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About Marine_Tanker

The following is a conceptual description of my new layout, which is in its infancy:

Prototypical Concept: The Providence and Worcester New London Branch is a freelance layout based on modern, prototypical, commuter and regional express passenger and local freight operations in south-central New England, specifically between New London, CT and Quonset Point, RI during the summer of the current year. The layout flows from the Seaview Railroad yard in Davisville, RI, to New London, CT. The New England Central RR (NECR) branches north and services industries in Franklin, CT, prototypically 30 miles north of New London. A single-track (non-electrified main line; deviation from prototype) runs in a continuous loop all the way from Quonset Point to Franklin. Major points of interest are as follows: (1) The Davisville Industrial Park and yard (P&W/Seaview RR), (2) the NECR line running north from New London to Franklin, CT featuring Kof Kof Feeds and (3) the city of New London featuring the prototypical NECR lumber yard.

Rail Road Companies: Railroads are modeled from east to west (left to right as the viewer faces the layout). They are:

(1) New England Central Railroad. This subsidiary of Rail America operates from St. Albans, VT due south to New London, CT where it switches with CSX at Palmer, MA and the P&W at New London. Operations on this layout are focused from New London to Franklin, CT about 30 miles north. It crosses the Connecticut River and services Kof Koff Feeds and a small gravel pit in Franklin, CT and lumber in New London.

(2) Seaview Railroad. This small company provides switching service around the Quonset Industrial Park and services a major automobile port of entry facility (NORAD) another industry yet to be determined.

(3) Providence and Worcester Railroad. This is the largest regional railroad in southern New England and services most of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts. The P&W’s operations consist of compiling trains from the Seaview and delivering them to the NECR at New London. It also services a mixed freight forwarder just east of New London.

(4) Shore Line East. The Connecticut DOT operates the SLE (under the former colors of the New Haven RR) between New London and New Haven with limited service to points as far west as Bridgeport. Commuter operations are restricted to the NEC and the layout concept deviates from reality in that the SLE is operating on the branch lines off of the NEC and SLE operations do not proceed east of Connecticut into Rhode Island, which, in this case, is obviously a requirement in order for the train to run the complete loop. The SLE frequently leases Amtrak diesel / electric power which provides opportunity to run Amtrak P42s with DOT coaches.

Operational Model Concept: I wanted to have an irregular shaped layout for increased interest, maximizing the room space available, while at the same time allowing for continuous run of trains across the entire space. While I wanted to maintain certain prototypical highlights (Quonset Point, New London and a rural peninsula), I opted to deviate from the NEC concept as, in keeping in view my objectives stated above, it would detract from the realism desired. Additionally, this eliminated the need for the construction and mechanical operation of an overhead wiring system, reduced the number of rolling stock and power needed to operate the layout and minimized the focus to 3 points. To accurately model New London, however, a non-powered 2-track, electrified mainline of the NEC will perpendicularly pass underneath the NECR tracks at New London just adjacent to 2 overpasses of Interstate 95.

SLE commuter trains will have the free reign of the layout with one commuter station located just east of New London. The focal point of freight operations will be the switching operations of the Seaview RR / P&W at Quonset Point and the NECR / P&W interchange at New London. Numerous switching opportunities are located over the entire layout to include Kof Kof Feeds, the NORAD auto-rack facility, a gravel pit, freight forwarder, lumberyard and one industry in Quonset Industrial Park yet to be determined. Staging will be accomplished on the long siding surrounding Quonset Point as well as in the Seaview Yard.

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Marine_Tanker
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Marine_Tanker 8 posts contributed to the community