Hello all - I'm in the process of starting a new layout and I would like some input from anyone who cares to reply. What I have space for is a 10' x 18" shelf type layout in HO scale. My "vision" of what I would like to acheive, but is not limited to, is; a track plan that is challenging but not a "switching puzzle", several urban type industries such as warehouses, bulk petroleum products dealer, grain elevator, team track etc. (general era will be 50's to 70's) Some of these will be backdrop type structures. This will be my fourth layout and smallest to date. My other layouts were far larger than this one will be, so I'm having some difficulty dealing with the "downsizing" that I'm having to do. ( I'm pondering this over an Amstel Light and a cheap cigar). If anyone might have a track plan suggestion or any other input that they may care to share I would appreciate it. Obviously, 4 axle switchers will rule the realm transporting 40' and 50' box, flat, tankcars and covered hoppers about their assigned duties. I live in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area of Minnesota so anyone who is familiar with same might know that there is a wealth of prototype, railroad served, industrial areas from which to draw inspiration (steinjr, you out there?) I thank you, in advance, for any and all replies.
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
Hi Jimmy,
you mention that you are looking for a shelf-type layout but do no state, which shape - L or even around the wall?
Here are some ideas as food for thought for your own planning:
Remember, it is you who will build the layout. You need to have your own concept ogf what type of operation, era, setting etc YOU would like to have.
Take your time - I am still planning...
P.S. You can keep the Amstel - I´´ go for a Guiness!
hcc25rlHello all - I'm in the process of starting a new layout and I would like some input from anyone who cares to reply. What I have space for is a 10' x 18" shelf type layout in HO scale. My "vision" of what I would like to acheive, but is not limited to, is; a track plan that is challenging but not a "switching puzzle", several urban type industries such as warehouses, bulk petroleum products dealer, grain elevator, team track etc. (general era will be 50's to 70's) Some of these will be backdrop type structures. This will be my fourth layout and smallest to date. My other layouts were far larger than this one will be, so I'm having some difficulty dealing with the "downsizing" that I'm having to do. ( I'm pondering this over an Amstel Light and a cheap cigar). If anyone might have a track plan suggestion or any other input that they may care to share I would appreciate it. Obviously, 4 axle switchers will rule the realm transporting 40' and 50' box, flat, tankcars and covered hoppers about their assigned duties. I live in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area of Minnesota so anyone who is familiar with same might know that there is a wealth of prototype, railroad served, industrial areas from which to draw inspiration (steinjr, you out there?) I thank you, in advance, for any and all replies.
Mmm - so what are you mostly looking for:
- 10 foot long urban shelf track plan you can localize with names of Twin Cities businesses?
- or more info/pics for prototype inspiration from the Twin Cities ?
Two great sources for prototype inspiration from the Twin Cities is Don Hofsommer's "Minneapolis and the Age of Rail" and the Minnesota Historical Society's online Visual Resources collection.
I think my personal favorite for small interesting urban switching layout at the moment is Byron Henderson's adaptation here in the forum of Jonathan Jones "Mid-Atlantic and Western" from the May 2001 issue of Model Railroader Magazine.
Described in this thread: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/133130/1496691.aspx
But here is a link to another thread that contained quite a few shelf layouts: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/111532/1288241.aspx#1288241 - e.g. Peter White's Tenderfoot Industrial Railroad is cool in having two staging tracks with room for six 40-foot car equivalents on each as two interchange tracks hidden behind a warehouse.
I think I mentioned it in one of the threads above - but Linda Sand has had several cool shelf switching designs that fits quite a bit of railroading into relatively small layouts - see e.g. Model Railroad Planning 1998 and 1999.
Will be exiting to see what you come up with!
Smile, Stein
Sir M- Thanks for your reply. I should have stated that my layout will be a straight length; no curves, L's etc. I think the third plan you sent along has some potential for me, with modifications, of course. You're correct, it is MY layout, but with the wealth of info we have available to us on these forums etc. we can get info presented to us that we may not have thought of in a particular way. Again, I say THANKS for your reply and yes, Guiness IS good!.
Hello, Stein - My layout will be freelanced, based on some of the better points of Twin Cities Railroading that I remember from my youth. Basically, I'm remembering the tracks that ran down Charles Ave. in St Paul from about Vandalia St. as far as Raymond Ave, There were a LOT of smaller industries served by rail there ( MN Transfer Railway? ). Also, the area around the MN Commercial Ry roundhouse off Prior Ave. The tracks are all paved over now in some spots, but if you look cloesly enough, you can still see the "footprint" of them there. Also, thanks for the links you sent along, I'll check 'em out and see what comes of it. Skoal!
hcc25rlHello, Stein - My layout will be freelanced, based on some of the better points of Twin Cities Railroading that I remember from my youth. Basically, I'm remembering the tracks that ran down Charles Ave. in St Paul from about Vandalia St. as far as Raymond Ave, There were a LOT of smaller industries served by rail there ( MN Transfer Railway? ). Also, the area around the MN Commercial Ry roundhouse off Prior Ave. The tracks are all paved over now in some spots, but if you look cloesly enough, you can still see the "footprint" of them there. Also, thanks for the links you sent along, I'll check 'em out and see what comes of it. Skoal!
The Minnesota Transfer Railway in the Midway area would be an excellent choice for a prototype.
I did some research on MTRY a couple of years ago, and came away impressed with "The Mighty Midget".
I also was very lucky in having a friend provide access to a copy of the 32-page book "Gateway to the Northwest - the history of the Minnesota Transfer Railway" by RR historian Frank P Donovan.
And since my wife's family lives in Roseville, and we visit there from Norway every summer, I got to tramp around the edges of the yard at Midway and follow some of the tracks (staying safely off the right of way, of course) with a camera two summers ago.
My track plan for this layout eventually evolved into a twice around the room with a fairly big yard and hidden staging plan that I never started building, but from my notes, I see that I briefly investigated a small area of Roseville just north of where I-35 crosses over the tracks of the Minnesota Commercial as having a potensial for a small U-shaped switching layout.
And the area around Hennepin avenue, north of the BNSF yard, sounds like it would fit your concept pretty good.
Here is a link to some of the things I learned about the MTRY: http://home.online.no/~steinjr/trains/modelling/mtrr/prototype/index.html
Do take the virtual tour (by Twin Cities modeler David "Zoo" Zuhn) down the tracks of successor railroad Minnesota Commercial's trackage. Hennepin Avenue district is third map from top on the first page.
Muchas Gracias, Stein. I'll check it out