sounds good john!
well, haven't done much with the plan, I'm thinking describing developing my operational scheme/"stage steps" will be the subject of a future MRN article.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
I got photos coming. Im uploading over 400 right now from my camera. I hope to have some to show you within the week.
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
Sounds like a plan, man. Again, keep us updated.
yeah, the town is the main focus on operation, the run-though trains are the outside world connections. I worked out a refined operating "schedule" (more like stage directions) in study hall today. I am going to make a change to trackplan by swapping the positions of the t/o off the main to the interchange yard and storage track. this will also allow me to extend the interchange yard tracks a bit, which is needed. Then the town should operate like a breeze.
I included the lake scene so I could have some fun railfanning the layout, just running trains, and do some purely aesthetic scenery work.
Now my main problem is deciding whether to bite the bullet and go for all ME turnouts as well as flex or just buy the ME turnouts for the main. This is the big sticker for adding that passing siding as well; I'd use ME turnouts for better performance and well, they are expensive. I do have a good supply of Atlas turnouts that I could salvage off my layout, but they may end up being so bad I have to go all ME turnouts.
And yes we have. the 4x8 is just too bulky and takes up too much space, and to operate it like I really want I need STAGING out the rear end. For the modifications I'd eventually make it's just easier to go with another layout that's better designed and takes up less space (I'll have the layout about 4 feet high so I can fit my workbench and probably study desk under it).
I see. I thought you would operate it as a run through for a railroad, like a small, general portion or a railroad, but your making the town the focus of everything and your using the run through trains as a form of traveling staging, like a car float, to get unnecessary cars off of the main vignette. In that case, your current track plan is perfect for your needs. I would, though, put a passing siding in back for the reason you stated, just in case. Its really shaping up!
BTW, may I just point something out. Over the past year, three of the regular posters, you and me included (I cant for the life of me remember who the last one was) have trashed our chainsaw layouts, and moved on to better railroads! Were all making steps in the right direction! All of the previous layouts were 4X8, and all the new ones are around the walls/shelf layouts. Before, we were building layouts for the sake of building layouts, now, we are all creating more refined operating standards! You can only see this kind of stuff in teens!
John, the two staging concerns. In case of smudging a weathering job, I seal all weathering on locos and cars with clear sealant so that they can be handled. Also, there is no lumber yard on the layout, only a wood paneling finisher and a cement plant. A switch there really wouldn't have much of a purpose, I've tried a kind of switchback, it wouldn't have done anything.
As it is, the staging, although pitiful, is sufficient for my operating purposes. The interchange train will roll in behind the NS geep, drop off cars, roll back out. then the first of the two CSRY freights will roll in, drop off the cars on it's head end. then I'll take a "reality break", run the engines around the loop, and couple onto the opposite end of that freight, and it's instantly staged as the opposing freight (or I could jsut move the locos over or I may add a passing siding, not sure. However, the interchange will remain it's own staging track, not connected to the main). Each interchange yard track can hold 6 cars. Each CSRY freight will drop off 2 or 3 cars, and I'd have the town-bound cars staged at the head of the first freight, so they'll be at the tail of the 2nd freight. Then the switcher can work cars with the interruption of a noon freight. There is a turn based out of this interchange yard, and the switcher will leave town after this. Then it will return, sort the cars, and await the late afternoon/early evening exchange freights as I'll dub the CSRY freights. The NS cars will have to wait until the next operating session, when the NS Geep performs this interchange move.
Wow I just finished my whole operating scenario in a forum post. You have some good points john, but A) there really isn't room/honestly want for a staging yard behind the town and B) the interchange track will function much better as its own independent staging set-up. and I just realized that connecting it to the main like i think you described it would make a reversing loop, which is beyond how I want this layout to operate. like I said, for cars/locos/anything else that will be handled I seal the weathering jobs specifically so I can handle the items without smudging the paint job.
Sawyer! Brilliant job with the trackplan!!! I really like how you you made the interchange the focus of the layout, which I think will provide plenty of operation. Allow me to give a wee bit of constructive feedback.
First, I would connect the interchange staging with the mainline so if you ever need to turn a locomotive or a car, you can do it without getting fingerprints on the weathering job. On a day to day basis, the switch wouldn't be used, it would only be there as a tool for "rip track inspection" to identify an impurity on a car. This would also allow you to model open loads. Say you had a lumber yard. Some odd number of cars would have open door details of lumber loads on one side. You would then take it around the layout so that the interchange turnout is a facing point turnout, and pull it onto the track. Now, since the car is reversed, it has gone from a car that is obviously carrying lumber, to a car with no obvious load, thereby switching the job of the car.
Second would be to add a small 3 to 5 track staging yard behind the town. As I have learned by now, staging is the beyond the basement. It could be as simple as two spurs facing opposite directions, or it could be fully fledged passing sidings. As you have it now, you get 3 trains stored, one in each direction on the main, and one on the interchange. Even then, you would have to make one of main trains wait for the other in the town to pass if you are going to work that out. With a small 2 track staging yard with a main run through, you could have 2 trains in each direction, and if you add the switch at the end of the interchange track, you could transfer some of the trains in the staging yard to the interchange track and have trains that go into the staging yard come out as "different" trains and vice versa, allowing infinite possibilities for endless operating sessions!
I hope you find my ideas helpful, but regardless if you use them or not, please keep us updated on the project.
Alex (the candian): very nice work on that SOO geep.
John, I'm likin the new look as well. glad to hear you're making progress.
well, here's the work I've been doing:
Well, here's what I've been working on. Final (I believe) trackplan:and here's the paint scheme (I used a Michael Eby drawing originally, then transferred it to this one for upload):[uploaded w/ permission of Stan Lytle and MR forum 7/12/08]
Welcome back guys! The new forums look great! What do you think? And now I can post a smily. Yay! Or I should say Well, I haven't done much on the layout. I have plastered 2/3rds of it and Ive almost finished making mountains from newspaper. After that, its being shipped to Utah!
Spiffy! The paint lines on the Soo unit and the MBTA GP18 are VERY similar.
Alex
Some progress on SOO 2412. Sorry about terrible quality. Screen capture from a 12 year old handycam. I am in the process of saving for a new camera, among other things... school books... a car... It's pretty low on the priority list right now.
Model has had glosscote applied, and is ready for decals.
Guilford GuyLVRC has a legit paint shop. WRS has a single stall engine house only used for mechanical issues.
so basically at the WRS the interior would be painted red if they tried an in-house paint job?
well the new plan is coming along good, I don't like how I have the cement plant catty-cornered into the plan and don't really have a place for it...yet. It's an industry I would really like to include though, so it will more than likely be fit in somehow. we will see.
Sweet work Alex, and yes that sounds like a good incentive.
I've redesigned the layout AGAIN! good news is I'm no longer jumping around between themes etc. now it's just fitting the elements I want in the best use of space possible.
I too enjoyed AP Bio, lots of work and horrible teacher, but it was still enjoyable. Another good incentive is 90% of the class is made up of women, at least in Massachusetts.
Oh, and the WRS units are running rampant...
1500 and 1501, both GP15s, trailed by 902, a GP18 move light engine en route to Lebanon.
1300, an ex CN SW9 and soon to be the last in service locomotive to have run on the original railroad should be departing soon, or as soon as I get new window glazing in.
Jordan, AP chem? yikes! There's no way in HECK I'm taking AP bio though, and they dnt offer AP Physics at my high school right now, so either that or AP Marine Science are my two options for an AP science.
Packers#1After the initial intimidation speeches of the first day, now that we've basically gotten down to work high school ain't looking too bad. Chemistry is gonna consume time, and english will be, well, english. Never been my strong subject, and I will be satisfied with a B, and ok with a C honestly, although I want at least A/B honor roll. I usually read books to escape life and step into a different one for a few hours, not analyze the crap outta a book and relate it to my life.
After the initial intimidation speeches of the first day, now that we've basically gotten down to work high school ain't looking too bad. Chemistry is gonna consume time, and english will be, well, english. Never been my strong subject, and I will be satisfied with a B, and ok with a C honestly, although I want at least A/B honor roll. I usually read books to escape life and step into a different one for a few hours, not analyze the crap outta a book and relate it to my life.
Chem isn't the worst. I guess it all depends on how the teachers teach it. I'm sure you'll do fine.
Now AP Chem on the other hand...I'll have to get back to you on that. I'm taking that this year. For those of you who can relate, I love being a Junior. Having authority it so nice... (I finally received a leadership role in Band, so I get to boss people around)
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
GG, sweet weathering.
RailfanS, nice to hear from you, I like seeing a CSX loco patched hehe :D
so I had another idea for my next layout. which will shrink the size and yank it into almost a shelf-like layout. No grade, although the ground level will change dramatically (In a GMR a few years back the Fellow who built the Traveling Chili Line or something S scale layout described how he did this, I'll read that article bit again). Size yet to be determined. it will be based off some old ideas I've ahd, feature a 240 scale feet long bridge over a lake, a small bit of track on land, then a bridge over another RR, then it will swing into town, which will have two industries and a small interchange yard.
Hi everyone,
Well its' been a loooooonnnnggggg time since my last post so I figured I'd share a couple of new projects I've been working on. I havn't been doing much on the layout because of a crazy summer schedule (work, camp, sleep, kayak, sailboat, work, work, ect.......) but I did get some neat stuff when my Walthers order came in a few weeks ago . First up: I finally got the supplies I need to begin patching my loco fleet. Check out switcher #121:
Because of the high humidity this time of year I'm having trouble printing the decals so most of my loco's will be patched over the winter.
Second I'd like to share my first pieces of intermodal equipment:
I bought 2 of these flats from walthers and modified them to haul a single 53' Trucks n' Stuff trailer.
Well that's all for now hopefully I'll be able to find the time to be more of regular around here. I'd also like to say nice work by everyone here and welcome to the new faces that I see have appeared.
See you later,
Jamie
Cape Vincent Southern Railroad
HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’
My YouTube
Moar for Vincent...
John, you've missed not much, just a bunch of school talk.
Taylor, the plan is two or three junior year, 5 senior year.
and yes morgan, I am a numbskull as it looks right now, I'm braindead and it's only day one of my sophomore year. thank the lord for both study hall and that I'm dropping spanish after this year.
You sir, have missed absolutely nothing!
I got a nice big box of rolling stock this weekend, and here's the outcome of that. I'll be listing some of the cars on the "other teen forum" in the next few days if anyone is interested.
Anyways...
BeforeAfter
Also...
This
Finally...
I just got back from stanford for Summer Session, and now I am resting in Utah for a few days before I go back to Orlando to pack up the house. At least, thats what my parents have told everybody, but we all know that it is to work on the layout. :) I will try to get the shay converted to DCC. So, what have I missed? Update me...
Hows it going guys. Its been to hot to work on the ho stuff lately but i found a box of N-scale stuff from 10 years ago and set it up in my room. Here is a pic of the set up. BTW if anyone wants to know the engines are a Life-Like Frisco E8, Bachmann BN GP50, and a Bachmann SF F9. They all run well for being in a box for 10 years.
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-Kade
FlashwaveI like All Quiet as well, but the teacher drug it out too long for the lessons.
Packers#1 Taylor, hey, I'm planning on takin 5 APs my senior year; course those will be my only classes hehe.
Take my advise, DON'T. It IS INCREDIBLY hard to do. Smart cookie or not. Make sure you've talked to not only your Guidance Counselor but also yourt AP teachers you Junior year to make sure this will fly with them. Teh work is long and difficult, or at a minimum time-consuming, and in a lot of cases can be mentally draining.
The guy reading Dorian Grey: I throughly enjoyed the book last Summer. I like All Quiet as well, but the teacher drug it out too long for the lessons. for AP, I read Dorain, Great Gatsby, Streetcar Naemd Desire, and Mice and Men over the Summer. We read Canturbury Tales Frankenstein 1984 "Much Ado About Nothing", Sir Gawain & The Green Knight (The only one I hated of 1st Semester) "Hamlet" Metamorphosis Cry, the beloved Country, "Death of a Salesman" The Stranger my 2nd semester. So I wish not to hear of complaints.
-Morgan
Hey Everyone,
Sawyer your crazy!!!!!!!!!!!! What grade are you in sophmore now right? And don't take them all at one you, you should build up to it like one the first year, two-three the next year and then boom, five the last year. Like my school doesn't even offer 5 ap classes I think.
Joe, good luck on the reading, atleast you still have time.
Well Night,
Taylor
Bear Down!