Hello all!
I am currently designing a layout for the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad. It will reside in the basement of my future home (currently under construction). The dimensions of the basement are 24' wide by 42' long. The steps come down from the middle of the house 19' back from the front wall, and end on a landing that will allow you to turn either to the front of the house (the layout room) or to the back of the house (utilities acces). Here is a link to the first (very rough) draft of the layout:
http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu163/Wee_Ply_34/NHIRRLayoutb.jpg
The prototype runs as follows: New Hope is the North-eastern point of the short line, traveling through the beautiful scenery of Bucks County, in Penssylvania. The terminus for the NH&I RR is in Warminster (just south of Ivyland) where the line connects to the outside world via SEPTA's R2 line, which the NH&I receives its interchange freight from CSX through (as far as I know, it arrives late at night, when SEPTA shuts down commuter traffic, between 12:30am and 4 am) [I am still in the research phase on the exact details of when interchange traffic occurs]
The prototype has only three diesel locomotives, a single working steam engine (several other steam engines in pieces and different stages of "restoration." The passenger portion uses the Diesels in the colder months and the steam for the rest of the year.
The passenger portion is a tourist attraction that runs from New Hope to Lahaska on the prototype, but I have extended service on a daily basis to Warminster (for more "playability"). I plan on making Lahaska a flag stop as well as the one in Rushland. The prototype also has 25 grade crossings Between New Hope and Warminster Stations, I have attempted to limit the number on the layout to keep from driving everyone crazy with blowing the whistle... I purposely drew the tracks in oversized on this, mainly because I couldn't find my HO track template. This way I know that I'll have some room to work with and not have to worry about whether or not everything will fit the way I drew it.
My layout, only depicts trackage as far as Warminster station for the moment. Once we (my fiancee and I) move into the house and see what the storage situation is, I will then start planning for points south of Warminster.
The stations listed are in the order they appear on the prototype. I have omitted a few stations, but incorporated all trackage into the plan. The only change to trackage is the storage track that was at Wycomd is now at the south end of Lahaska, and it uses a line of trees as a view block in order to have it descend underneath the layout for access to storage/staging/continuous run (which will be built at a later date).
I am asking for suggestions as to better the track plan...(i.e.: benchwork, track arrangement) I am still working on revising on my own, but would like some outside input as to what can be done to improve it. I thank you in advance!
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
Hi. I think it looks pretty good! Your curves look nice a broad, and you have a lot of industrial work and swtiching, plus passing sidings.
About the only place I would work on is where your track loops in the center peninsula, but specifically where you have your scenic divider looping back on itself. That curve could stand to be broadened another 2-4" with some shaping, perhaps even of the bench edge itself if you don't squeeze the aisle too much. This is by no means a problem that I am suggesting, but I would always make it a practise to widen curves where possible. As you have drawn it, it looks to be close to 24"...not bad, but not great in view of all the room at your disposal. Just my opinion.
As I have stated, though, it looks very good. It should keep you busy, both in the building and in the fun that comes as you go along.
-Crandell
Sam, what a coincidence! I've been on the NH&I on more than one occasion. It's a great little RR. I like your idea of extending it to Warminster. Have you by any chance done a Google Earth scan of the line yet? I have. It's a great way to see what the line traverses. Could give you some nice ideas for scenery and intermediate freight stops.
I like, especially the Warminster end. Might I suggest you go to your nearest library branch and find Ranulph Bye's "The Vanishing Depot" if there isn't a copy at your end of the county I am sure they can get it from the Doylestown headquarters. The book is a collection of paintings that Bye did of many stations. My copy has New Hope on the paper cover. Inside New Hope is on pages 72 and 3. Wycombe is on p 74.
In general the book covers stations from Maryland to Vermont and New Hampshire.
tony22Have you by any chance done a Google Earth scan of the line yet?
Tony: YesI have!!! That is how I came up with the track plan!!! I actually traced a "path" along the tracks from not only New Hope to Warminster, but also from Warminster to where the regional rails disappear underground towards Market East Station, and from Fox Chase SEPTA station to where it connects with the tracks that the R2 traverses (at Wayne Junction if memory serves) also the West Trenton line (can't recall the R#), and the Doylestown line!!! I have actually traced the old Newtown Line from Fox Chase out to Newtown... The only spur that isn't on the correct side of the tracks is the one by Warminster Station! I put it on the other side specifically so that I wouldn't have to look through or over the structure to spot cars in their proper position... (Also it's because I am not that confident in my modelling skills to attempt an interior scene of that proportion).
Jeff: I will gladly check the library! Thank you for that info on the book! That should help me quite a bit (at least for interiors! I live just about 15 miles from New Hope (probably not even that far!) So, I plan on doing quite a lot of "Railfanning" to get the necessary photos I need! I'm sure the book will help me with the proper color scheme (if I decide to back date the layout!!!
Thanks for the help guys! Anyone else with helpful tips I would greatly appreciate it!
How about 'flipping'the plan so trains departing New Hope turn right as they approach the bridge, as on the prototype?
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=qqtns98rmg5x&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=21190157&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Thank you Steemtryn!!! I hadn't heard of that website before your post! That shows a lot more detail than Google Earth!!! I will be using Live Search Maps for quite a few projects I have lined up!!!
Thanks for the suggestion of flipping the plan, I have been sonsidering adjusting the layout altogether just for that purpose. However, I want to be able to leave New Hope in its general location due to the fact that I want the first thing guests see when they walk in to be New Hope Station...
Thanks again,