leighantI have an old set of World Book encyclopedias fro 1957 I picked up for $5 (entire 20-volume set). For each state, there is an encyclopedia article with a picto-map of the state with symbols to shows different types of business and agriculture in specific locations of the state.
My familly has one from the same time period when I was a kid. It was great. Don't know what happened to it. Would be great to have it now. My Aunt had one from around 1920. I would broused both of them. I think I eventually read every article.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Several of the books mentioned would be great to give you GENERAL PRINCIPLES about operation. But it would also be valuable to study the industries of your specific geographic location.
I might be a little "traffic crazy" but I have found it interesting to research the area I model using:
period industrial development guides...
railroad-specific industry spur guides for traffic and station agents that show the industries located along a specific line and the commodities they handle. One tariff I have lists 700 rail-located industries in one large city, which railroad serves that industry, and the type of traffic handled. Smaller towns may list only 8 or 10 industries. Some are obvious and common, but you may run across some that give you ideas for a type of railroad shipment you hadn't thought of...
I have an old set of World Book encyclopedias fro 1957 I picked up for $5 (entire 20-volume set). For each state, there is an encyclopedia article with a picto-map of the state with symbols to shows different types of business and agriculture in specific locations of the state. For instance, Kentucky along the border with Ohio shows machinery, iron products, chickens, tobacco, sheep and natural gas. If those are too big to model, think of what secondary industries supply them- chicken feed dealers, industrial gases, insecticides, seed etc for farm supply, pipe and pump machinery distributors for natural gas, etc.
Just because you have a small layout that can support only simple operations does not mean you can't also go completely overboard on the research!
I highly recommend: Paul Mallery's "Complete Book of Model Railroad Operations" publshed by TAB books.
It deals better with small layouts than a lot of other books and addresses things like how to balance prototypical ops with compromises like running trains through a scene twice, etc.
I'm not sure if it's still in print but copies can be found. I'm a relative beginner and I found this book more comprehensive and yet, somewhat less confusing than Tony Koester's in some areas.
Ops is very rewarding and especially on a small layout it can keep things interesting forever as opposed to just running all of the time.
I also would encourage you to go with 5'X9' ply minimum if you can. If nothing else it'll allow you to use 22" radius curves (HO) instead of 18" running just off the edge of the ply which can get nerve racking.
A walk in approach (U, E, G, etc. shaped) makes ops much easier usually as it'll allow for a center aisle.
OPSIG is preparing a new book on Ops. I think it'll be a boon to new operators. It'll run about $25 and will be ready later this year.
Kalmbachs' industry books are excellent for deciding on which to include on your layout.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
cuyamaBy the way, if you have room for an HO 4X8 and an extension, you probably have room for a different arrangement that would be less restrictive in terms of minimum radius. Even 5X9 or 5X10 will offer a lot of benefit, or an alternative design to the HO 4X8 that uses the floor space more efficiently.
I really appreciate the information so far. Please keep the ideas coming.
As far as the decision to go with a 4x8, here is my reasoning.
1) The layout will be made either on casters to be rolled up against a wall when not in use or made without legs to be stored out of the way and set on a folding table top when in use. Either option will take up less space than an around the wall layout when the layout is not being used. I will also have the option to move the layout to another room in the house, if needed. This to me is an important advantage to going with a 4x8 as opposed to an around the room layout which limits the room to pretty much only being used for model trains.
2) This will be my first of what I consider a properly finished model train layout. What I learn from this less permanent layout could be transferred including the buildings, track etc. to a more permanent layout in the future, if desired. If not, I can add extensions and build off the current 4x8 layout while still being able to transport and store the layout when not in use.
3) Sometimes if the project is too large, it may never get done. Finishing a 4 x 8 layout seems like a great project to get the kids involved because it can be completed within a few months. The Virginian will serve as inspiration and a lot of the elements will be implemented in the layout. I would have to say The Virginian has to be one of the best 4x8 layouts of all time.
You might consider adding some of these arguments for a 4x8 on your site since a 4x8 does have some advantages to an around the wall layout. At the very least, if the layout is on casters, then the amount of space required is less and the room can be used for other interests as well. What I am trying to convey is that a 4x8 works better for some people and other types of layouts work for others. It isn't a one size fits all type of thing.
By the way, I have been to your site quite a few times over the past year or so and have found a lot of the information presented helpful with planning my layout.
Best regards,
Brian
My vote goes to Tony Koester's book as mention above
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRSWhat would be a good book that covers how industries are tied to the railroad that will give my layout some simple operations?
Kalmbach has a series of guides to industries.
For the most realism, industries on a layout are tied to locale and era, so that's an important decision to make early on. It generally wouldn't make sense to have coal mining and citrus packing side-by-side on a layout, for example, since that's a pretty unlikely combination in real life.
But it's a hobby, so if you wanted to just mix favorite industries without concern for the real world, that's fine, too.
It doesn't relate to industries specifically, but I have a page on my website on adding operation to HO 4X8 and similar layouts.
A good introductory book to operation is Tony Koester's Realistic Model Railroad Operation: How to Run Your Trains Like the Real Thing.
It probably doesn't apply to your current level of interest, but there is a Railroad Industry Special Interest Group that delves into rail-side industries (especially coal and steel) in depth.
By the way, if you have room for an HO 4X8 and an extension, you probably have room for a different arrangement that would be less restrictive in terms of minimum radius. Even 5X9 or 5X10 will offer a lot of benefit, or an alternative design to the HO 4X8 that uses the floor space more efficiently.
Best of luck
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Tony Koester's 'Realistic Model' Railroad Operation' & Bruce Chubb's 'How to Operate your Model Railroad' are two good books for starters. You should be able to find them on-line in places like Amazon, eBay or even Micro-Mark. If you have a LHS, they might even have them.
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Hello,
I am planning out a 4 x 8 HO scale layout with a possible extension and am interested in adding some industry to the layout. Looking at modeling the OH, KY, TN region. The era of the layout is still being considered but am looking at something from the 50's to the 70's. What would be a good book that covers how industries are tied to the railroad that will give my layout some simple operations? Thank you for any information that you can provide.