Im talking about streetcars/trolleys, interurbans or even heavy electric. I am looking about building a "pizza box" micro layout with a basic loop of track and a single car barn to park the trolley in. I kind of got the idea, when on a whim I bought a box of brass trolley poles that included the overhead trolley wire and hangers at a show last month. I have always been fasinated with trolleys/interurbans. My town had both many many years ago. They still unearth street trackage when they actualy dig up streets down to the dirt to rebuilt instead of repave. I am thinking a small city scene in the middle and the entrance to a park with a wrought iron fence at one end. Who else here models traction operations on their layot. Mine will be in HO scale. Pics most welcome! Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I model a traction line in transition from electric interurban (freight and passenger) and streetcars to diesel-electric. Lots of street running, tight minimum radii, and dense industrial trackage, with the "main line" running down main streets past Victorian homes, corner stores, and neighborhood bars.
Mike,
Having been born in Chicago 42' I have seen and rode on My share of streetcars and interburban's and had always thought about doing it, but time just went by too fast......maybe in My next life. Here is a site that You may find interesting and links to other info and Models:
http://www.trolleyville.com/trolleyville.shtml
Take Care!
Frank
Nice looking layout Jetrock and thanks for the line Frank. I got to ride the PCC style cars in Toronto, Canada when my wife and I were on our honeymoon. Today where I live, we have small busses that look like trolleys. To bad its not econmical to put the rails back in with small trolleys again. If someone invents a time machine, the golden era of trolleys and interurbans is high on my gotta see list. Mike
Hoping to have benchwork and track down in 2015 for Conemaugh Road & Traction. Circa 1956, is a great prototype year for maximum motive power flexibility: PCC, Brill, GG1, doodlebug (gas electric), 1st-generation diesel, and possibly steam.
N Scale makes a two-level (plus some staging) u-shaped layout possible with the PRR surrounding (and interchanging with) the CR&T's passenger, and short line freight. The lower level emphasizes the CR&T, while the upper level features Pennsy operations.
CR&T (with PRR) is Western Pennsylvania "mountain railroading" as opposed to "flatlands" of Eastern Pennsylvania/Northeast Corridor.
Take your time in research.
Ex.: Planning inspiration for helix portals comes from the Gallitzin Tunnels at Tunnel Hill (see this this E8 railfan picture). Already have GreenMax kits for a CR&T interchange with the PRR based upon the Amtrak station in Johnstown, PA -- Note how the boarding entrance is between what was a 4-track Pennsy mainline in 1956 -- Via "subway-like" entrance from under the first 2 of the mainline tracks behind the train station (building-back up-to elevated mainline).
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
I am working on an 11" x13" pizza micro based on an unfinished base I found on Ebay. Its almost finished but I still have the overhead poles and wiring to do, its going to take more planning to integrate them onto the layout. My layout build log is here on the forum if your interested.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/238600/2676005.aspx#2676005
Have fun with your trains
I've been wanting to do the exact same thing - a small pizza traction layout with small buildings in the middle. I can handle the trackwork, but everytime I think about hanging catenary it scares me. I have books on how to do it. I have friends who know how to do it. But it just intimidates me for some reason.
What all did you get in your purchase?
Jim
Traction?
How about a VERY busy main line that runs EMU and motors ranging from Bo+Bo to 2-Co+Co-2 under 1500VDC catenary?
In contrast, how about a single car on three lengths of flex - it comes out from under the elevated mainline station and heads up an un-modeled side valley. (Sort of modeled on Hakone Tozan Tetsudo practice)
And then there's the narrow(er) gauge line that was built for logistic support of a hydroelectric project in a gorge only accessible to mountain goats - miniature Bo-Bo box motors, cars that look like escapees from an amusement park, hard rock tunnels (LOTS of hard rock tunnels) and steel bridges that could support a Y6! (Prototype is the Kurobe Gorge Railway.)
Part of that mainline is still steam and diesel territory, but electrification is included in the double-tracking effort now in progress. (Since I only model one month, those poles will never support even virtual catenary.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Sometimes I think it would be pretty neat. I was born in 1982, so I have not a single memory of that world, which makes me reluctant. But when I see pictures like this:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=275594&nseq=8
I think...would have been neat.
I am trying to figure out how to have a TTC 'Red Rocket' (Toronto Transit Commission street car) run on my layout. I will have about eight feet of urban street that would be wide enough but I am still working on a way to get the trolley below the deck at either end of the run so it can be looped back.
I even bought a TTC street car on eBay. It was dirt cheap because it was supposed to be non-functioning but when I tested it the thing ran fine.
If worse comes to worst I can set it up as a static display. That may be the best route since it would allow me to put vehicles on the street as well as the street car. If the street car is actually operating the road would have to be kept clear.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Jetrock:
Nice layout!
I'm planning to do some of Harrisburg, Pa's trolley lines for my N Scale layout. For my garden railway, who knows?
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Fan of the PRR
Garden Railway Enthusiast
Check out my Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler
Trolleys are nice. Let us see how you are getting along.
LION models subway trains. NYCT. Him was just up in the train room, came down here for some parts and my magnifyer. I constructed a wall for the Avenue H station, and am making station lamps out of coffee stirrers, LEDs, and Thumbtacks. It is turning out very nicely. Details at the other end of the cat.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
"...What all did you get in your purchase?..."
Just a sheet of homosote base, it had the track down, the roadway and the grass/ballast down. Pretty much only whats in the pic. I added the wood base then the buildings. I'm also a bit intimidated by the traction catanery, mostly because I want to get it right but laying the poles out on the roadway side will be tricky in making it look right, so i'm biding my time to make sure when i do it it wont be guesswork.
My large city has a streetcar line running between downtown and Union Station. I like the looks of my Bachmann Peter Witt streetcars, but am disappointed in the mechanisms.
My long "to do" list includes poles and wires for the streetcars and correcting the problem with flimsy Bachmann mechanisms.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Yep. I'll take traction for two hundred Alex.
Seriously though I am modeling the P-Line in Central Wisconsin as if it had been purchased (as was historically offered) and a wire was set up. Some urban traction in Portage, urban trackage through Westfield and Coloma, and then lots of open running similar in operation to the Northern reaches of the SN. (Although I at least have a fair sized town/city to anchor the northern end.)
I currently have 3x40 ton steeple cabs (Cannonball Car Shops) with another 4 or 5 desired. Open landscape running usually requires two motors and Portage and Stevens Point/Plover get a single motor dedicated to each. Fall and Spring freight is supplimented by leased engines from the Milwaukee Road and the GB&W. With winter power substitute from the DM&IR. Biggest engines that run the line are the leased 2-10-2's and they are for the coal drag from Plover to Portage to serve the powerplants at Montello and Portage.
On line power comes from a dedicated power plant at Portage and Montello with supplimental power from Stevens Point. There are 2 Substation Cars for temp service and repairs. Typical train ranges from 6-10 cars w/seasonal highs maxing at 25.
I have one hotshot dairy/combine that runs twice a day from Plover to Portage. It uses an owned 4-6-2 or a leased 2-8-2 (if the Pacfic's are in the shop). Makes the run from North to South in less than 1.5 w/stops.
Trains of LION take 20 minutes to make the run from 242nd Street to South Ferry and back again. Trains of LION are automated, LION only need concern himself with the interlocking plant at 242nd Street. Him can run 8 trains at once, one on each of the express tracks and the rest on the local between 242 and SF. The railroad can handle more trains than that, my wallet cannot.