Hi all,
For the last few years I am building this temporary / practice layout. Temporary in the sense that I will tear it up when I move out (i currently rent), practice in the sense that its a great place to practice some techniques / operations / etc… before trying these on the next permanent layout in a permanent house. I have thought of tearing it up and changing the trackplan completely a lot of times, but the idea of finishing it up for practice purposes won in the end. To keep me happy (with respect to track planning) i have almost finished designing the plan for the next permanent layout (content for another topic).
Theme is the ATSF on the surfline from the mid to late 1960s. Track plan which went through various changes with respect to sidings and design elements*, is a folded dogbone with stacked loops (hidden staging, representing points A and B). I originally designed this with a different locale in mind (north of LA), so I got some tunnels to get rid off (hiding them with overpasses). The basic scenes include a fictional town (either northern suburb of San Diego or fictional town north of Miramar / south of Del Mar), a small industrial area which is part of the urban scene, and part of the Miramar hill.
Specs: Peco code 83 flextrack / turnouts. DCC controlled, maximum grade 2.1%, minimum mainline radius 27”.
Operations: Local Freight is the main player here, the Del-Mar Turn, a once active local freight, starting from south staging (22nd street yard in San Diego) will pass through the layout switching all the local industries (trailing turnouts), climb the Miramar hill and go to north staging (Del-Mar). On the return trip, the local switches the remaining (former facing turnouts) industries and goes back to south staging. Through freights include the SDX and SBX trains, and of course San Diegans and a local fictional passenger train (Surf or Ocean Chief) connecting National City with Oceanside. This is if I assume that my fictional town is south of Miramar (staging reverses locations if I assume that my town is north of Miramar).
Anyhow off to the photos,
This is the latest track plan, the layout photos are not consistent in some points with the plan yet with respect to industrial sidings. Measurements are in meters, so imagine that layout size is 15' x 13'.
The main street scene. On the right near the benchwork edge where the two stub ended sidings are, a harbor scene will be constructed as per the plan above. Empty spots on the main street to be filled with scratchbuilt buildings.
Hillside industrial area, a fruit packing house will be here. Current building (brewery) will be relocated.
Scenic work in progress on the hillside, more trees and shrubs need to be added so that it looks closer to Miramar.
Local freight approaches main urban area, before having the backdrop installed.
A few tunnels to be dealt with (overpasses will cover them). At least i got some practice with plaster molds and how to replicate poured concrete with wooden molds.
Another tunnel destined to be covered, including the lower bridge. Upper (scratchbuilt) bridge will remain.
A work in progress photo showing some weathering on the bridge (trestle tower not installed yet)
A closer look on how the girder plates were weathered.
*The layout used to incorporate a small industry support yard where the harbor scene is now and a small diesel servicing facility where a couple of industries are set now. Both were replaced by scenery and more industries for switching while trying to lighten up the appearance and track density of the layout. Both the yard and the facility will return to my future bigger layout in a better form / size.
Thank you in advance for your time and for stopping by.
Yannis
Yeah, a nice little railroad.
Ed
Where is the greek restaurant? I think every city in Southern California has a greek restraunt.
Nice plan Yannis! Good work on the layout too. Congratulations on sticking to reasonable specifications (grade, radii).
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thank you all for the kind words!
Graymatter, good idea, i will try to include a Greek restaurant at some point (either in this or on the next layout). What that the case even back in the sixties? (I mean seeing Greek restaurants in towns in Southern California).
Dave, thank you for the compliment with respect to specifications! John Armstrong's book on Track Planning by Kalmbach is/was with me at all times. Having said that, i ll bump up the specs on my next layout, wish i could do the same here (40" min radius etc...).
Now i have to work on the highway overpasses to cover up tunnel portals, and cut off some plywood in order to have the harbor made. Hopefully on the next update!
Thanks again!
Yannisi will try to include a Greek restaurant at some point (either in this or on the next layout). What that the case even back in the sixties? (I mean seeing Greek restaurants in towns in Southern California).
Yes. Guys like my dad and his brothers came to America after WW2 and opened up restaurants in the 1950s and 60s. That's what Greeks do, they own restaurants, not always Greek food however. Just whatever is a good business.
Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Yannis i will try to include a Greek restaurant at some point (either in this or on the next layout). What that the case even back in the sixties? (I mean seeing Greek restaurants in towns in Southern California). Yes. Guys like my dad and his brothers came to America after WW2 and opened up restaurants in the 1950s and 60s. That's what Greeks do, they own restaurants, not always Greek food however. Just whatever is a good business.
Yannis i will try to include a Greek restaurant at some point (either in this or on the next layout). What that the case even back in the sixties? (I mean seeing Greek restaurants in towns in Southern California).
Yes around here Greeks like to open diners but they always have Greek food too.
Joe Staten Island West
Good points, so i ll try to include one then. Many thanks!
Thoughtful and efficient use of space, Yannis. You've learned well from Master Armstrong
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehman Thoughtful and efficient use of space, Yannis. You've learned well from Master Armstrong
Thank you Mike! I really appreciate the compliment (Star Wars reference? Master Yoda etc?), his book is the most worn out in my collection. If i had bought it earlier, i wouldn't have lost some months in building a different layout (before this one) or using 3-rail (i started off with 3-rail HO).