The saga of my ever shrinking railroad

[vsmith]

Today is a small milestone..somehow between the Trains forum, Model RR, forum, Classic Trains and here, at Garden RR's ..

This is my 3000th post, man, how long have I been here?

Seams like just yesterday I was still just learking without the Kahona's to dare a post..now I'm posting the big 3K...

I just wanted to thank everyone here for sharing there experiences, humor, and especially tips and advice. I have learned alot of stuff here. And I hope I'm not too much of a pain in the neck for everyone here, hehehe. In know somehere dont care to much for #'s, niether do I but I do notice the mileposts, 1000, 2000 and now the big 3K .

So heres to everyone here who has been following the ups and downs of my tiny tiny layout, I say...THANK YOU TO ALL!![:D]

So heres to another milepost...but honestly I'll be really celebrating when I get the mountains done on my layout!!!![:D]

[van buren s l]

Vic
Nice railroad. It provides for operations(if thats your thing) and continous running. There are times when you want to revive your spirits and there is nothing more remedial than watching the choo-choos with your favorite beverage in hand. Keep that loop.
Bob

[Anonymous]

Glad to see ya making progress, really looking forward to the scenery to start taking shape!

We've all been staring at track plans and track for four pages....no pressure though![:D]

[SandyR]

Vic, I like it! The blue sky backdrop and building flats really make it a little world of its own. And your choice of equipment to run fits it to a tee. (Of course, I have similar tastes, but I wouldn't be prejudiced, now would I?)
SandyR

[vsmith]

Update: trackwork finished, wired and operating. ready to start scenery.

Overall view of new loop area;


Close up of new north yard:


Close up of new loop area:


3 views of new north yard:




Close up of new siding off loop:


View of remaining south yard:


No other comments at this time..just an update on progress, looking to do some of the foam scenery next...[8D]

SMALL! ...Isnt It! [;)][:o)]

[Anonymous]

With all the rain we been having, I checked my track out side today and the ballast is sinking at some spots alittle, come spring i'll fill after again. Ben

[Anonymous]

Vic, glad your happy with it! As Sandy said looking forward to pictures!

[SandyR]

I just checked out the latest plan, mentally doing some switching on it. This is really a keeper! Can't wait to se some pictures! And I'm glad that the track and roadbed on hand matched your needs so well. Don't you love it when it works out like that?
SandyR

[vsmith]

update
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Almost finished with relaying the track. I have all the track left of the central wood post relayed and rewired including the small wing at the center. I revised the plan to allow for structures at two of the turnouts which gives me a final plan as so:

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZEnew%20studyB1-6-05.pdf

I have to scrounge together the last of the cork roadbed and add a small peice of plywood and a 1x to facilitate the angled extension at the right side, but I laid out all the track, it fits! and I have just exactly enough pieces of straight track to finish it. So now that the rains have ended and I can move stuff around, its back to finishing this pup! Should have new pics by this weekend.

[vsmith]

Hello all, here we go again!

After realizing that I could expand my "ever shrinking layout" a bit without affecting the function of my garage, and after reviewing several expansion schemes on the "opinions requested" thread (thanks again to all) I came up with this scheme:

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZE6A%20Model.pdf

But this scheme had a few issues that persisted in bugging me, like the fact that I had to back a train into the new right-hand yard. That got away from the "X" layout I was striving for and I resisted to urge to start rebuilding my layout to this plan. Fiddling around with the layout I remembered something that I belief it was CarpenterMatt said about pulling the oval forward a bit to gain some space. I occurred to me if i eliminated the passing siding and used a crossover maybe I could get back closer to the "X" layout I originally had. Several hours (and schemes) of my holiday break at the ol'Autocadd finally yeilded this layout which I am so far rather pleased with:

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZEnew%20studyA.pdf

It gets me away from the back up issue, trains can now go straigth from point A to point B, it moves a portion of the town farther closer to the viewer and gives me something to put (rails) inbetween the buildings and the scenery. I always disliked having the buildings having to be built right into the scenery in the earlier schemes. I still maintain the loop for continous running but if I chose I can "operate" on a point to point layout. The passing siding gets moved to the new yard. I'm not happy with the "S" curve before the crossover but given that no one makes a 60 degree crossing I'm stuck with a 90. I tried a few schemes with a 30 but it ends up with the crossing so far at the back of the layout I would have to lose the scenery and my mine. Given that I am using small 20' cars and tiny engines the S curve shouldnt be a problem.

The new 3 track spur at the center/right of the layout will be for a small smelter for the mines ore cars to be delivered to, the distillery siding moves centerstage in the town, I will add the facade building kits along the backdrop on the new right hand yard, with frieght stations now at each end point of the layout. I want to see if i can get my hands on some F-scale standard gauge track for an interchange idea at the new right-hand yard.

Anyway thats the update for now. Hopefully I will get the majority of the trackwork reset this weekend, a couple of new LGB switches will be offset until the future. I still wont use my old AC switches for anything other than temporary use. I just have to clear off all the junk that the junk-fairies always leave behind.

[vsmith]

Glen,
Having a dock and port would be a bit problematic, as the layout is set in Arizona[;)] I just figured that without the ability to let the trains run i would quickly lose interest in the layout, i'm not a serious operator and I'm affraid i would get bored pushing cars from one siding to another.

Matt I didnt change my mind, i still have the layout described earlier in this thread, this point to point was a file I found cleaning up my computer from back when I was trying to figure out what to do when i realized i had to shrink the layout. I just posted it here to share and maybe give someone else with a limited space a possible idea.

Walt, i sent you an e-mail about the Bluebeam converter program, I'll follow up with my systems people at work.

Later Vic

[grandpopswalt]

Vic,
Is Bluebeam a readily available third party program? Any idea what the cost is?

Walt

[Anonymous]

Vic, I think I like the last one better, probably because of the continous run. To bad you couldn't conect the yard with Borracho and have a drop down bridge to allow you to get inside the loop. I thought you ahd settled on the last one, what made you change your mind?

[Anonymous]

Vic,
I dunno about needing a continous run. You can have a shunting layout but it needs purpose to keep it interesing.

If I was doing it, I would slightly redesign it so I could fit a port at one yard with a working crane to lift loads from the boat to the wagons.
At the other yard I would put an industry or two. One would have some form of tower so you could shunt tipper/hopper wagons under and fill them with sand or coal or something. Then shunt them to the port and make a discharge area you can tip them out . I think the plan you have got could almost do that with a minor change.

But that all depends if you just want to watch the train go round, or you really want to have a good play with it[:D]

Glen Anthony.

[Rastun]

Vic,
I like the layout but, I definately agree with you on the continous run idea.

Take care,

Jack

[vsmith]

What might have been..

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudy%20point2point%208x10.pdf

...a point to point variation of my layout.

I tried several varients of layouts when I downsized. This was perhaps the next most serious contender for the shrunken head layout, but I was concerned that without the ability for continous run I would get bored with it and lose interest. I thought I'd post it and see what others thought of it.

[Anonymous]

Vic, wait til the snow starts to fly, it will pick up! Or in you case Rain.

[vsmith]

Hey Troy good to hear you'll have a rainy day room, so to speak. It will also give you a chance to try some more traditional HO layout building skills for the benchwork and scenery or are you thinking of something different. I'll be glad to offer any advice I can, also check out MLS they have an LS Indoor RR forum although participation there has been running very low lately. I'm getting better feedback here lately.

[Anonymous]

Hello Vic
I've followed this ongoing thread for a while now and your perseverance has convinced me to make a 'hide from the family' layout in the shed that links up with the garden railway.My wife has already agreed that if she can't see it ,it does'nt bother her.
Keep up the good work.
Troy

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpopswalt

Vic,

Great job! What CAD program did you use to generate the PDFdrawing you posted?

Walt

Its drawn on Autocadd version 2000, then converted using a Cadd specific conversion program called Bluebeam thats a simple process. It uses the print command and its listed as one of the printer choices. Select and then its just like setting up a print and printing it, only it goes to the Desktop as a PDF. very simple. and saves a lot of headaches trying to photo the layout like the earlier postings showed.[;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Matt

The turntable spur is one of the unfinished parts mostly because the roundhouse needs to be built around the turntable and Visa Versa. So I'm holding until I'm ready to start the roundhouse facade. I am going to use a 10" Lazy Susan from OSH and will build a wooden platform on top of and a second one around the exterior so it will be invisible. It already has a 12" track section cut to fit it. I'll post a log on that project but its still a little in the future. Next on the layout (After some vigorous track cleaning) is the foam mountains and the painted backdrop. Not to wild about the mess that comes with that [xx(]

Capt C I dont know about a curve? if so I hope that curve is the worst one on your layout that claims alot of derailed trains, hehehe, its the Gomez Addams in me. Call it "Poor Vics Curve" better yet how about a saloon called "Poor Vic's"[;)]

Ha! I was going to call it "Smith's Curve," but now that you mention it... "Poor Vic's" does sound a bit better. I plan to have an oblong "stretched" circle with four curves. There will be many turnouts, a few spurs and losts of sidetracks. On the West stretch will be Two Trees, Texas (of which you can read about at my webpage under "Communities"), The North Strech will find the town of Norma, Texas (of which I am finishing the depot). Micaela, Texas will be on the South Strech.

Between Two Trees and Norma I will place "Poor Vic's Curve." You never know, it could eventually spring up into a small village. It will be near the Northerly Plantation.

I can even throw up a bit of fiction 'bout an engineer, Ole Vic, who once lost a train (and his life) on this curve. Sounds like it could make a good song as well.

[grandpopswalt]

Vic,

Great job! What CAD program did you use to generate the PDFdrawing you posted?

Walt

[vsmith]

Matt

The turntable spur is one of the unfinished parts mostly because the roundhouse needs to be built around the turntable and Visa Versa. So I'm holding until I'm ready to start the roundhouse facade. I am going to use a 10" Lazy Susan from OSH and will build a wooden platform on top of and a second one around the exterior so it will be invisible. It already has a 12" track section cut to fit it. I'll post a log on that project but its still a little in the future. Next on the layout (After some vigorous track cleaning) is the foam mountains and the painted backdrop. Not to wild about the mess that comes with that [xx(]

Capt C I dont know about a curve? if so I hope that curve is the worst one on your layout that claims alot of derailed trains, hehehe, its the Gomez Addams in me. Call it "Poor Vics Curve" better yet how about a saloon called "Poor Vic's"[;)]

[Anonymous]

Vic, Did you get the turntable in? And if so what did you end up doing?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Thanks Matt

Here's a PDF file of the Final layout, a couple of track pieces still need to be added but for all intents and purposes, I'm done with the trackwork. Maybe when I replace the last remaining Aristocraft switch I'll have a small "Golden Spike" (Brass Nail) ceremony. Finishing last night was more of a relieve to be done with it. Already been thru the "Wow I did it" phase with the last larger layout. Just glad to have this part completed and ready to move onto the next phase, finally, something different![8)]

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZE6%20Model.pdf

Vic,

You can mean you are finished! A rail lineis never finished. You need to continue "fighting the good fight!" Never give up hope, one day you will have an outdoor layout that will know the socks off of all who view it.

Until then, I am still planning to name a curve of my layout after you and other parts after a few of the, to borrow one of the the more British/Aussie words, blokes.

In Corpus Christi, Texas there is a radio station which is benefited by a station manager named John Gifford who is originally from England. Between he and this forum I have actually, at first unconciously, been using more British English (English English?), ah, yes... Britanicspeak (to coin a new word) in my regualar speak.

[vsmith]

Thanks Matt

Here's a PDF file of the Final layout, a couple of track pieces still need to be added but for all intents and purposes, I'm done with the trackwork. Maybe when I replace the last remaining Aristocraft switch I'll have a small "Golden Spike" (Brass Nail) ceremony. Finishing last night was more of a relieve to be done with it. Already been thru the "Wow I did it" phase with the last larger layout. Just glad to have this part completed and ready to move onto the next phase, finally, something different![8)]

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZE6%20Model.pdf

[Anonymous]

Vic, More than ever I I understand your plite of the ever shrinking RR, building these boxcars in my home office has taken up a lot of space! Then I clean and start working on them again and it creeps off of the fold up work table I have and onto the officail "work " desk. Your perserverence in this scale now amazes me even more!

[vsmith]

Finally got the revised cork bed glued down, the last of the new track layout screwed down, and everything wired up. I let the track get real oxidized though, now I need to find a better way to clean it. My Aristo track cleaner car is pretty worthless with all the sidings. Maybe a can of Brasso and a rag would be better.

At last, 3 years after starting in the garden, 18 months after going to the garage, 4 months after cutting up 50% of the previous larger layout , the trackwork of the New Downsized Glorified Lionel Like Shrunken Head Micro-Layout that Carl Arendt would be proud of a layout, is DONE!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Victor, I've been following every last word on MLS and the B'mann sites to the point where I'm about to suffer a Vulcan mind meld.

Personally I was hoping for a largescale version of the T-boiler Shay like the On30 guys have. That would have fit in more with my theme. Such a locomotive would have made a lot of people happy.

Regards,
Bill C.
South Jersey

[vsmith]

Bill thanks for the clip.

I dig these little engine types, just wish we had more steam prototypes to choose from in LS. Looks like to get some of the engines I want I'll have to scratch them.

PS been following the Bachmann pre-release controversy of their new Vulcan engine? The threads on MLS and the Bachmann Website have been real interesting. Mostly negative. Makes me wonder just how the heck they are choosing their products.