I need some help. Despite being a model railroad fan for years, life circumstances have never before allowed me to create my dream layout which would be a diorama and switching layout of the mainline, engine terminal and industry sidings within a CNJ Central Division town (that btw I grew up in) circa 1940.
To create that historically accurate "diorama"I started with the relevant Sanborn maps, and over several years now have acquired LOTS more relevant research info including a couple of partial aerial views, a number of on-the-ground loco photos that show enough details to help with structure building. I even found a really old RMC article that not only schematically mapped the exact location I want to model but also provided all the names and descriptions of the wayside industries (PLUS it was written by an ex CNJ loco engineer who actually used the article to describe the prototype switching moves!)
So what more could I need? What's challenging me are a couple of things. Trying to use the Sanborn maps to create a track plan isn't that easy. As Henry Freeman wrote in his terrific piece on research back in 2001, the "railroad tracks on the Sanborn maps were not drawn to scale." So, aside from where a siding track is located on say, a coal trestle of a depicted coal & lumber yard, the Sanborn maps actually don't help a lot in placing trackwork on the "grid" of the map. But between the schematic and the aerial photos, I can more or less firgure out track placement...I think.
An even more basic question is, once I have created a detailed, accurate scale drawing with all trackwork located that I don't think I've ever been able to find a good how-to article that shows how to "redraw" that to the full size of the HO layout. I have lots of articles on layout planning and several editions of MRR's Model Railroad Planning Special Issues, but while they're all chock full of great layout design tips, they never show how to place everything on the actual sized layout "board".
I know it sounds like a really dumb question, but since I've never before actually built a layout, can someone help steer me to that info?
Gracias!
Ed
Unless you have a tremendous amount of space, you likely won't be able to fit the prototype trackage to-scale in HO.
The process of selectively compressing the real-life scene to a viable model space is more art than science. The goal is usually to capture the "flavor" in much less than the to-scale space.
A simple mathematical scale-down is usually unsatisfying, so one must compress some elements more than others. Often, this means allocating relatively more space to industries, depots, etc. than to the connecting tracks between them. Often, we also reduce the number of tracks or eliminate some industries and facilities in the interest of devoting relatively more space to the highest-priority elements.
There have been a number of articles showing examples of this in Model Railroad Planning and the Layout Design Journal, among others. When I have some time to go through past issues, I may be able to suggest some articles for you. What years of MRP do you have on-hand?
A couple of quick examples from my website. This Sacramento Northern industrial area was selectively compressed, tweaked, and prodded into a compact N scale shelf switching layout.
A more-detailed look at the process is found in a free .pdf download from Layout Design Journal #46 on capturing the flavor of the Oakland, CA Howard Terminal Railway in a variety of N scale designs. (The .pdf download from that webpage may take a minute or two, so please be patient -- my ISP is sometimes a little slow).
The prototype:
Two of the four layout alternatives:
These examples happen to be N scale, but the same techniques are useful for every scale, of course. The same prototype may yield very different layouts depending on the space available and the goals of the designer. These two HO switching layouts were each inspired by the real-life Hoboken Shore Railroad, but were designed to fit different spaces (for the same client, as it happens).
Each of these is the exact same prototype, but the layouts are quite different based on the available space.
Tony Koester created the term "Layout Design Elements" to refer to chunks of real-life railroad to be recreated on the layout. Many articles on creating LDEs have been published in MRP and the LDJ; some of those should be helpful. But unfortunately, there are no hard-and-fast rules or equations: each combination of prototype, available layout space, layout purpose, design emphasis, etc. is somewhat unique.
Often it helps to begin with the highest-priority structure or element and/or the hardest to fit (sometimes they are the same). And then work from there in the available space. Prioritization is key.
Here is an earlier thread covering some of the same ideas:http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/193517.aspx
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
cnjman721An even more basic question is, once I have created a detailed, accurate scale drawing with all trackwork located that I don't think I've ever been able to find a good how-to article that shows how to "redraw" that to the full size of the HO layout.
You can draw your layout in SCARM, and then use the grid in SCARM to determine exact track placement. Then redraw the grid on your layout (or on a large sheet of paper on the floor) and place the track accordingly.
Steve S
Steve's post makes me think that I possibly answered the wrong question. If the Original Poster already has a version done to-scale for HO scale and only wants to transfer that HO scale design to the layout, then it's straightforward.
A 1-foot grid drawn on both the track plan and the layout surface (lightly in pencil, for example) allows one to map the location of each track component, building, etc. But the track plan must be to-scale for this to work exactly, of course, including precise turnout dimensions (especially).
I thought the post was a question about how to reduce the real-life scene -- assuming it's too large for replicating to-scale in HO, which is the usual situation.
cuyama Steve's post makes me think that I possibly answered the wrong question.
Steve's post makes me think that I possibly answered the wrong question.
But it was a very good answer nevertheless.
- Douglas
Wow. Many thanks for taking such time and providing so much great information! All very helpful for a newbie like me.
I will say that some of what you advise, I have already done due to limited space. Like compressing length of trackage, prioritizing industries and replacing the prototype 4 track mainline with a 2-track version.
As was pointed out, I guess the best approach is probably to buy turnouts, and track and lay out on the floor on paper. I've seen various track drawing templates, rulers and paper templates like the ones for Walthers Code 83 sectioanl track in their catalog but I haven't been able to figure out how to use them.
I was hoping for a how-to article somewhere that shows how to use templates of various types on a grid pattern that can be transferred to full HO scale.
BTW I have Model Railroad Planning 2001, 2010 and the recent Winter 2014 "How to Build Small Railroads". Lots of great tips but not much about taking a plan from a scale drawing like the Sanborn map and converting it to HO scale.
Again, many thanks for yourt time and engagement!
Steve --
Many thanks. Good idea. I didn't try SCARM first because I believe its for Atlas sectional track only which wasn't my preference, but now that you mention the the gridded illustration it produces, that sounds like a good idea.
Thanks,
cnjman721 So, aside from where a siding track is located on say, a coal trestle of a depicted coal & lumber yard, the Sanborn maps actually don't help a lot in placing trackwork on the "grid" of the map. But between the schematic and the aerial photos, I can more or less firgure out track placement...I think.
Around 1915 all US railroads were directed by the federal government to make valuation maps of their properties. These were to scale drawings of all railroad properties (including structures and property lines) in existance when the USRA takeover happened. Check with local university libraries or the National Archives (they are in paper form, so you will have to go there).
You might also look at the historical USGS maps of your area. These used in combination with the RR Valuation maps are very useful. Here is an example of what you will see on a valuation map:
http://magic.lib.uconn.edu/mash_up/nynhhrr_index.html
Click on one of the red boxes.
I guess I would say, use your impressive collection of data to get the track arrangements in correct order and sequence as much as practical but don't go nuts trying to capture a foot by foot replication. The prototype was not concerned with practical layout or aisle width or with the need for curved track when a wall is approaching! You are.
There is no surer invitation to paralysis by analysis than to take a "make no compromises -- none!" attitude towards each and every aspect of a prototype based track plan. Ya gotta pick your battles in other words. It used to drive me nuts to think my track plan was not going to be a perfect replica, and the track would go unlaid while I stared glumly at the space available and the maps and other resources I sought to capture perfectly.
And curiously sometimes the compromise was not accepting compressed track arrangements compared to the prototype: on curves I sometimes had to expand distance compared to the prototype, which means some backdrop buildings will be LONGER than the prototype. I found this agonizing initially. Now I can live with it because it has to be.
But to address one issue - getting from track plan to benchtop -- my track plan was drafted on 1/4" graph paper where 1 inch = 1 foot. It was a fairly easy matter to pencil in the one foot squares and the three inch squares on the bare plywood where it was important to be exact, and draw the center lines for track accordingly. Elsewhere it became evident that close was good enough.
Dave Nelson
If you're trying to go from a 1:4 scale drawing to 1:1, well, you got a Kinko's nearby?
Heck, Staples/Office Depot/Office Max/Whatever was left over from those mergers probably can handle upscaling and printing it on large format paper.
oops, never mind, there were replies that popped into the middle of the thread later that I missed
Best of luck with your diorama/layout.
I don't know your location, but if your name, CNJ man, means anything, it's possible that you live within a reasonable distance from Washington, DC. The National Archives in College Park, MD has a great deal of information that includes old photos and maps of railroad facilities in the period around WWI. Very much worth the trip.
Tom
I went there 20 years ago, researching my father's WW2 history. Turned out one of his ships had a combat photographer on board, pics of the King of England, but not my dad.
ACY I don't know your location, but if your name, CNJ man, means anything, it's possible that you live within a reasonable distance from Washington, DC. The National Archives in College Park, MD has a great deal of information that includes old photos and maps of railroad facilities in the period around WWI. Very much worth the trip. Tom
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hi Ed,
cnjman721An even more basic question is, once I have created a detailed, accurate scale drawing with all trackwork located that I don't think I've ever been able to find a good how-to article that shows how to "redraw" that to the full size of the HO layout. I have lots of articles on layout planning and several editions of MRR's Model Railroad Planning Special Issues, but while they're all chock full of great layout design tips, they never show how to place everything on the actual sized layout "board".
You can do that in SCARM layout software by use of the Background image feature. In simple words, you need to load your ready map as a background, re-scale it within SCARM to match the required dimensions (using the sizing grip and the rulers) and then lay the tracks over the picture with the desired track system in the program.
How to do that is described here: How to import track plans in SCARM
If you are not familliar with track drawing programs (and SCARM particular), start from here: How to get started with SCARM layout software
Mixy
SCARM - free and easy to use model train layout editor with 3D preview
Free track plans and railroad layout designs >> O gauge - HO scale - N scale
Very helpful, sir. I wish I had been aware when I went up to Baltimore to visit the B&O Museum. I now have a National Archives visit on my 2016 to do list.
Thanks again!
Thanks very much!
tom --
Thanks very much. I now have a trip to the archives on my New Year's Resolution list!
Mixy --
That's enormously helpful advice. Didn't know you could that!