Alcanman Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 The Inspiration  During the winter months I've been looking for inspiration for a new small switching layout. A thread on another forum led me to Matco Reload, a  transloading facility in Pompano Beach FL served by  the Florida East Coast Railway. FEC local 960 operates between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Pompano where a spur off the main leads to Matco Reload. A siding (run around) further along the  lead enables reversals. The local can then shove into Matco and switch the industries, 'Inglenook' style.  http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=1263+Hammondville+Rd%2c+33069&mkt=en-AU&FORM=BYFD  The CSX main is adjacent (to the left) but does not connect, as far I can tell  http://www.matcoreload.com/  A variety of different car types can be seen in the pic of local 960, enough to satisfy most modellers.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/95668760@N07/16219076602/in/photolist-qHe1pL-cmjqnN-a4kYyW-qNKSvm-kJuQLx-oqnCgA#  Matco Reload would make a good subject for an Inglenook style switching layout.   The Layout Plan  I wanted a different type of layout plan from previous layouts. I've always liked the 'double inglenook' arrangement as it gives a lot of switching in a small area.  If fact, I almost used this plan in a previous layout (Deerfield Beach, FL) but succumbed to the temptation of including a run around. In the plan, there are two staging tracks,  but, I've imagined they are actually one end of a siding (run around loop) with the other end further along the line. For this reason, the turnout used for the 2 tracks will  be included in the scenicked portion of the layout. If fact, I may scenick the whole of the layout.    More to come later ....   Mal        Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadoak Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I shall follow your progress with interest Mal. Â I like the look of the plan, nice and spacious looking not too crowded with track. Â Peter M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Thanks Peter. A spacious look is what I'm hoping to achieve. Â Always difficult with a small layout plan, trying to balance enough operational potential without over crowding with track and turnouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrossouw79 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Finally! Looking good as always Mal! Do you have you're eye on this one perhaps? Â http://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/atlas/atlas-ho-scale/atlas-atlas-diesels-2/atlas-atlas-gp-40-2/atlas-10001854-gp40-2-locomotive-florida-east-coast/ Â Cheers Jacques Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supaned Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Good to see you back with the Dark Side Mal , I'll enjoy seeing this one come along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNRR Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Interesting area on which to base your switching layout Mal. Â Looking around I noticed in addition to Matco Stone, you have Trademark Metals Recycling (gons); Gold Coast Beverage Distribution (box cars); Martin-Brower (refrigerator cars - for those McDonald's french fries, etc.); and FlexSol Packaging (covered hoppers) as potential customers for your spur. Â Interesting that you too have abandoned the use of a runaround on a switching layout. My last incarnation for my switching layout included a runaround, which a first seemed interesting, but after about the 5th operating session, it actually became a pain in the you-know-what and really served no purpose other than to have the locomotive lead the train coming/going and to switch one industry. Â So I'm back to just having a push-pull type operation, although I am toying with the idea of still having spurs in both directions as there are many such industrial spurs around the country that don't have a runaround on the industrial spur (including some that I worked on L&N in years past). Just not 100% sure at this point if it would suit me. The idea of having two staging tracks representing the end of a runaround is something I may have to consider myself - perhaps one crew to work trailing and one crew to work facing industries. Â All that said; I'll eagerly be watching the progress of your new layout plan. You do some great work! Â Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Finally! Looking good as always Mal! Do you have you're eye on this one perhaps?  http://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/atlas/atlas-ho-scale/atlas-atlas-diesels-2/atlas-atlas-gp-40-2/atlas-10001854-gp40-2-locomotive-florida-east-coast/  Cheers Jacques Yeah! That the one plus ESU Loksound. I'm also hoping that the delivery date of 31st March is accurate, otherwise I'll be using CSX power!  Interesting area on which to base your switching layout Mal.  Looking around I noticed in addition to Matco Stone, you have Trademark Metals Recycling (gons); Gold Coast Beverage Distribution (box cars); Martin-Brower (refrigerator cars - for those McDonald's french fries, etc.); and FlexSol Packaging (covered hoppers) as potential customers for your spur.  Interesting that you too have abandoned the use of a runaround on a switching layout. My last incarnation for my switching layout included a runaround, which a first seemed interesting, but after about the 5th operating session, it actually became a pain in the you-know-what and really served no purpose other than to have the locomotive lead the train coming/going and to switch one industry.  So I'm back to just having a push-pull type operation, although I am toying with the idea of still having spurs in both directions as there are many such industrial spurs around the country that don't have a runaround on the industrial spur (including some that I worked on L&N in years past). Just not 100% sure at this point if it would suit me. The idea of having two staging tracks representing the end of a runaround is something I may have to consider myself - perhaps one crew to work trailing and one crew to work facing industries.  All that said; I'll eagerly be watching the progress of your new layout plan. You do some great work!  Ed Thanks Ed, always good to have your input. Particularly regarding the industries. I was aware of a couple of them but now I need to check out the rest.  Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Found Gold Coast Beverages, north of Matco.  Zooming and rotating in Bing Bird's Eye vew, a FEC Geep can be seen switching the industry. Further along the line to the right, past the boxcars, a  couple of reefers are spotted at Martin-Brower. A little further along covered hoppers can be seen spotted at Flexsol Packaging.  http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=1263+Hammondville+Rd%2c+33069&mkt=en-AU&FORM=BYFD#Y3A9bmM3ejVuODlubjQyJmx2bD0xOC44NSZkaXI9ODcuOTQmc3R5PWImc3M9eXAuWU4xODZ4MzY3NzkwMn5wZy4xfnJhZC44MA== Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Having looked at the industries closer, it appears that 'Gold Coast Beverage Distribution' is a large beer distributer. As a big fan and consumer of US craft beers it would be remiss of me not to include them on my  switch list. Interestingly, to enter their website you have to admit to being at least 21 years old!  Flexsol Packaging is a large plastics packaging manufacturer and distributor, so I guess they receive plastic pellets in covered hoppers. As I've included a hopper unloading shed in my plan, Flexsol will be perfect.  I had intended this type pp unloading facility  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Mal  Hope your going to sample a few of there bottle beers before modelling there distribution outlet, I've tried a few that's on there list, lovely, hic! Brooklyn chocolate stout, yummy, but at 10% can only manage 4-5 bottle before I start talking rubbish, some say I talk rubbish all the time!!!!!!!.  Looking forward to the build.  back to my pint of Hawkshead dry stone stout!!  Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Thanks Ray, Yes I'll be sampling a few of their beers. Looking at the website reminds me of the Roger Protz book '300 Beers to try before you die'!  Meantime looks like there's plenty of beer on board the Pompano Beach local FEC 960!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1KhJcMM3Ms  Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 I think it's fair to say that back in the day, one of the attractions of US modelling was the colourful paint schemes, lettering and logos of the locos and railcars.  In the UK , modelling the early 1980s there was only one colour for locos - Blue, with a dash of yellow!  Looking at many Youtube videos of US trains, and most recently, FEC local 960,  I've began to realise that there are a lot of  boxcars painted in boxcar red, covered hoppers are mainly plain grey with gondolas plain black.  With this in mind, I've started looking for these type of plain cars for my new layout.  First, an EEC boxcar which also has the modern 'conspicuity' markings, which I believe were introduced about 10 years ago.    Next, a plastic pellet covered hopper, clearly marked 'Plastic Granules'          Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supaned Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 If you can find them , Walthers also did some plastic pellet hoppers (National 6200 type) - a bit different in appearance to the Atlas ACF cars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 I bought a couple of the Atlas ones earlier this year. They had doubled in price from a couple of years ago. When I looked again at Gaugemaster's site recently they had been reduced, grrrr...!  Needless to say, they've now all been sold.  I have one of the Walthers cars, they are slightly longer.     Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 Building South Florida Reload has finally started.  My original plan had 4 left hand turnouts and 1 right hand. Somehow, I'd gotten my angles all wrong and I've had to re-design the plan which now has 2 left hand turnouts and 3 right hand. Glad I used 3mm cork tiles on top of the MDF, to allow track to be temporarily pinned down and re-adjusted.  With the benchwork completed and track pinned in place, here is how the build looks so far. I've re-cycled the warehouse from my previous layout, as it fits perfectly. A few temporary structures can be seen at the right hand end of the layout.  Next, I'll proceed with wiring the layout.    Mal       Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadoak Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 That looks to be a good solid start. Â Peter M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbb Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Like the 2nd plan better- also like the EEC boxcar above..is it an ExactRail model? Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 Paul, the boxcar is a recent release Athearn RTR model. I'll post an updated track plan later.  Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNRR Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Looking good Mal! Giving me some ideas to try out for my own yet to be finalized switching layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrossouw79 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 The mock up already gets my mouth watering for what's to come! Those Athearn RTR boxcars are actually really nicely detailed. I recently ordered a few from Trainworld for $14.99 a piece. All you need to add is some Kadee's and maybe some brake hoses. Â Cheers Jacques Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I think it's fair to say that back in the day, one of the attractions of US modelling was the colourful paint schemes, lettering and logos of the locos and railcars.  In the UK , modelling the early 1980s there was only one colour for locos - Blue, with a dash of yellow!   So you chose a road with blue locos with a dash of yellow! I've noticed too, that cars aren't as colourful as the range of models available would suggest. Yes there are some cool schemes out there in real life, but they are vastly outnumbered by  plain single colour ones, greys, browns, reds, yellows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 I have been thinking of something a tad more colorful.  http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=471622&nseq=1  After fine tuning the track plan I've completed the layout wiring and everything is working smoothly.  Here is the final plan   With a small layout every inch counts and dimensions are crucial, if the plan is to succeed when operating.  The new plan offers more width for the FlexSol Packing structure which will partially hide the staging tracks. (structures shown are temporary)     The front left track from which trains enter FlexSol Packaging is just long enough for a Geep and 2 PP Hoppers.   Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Mal have you thought about adding a curve to the right end, instead of a staging track then, adding one of Shortliners "fiddle sticks" Â Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Nice idea Ray, I have often thought about extending the layout by adding a curve and extending around the wall where the window is. Maybe one day... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Not at all jealous in any way, Mal ... but I do wish it was as easy to get modern cars and a CSX Geep like those in O Scale as it is in HO...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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