The saga of my ever shrinking railroad

[vsmith]

A few of you know the saga of my ever shrinking layout...I have gone from a planned outdoor layout to a smaller 8' x 20' layout in my garage, well....

Two weeks ago, right before going to the BTS, I had to face the fact that my 8' x 20' indoor layout was eating up way too much of my garage and that I was going to have to reduce my scope yet again, by half! Yep, I can only keep 10 feet of my layout, I desperately need the other 10 feet back for workbench and storage space. So now my layout will be 8 feet by...... 10 feet....[V]

After first going from a planned outdoor layout to a much reduced indoor layout to a now even farther reduced layout I was so discouraged that I considered chucking the whole thing and switching to On30. [:(!]

But after working and reworking and reworking what I hade, plus the already substantial investment in G stuff, I now have a pretty viable layout in a very very tight space. It will be done alla my hero Malcomn Furlow, Much Detail in a small space, a series of mini scene to mini scene is what I am now planning. Using buildings and scenery to stack up behind the track to create a bigger impression visually.

When I was at the BTS this last weekend I had brought along a copy of the plan so I could use it as a reference for buildings, detail items, etc. I had several very positive comments (including from GR editor Marc Horowitz, thanks Marc [:D])on the layout and that encouraged me to press on, and just as I was about to leave I came upon a Bachmann Saddletanker for sale for $60! Cant walk away from that! This is THE one engine I have wanted for a while now, so I took it as a positve sign to press on and I am now ready to continue , truncated layout and all, full speed ahead! [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

A few of you know the saga of my ever shrinking layout...I have gone from a planned outdoor layout to a smaller 8' x 20' layout in my garage, well....

Two weeks ago, right before going to the BTS, I had to face the fact that my 8' x 20' indoor layout was eating up way too much of my garage and that I was going to have to reduce my scope yet again, by half! Yep, I can only keep 10 feet of my layout, I desperately need the other 10 feet back for workbench and storage space. So now my layout will be 8 feet by...... 10 feet....[V]

After first going from a planned outdoor layout to a much reduced indoor layout to a now even farther reduced layout I was so discouraged that I considered chucking the whole thing and switching to On30. [:(!]

But after working and reworking and reworking what I hade, plus the already substantial investment in G stuff, I now have a pretty viable layout in a very very tight space. It will be done alla my hero Malcomn Furlow, Much Detail in a small space, a series of mini scene to mini scene is what I am now planning. Using buildings and scenery to stack up behind the track to create a bigger impression visually.

When I was at the BTS this last weekend I had brought along a copy of the plan so I could use it as a reference for buildings, detail items, etc. I had several very positive comments (including from GR editor Marc Horowitz, thanks Marc [:D])on the layout and that encouraged me to press on, and just as I was about to leave I came upon a Bachmann Saddletanker for sale for $60! Cant walk away from that! This is THE one engine I have wanted for a while now, so I took it as a positve sign to press on and I am now ready to continue , truncated layout and all, full speed ahead! [8D]

Vic,

Hold the line! I nearly skipped a beat when I read the part about you dumping the whole thing. That would only cause you heartbreak that you would regret.

I am facing major issues with the fact that I have to erect that fence I talk about so much. It's a little more than a year and a half away from completion. I have descided to concentrate on my shop scene for now. It will allow me to practice my stills and accomplish someting for the duration.

I look forward to seeing the "mini scene to mini scene" concept in action. In many ways my shop scene is just that.

[bman36]

Hey Vic,
Hang in there!!! You need to see what OLD DAD stuffed into his yard with a shoehorn. Don't be discouraged. You never know what the future will hold. Bet it was neat to have Marc see what you are doing. Look forward to seeing what you create. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Vic, would love to see a drawing of your old and new track plan. I totally understand the need for storage space. I'm biding my time until some Kids leave home so I someday, I dare to say can have a train room of my very own! That was a large part of the apeal to garden railroading for me with a small house on an 1acre lot. For now I'll keep working on my indoor "S" scale layout around the walls of my home office. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Vic
Watch them boilers!!! Them old timers tried to get there trains to the station before time and BOOM, boiler blew.
Heck, I am in my 3rd year of "research" with no track plan but have bought off a buddy in FL 2 wood sided box cars.
Just hang in there, we will alll get there [:)]

[grandpopswalt]

Vic,

Don't give up! Have you looked at the indoor layout featured in this months GR? He's working with a 15'X15' building and it includes his shop as well. Can you poke a couple holes in the wall and complete a loop outside somehow? This scale is just too special to give up on. Even a switching layout would be a worthy project.

Grandpopswalt

[vsmith]

Thanks to all for the support.[:D]

Yes, i am going to stick to it. i am currently resetting the track and have to rewire a couple of blocks and modify some benchwork, not a lot of work, mostly removing what I had already put down, then start messing with the rest of it.

Yes I have followed the Run Down & Poor RR since its first incarnation in the Narrow Guage gazette. I was planning more of a small town desert layout but that layout is in Cadillac space compared to mine now, so I have to be really creative with the planning and execution. I guess theres where the challenge lies!

[Anonymous]

Hey Vic,
How about building a part of your layout on a drop-down "leaf" hinged to the side or end of the layout table.

OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

Vic have you thought of going verticle I have seen plans from LGB Germany of a climbing loop that goes up over a metre (40"), could you have one layer over the other.

I have a lot more room than you but not enough for what i want, so im going to put in an elevated track; going off my planned viaduct back through an elevated tunnel behing the pumphouse, past the pool (main and best viewing area) and thence sloping down to the middle of my reversing loop. This track will be 400 mm (10") above my base and will run right along my side and back fences. I am a bit concerned about the electrics involved regarding entering a reversing loop in the middle, this is a complaex matter as it is.

I have also been on the verge of giving it away, due to ongoing troubles with LGB MTS
. The locos are just great but everything to do with MTS has to be done at least twice.

My brand new toy the LGB track cleaning loco has no lights and im not sure if the Phoenix sound is working right, all to do with MTS. As a track cleaning loco its fantastic as a general little engine it is also fantastic but its MTS is as usual just too finicky like my first wife and I left her.

Rgs ian Kawana Island etc.

[vsmith]

Sorry Ian, I cant go verticle as I am also wedged under a storage loft I have about 30" from benchtop to underside of the loft supports.

I finally have some photos of the new layout vs the original layout if anyone is interested at seeing just what kind of a G layout can be crammed into 80 sq ft.

Just e-mail me and I'll send them along.

The more I look at the current situation the more I think it will be a good think for me (at least thats what I keep telling myself). I can focus on smaller areas and I can get more detailed than I might on a larger outdoor layout. IOW using a 2 foot rule vs the 10 foot rule...

[Anonymous]

Vic, is there anyway to maybe get more creative with the storage space rather than change the layout? I have often built shelving for storage bins etc. in the space above the garage door. The nice thing about this is the neighbors and passer bys can't see our stuff. Unfortunately you need almost a 10' ceiling with a 7' garage door for this to work.

[Anonymous]

Matt, great idea you have there, building storage over the garage doors. We have 10' ceilings and 7' doors. This will make a nice winter project but I NEED to play trains right now, summers are short in Minnesota as they are in Ohio.

OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

Old Dad, My newest, yet to be built is going to be 4 ft deep and 30ft long. my house does not have a basement so my garage is it. Xmas stuff and car parts will be stored there.

[Anonymous]

Hey Vic, By the way, I've seen you mention Malcomn Furlow's name and also saw the name in G.R. Is there any links to pics of his stuff or could you just give me a bio on him? He sounds very interesting.

[vsmith]

Hey Matt

No can do for overheads. My 8 x 10 cage is the limit of my universe. I have to deal with that area.

Malcomn Furlow has been in several Magazines over the years. He started in HOn3 years ago, built several large HOn3 layouts and wrote a book for Model Railraoder "Building the San Juan Central" which became an introductory for many to Colorado type model RRing. He switched to large scale a few years ago,but hes an indoor modeler. He has recently been in MR, and the Gazette recently with his newest layout.

[Anonymous]

Vic, I guess I will have to look at back issues of MR and pay closer attention to who's layout I 'm exactly looking at. Thanks.

[vsmith]

Furlow's latest work was in Model Railroader last year, with an article of his Mexican Hat Canyon section of his latest layout. You couldnt miss it if you saw the issue. Large scale narrow gauge. He stacked the line so that it crosses itself 5 times over the same area. Then he details the JuJuBees out of it. Mind boggling workmanship. It caused quite a fuss over on the MR forum, we had e-fist fights and e-brawls over that issue! Some stiff-necked lot saw it as "whimsicle" and therefore of "no value" others saw it for the outstanding craftsmanship that it is.

[Anonymous]

Hi vsmith
Isuie dates please that sounds interesting havn't seen it..
nothing wimsicle about it something like that has been done somewhere
to gain hight to cross a mountain barrier.
Sounds to me like you better find plans for V&T 4wh Ore cars or similar and get on with it.
if you cannot go out wards why not up wards and down wards to floor level if you have too to get a decent run
regards John

[Anonymous]

[#ditto]

John Busby Posted: Today, 11:09:20
Hi vsmith
Issue dates please that sounds interesting havn't seen it..

Vic, was the MR issue recent? I perused my collection breifly but I'm affraid
I don't have the issue[:(]. Did he write it? Or was he just featured?

[vsmith]

It was in the September 2003 issue under the title "Wild West Masterpiece" and in the gazette around the same time but i cant find the issue. Will update.

[Anonymous]

Vic, I some how can't find that issue in my collection, all the others are in my bath... er reading room. The wife might have thrown it out[censored] I might just hit the LHS they carry alot of back issues and pickup that sept 2003 issue. On the same note can anyone tell me when Marty Cozad's RR was featured in GR?

[Anonymous]

Hi vsmith
Thanks for the referance.
By the way I was serious about starting at floor level and working up wards.
Not my idea though found it in Model Railroading with LGB By Robert Schleicher a Greenberg publication
But there has to be a better way to do it than the way it was done in the book
the timber work looked a bit lacking in stabilaty department.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Vic

This is my last attempt at finding a solution. If you cant go out and you cant go up, what about going down?

You could dig a huge pit in your garage and install an ungerground railway, similar to the London Tube or the Paris Metro.

You could have tunnels with see through sides and lower yourself and friends down into the pit and watch the trains stop at underground stations.

If you dig it dep enough you may come out obn the other side of the world near us.


Rgs


Ian.

[vsmith]

Ian you crack me up! LOL

Dont worry about my lack of space, like I said, what I cant to in scope i can make up for in detail. I think I have a couple of years of work to get even this small layout finished to the level i'm thinking of. I have alot of new skills to develop, and a whole lot of new detail parts to look for.

It being so small the level at which the viewer can focus on is going to be intense. Almost every building will need and interior and lighting. I picked up a copy of the "Manchaster & Franklin RR" a super detailed HO layout with tons of ideas, I will also be expanding my library to include everything I can find on Malcomn Furlow, and increasing my back issues of the Gazette.

So I think I will be busy enough with having to break out the pick-axe!


BTW if anyone is interested I have posted photos of the layout plan and latest progress shots over on the MLS forum under "Indoor Layouts" with the same topic heading as this one.

http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23036

[Anonymous]

Vic, the pics looked good. The coaling tower that I had seen before turned out great.I have a feeling when it's all said and done you might end up being Malcum Furlows hero, with your clever use of space Glad to see you were able to keep a loop no matter how small it is, nothing like tossin back a cold one and watching it go round and round.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi vsmith
Followed the link as snoopy would say "good grief"
In large scale terms that is a small space.
It can be made to work.
But oh boy have you got your work cut out for you.
The unfinished corner store?? in the middle caught my attention
looks like it could be a scratch build and is very small are you working from a drawing or is if so can you E-mail me a copy or am I out of luck because its a kit ??
I hope you will be so kind as to keep us informed of progress
looks like your the man to talk too the next time any of us want to fit two gallons in a one pint bottle.
regards John

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi vsmith
Followed the link as snoopy would say "good grief"
In large scale terms that is a small space.
It can be made to work.
But oh boy have you got your work cut out for you.
The unfinished corner store?? in the middle caught my attention
looks like it could be a scratch build and is very small are you working from a drawing or is if so can you E-mail me a copy or am I out of luck because its a kit ??
I hope you will be so kind as to keep us informed of progress
looks like your the man to talk too the next time any of us want to fit two gallons in a one pint bottle.
regards John

Hi John, that building with the corner cut is a "Best Buns" Bakery from Railroad Ave. its a resin kit and is a long way from finished. I will try to document its progress and post a link to it.

[vsmith]

this is a test to see if I can post a photo here...If this works its the new revised shrunken head glorified Lionel layout of mine...[;)]

[vsmith]

KICK ***!!!![:D]

Here is the original 8 x 20 foot layout before it got downsized with a chainsaw..[;)]



Excellent! now I can add photo examples to the mindless blather I spew out here [8D]

[Anonymous]

Hey Vic, Glad you figured somewhere to post pics and link 'em to here. I myself vaguelly understand how. After seeing that article in GR on the RR in a tiny space I imediatly thought of you and your challange. Have you ever thought of using a sector plate? I myself previously to this article never knew they existed.
I really thought it was cool idea. I myself might use this on my indoor home office layout that might be S or HO. I'm still trying to figure out a clever way to cross a doorway in which the shelf(Plate shelf type) would look right at 50" of finish floor. I really want to be able to watch it while sitting down.