The Lovecraft Central

[steemtrayn]

[DeadheadGreg]

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   NO WAYYy!!!!!!  NO WAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

doooooooooooooooood.  Like, i can't believe it.  First theres someone else here on these boards who listened to the Grateful Dead.  And NOW someone else who loves HP Lovecraft!!!!   !!!!!!!!!

 

DOn't even get me started.  HP Lovecraft owns the universe.  Ia!  Ia!  Cthulhu fhtagen!!!

[skir4d]

Vic

Good idea on the theme;

I can see Cthulhu Fisheries in the town of Innsmouth, Necronomicon Printing in Arkham (hey, that counts as a double easter egg), Miskatonic University, etc, etc.

However, you are going to have to add a cemetary, a hill with lots of holes in it (plus a burned out building on the crest), and the part of a zoo with penguins in it

 Jack W

[Flying switch56]

Hello all.

I'd like to share with you my latest planned endeavor. I call this the Lovecraft Central (named after one of my favorite authors, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and the fact that it's center operated). After remodeling my studio I set aside a space of 7.5' x 12' to build a new N scale layout. I've spent nearly two years coming up with one plan after another, trying G and U shaped designs, but none of them seemed to have what I was looking for in terms of operation. I finally decided to try a center pit design and after a month or so of rearranging the various components I came up with a plan that hit the proverbial spot.

It doesn't represent any prototype, but rather, is a freelanced branch line. The three outer loops are for staging/holding and will be concealed behind backdrops. The inner loop can hold 2 twenty car trains, and because they will be run sequentially I've done away with any hidden turnouts. The middle loop will have a local passenger train and a "Special" freight (in actuality, this will be a train consisting of alternate cars for variety - not very prototypical, but it does allow me to change around rolling stock for the fun of it without having to use the 0-5-0 switcher). The outer loop and the Lovecraft station/terminal is primarily for running and displaying my favorite passenger trains. Since full size passenger service is not meant for the branch this loop is not connected to the rest of the layout, however, this may change during construction.

An operating session would begin by having the local branch engine pick up empties (or loads) from various spurs and bringing them back to the yard. A mainline train would then pull out from staging, drop off a cut of cars, pick up the out going cars, then return to staging (after the second train has moved forward). The local then sorts the cars in the yard and switches them to their respective companies. I've used this arrangement before and it's always worked fine for me. Since I mostly enjoy switching moves this plan has just what I want without being over complicated.

Originally, I had the chemical co. switch back track as the end of the line but decided to include a continuous run connection (this will be concealed under scenery). I'll still operate the layout as a true branch with the line terminating behind Dunwich, but I'll also have the option to just let 'em roll when the rare mood strikes.

I used RTS to design this plan so I represented a Kato double crossover between the main and branch line with red lines. Also, the branch track from the beer distributor leading to Dunwich will not be perfectly straight, but will have a very gentle curve (this is difficult to show with RTS). The track is Atlas flex with a minimum radius of 14" and except for 2 or 3 turnouts all are #6.

The lowest part of the bench work will be 54" high and with the use of a small desk chair with rollers I can sit and glide comfortably to the center of the layout.

Finally, this will be a multi-era layout. By switching rolling stock, motive power, and a building or two it can be set in 1965 - 75, 1975 - 85, or 1985 - 95. By keeping the dates "loose" I can operate both pre and post merger colors, depending on which railroads I choose.

If all goes as planned I'll begin construction at the end of next month. I can hardly wait.

Vic