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Aerial Views of Layouts

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  • Member since
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  • From: Prattville AL
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Posted by UP2CSX on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 7:41 PM

Mike,

I still have look twice at those pictures and realize they are N scale. I wish my HO layout looked so good. I really thought about getting into N scale when I stated back into the hobby but all I remebered about N scale was clunky looking cars and awful locomotives. Seeing your pictures now, I think I might have made the plunge into N scale. I can really see how you were trying to duplicate that Weber Canyon section in the overhead shot. It's suprising how much that original shot looked like Afton Canyon. That's why it's nice to see a layout from a larger perspective. It really gives me some ideas for both scenery and how to lay things out so the whole thing looks more realistic from any angle.  

Regards, Jim
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Posted by UP2CSX on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 7:34 PM

Aussie Mike (i've got keep all the Mike's separated here Smile [:)]),

I was in the UK in 2000 and had the chance to do a little railfaning, or train spotting, as my British friend called it. I saw a fair number of unit trains that were mostly made up of those 90 foot container flats and a few coal trains that, while the hoppers weren't as big as one our bathtub types, were still much larger than the average goods wagon. I was impressed by the sheer number of cars that most trains carried because each of them were so much smaller than an average US freight car. I got the chance to visit one yard outside of Liverpool (forget the name right off hand) and there were literally thousands of goods wagons all types and descriptions. It seems like the British would start to realize the economies of scale and start running bigger rolling stock but it seems as though 4 wheels cars have been the standard forever and there's only so much you can carry on two axles. I haven't had the chance to get to Australia although I really want to because the Great Barrier Reef is supposed to be awesome for diving. I mught just work in a little train spotting too Smile [:)] From the pictures, I've seen, Australian engines and rolling stock seem to more like the US than the UK. Am I right in that assumption?

Regards, Jim
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Posted by mls1621 on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 2:30 PM

Jim, I finally took a few pictures of the layout to give you an idea of the bigger picture. 

I've posted this picture before on another thread.  Staging is behind and under the mountains.  Here, my large turbine appears as it enters the visible part of the layout.

The right end of the layout is dominated by the mountain.  The buildings on the terraced area are the Old Mine Gentleman's Club and the Madam's,,, oops, owner's house.  That's the only scene on the layout that's not finished.  I'm still debating what to material to use on the road and parking area.

The center of the long leg of the L is the switching portion of the layout.

The short leg of the L is the railfan section of the layout.

After negotiating the curve at the lower part of the photo, the trains return to staging.

The two mainlines and six staging tracks are behind the mountains.

Please exuse the slight fuzziness of the pictures, I was hand holding the camers to take these.

 

Mike St Louis N Scale UP in the 60's Turbines are so cool
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Posted by mikelhh on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 1:55 AM

 Jim: Today they seem to be bigger, an obvious example being the long flats capable of carrying 2 x 45 ft containers. Tankers are bigger too.  The modern goods wagons are generally a bit longer, although many are still just 2 axles and 4 wheels. To my untrained eye US outline appears to be bigger overall. From what I've seen I think there's more of a mixture of stock in UK trains.

 The steam and early diesel eras are still very popular with hobbyists, so I guess we don't often see the modern stuff. 

 Mike 

Modelling the UK in 00, and New England - MEC, B&M, D&H and Guilford - in H0

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Posted by UP2CSX on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 1:05 AM
Looks like the UK half is coming along nicely. I've always wondered why the UK has such relatively small "goods wagons" when their permanant way is usually built to higher standards than US railroads. Is this just the era you're modeling or is this still generally true? I just don't recall seeing any pictures of a UK equivalent to an 89 foot box car.
Regards, Jim
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Posted by mikelhh on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 12:50 AM

 That's pretty much all there is on my UK half apart from the river at the far end. US half is still in the un-financial planning stage Sigh [sigh]

 Mike 

Modelling the UK in 00, and New England - MEC, B&M, D&H and Guilford - in H0

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Posted by Hoople on Monday, September 3, 2007 9:36 PM

Sue, can I come run trains on your layout...

Mine doesn't look nearly as good.... Nor nearly as big.

Mark.
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Posted by gear-jammer on Monday, September 3, 2007 8:07 PM
 Canondale61 wrote:

Gear Jammer do you have a track plan drawn? Would love to see it.

Thanks Kevin

Kevin,

We used 3rd PlanIt to draw the track plan.  The yard has changed somewhat from the orignal design.  Unfortunately, it is on my husbands laptop in the truck.  When he gets a chance he'll bring it in and update it.

Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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Posted by UP2CSX on Monday, September 3, 2007 8:03 PM
Good job, Larry. I hope you didn't cause any permanent injury to yourself. Smile [:)] That's a really interesting track plan. I'd like to see what it looks like on paper too. I'm also curious why you didn't cover the windows before you started the layout also. Maybe your plan is to cover them with a backdrop? 
Regards, Jim
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Posted by Canondale61 on Monday, September 3, 2007 7:57 PM

Gear Jammer do you have a track plan drawn? Would love to see it.

Thanks Kevin

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Posted by gear-jammer on Monday, September 3, 2007 7:40 PM

This one entered the realm of stunt photography because we were too lazy  to get a ladder.  Larry stood on the bench press rack and balanced off the exposed beam.

Sue & Larry

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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Posted by canazar on Monday, September 3, 2007 1:33 PM

Ken,

 

 Love the Empire amigo!   I had to laugh.   You can definatly see the progression in your layout.  That learning curve can be a drag.  Hence why I am on my 3rd!  I can definatly tell though you are haveinf fun with it.  And that is all that is important.

 

This has been a great thread.   Really gives a good view of the over all layout feel.

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

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Posted by spidge on Monday, September 3, 2007 8:49 AM
 UP2CSX wrote:

John,

No, there are no trestles up in the Cajon Pass buy who ever let a little thing like that stop us when we wanted to put something on our layouts. Smile [:)] Both the SP and Santa Fe have some nice trestles along the coast but the SD&AE really have some nice ones. I don't know if you've ever seen the Campo Creek Trestle but there's a picture at http://www.sdrm.org/history/sda/photos/stony.jpg . It looks like it would be perfect for what you want to do.

Jim, thats exactly what I intend to build. Thanks a bunch for the photo.

John

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Posted by UP2CSX on Monday, September 3, 2007 1:08 AM

John,

No, there are no trestles up in the Cajon Pass buy who ever let a little thing like that stop us when we wanted to put something on our layouts. Smile [:)] Both the SP and Santa Fe have some nice trestles along the coast but the SD&AE really have some nice ones. I don't know if you've ever seen the Campo Creek Trestle but there's a picture at http://www.sdrm.org/history/sda/photos/stony.jpg . It looks like it would be perfect for what you want to do.

Regards, Jim
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Posted by cudaken on Sunday, September 2, 2007 10:29 PM

 Only PIC on the wall is Joan Jett and Jessica Rabbit. Not counting Car Pic's.

 Yes I have came a long way but looking at the other PIC I have a Looooooong Way to go. But I have fun with it ever day.

 

         Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by spidge on Sunday, September 2, 2007 8:16 PM
 UP2CSX wrote:

John, I lived in that area for about 30 years and the general contours and colors look just about right to me. Looks like a very ambitious track plan. The only question I have is what's you're plan for a trestle in that bottom picture? Some sort of steel structure would be prototypical in the modern era. Did you already have something in mind?

 

Here is a photo of the canyon. I know the Cajon area does not have any high trestles but having seen one in person along the coast I just have to have one. It will be black instead of silver, and I have enough kits for three bents.

 

John

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Posted by fiatfan on Sunday, September 2, 2007 4:27 PM

Here's my contribution.  It covers about 3/4 of the layout.  First up is the town of Mountain Gap.

Next is the town of Adobe Flats.

The part not shown is a somewhat mountainous area that I'm not really satisfied with yet.

BTW, the number board in the background is from a CNW GP-9.

Tom 

Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!

Go Big Red!

PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"

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Posted by UP2CSX on Sunday, September 2, 2007 4:16 PM

Ken, you've come a long way since your slot car days. Smile [:)] Looks like the new section coming along nicely.

Mike, I'm a sucker for night shots also and yours look particularly good. I like the way the buildings blends into the track and background. I was looking at the site of a famous model railroader. He had beautiful structures and the backdrop work was amazing. He spent lots of time getting realistic power poles and wiring. The more I stared at his pictures, the more I knew somethng was missing. One was my usual sloppy level of work but the other was - no streetlights. Not one. Even if they are dummies, they are so much a part of a typical town that I don't know how you can think you hae a realistic scene without them. I'm up to 54 streetlights and 10 structure lights and I've got another 10 or so to go before I think a night scene will look convincing. After seeing some of the work here, I'm also going to need to get some lighted store signs as that now stands out like a sore thumb.

John, I lived in that area for about 30 years and the general contours and colors look just about right to me. Looks like a very ambitious track plan. The only question I have is what's you're plan for a trestle in that bottom picture? Some sort of steel structure would be prototypical in the modern era. Did you already have something in mind?

 

Regards, Jim
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Posted by spidge on Sunday, September 2, 2007 2:22 PM

These have been posted before but I thought I could participate here.

Here is a shot of the yard. As you can see I painted the rail grimy black but have yet to start applying any soil and details.

Here is a view from the other side so you can see the industry tracks adjascent the yard.(out of focus)

This shot is from the L in the layout like the first photo. You can see Victoreville on the right with passing track and three sidingd to work. Th upper track on the far left is the Summit passing track, and in the far right distance is a canyon where a steal trestle will be installed.

Here you get a better view of the canyon with the descending( on a trestle ) from Summit track and Victorville with train waiting to depart int staging.

These are old Photo's but when it gets over 95 in Riverside I generally don't work on the layout at all. Maybe around Thanksgiving or Christmass I may have some progress photo's.

P.S. don't hesitate to critisize the photo's and suggest a better aproach.

John

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Posted by dragenrider on Sunday, September 2, 2007 1:41 PM
 mikesmowers wrote:

   I enjoy looking at the views here, gives an idea of what everyone is doing.   Here are a few of mine, I could not get it all in one pic so I took several and posted the best. Hope you like them.     Mike

Mike,

This shot is phenomenal!  You've captured the evening glow of a typical small town!  The sunset still lights the sky while darkness settles across the village.  Streetlights are coming on.  Lights are appearing in homes and businesses.  It feels so warm and inviting, like a Thomas Kincaid painting.  Wow!  Thumbs Up [tup]

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Posted by Driline on Sunday, September 2, 2007 1:26 PM
 cudaken wrote:

 Who wanted to see ugly? I have got some for you. Frist I must explain I was in to HO Slot cars and that is what this bench strated out as. That will explain why the bench is not well bulit and I used cheap green out door carpet. Slot cars that I have will run up a wall so a 2% grade, well what was that. Carpet all so looked fine under the black track as well, all I was doing was trying to get off the plywood.

 

 This was sort of the starting point but was bigger before I went the way of the train. It was while I was adding a nother section comming toward the PIC that I bought my frist train set, cheap Life Like with pancake motor off E-bay. I will add up to this point I thought Train People where idots!  How fun could it be watching a train go around and around and around some more?Wink [;)] (well I may still be right, I am not that smart)

 Well I found my self enjoying the train, all the HO Slot car track was off the bench so I could add the carpet. Found out about flex track and started to add.

 

 There is not 300 feet of slot car track under the bench in boxes.

 Some of the folks from the slot car site tried to help me the best they could. Road Bed was never talked about much, never talked about grade and I slugged on getting bigger and bigger with no real plan.

 Now for today, am I proud of by bench? No, but with all it short cominngs toward eye apell it works great. For what it lacks in quality it makes up in sizes. Has two main line that can be ran indepent of each other so 1 side can be DC and Other DCC. Right now both are DCC. Plus I have some good looking bulids for the town and better than avarge Engines

 

 This will be the town, unless I change my mind. This section is 8' X 5' and is the worst part of the bech. 2 X 4 are wrapped and there is a 1.5% grade plus that I can not level out. Besides replacing it I may take the wall out as well.

 

 This is my command center view point. I am about 5 foot to 20 feet from the track.

 For lack of better words this is my repair shop. Saw this at a now closed HLS and had to have it! They wanted $200.00 but I finaly got it for $90.00. All the lines work but do not use it much. All so found ballast and carpet do not like each other.

 

 This shows both the A Line and B line passing tracks and cross over from B to the A line at two driffrent points. Note the Big Boy, it is a PCM. Coal train is 31 cars long and being pulled by a BLI M1a. How about all the tyco Old dutch HopperBig Smile [:D] That is around half of the ones I have. All to standers with PK 2000 wheels and Kadee couplers, dont as why but I have 33 of them?

 This Pic shows where the passing track and the B line meets, Class J is on the main line and the coal train is on the passing siding.

 Now before you folks think I am total a lost cause I have been reading and learing. I know from the PIC I have posted so far it does not seem like it but I have.

 

 This is the new section it is 5' X 9.5' and will be K-10 Mining named after K-10 Trains the Best LHS one could ask for. Still up in the air about what I want it to look like but I have supplys!

 I did no cleaning up of junk for the PIC, but you can tell that. I would have stood on a ladder but 90% chances I would have fell down and gone to the ER. I will add I will be using some of the Great ideas I have seen.

                 Cuda Ken child like but working rail road.

 

Cuda Ken, I miss the playboy pictures you had over your old layout. Umm....was that you?Smile [:)]

Anyway, I do see a lot of progress you have made since you first started. Thats one heck of a nice looking repair shop you got there.

The only critisizm I have is don't ever let OSHA into your garage. If they see those electrical cords hanging all over the place like that, they'd shut your railroad down in a heartbeatSmile [:)].

Modeling the Davenport Rock Island & Northwestern 1995 in HO
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Posted by mikesmowers on Sunday, September 2, 2007 11:39 AM

   I enjoy looking at the views here, gives an idea of what everyone is doing.   Here are a few of mine, I could not get it all in one pic so I took several and posted the best. Hope you like them.     Mike

 

Modeling Trains Is Not A Matter Of Life Or Death, It Is Much More Important Than That!!
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Posted by cudaken on Sunday, September 2, 2007 12:45 AM

 Who wanted to see ugly? I have got some for you. Frist I must explain I was in to HO Slot cars and that is what this bench strated out as. That will explain why the bench is not well bulit and I used cheap green out door carpet. Slot cars that I have will run up a wall so a 2% grade, well what was that. Carpet all so looked fine under the black track as well, all I was doing was trying to get off the plywood.

 

 This was sort of the starting point but was bigger before I went the way of the train. It was while I was adding a nother section comming toward the PIC that I bought my frist train set, cheap Life Like with pancake motor off E-bay. I will add up to this point I thought Train People where idots!  How fun could it be watching a train go around and around and around some more?Wink [;)] (well I may still be right, I am not that smart)

 Well I found my self enjoying the train, all the HO Slot car track was off the bench so I could add the carpet. Found out about flex track and started to add.

 

 There is not 300 feet of slot car track under the bench in boxes.

 Some of the folks from the slot car site tried to help me the best they could. Road Bed was never talked about much, never talked about grade and I slugged on getting bigger and bigger with no real plan.

 Now for today, am I proud of by bench? No, but with all it short cominngs toward eye apell it works great. For what it lacks in quality it makes up in sizes. Has two main line that can be ran indepent of each other so 1 side can be DC and Other DCC. Right now both are DCC. Plus I have some good looking bulids for the town and better than avarge Engines

 

 This will be the town, unless I change my mind. This section is 8' X 5' and is the worst part of the bech. 2 X 4 are wrapped and there is a 1.5% grade plus that I can not level out. Besides replacing it I may take the wall out as well.

 

 This is my command center view point. I am about 5 foot to 20 feet from the track.

 For lack of better words this is my repair shop. Saw this at a now closed HLS and had to have it! They wanted $200.00 but I finaly got it for $90.00. All the lines work but do not use it much. All so found ballast and carpet do not like each other.

 

 This shows both the A Line and B line passing tracks and cross over from B to the A line at two driffrent points. Note the Big Boy, it is a PCM. Coal train is 31 cars long and being pulled by a BLI M1a. How about all the tyco Old dutch HopperBig Smile [:D] That is around half of the ones I have. All to standers with PK 2000 wheels and Kadee couplers, dont as why but I have 33 of them?

 This Pic shows where the passing track and the B line meets, Class J is on the main line and the coal train is on the passing siding.

 Now before you folks think I am total a lost cause I have been reading and learing. I know from the PIC I have posted so far it does not seem like it but I have.

 

 This is the new section it is 5' X 9.5' and will be K-10 Mining named after K-10 Trains the Best LHS one could ask for. Still up in the air about what I want it to look like but I have supplys!

 I did no cleaning up of junk for the PIC, but you can tell that. I would have stood on a ladder but 90% chances I would have fell down and gone to the ER. I will add I will be using some of the Great ideas I have seen.

                 Cuda Ken child like but working rail road.

 

I hate Rust

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, September 1, 2007 7:28 PM

You got it!  And welcome aboard!

The pictures are coming through just fine.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by sfcouple on Saturday, September 1, 2007 7:25 PM

I'm having way too much trouble trying to post photos on the forum, but here goes.

I'm modeling a micro layout "Mower Lumber Company" Cass, WV designed by Carl Ardent.  We live in an apartment in San Francisco so space is at a premium.  I'm trying to post an aerial view of the layout in general and then one of the first of two staging areas.

Wayne

 

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Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.

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Posted by mononguy63 on Saturday, September 1, 2007 5:27 PM

 Printer wrote:
I have that same baby walker in my house for my new Grandson!

BTW, this a basement of garage setup?

Thanks for the compliment, Printer. That baby equipment is in Deep Archival Storage - with 4 kids, I've caught my limit!

And the layout's in a basement that's been for sale since April. Given the current housing market, I figure the house will sell just about the time I'm preparing to plant the final tree...

Jim

"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley

I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious.  -Stephen Wright

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Posted by Printer on Saturday, September 1, 2007 4:51 PM
 mononguy63 wrote:

Here's an overall shot of the Notyme & Munee

Jim


Jim, that's a real nice start you have going. AND I particularly like your sense of Humor in the naming of your road. Not only do we share the tongue in cheek humor but I have that same baby walker in my house for my new Grandson!

BTW, this a basement of garage setup?
Head Robber Baron of the Cache & Carrie Railroad *everything I own fell off a train*
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Posted by Tom Bryant_MR on Saturday, September 1, 2007 4:40 PM

 BATMAN wrote:
Tom it's lookin good. What did you use to mount your backdrop on and was it easy to make that curve? Also what is your curved facia board made out of and what is it screwed onto. Thanks

Brent

PS; Is that whole in the benchwork for a turntable?

Brent, backdrop is mounted against the garage wall - used caulk to hold it. Along the garage door wall it is glued to some 1x2 uprights.

Was the curve hard to make ?  All credit goes to Don Z for the bench work. His arms were sore kerfing that entire 8ft piece.

Curved facia is 1/4" masonite.  Hole is for the turntable.

Regards,

Tom

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Posted by mononguy63 on Saturday, September 1, 2007 4:17 PM

Here's an overall shot of the Notyme & Munee

Jim

"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley

I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious.  -Stephen Wright

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Posted by wedudler on Saturday, September 1, 2007 4:07 PM

This picture shows my latest work. Scenery, some ballast for this segment and Woodland green. More at my blog .

This picture shows also the urgent need for a new background.  Smile [:)]

Wolfgang 

Pueblo & Salt Lake RR

Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de          my videos        my blog

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