Liam_uk

Thanks. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this and with the size of the buildings I thought it wise to try and place some of them before laying track. Although I laid half the layout without buildings

Well I thought I had 2 bay hoppers, turns out there just these 3 bay hoppers: Looks like I'll have to add them to the list along with a few other cars

Awesome, thanks for the info. Think I have a couple of those. But I had just grabbed the hopper cars in the picture as they were closest to me

Last one for today!! (Should really condense the pictures but I'm working off my phone and each picture seems to be between 3 and 6 mb). This is the original area originally intended for the metal manufacturers.

I've had to put this all into several posts due to the 10mb picture limit, sorry it's post heavy. I've done a mock up of the metal manufacturers building, just held with masking tape at the moment. There is one covered area for loading finished products into a box car. And then another spot for scrap metal to be placed into a gondola. I will have to get a picture of the prototype, I'm just going off something I can remember from a Distant Signals Video on YouTube. Although the original area maybe a bit tight looking at the kit and may move to the back run....

The 3 kit came today from KGR.

So I placed the part built cement terminal on today to get an idea of space. I Moved it a little to the left and made the spur 3 spots instead of 2. So the line will come round the curve behind the cement terminal and into the run round. I will eventually add lighting underneath, and I've just bought a pot of paint to paint the backscene all 40 odd ft of it

Yes I can now Surprising really. You think they would do seeing as it's already multi gauge.....

Started the cement terminal this morning so I can lay track into it and behind it. The car shed and the silos aren't joined, just placed together. This is the first kit I've done. I've also started pikestuff single engine shed kit which will become the corn syrup distributor.

Yes, it probably could have been worded betterer

Yes I know. I ordered 3 building kits from Kent Garden Railway, however they contacted to say one was out of stock and would I mind waiting whilst they ordered one from the supplier.....

Thank you. Had alot of help from the people of this forum, putting up with my daft questions etc...

First two buildings have arrived: The Walthers cement will go in front of the curve to the next bit of track laying, And the pikestuff engine shed will be made into the terminal for corn syrup on the other side that has already been laid.. I have ordered another building for the far side but it is currently somewhere between here and America. I couldn't believe how large the Walthers box actually is!

Ive had a look through the links and some really good inspiration. Looks like I'll be able to set it up for several different commodities.

Cheers. I don't think ill have anywhere for it to go as the three sides are now sorted, well 2 are laid and 1 is planned. Ill just have to do without it . My grain hoppers will have to be used in the exchange yard.

Thank you, and thank you for the feedback and information. It has really helped in planning and learning the american "scene".

Sooooo....... I had a relook and rethink. I've swapped round the Distribution/Manufacturer Spur. I've also swapped the grain silo spur and made it the lumber yard spur. I've also moved the cement distributor to the spare gap around the curve (hiding it behind the building). Taking ideas on board I've taken the 2 spurs on the bottom and made one longer spur for a Transload facility. Hopefully it is a bit more prototypical as well as having operational interest. It gives 7 or 8 spots for the industries and then the Transload facility.

Great stuff. Thank you for the feedback. I was unsure on the double slip as I only put it there as several points together looked very busy. I'll do some adjustments tonight and then post the rehash!

Progress has been slow, a - because Ive been waiting on buildings to mock up to fix the 2 spurs on the first board, and b - Ive been trying to come up with a less cramped version of the original plan. I have come up with this plan: The line will curve round a 3 to 4ft scenic section before hitting the run round points. The first industry will be a lumber yard with 2 car spots. Along the back will be a non rail served warehouse (red). The manufacturer building will be 1 car spot (a hopper), which will be for plastic beads to manufacture parts. I might also have a box car spot (swapping the hopper for the box car) for finished product. The Distributor will have 2 car spots, these will be box cars. The small truck yard scene at the side will be for the last distribution by road. The top left I have put in a grain silo. Mainly as I have seen them and like the look of them and it would fill the area nicely. Although Im not sure if it would look out of place with the industrial buildings. The lower left spur I have put a cement distributor. It will have 2 car spots. I have order the Walthers Medusa Cement building for this already. The final spur is as yet undecided. I am in 2 minds at the moment. either a - another industry OR b - move the cement distributor to that spur and remove the "planned" cement spur, and just have a scenic section there. As always any ideas, suggestions or feedback welcomed....

Hi Keith, it is all Code 75 as this is what I have most of and will use on the upper deck so thought I might as well use that for the american layout too

Laid the curve from the exchange yard to the Y junction. I've also laid the back line with the industry spur. The spur isn't secured yet as I don't know full where it is going till I get the building, I am thinking a lot bashed pikestuff building. This industry will be a manufacturing company with 3 different cars coming, a steel coil car for raw material, a gondola for scrap metal and box car for finished product. The bottom line has also been laid to the staging area, with the spur again sat loose. This industry will be a corn syrup distributor. I saw the idea on another layout on YouTube. I was originally thinking 2 spots but now I'm just thinking 1 car at a time. Again this will be another pikestuff building. I now need to order the buildings for the spurs, and come up with a less crowded plan for the 17ft run on the other side

Also tacked down the top curve and sent a few cars round it. All seems ok The curves will be hidden/blended with grade crossings, trees etc Also got some locos in the loft The left one is an Anthern Genesis GP50, with factory Tsunami sound and the other loco is a Broadway SD40-2 with Paragon 2 sound. Both are stunning locos. The quality is great. I'm also blown away by the price, the GP50 being £100 sound fitted and SD40-2 £139 sound fitted. Anyway I mocked up the loco stabling/depot area and used them to make sure the clearances were ok. I haven't cut the track to length for these spurs yet

Extended the middle spur today to take 4 (what seems to be "average") car lengths.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Better to double check than get into the build and find I need to year it down. That's half the reason I got the professionals in as they are there for questions....... That and the fact i would know it would be done properly.

I've spoke with the company that did the loft work. They said they don't see why it wouldn't be ok. The floor has been frame worked with the wood in the picture and then the floor attached to it. Needing a step from the loft ladder to access the loft. (As you can see just on the left of the pic).