Tropical Layout?

[Anonymous]

Welcome! If you would like to try an operating plan BEFORE you build just scan your plan into your computer and download Tracklayer Deluxe from TrainPlayer Software and you can build and drive your plan!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpitFireV12RR

I now am redused to a 4 x 8, with a 4 x 2 lip(In the shape of an "L"). Now, that is the MOST i can use. Is there any idea on a trackplan? I have something thought of, I just need to get a picture of it.

Here's my basic track plan. (L Shape) http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10007.htm
I have removed the wierd loop and added a small yard.

[Anonymous]

I now am redused to a 4 x 8, with a 4 x 2 lip(In the shape of an "L"). Now, that is the MOST i can use. Is there any idea on a trackplan? I have something thought of, I just need to get a picture of it.

[nucat78]

Very impressive, leighant, especially the pier nightclub.

I've always liked Florida but I'm an ATSF / SP guy so I figured I'd stick with the desert or have to switch to CSX or FEC. Didn't think of Gulfcoast Texas. Gotta love the ideas that show up on this forum!

[leighant]

Mistelaus mentioned Galveston as a semi-tropical railroading location.

A tour of modelable sites in Galveston, Texas

Galveston causeway w excursion passenger train in 1990
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aca.jpg

Santa Fe station and office building at end of Victorian business district
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aem.jpg

Port Grain elevator
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aen.jpg

Ships visible over roofs of cargo sheds (modelable as background painting)
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aeo.jpg

Cotton Compress in what I call the “Garden Warehouse District”
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aep.jpg

Gas building from 1860s
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aer.jpg

“aboveground” cemetery somewhat similar to New Orleans
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aes.jpg

“Ship” hotel on waterfront
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aet.jpg

Preview of a Galveston theme N scale layout being started this summer

Trackplan
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/ael.jpg

Computer rendering- causeway mainland end model
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aby.jpg

Computer rendering- model Santa Fe station and port cargo sheds
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/adp.jpg

Pleasure pier nightclub- model under construction
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/agy.jpg

Mockup of Galveston roller coaster model
http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/acv.jpg

Warning: these pictures are on my “old” railimages account which I have authorized to be deleted. They may disappear at any time to be replaced by “Red X”

[Anonymous]

I found this site on a google search, which gives me some history and some good pictures of what landscape I would modeling...

I'm currently concting up a plan that would be a 4 x 4 x 5 x 3 x 4 x 4

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpitFireV12RR
I may move to N or Z scale like to mentioned. Eh...everyone else thanks for the ideas. I'm actually wanting to model florida and I will take alot of your help into consideration. I'm planning a trip to colonial photo & hobby to see what they have...

Any move to a smaller scale than HO will dramatically limit (or completely eliminate) your choices of motive power and rolling stock in this particular sort of application. Are you aware that some years ago several manufacturers actually offered very small "plantation" locomotives in both standard HO and HO narrow gauge for precisely this sort of modeling? You won't get those, or anything remotely American-prototype, in N or Z.

CNJ831

[roadrat]

The idea for the Hawiian RR is great especially if you model it during the WW2 years.

bill

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

Cuban sugar plantations, Hawaiian pineapple plantations, Brazilian banana plantations, all of which were served by rail. Most were narrow gauge but you could certainly cheat on this in HO as the difference between standard gauge and narrow wouldn't be all that obvious when using very small locomotives. Best to set such a layout in the 1930's to 1960's time frame. Plenty of documentation out there about all three produce areas (there were others like rubber), including several big-time Hollywood movie reels from the 30's and 40's.

CNJ831

I may move to N or Z scale like to mentioned. Eh...everyone else thanks for the ideas. I'm actually wanting to model florida and I will take alot of your help into consideration. I'm planning a trip to colonial photo & hobby to see what they have...

[BRJN]

The southern tip of Florida is borderline tropical. You could model Miami, the Everglades (an alligator in a culvert, [:)] ), or the (in)famous Key West Extension if you like to build bridges. As to time, you may want to model say 1920 so you can use the USRA standard cars which are easily purchased. With a little modeler's license you can have any tropical fruits you like growing along the line. Fishermen (passenger trains) can come and go if you have a small boat dock.

If you want a different look, Savannah GA has palmetto trees &c but inland a few miles you get typical Southern pines. The Port of Savannah is up a river so you do not have to make room for a whole lot of water. Savannah with an alternate history: 1960's Frisco RR gets permission to merge Central of Georgia RR. (In real life, they tried to stick the ICC with a fait accompli; the government made them sell all the CoG stock they owned.) 1981 Burlington Northern merges Frisco. Now you have a true transcontinental railroad. And the Port of Savannah is at one end of it. Think of the sheer volume of business!

[Misteslaus]

An interesting sub-tropical place would be the Gulf Coast of Texas. Galveston was served by several railroads with the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe eventually hooking up with the AT & SF. The Galveston Houston electric railway had the fastest interurbans of its day. All the railroads and the cars shared a causeway that is still in existence. The old MKT station is currently a warehouse for a paper company -- just got snow cone cups there yesterday. The old Union Station and Santa Fe office building is now the Galveston Railroad Museum and UTMB offices. There is a street car line running right past it. Lots of parkland palm trees and oleander. I would consider setting it there with the warves and the causeway making lots of fun possibilities.
Galveston, Texas 77550 for your google search for the maps.

Stephen

[ARTHILL]

Welcome. I model the desert and northern lumber, so I know nothing about plantations, but I welcome you to place where you will get all your questions answered and then some.

[Anonymous]

[#welcome] Todd

Pentrax has a video of Cuban steam. I have the video and I think modeling Cuba Steam would be interesting and fun. Most of the vehicles there are old American cars from the 50's which there is a lot of scale models to chose from. Some cars are used for wagons and pulled by mules or a horse.
The locomotives are American made from early 1900's. Buildings are old and run down looking but are painted bright colors.

I would recommend, even though you don't plan to move anytime soon, to build the layout in sections or modules that you can move with you. You just never know.

[scole100]

A great real railroad from the tropics was the laupahoehoe on the big island of Hawaii.
http://www.hawaiimuseums.org/mc/ishawaii_laupahoehoe.htm?nowritefs# there are a couple of good books on the history of the railroad.

[CNJ831]

Cuban sugar plantations, Hawaiian pineapple plantations, Brazilian banana plantations, all of which were served by rail. Most were narrow gauge but you could certainly cheat on this in HO as the difference between standard gauge and narrow wouldn't be all that obvious when using very small locomotives. Best to set such a layout in the 1930's to 1960's time frame. Plenty of documentation out there about all three produce areas (there were others like rubber), including several big-time Hollywood movie reels from the 30's and 40's.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I just wanted to introduce myself, as this is my first post. My name is Todd and I've been in trains pretty much all my life. My grandpa has an abundence of trains, track, and other items that I got started on, until I bought my own stuff.

I used to have a 4 x 8 x 4 Layout in our old garage type thing(A den). It was great. No scenery exept for a few buildings, but alot of runtime with the track. Well, I moved, and just as we were starting to build another one, we moved again.

Well now, since I think we're staying, I'm going to try to build a nice layout, build off of a tropical standpoint. The only problem is, I don't know what or where to model.

I was using google earth, but it's sort of hard to see how a track plan REALLY looks on that.

I'll be working on a 4 x 8. If someone could recommend a time or place to model, or direct me to a layout plan of one, that would be awesome!

Thanks,
Spit