My favorite Lovecraft story, unfortunately, has no railroad links. It's "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs" and was co-authored by Harry Houdini. The story takes place deep inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was written in 1924. I still remember it as the creepiest thing I've ever read.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
So to re animate this post for a 2nd time around, i want to bring some news on my Lovecraft based railroad, the Arkham, Innsmouth and Western. Have a general map created with most onterchanges and probable cargo setup, and have a western terminal in mind, Batavia, ny.( is found in a Lovecraft revision/ghost written story) Bolton is going to be a division point with yards in arkham and Innsmouth and Batavia, dry co Tai ers and trailers coming in with consumer goods, refrigerated and frozen bringing fruits and veggies and leaving with frozen fish and other seafood, empty cars for wood and paper from a Interchange with a Industrial railroad and items related to gold refining.
DukesWow amazing! Thanks for the link!
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That is an inspiring link. Amazing model work.
Thank you.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
His website is pretty cool.
Voyagerf you are a fan of Lovecraft as well as a model railroader, you should become aware of the work of John Ott. Though a confirmed resident of sunny California, John spent some years in the dank New England area that was the setting for most of Lovecraft's stories. Infected with this regional miasma, John returned West and built a model railroad called the Miskatonic based on his vision of Arkham and its environs. A superb modeler, John is also an artist who has created a first-rate website displaying his layout and its background among his various other projects. Take a look at: http://www.ottgalleries.com
Wow amazing! Thanks for the link!
My YouTube - Paradox Railroad
If you are a fan of Lovecraft as well as a model railroader, you should become aware of the work of John Ott. Though a confirmed resident of sunny California, John spent some years in the dank New England area that was the setting for most of Lovecraft's stories. Infected with this regional miasma, John returned West and built a model railroad called the Miskatonic based on his vision of Arkham and its environs. A superb modeler, John is also an artist who has created a first-rate website displaying his layout and its background among his various other projects. Take a look at: http://www.ottgalleries.com
Voyageur
Anytime, the topic seemed worth reanimating.(hehehe) And you are definitely right about the suggestions given, especially doing the more subtle stuff like Necronomicon printing, that would be really intresting to slip in. Like the OP I am going the modern route, but in HO not N scale, and I'm trying to find ways to work things like the Pan Am railways( former Gulifrord and Boston And Maine rr) in, maybe as an interchange? and things like containers and modern cars, I've been trying to develop a traffic plan and along side the route the railroad would take, I at least have a name, the Arkam, Insmouth and Western. So I'm definitely open to suggestions.
Every time I read "LoveCraft" my brain translates this to Love Canal.
Oops. Just saw that Lion posted the same reaction. Like minds I suppose.
ljj870I do apoligize for bringing to life such an old thread, but I just stumbled across it, and well I have to say, it's nice to see I'm not the only model railroader who is also a Lovecraft fan.
I really like some of the ideas the OP suggested. Great topic to bring back to life. Thank you.
I especially like his description of the operating scheme he intends to use. It seems similar to what I want to do.
Steven OtteIsn't bringing old dead things back to life what Lovecraft is all about?
: : : :
For fun:
The poor little LION is dyslexic.
I see the name of your layout and I keep seeing Love canal.
ROARING
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Freekin necro topic, mainly for roleplaying stuff. Ain't there forums for that? Oh well, if you can't beat'em... Back when I played D&D between 2002 and 2009, our dungeon master did a campaign with the Call of C'thulu game. It was "different" but I was never a hard core role playing nut.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
ljj870 I do apoligize for bringing to life such an old thread, but I just stumbled across it, and well I have to say, it's nice to see I'm not the only model railroader who is also a Lovecraft fan. I myself am in the pre planning phase of designing my own Lovecraft themed model railroad.
I do apoligize for bringing to life such an old thread, but I just stumbled across it, and well I have to say, it's nice to see I'm not the only model railroader who is also a Lovecraft fan. I myself am in the pre planning phase of designing my own Lovecraft themed model railroad.
Isn't bringing old dead things back to life what Lovecraft is all about?
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Vic
Definitely don't want to over do it, but thats the great thing about Lovecraft, you don't have to. The more subtle the hint the better.
Consider Necronomicon Printing (which you may use, with my blessing). If some of the windows on the back are roughly boarded up, with perhaps some black ichor on the windowsill, 99% of your visitors would never even understand the implication.... but we will
Vic--
Whatever you do, keep we fellow Lovecraft freaks POSTED, okay? I for one, will be fascinated.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
So many great ideas! Thank you everyone.
I finally found a layout that has all of the railroad elements I enjoy, but I had no idea it could also be such a challenge scenically. Even with 7.5' x 12' in N scale I'll still need to carefully select and/or compress each scene to avoid it looking over crowded, or worse, cartoonish. And since I'd like to keep it fairly contemporary, trying to give each structure a somewhat gothic (or creepy), yet reasonably modern and functional appearance is going to require some imagination on my part. Lovecraft theme or not, I'd still like to strive for as much realism as possible. I have no intention of making this look like a child's Halloween train set.
Since I have to wait before I can start on the bench work I think a good idea would be to do a little research and begin sketching out various scenes.
I haven't been this excited about building a layout since my first 4' x 8' back in 1969.
Modelling the span between the real and the N-sane...
wow. I am absolutely FLOORED that so many people here read Lovecraft!!!!!
like, I am beyond stunned.
But dude, you've got to at least have Ulthar, The River Skai, the mountain outcropping Ngranek, and the Snake Den Cave ;)
Flying switch56 wrote: Wikious wrote:Just wondering- are you going to also have a Cthulhu hand puppet that will come out and eat the trains? That'd add a little variety to your op sessions. Actually, I was thinking of running an Old One's Express that would suddenly sprout tentacles out of the diner windows. Vic
Wikious wrote:Just wondering- are you going to also have a Cthulhu hand puppet that will come out and eat the trains? That'd add a little variety to your op sessions.
Actually, I was thinking of running an Old One's Express that would suddenly sprout tentacles out of the diner windows.
Don't forget the Yog Sothoth Bed and Breakfast or the Charles Dexter Ward Soda Shoppe.
LOVE Lovecraft!! I was introduced to him years and years ago in the eighth grade when our teacher (who was very adventurous) read "The Dunwich Horror" and scared all of we little kids out of our Levi's, LOL! In college, I went berserk and read everything I could find. And even now, at my late age, everytime I want to scare myself silly, I read "Rats in the Walls."
Great idea for a layout. Keep us posted.
CTHULHU FTHAGEN!! (or something like that)
Double post.
loathar wrote:Once it's finished, getting in the pit and just running won't be a problem. It's the building part when you keep forgetting stuff inside or outside and have to keep ducking back and forth that's a real hastle! I'm going with a PA wireless with wireless turnout controls. That will make things much easier. Won't have to keep going in the pit to throw switches.
I hear ya. It's one of those jobs you almost wished you were getting paid for.
Needless to say, you'll love the wireless control once the layout is complete. I worked on a club layout with wireless and since then have wondered why even beginner sets don't include such an innovative control system. Seriously, it's been around for quite a while now.
I'd appreciate seeing pics of your progress. Once I get started I'll post a few pics of my own.
loathar wrote:At least your going tall enough with it. That will help some...My duck under point is about 48". 6 more inches would have made a huge difference.
Is your layout free standing? If so, you can always extend the support legs (not an easy task but do-able). And even if you have part or most of it attached to the walls you can always raise it.
If your current plan suits you, then take measures to improve it's operational comfort.
Personally, if my layout works the way I want it to then I'd rather take the steps to make it satisfactory to my behind rather than start from scratch with something that isn't as pleasing.
Just a suggestion.
Thanks for the interesting replies everyone.
Jack W.
I'd toyed with the idea of creating specific structures/locations from varies stories but eventually settled on just using the names only.
After reading your post, however, I think it would be a great idea to kit bash or scratch build structures in a Lovecraft-ian flavor. I've built so many layouts that contain either realistic representations of actual scenes or simple generic scenery that I think it's about time I build something a bit more creative and fanciful.
By the way, Necronomicon Printing is a gem (why didn't I think of that?) If you don't mind, I'll be borrowing that, thank you.
Greg
Lovecraft has been one of my favorite authors for a very long time. I painted quite a few paintings inspired by his stories back in my 20s so I think it's time I use that same inspiration to build my next layout. Different medium, same wild ideas. Besides, I quit pulling my hair out trying to be ultra-prototypical years ago. I have a lot less headaches now (well, with my hobby anyway).
Steemtrayn
Funny you should post that pic. It was while looking over various designs of branch lines that I was reminded of the multi-tentacled Old Ones, and hence decided to base the names of towns/industries in a Lovecraft theme.
Loathar
I wouldn't care to debate you on the pit falls (no pun intended) regarding duck under plans. The last time I worked on such a layout was about 20 years ago when I helped a friend build his layout. He had insisted that the table top be set at 40" so he could operate the layout while sitting. Track work was a breeze, but with framing there was only about 36" to work under. Needless to say, wiring and installing switch machines was a huge pain in the neck (literally). I was not at all surprised that he scrapped the entire layout a year and a half later.
Due to that experience, with the exception of one around the wall switching shelf design all of my layouts have been either G or U shaped walk in types.
And now the unapologetic however.
One important thing I've learned from experience is that if I keep the bottom of the bench work at least 54" from the floor I can sit on a roll around chair while working under the layout. The way I see it, if it's comfortable for me to work under then it shouldn't be a problem for me just to sit on my chair and scoot myself to the operating pit. No duck under, nor lift out required. And since I intend to operate it standing (I'm 6'6") an average height of 4 1/2' with shelf depth at 24" should be satisfactorily comfortable.
Admittedly, this will be the first layout of this type I will be building for myself. So if I come on the board with complaints I will understand perfectly well if you tell me, "I told you so."