Granite Gorge

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am building an Atlas layout-- the Granite Gorge and Northern. Has anyone built this layout? I could use some tips on trackside scenery. Thanks.

[davekelly]

My dad built that layout way back when. We never got to the scenery stage, but man we had a great time running trains!!

[nibbler]

QUOTE: Has anyone built this layout? I could use some tips on trackside scenery.

Yes I built it , late 70's or early 80's. Best tip, pick another layout. It certainly was a challenge to get the trackwork right and when it was done I was pretty near limited to watching 2 trains go around on parallel figure eight tracks. It became boring because of the extreemly limited operation. My thoughts after a short time were that it was taking up space that could be better used. I guess most of the plywood has rotted by now at the edge of my property
The photo was taken with an old brownie camera at the time so it's of poor quality. Anyway that was my experience with it.

If you want a challenge in doing trackwork and scenery, and just want to watch trains doing figure eights then this could be the layout for you.[:D]

[davekelly]

Nibbler,

Great job!!! Way cool that you kept a picture of it.

[nibbler]

Thank's for the kind words Dave, there were two photos I don't know what happened to the other one ( taken from the opposite end) I guess I wanted to keep something from my first attempt. I only came back to the hobby a few years ago and I guess my second layout ( will probably never be finished) will be my last. Heres a link to my pages if you are interested. http://www.freewebs.com/cbcnsfan/
Willis

[Anonymous]

My space is limited, so this layout is all I have room for. My grandson likes trains,so this is a good one to work on. I'm not so into the operation so much, rather more into the scenery part of it. I'm sure it will come out ok.

[davekelly]

Nibbler,

Cool pics on the website. How large is the layout space and what are you using to get from one level to the other? It's neat that you can compare your old layout with the new. It's something I wish I had thought of years ago. I am curious about the fishing boat in the last pic. Can you fill us in on it?

Larry,

Depending on the age of your grandson he may enjoy running the trains around and around more than operating. I know I did when my dad built the granite gorge. Of coruse keep in mind that as your skills and wants change, you can modify the plan or even start over again - many folks do. Good luck and keep us posted!

Dave

[nibbler]

QUOTE: I'm not so into the operation so much, rather more into the scenery part of it. I'm sure it will come out ok.

Hi Larry, I'm sure it will work for you in that case. One word of caution!
when trackwork is on an incline and turning (curves) in another direction, the track has a tendency to twist sort of like the blade of a propeller. If you allow such a twist (it's not so noticable to the eye) the rail car will have a tendency to remain level with the flanges on the lower side above the rails. Do lots of testing while you are laying the track, it will save a lot of pain and grief later.
For scenery I suggest a mine or gravel industry in the area below the mountain, a small freight shed for materials would not be out of place there also where the small yard is I suggest some of the smaller buildings Model Power, DPM ect to represent a small town. There is a small spur where a single stall engine house could be placed. At the opposite end to the mountain ( where the crossover is) perhaps a small signal tower. The rest will be limited to rocks an trees. When I built mine the normal ground cover was dyed sawdust today with rock molds and ground foam many scenic things are possible. As a footnote if watching model trains run in a scenic seting is for you then GG&N will do that. On the outer areas of the curves I suggest trees, rock formations, Rock cuts. There are many ways and materials to do these things today from broken pieces of celing tiles to carved plaster each with it's own set of pros and cons, but in reality all look quite good when a person takes the time to do a good job of it.
Willis

[davekelly]

Since first reading this thread I've been thinking a bunch about my dad's GG&N. If I remember correctly the thing's benchwork was engineered to the max. I think it would survive a direct bomb hit and it weighed a ton. (wood was relatively cheap then so it was no big deal to use bunches of 1 by 4s). It was also built in two halves bolted together using hinges, resulting in a board cutting across the river. I believe the Atlas books suggests making the board a dam.

It would seem that this layout would be a good candidate for the use of foam. Lighter benchwork members could then be used reducing the weight and the carpentry demands. I don't think there is a need for 1/2 inch plywood for the river bed or the areas inside the loops. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

I modified it a bit. I made it 5 by 10 ft. I also added a few more tracks for a staging area or a 3 0r 4 stall train house. Thanks about the tip about the track. I have been test running trains quite a bit and adjusting the track on the curves. Seems to be ok. I'll keep you posted. If I ever learn how to post pics I might do that to.

[nibbler]

QUOTE: I modified it a bit. I made it 5 by 10 ft.

The extra foot in length will help lessen the twisting of a rising rail on a curve, it's a good idea and should allow for a bit of switching.

QUOTE: It was also built in two halves bolted together using hinges, resulting in a board cutting across the river. I believe the Atlas books suggests making the board a dam.

Yes it was in two halves, I bolted mine together, I also made a dam from the cross member.

QUOTE: How large is the layout space and what are you using to get from one level to the other? *** I am curious about the fishing boat in the last pic.

The layout itself is overall 18ft 1.5 in by 15 ft. 5 in with a couple of places where it is less. All in all for operation I consider it to be one level [8D] the point where all levels meet is the bridges across the swing gate. So lets start from one lower loop and proceed out of the tunnel to the bridges (Gate) passing the switch to the power plant spur. Crossing the bridges the choices of switches are the yard ( high or low road) and the spur up to the coal mine. Considering this would be a mainline train it will go into the yard ( this choice low rd.) where it will wait for a meet with a train from the upper loops. The upper loops train will come into the yard on the high road there stopping. Switches will be thrown and the train from the lower loop will continue on upgrade to the upper loops and likewise the train from the upper loop will continue on to the lower loop. ( in amongst all this could be an exchange of revenue cars)
Now for the spurs the principal revenue load is coal from the mine, this is an empties in loads out operation. The loaded coal drag is hauled downgrade to, and across the gate bridges after the bridges the switch for the powerplant spur is thrown and the train continues to the powerplant. The power plant is a loads in empties out operation ( actually it is looped to the coal mine) There will be industry in this area to be serviced also, hence the interchange with the mainline trains. That's how I plan for it to work but who knows what it will eventually be.
The fishing boat is a 1/90 Lindburg North Atlantic trawler, a full hull model sitting in a cutout. I have two of them and each will be built with little noticable differences, the wharf is scratch and the fish buyer/processor building was formerly a Tyco or IHC Railroad Express building kit. There will also be a working light house in this area.
Willis

[davekelly]

Willis,

Make sure you post pics of those boats when they are completed!!!

[DSchmitt]

The GG&N is designed as a double track railroad. The cut off tracks are arranged so that "trains can reverse their direction of travel over the figure 8 main line without requiring an electrical polarity change." John Armstrong's book - Trackplanning for Realistic Operation - has a modification of the layout that increases operation. It has real (electrical) reverse loops that allow trains to run in the oposite direction on either track and also adds two facing point spurs (to normal right hand running trains) for more switching.