Spring TN, was known for its spar and water back in the day so I was going to use 1 spot to be where Oliver Springs Bottled Water is loaded into a box car (first spot on the scenic area). The factory where this is made is too far from the railroad to make it viable to put a lead in to it.

 

Then as I have several centre beam/flats and lumber box cars (from Oliver Springs V1 with the builders merchant), I was going to have this unloaded under cover and then transported via Truck to local distributors. making maybe 2 spots?

 

Then finally AN OTHER spot tbc a yet. which would make 4 spots to be switched. 

Could potentially do more as the track would just go into staging. 

[Liam_uk]

Well, I've been waiting for my switches for my mimic panel for over a week! They have been dispatched BUT are somewhere in Royal Mail land. I really wanted to get the panel done before I moved the layout.......

 

I started the week by making another hole in the backscene, removing the underlay and taking the track up. Unfortunately, I slipped with a hand file and knocked the track to the staging yard, meaning that had to come off to be relaid....

 

However, before I finished this (mainly dragging my feet when in the week and not really touching the layout), I was evicted from my current spot and had to clear off for Christmas:

 

It was expected though as management had already told me this would be the case, so the layout was relocated to the loft:

 

 

I then recycled one of the original Oliver Springs V1 boards to make my new staging yard. This will be 4ft x 18 inch, have 3 tracks ( 2 for staging and 1 for shunting moves in and out of the scenic area). I then laid my cork for the point work and Transrail facility. Im only using small raduis turn outs in the staging area just for space:

 

I then mounted the boards together (bit more wood work), and painted the scenic sections backscene:

The updated track work is now laid, as well as the Transrail staging track and the staging yard point work ( I didnt get a picture of these).

 

Whilst waiting for things to dry I did a few small scenic bits/track details.

 

First I built my bumps for the run round loop and maybe the cement spur.

 

I gave them a spray with the same brown that I will use for the track, and then dry brushed some Frame Dirt onto them. There not complete yet, I am going to add a bit more weather to them, bit of grease etc. This is also my first time having a go at painting anything like this too:

 

Ive also be working on the switch levers. These are 00 Gauge, and marketed as US spec point levers. There 3D printed, and quite easy to build, although I did break the first housing I tried and I was a little heavy handed. Then I hand drilled out the hole to make it slightly larger and they went together lovely. 

 

I then primed them and I am now in the process of painting. Currently painting black on the bottom half, then will paint the handles yellow:

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Liam_uk

[Liam_uk]

So much of the layout has come together over the last few evenings and today I took over 45 pictures. I will probably upload these as several posts to group them all together.

 

Firstly, I painted all the back scenes and joined the boards together. I then levelled them the best I could with so 2x1 off cuts supporting the joint and corners.

 

I have then laid the Transrail track and 3 staging tracks:

 

Ive tried to give myself plenty of room between each road for stock changing, with the Transrail track holding 4 cars. I will stick a 2x1 off cut at the end as a buffer eventually, but the staging tracks will have a ply box around them eventually.

 

Next I wired up all these tracks. I went to test them and remembered I needed to redo 2 of the tracks on the scenic area. So the boards went back on there side and this was done:

I then tested all the tracks with my GP30. 

 

No faults found so the staging yard was stocked up:

Im not 100% if the smaller 2 bay hoppers are correct for 2000 onwards, but I have them so they went with the "loaded" centre beam to be swapped out. I did get photos of this and will post them in my next post (I need to reduce the size of them from my phone for the forum).

[Keith Addenbrooke]

4 minutes ago, Liam_uk said:

So much of the layout has come together over the last few evenings and today I took over 45 pictures. I will probably upload these as several posts to group them all together.

 

Firstly, I painted all the back scenes and joined the boards together. I then levelled them the best I could with so 2x1 off cuts supporting the joint and corners.

 

I have then laid the Transrail track and 3 staging tracks:

 

Ive tried to give myself plenty of room between each road for stock changing, with the Transrail track holding 4 cars. I will stick a 2x1 off cut at the end as a buffer eventually, but the staging tracks will have a ply box around them eventually.

 

Next I wired up all these tracks. I went to test them and remembered I needed to redo 2 of the tracks on the scenic area. So the boards went back on there side and this was done:

I then tested all the tracks with my GP30. 

 

No faults found so the staging yard was stocked up:

Im not 100% if the smaller 2 bay hoppers are correct for 2000 onwards, but I have them so they went with the "loaded" centre beam to be swapped out. I did get photos of this and will post them in my next post (I need to reduce the size of them from my phone for the forum).

Hi Liam, looking good.  I think short 2 bay hoppers are fine for post 2000 - it all depends what’s in them: for denser bulk materials such as cement my understanding is they are still used today, making them ideal for a small layout like this.  Others will have more details, Keith.

[Liam_uk]

1 hour ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Hi Liam, looking good.  I think short 2 bay hoppers are fine for post 2000 - it all depends what’s in them: for denser bulk materials such as cement my understanding is they are still used today, making them ideal for a small layout like this.  Others will have more details, Keith.

 

Thats good news 👍

[Liam_uk]

So Part 1 of my first day switching (for some reason the forum wont let me upload many pictures at once).

This was a simple switch, swap the "loaded" centre beam car for the empty car (2nd car spot) and replace the 3 2 bays. This activity took me over an hour just to do this and presented me with several challenges due to the size of the layout and maybe to many cars to switch in one go but I managed it.

 

GP30 2598 arrive at Oliver Springs for its morning switch

 

2598 blocks the access road ready for the conductor to throw the switch to the Transrail facility:

 

With the "loaded" centre beam car waiting on the "main", the rest of the consist reverses onto the spur to drag out 2 cars.

 

After dragging out the cars the cements hoppers are placed on the lower run round road

 

With the "loaded" centre beam and timber products box car now at the rear of the consist, 2598 pushes the train back into the transrail facility before bring the empty centre beam outside of the derailer.

 

[Liam_uk]

Part 2 of switching:

 

2598 now couples to the bulk box car before joining it to the 3 centre beams:

 

The load is then pulled out of the spur:

 

The 3 empty 2 bays are then left and the box car taken to couple onto the 3 bays for returning down the spur

 

2598 running round its train after taking the centre beam car from its spur and completing the train to return to the Yard. 

 

2598 and its consist now depart Oliver Springs 

[Liam_uk]

As well as the switching (more pictures I'm afraid) I painted my point lever handles yellow (as seen on several pictures). I then had a go at adding a bit of frame dirt to the the handles and the body of the lever. Trying to be inconsistent on the body part and put the dirt where the handle is most likely to get grabbed, again this is my first go at this, it may not be perfect but I like the finish for my first go. 

 

 

These are now ready to be passed over to the track gang for fitting (after track weather but before ballasting).

 

Finally on the weathering front I finished the bumpers and placed them on the layout to get an idea of their placement (roughly placed for now, again need to be transferred to the track gang).

 

[Liam_uk]

AND FINALLY for tonight and at least until the middle of next week (I am on night shifts from tomorrow 😒).

I've had a play with a highly detailed picture program (or Paint to you and me), I've done a basic colouring by numbers to get a feel for the layouts final appearance. I am hoping for the trees and grass to have autmnal colours, with the layout being late summer/fall.

 

Here is the layout currently

 

This is my highly detailed plan with the Transrail building, tank unloading facility and cement terminal

 

This is the same layout, but instead of just an open yard where the box car is loaded at the cement terminal, there is small building which the forklift brings the palletised loads from to be loaded. 

[Keith Addenbrooke]

On 10/12/2022 at 23:40, Liam_uk said:

So Part 1 of my first day switching (for some reason the forum wont let me upload many pictures at once).

This was a simple switch, swap the "loaded" centre beam car for the empty car (2nd car spot) and replace the 3 2 bays. This activity took me over an hour just to do this and presented me with several challenges due to the size of the layout and maybe to many cars to switch in one go but I managed it.

 

Hi Liam, interesting to note your switch list took more than an hour - sounds like good operation.

 

As I’m thinking about ideas for my own small space layout that’s really good news: taking time is one of the things regularly emphasised in the writings of Lance Mindheim and Thomas Klimoski - and, closer to home, videos by RMweb contributors such as @long island jack and @Alcanman.  Great to see the project making good progress, Keith.

[Liam_uk]

4 hours ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

 

Hi Liam, interesting to note your switch list took more than an hour - sounds like good operation.

 

As I’m thinking about ideas for my own small space layout that’s really good news: taking time is one of the things regularly emphasised in the writings of Lance Mindheim and Thomas Klimoski - and, closer to home, videos by RMweb contributors such as @long island jack and @Alcanman.  Great to see the project making good progress, Keith.

 

It was my first go at it, no real "system" such as car cards or switch list as yet. Just the type of car was unique to a certain industry. 

Because the layout is small and space is limited you really have to think about what movements are being done and what order to switch in. I am sure as time moves on the same switch wont take as long, but as suggested by @long island jack having the transrail facility cars being put onto the spur in a set order adds to the switching. In the scenario I did I had to pull 2 cars out to switch the rear of the 2. Then swap them round so the loaded car goes back on the right spot and the 1st car spot is returned to its position. 

 

This works the same for the other 2 industries with box cars having to be moved to gain access for either the hopper cars or the tank cars. 

 

It is all still a big journey of discovery and I am sure there will be mistakes and improvements along the way, but this is my first real go at it all. I am hoping to get a video done the back end of the week, keep testing before the layout is split again so I can start track weathering and ballasting. 

[Liam_uk]

So the back end of last week was spent playing Testing!

Lots of different combinations of consists into and out of the industrial spur. This was done by both myself and my uncle. 

 

Then came the day, I made a start of some scenery!!

All the stock was taken off, buildings removed (with the baseboard being marked for where they will sit. 

I then masked off the backscene and fiddleyard and sprayed the track......

 

However I started on the right hand side, started spraying and then realised I had forgotten to mask of the blades of the run round switch! Too late now, I will have to get some thinners and clean it the best I can!! However I remembered before going any further, masked the other 4 points and sprayed away. 

 

It is a Humbrol brown. Tomorrow I will see how it has dried and may apply another coat, or if I feel it is enough I will move onto rusting the rails, track grime and then a bit of ballasting......

[Liam_uk]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to everybody.

 

Hope Santa has bought you something nice.

Oliver Springs has seen Santa's arrival with 2 Conrail 2 bay hoppers and a Broadway Ltd SD40-2 in NS were delivered!!

 

I've also applied the coat of rust to the rails and I'm currently onto my first load of Ballasting (no pictures as yet).

[Liam_uk]

I hadn't realised but it has been nearly 2 months since my last update.

The layout has progressed some, I'm currently working on 1 board, although I have ballasted and flocked the other board.

I decided to do away with the grade crossing in the end.

 

This is how the board currently sits.

I am going to add a layer of static grass to the ground covering as well as trees in the back corner.

 

My first go at scratch building. It isnt a revolution in structures, but it is good for me. It is painted with Greenscene textured paint.

 

The cement terminal has been weathered. I may add a bit more to it yet. the hardstanding is made up of cardboard and again painted with Greenscene paints. I am just working on the small concrete pad for the cement "shed". this has now been glued down and now the ground covering is upto its edges.

 

Finally, I have made my own custom pipe work. This is simply parts of sprue with masking tape. I will add a hose to the end soon.

[Liam_uk]

So, I've dragged my feet the last few months. 

Oliver Springs was meant to be at the TVAM show this year, however with it getting cancelled I kind of lost enthusiasm for the layout.

 

However, the past month I have really upped the work on the layout. 

 

Firstly, I didn't like the bottom industry. So I ripped it out and went back the the original idea of it being a small transloading facility. 

I tried a new method for this using foam from hobby craft and painting it with Woodland Scenics cement pigment. Unfortunately, they dont do the grey foam anymore so I used black (which in hindsight I should have used white), this was then painted with several coats of the cement pigment. I they used thin card to make the section in between the rails.

 

The photo is pre-centre rail section.

 

I then used a method of weathering from speaking to someone at the Mech Models event. I took a spoon full of coffee and made a coffee (no milk), then I added a teabag and left it to cool. This was then painted onto the cement.

 

This photo shows the different and how toned down the concrete now is.

 

The finished cement, my first time weathering any hard standing.

 

I also started with the trees. Using a WWS autumn tree kit I got for Christmas, I made several trees using a mix of just seafoam and using the plastic trunks. Again this is the first time I have ever made any trees.

 

The first few have been placed in the corner next to the cement terminal

 

Whilst on the subject of the cement terminal, I started to scratch build the bulk loading building. I was going to use Pikstuff parts, but with the other building on the layout already being made from that, I felt it maybe too much. A quick google and I saw the Walthers terminal, and copied the building design from that. The first building was 1 1/2 inches too wide, leaving me no room for any equipment to load/unload, the second picture shows the difference. 

 

I am hoping to get this built up and again painted in concrete and weathered. 

 

 

Since Christmas, the layout has been on the floor in my loft. However, with my son moving to one of the other rooms in the house (for some reason he didnt like the bigger of the spare rooms), we now have space in the new study/sewing room  to put the layout up.

 

Last night the layout went up. I found the bolts I had used were too thick so went to the next size down. Unfortunately the left hand board needed some repairs before it could go up. This is due to poor wood work skills on my part.

 

However, this morning I got the layout up and joined:

 

You can see the difference the two boards here, with the right hand board having had the 2nd and 3rd layer of static grass, where as the left hand board only has the first scatter layer. 

 

I started the left hand board static grass:

 

 

It does make a big difference. 

Once this is dry I will clean it up and start the yellower toned grass for around the soil area and under the trees which will go on the left to hide the scenic break.

 

 

 

AND FINALLY, I couldnt resist getting a quick snap of my latest purchase on the layout. After watching several videos I seemed to have a liking for CF7s. So looking around and it was looking like getting one from America for around $150 plus taxes and postage etc. However, this one turned up for £89 DCC Sound. It was weathered, which I personally want to change slightly and does need a service, but I am happy with it. 

 

So here CF7 1513 stands on the run round loop after spotting the 2 bay hoppers at the cement terminal, for collecting a Box car from the manufacturing facility (the left hand industry) and return back to the yard.

 

Edited May 9, 2023 by Liam_uk

[Simon stewart]

That's coming along nicely mate.

[Liam_uk]

Since starting the layout, my understanding and knowledge of American outline has changed and grown. 

Ive been lucky to meet some new people who have helped me in the last few months.

 

Anyway back to the layout, Ive been busy doing small jobs and am just finishing the structures for the layout.

The layout itself is moving across America, from TN to VT, and to a fictional region just outside Burlington called Oliver Hill

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Liam_uk

[DanielB]

Spotted you setting up at Mansfield show. Gotta say your layout is fantastic. Bravo!

[Liam_uk]

3 hours ago, DanielB said:

Spotted you setting up at Mansfield show. Gotta say your layout is fantastic. Bravo!

 

Thank you Daniel, few things to do before next exhibition (mainly a bit more weathering), but its 98% done.

 

[Liam_uk]

As Daniel has mentioned, Oliver Hill is now at its first exhibition.

This will be my first as a layout owner (I've operated several layouts at Exhibitions), and I am hoping the layout is well received with it being only my second attempt at a layout (past boards, track and wiring).

 

Anyway since my last update Oliver Hill has changed alot! I wasnt happy with the textured tarmac coverings, so these were pulled up. The manufacturing company has stayed in the same spot, but the cement terminal is now a small building at the front of the layout, which can receive a maximum of 4 2 bay hoppers. The transload facility is now at the rear of the layout. This can receive a maximum of 4 cars, but I will try not to fill it to the max. 

 

[Liam_uk]

[F-UnitMad]

It has a nice sense of space now. 👍👍

[Liam_uk]

So Oliver Hill survived its first outing. Must admit I was nervous about transport, but nothing fell off and my woodwork stood up to it.

Overall the weekend went well. Several good comments, a couple negative, however this is only my second layout Ive built past baseboards and track.

 

Layout ran great for its first display, most issues were operator made, including accidently pushing a tank car off the track via the bumps, a few wrong routes and shorting/restarting the NCE when switching wagons and locos round in the fiddle stick.

 

List of about 12 jobs to do on the layout including weathering of tarmac, buildings, building up a few more layers of grass and trees. The layout is next out in June at Bakewell, so hopefully these can be done for then and hopefully get around to starting some freight car weathering/modernising. 

 

Anyway here are a few pictures from the weekend:

 

 

 

 

 

[z4driver]

Just watched your YouTube video. Lovely layout.

 

Lee