caboose63 I model a what if shortline called the Leelanau County Railway which is set in Leelanau, Benzie, and Grand Traverse Counties of Northwestern Michigan.
I model a what if shortline called the Leelanau County Railway which is set in Leelanau, Benzie, and Grand Traverse Counties of Northwestern Michigan.
Is there any interchange?
Mr. LMD, Owner, founder
The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad
dehusman Mr. LMD This is a general question to the proto-lancing or freelancing modelers, but do you have a locomotive class for your railroad? If you are proto-lancing one would probably use the class system established by the prototype. So for example I would have class I-2, I-4 and I-5 2-8-0's on my current W&N branch. When I had my 1950's and 1960's era proto-lanced layouts I used class OE, DF1, DF2, DF3, RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4 and ERS14's (NW2, FT, FA, F3, RS3, AS16, GP7, H-24-66 and GP30/GP35's respectively).
Mr. LMD This is a general question to the proto-lancing or freelancing modelers, but do you have a locomotive class for your railroad?
This is a general question to the proto-lancing or freelancing modelers, but do you have a locomotive class for your railroad?
If you are proto-lancing one would probably use the class system established by the prototype. So for example I would have class I-2, I-4 and I-5 2-8-0's on my current W&N branch. When I had my 1950's and 1960's era proto-lanced layouts I used class OE, DF1, DF2, DF3, RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4 and ERS14's (NW2, FT, FA, F3, RS3, AS16, GP7, H-24-66 and GP30/GP35's respectively).
I know, but some people are strictly freelance and probably don't have locomotives classes, but if they do it adds some interesting fun.
gbwdude I model the Whiskey River Railway, which is influenced by the miniature railroad my "uncle" had at his amusement park but I decided to model it as a full size railroad set in the late 1930's and early 1940's in south central Wisconsin that runs north to south. Basically every town that the line goes through will be a small switching layout within itself, as my layout is modular/sectional since my job requires me to move a lot. All in all I should have seven modules for the seven towns. I had two modules built but tore them apart because I wasn't happy with the benchwork, either being too flimsy or heavy. Motive power is steam, mostly all hand-me-down locomotives from neighboring lines or lines that went the way of the Dodo bird. Currently the roster sports one two truck Heisler (for the future quarry), one Athearn 0-4-2T "Little Monster", two 4-4-0's, one 4-4-2, two Moguls, one 4-6-0, a Mikado and a custom contraption that has been on and off of the works, my 4-4-4-0 dubbed the "Super American". I spend most of my time over at the Zealot forums, so most of the story is over there along with boatloads of pics. Please stop by! Tyler attachment.php?attachmentid=92737&d=1283357132attachment.php?attachmentid=92735&d=1283356950
I model the Whiskey River Railway, which is influenced by the miniature railroad my "uncle" had at his amusement park but I decided to model it as a full size railroad set in the late 1930's and early 1940's in south central Wisconsin that runs north to south. Basically every town that the line goes through will be a small switching layout within itself, as my layout is modular/sectional since my job requires me to move a lot. All in all I should have seven modules for the seven towns. I had two modules built but tore them apart because I wasn't happy with the benchwork, either being too flimsy or heavy.
Motive power is steam, mostly all hand-me-down locomotives from neighboring lines or lines that went the way of the Dodo bird. Currently the roster sports one two truck Heisler (for the future quarry), one Athearn 0-4-2T "Little Monster", two 4-4-0's, one 4-4-2, two Moguls, one 4-6-0, a Mikado and a custom contraption that has been on and off of the works, my 4-4-4-0 dubbed the "Super American".
I spend most of my time over at the Zealot forums, so most of the story is over there along with boatloads of pics. Please stop by!
Tyler
attachment.php?attachmentid=92737&d=1283357132attachment.php?attachmentid=92735&d=1283356950
I remember that miniature railroad in one of the tracks ahead DVD. I love how that railroad is laid out and I would love to see pics of your model layout.
LMD, the Leelanau County interchanges with Michigan Northern Rwy at hatchs in leelanau county and with Cadillac & Lake City Railroad (west extension) at Thompsonville in Benzie county. Leelanau County motive power is 3 GP15-1's, 2 RSC2s, 1 4-6-0 (52" drivers), 2-10-0 russian decapod, USRA 0-8-0, and 1 SW1. steam locomotives for weekend and holiday excursions.
do you have pictures uploaded yet up by any chance?
`Evening, It's Thursday evening and I am looking forward to Friday evening to finish a long over due mural or backdrop on my layout which is HO scale; the COAL BELT and Subsidiary Systems, aka, COAL BELT LINES (CBL). I am modeling the anthracite region of Pennsylvania, Allentown to the White Haven area. It runs along the wall of the basement, 25x35 in what looks like a capital U. I pulled the the town names off a highway map of Pennsylvania. Yet, the CBL is not all about coal hauling. I have a lot of industry which needs import/export services to other industry on line and off. I pretty much follow the LV practise which states: Loaded coal trains have priority over other trains to include manifest freights.
Most coal drags measure up to 18 feet minus the engines, all six axle monsters except for four GP40-2's which pull yoeman's duty once in a while. I run a mix of first and second generation power
One yard I have takes up to an hour (regular 1:1 time) to switch out. Another about as long, the local delivers to a paper plant which paper is redone for stationary and other paper products. I also have a steel fabrication mill which sees a lot of coil cars and gondola action, and once in a while a flat car with a steel load.
Right now the backdrop is taking up a lot of my operating time. My goal is to get it done sometime this winter. # # #
I'm currently planing , then building my next layout, the"Western Maryland Midland Railway". Basically, its the WM Eastern Sub, From Baltimore to Hagerstown (staging) with selected scenes along the way. The main layout will occupy a 21 x 18 ft area, then follow a wall to a separate 10 x 8 area the back again, gaining altitude to a second level before returning to the main layout.
I started as a Western Maryland modeler when I rejoined the hobby after the kids started coming. Then for 2 years, I worked on the Midland as a dinner train conductor,(part time) so I started modeling the Midland. Since the MMID runs on old WM right of way, I thought I would run both.
Rocky Horror fans, "Let's do the Time Warp again!"
For a taste of what it's like, here's a shot from my FCSME modules (soon to be dismantled) as a MMID cement train passes WM engine at the shops!
To make things even more confusing, at one point, the MMID painted some of their engines in a pseudo WM paint scheme!
Should be fun!
Karl
NCE über alles!
I'm modeling a freelance Milwaukee Road branch coming out of the Mississippi River valley into Iowa in HO. Kind of a continuation of the last narrow gauge the Milw owned in Iowa if it would have been standard gauge instead of abandoned. My year is 1966 and will have s1 (s2's another thread) H10-44s and maybe an older F unit all in a well used condition. Kind going for the narrow gauge look without the slim rails.
Freelance a railroad is the best way to let play Your imagination.
That's the way I followed more than thirty years ago and I am still so happy whith You must also know I am Belgian and never had the chance to travel to Us.
However, works go slowly since a few years, because of a bad ending divorce.
But all in all I never stopped to work on my Maclau River RR in N scale.
Since the beginning I set the time in 1935-1945.
My first vision for this fictitious line, was a freight hauler using the valley of the Maclau river as a route whith some small tow alongside. This give me the opportunity to have a good port on the line and modeling some ship facility along the river. I love cargo's of this period.
But this vision changed whith the years, I became a N&W fan, read a lot about Georges Sellios work and acquired the book of Howard Zane about his Piermont division; in the same time I also read some books of Tony Koester about operation.
All these things married togheter ended whith a new vision for my Maclau River.
Because some big parts of the layout were already build, I didn't want to start again, so I included these finished parts in the new vision.
The history tomorrow:
The Maclau River is a connecting line between Norfolk and Cincinati like the N&W somewhere, the line started as a small private branchline running along the Maclau River, this river reach the sea near Norfolk and start somewhere in West Virginia in the hight hills, there it connect whith the C&O network.
The N&W and C&O have both some rights on the line which allow me to use some equipments of these companies.
The line is first a big coal hauler servicing numerous mines and some local industries all set in the Virgina scenery. The connecting point between these mines and town is the valley of the Maclau River.
Most of the bridges and tunnel are largely inspired by the N&W and Virginian.
The train start at a big town, inspired by Manchester on the FSM run trough tunnels and hills, servicing numerous mine and small town, reach a connecting town in the hills were it interchange whith the C&O and come back dow to a port where it connect whith the N&W. Both end offer staging.
Most of the car are 33 tons hopper and steam is king on the line. The line transport "real scale coal" charged in working tipple and charged in ship at Norfolk; this mean I am in the way to scratchbuild a hight lift rotary dumper as he appeared on a famous picture of the N&W historical society.
So, whith a freelance railroad I am able to operate the railroad like a coal hauler, whith interchange whith the real network.
As mentionned before only port, the steam terminal, 80% of Corinnesburgh town, and 90% of alexander Yard are finished. A part of the hills and a town whith mine is under construction and will serve as a three module layout for future train show, I hope finish it for october when the US train convention will take place in Deutchland here in Europe.
You can see more of it on www.Nscale.org, personnal album, letter M, Marc Magnus.
And as a conclusion N is far for me the best choice!
caboose63 LMD, the Leelanau County interchanges with Michigan Northern Rwy at hatchs in leelanau county and with Cadillac & Lake City Railroad (west extension) at Thompsonville in Benzie county. Leelanau County motive power is 3 GP15-1's, 2 RSC2s, 1 4-6-0 (52" drivers), 2-10-0 russian decapod, USRA 0-8-0, and 1 SW1. steam locomotives for weekend and holiday excursions.
I personally love switchers more than the larger diesel locomotives anyday. GP15 are perfect little diesel switchers and the 2-10-0 are some monster looking locomotives.
@HEDINSEN
How many yards do you have on your layout because it seems you have a really large layout from the sounds of it. What type of scenery does your backdrop have on it?
kbkchooch I'm currently planing , then building my next layout, the"Western Maryland Midland Railway". Basically, its the WM Eastern Sub, From Baltimore to Hagerstown (staging) with selected scenes along the way. The main layout will occupy a 21 x 18 ft area, then follow a wall to a separate 10 x 8 area the back again, gaining altitude to a second level before returning to the main layout. I started as a Western Maryland modeler when I rejoined the hobby after the kids started coming. Then for 2 years, I worked on the Midland as a dinner train conductor,(part time) so I started modeling the Midland. Since the MMID runs on old WM right of way, I thought I would run both. Rocky Horror fans, "Let's do the Time Warp again!" For a taste of what it's like, here's a shot from my FCSME modules (soon to be dismantled) as a MMID cement train passes WM engine at the shops! To make things even more confusing, at one point, the MMID painted some of their engines in a pseudo WM paint scheme! Should be fun!
Loving the scheme and I remember another modeler also modeling Western Maryland, I believe his name is Lee. Looks awesome and time doest give you wisedom and experience with everyone can clearly see you have in your beautiful layout.
drzmark I'm modeling a freelance Milwaukee Road branch coming out of the Mississippi River valley into Iowa in HO. Kind of a continuation of the last narrow gauge the Milw owned in Iowa if it would have been standard gauge instead of abandoned. My year is 1966 and will have s1 (s2's another thread) H10-44s and maybe an older F unit all in a well used condition. Kind going for the narrow gauge look without the slim rails.
Cool. I seen some interesting narrow gauge railroads and i would love to see your layout.
Marc_Magnus Freelance a railroad is the best way to let play Your imagination. That's the way I followed more than thirty years ago and I am still so happy whith You must also know I am Belgian and never had the chance to travel to Us. However, works go slowly since a few years, because of a bad ending divorce. But all in all I never stopped to work on my Maclau River RR in N scale. Since the beginning I set the time in 1935-1945. My first vision for this fictitious line, was a freight hauler using the valley of the Maclau river as a route whith some small tow alongside. This give me the opportunity to have a good port on the line and modeling some ship facility along the river. I love cargo's of this period. But this vision changed whith the years, I became a N&W fan, read a lot about Georges Sellios work and acquired the book of Howard Zane about his Piermont division; in the same time I also read some books of Tony Koester about operation. All these things married togheter ended whith a new vision for my Maclau River. Because some big parts of the layout were already build, I didn't want to start again, so I included these finished parts in the new vision. The history tomorrow: The Maclau River is a connecting line between Norfolk and Cincinati like the N&W somewhere, the line started as a small private branchline running along the Maclau River, this river reach the sea near Norfolk and start somewhere in West Virginia in the hight hills, there it connect whith the C&O network. The N&W and C&O have both some rights on the line which allow me to use some equipments of these companies. The line is first a big coal hauler servicing numerous mines and some local industries all set in the Virgina scenery. The connecting point between these mines and town is the valley of the Maclau River. Most of the bridges and tunnel are largely inspired by the N&W and Virginian. The train start at a big town, inspired by Manchester on the FSM run trough tunnels and hills, servicing numerous mine and small town, reach a connecting town in the hills were it interchange whith the C&O and come back dow to a port where it connect whith the N&W. Both end offer staging. Most of the car are 33 tons hopper and steam is king on the line. The line transport "real scale coal" charged in working tipple and charged in ship at Norfolk; this mean I am in the way to scratchbuild a hight lift rotary dumper as he appeared on a famous picture of the N&W historical society. So, whith a freelance railroad I am able to operate the railroad like a coal hauler, whith interchange whith the real network. As mentionned before only port, the steam terminal, 80% of Corinnesburgh town, and 90% of alexander Yard are finished. A part of the hills and a town whith mine is under construction and will serve as a three module layout for future train show, I hope finish it for october when the US train convention will take place in Deutchland here in Europe. You can see more of it on www.Nscale.org, personnal album, letter M, Marc Magnus. And as a conclusion N is far for me the best choice!
I love the history and wisedom you envoke in your comment and yes, freelance is the best if you do not want to follow a real railroad. What type of power motives do you have on your layout?
I have begun work on my "L" shape N scale layout fictional short-line (in the future, Class I) railroad. My railroad will have 22 diesels (mostly switchers) and 7 steam (3 switchers) on my layout at any given time, but I will have a dresser dedicated to all my model railroad needs for storage and organization.
The railroad customers are (in need particular order):
-Quarry
-EAF mini steel mill
-Lumber facility (sawmill, storage, lumber yard, manufacturing goods shop, Charcoal plant, and a bagging shop for the charcoal)
Cement plant (bag and concrete products)
-Bricks
-Rebuilt/restoration business
-A beverage plant.
caboose63Cadillac & Lake City Railroad
100 Million would not have been nearly enough to resurrect that one. More like a billion.
Let's keep them coming.
Recently purchased my two new workhorses, SD40-2s, and working on my layout some more while getting the car repaired.
The Bunter Ridge, Raton Pass Southwestern exists because it reached and crossed Raton Pass in 1876, besting the ATSF by two years. This was accomplished through superior engineering, strategy, and the fact the Bunter Ridge hired better outlaws to protect their territory when the chips were down. As a result, the Bunter Ridge became an important bridge route for the Santa Fe and partner for the Rio Grande. Common interests (dollars) quickly brought an end to the Colorado Railroad Wars of the 1870s.
The primary industries included timber and related industries as well as mining. As time passed, the ability of the three railroads to quickly transport refrigeration trains became another major source of revenue.
The Bunter Ridge was one of the first railroads to dieselize, largely because of the flexibility in conquering the grades of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. The weapons of choice were usually Alcos. In the fall of 1958 (era being modeled) the roster consisted of PA1/PB1 passenger locomotives, RS1s, RS2s, RSD4s, S2s and a small fleet of new RS11s. In addition to Alcos, the railroad also owned a pair of Baldwin VO1000s, and EMD E8A/Bs used primarily for freight (but available for passenger service), NW2s, and SD9s. RDCs were also use to provide passenger and mail service to small markets in the region. Needles to say, Santa Fe freight and passenger trains still frequent the rails, and passengers and freight are also interchanged with the Rio Grande.
While lumber and associated products and ore still are staples, literally any type of freight can be seen on the Bunter Ridge rails. Piggy back service, petroleum products, food products, and anything that can be loaded into a box car heading to or from the southwest will be seen. Couple that with the ability to see Santa Fe and Rio Grande trains on the rails and it is a rail fan’s dream.
- Mark
@ADELIE I am digging the history and the choice of locomotives the railroad choose to use. The CC&L is a mostly EMD (rebuild) type of railroad.
Any modelers creating towns lately?
My update: I changed my layout blueprints adding a few industries and a medium size town with a harbor/pier/drydock business
I have not yet started my layout. I may be moving in a short time if all goes well. My free lanced line will be located in 1959 and may also have a second era 1968. The two time periods are close enough that other than changing a few vehicles and rolling stock and locomotives I will be able to use the rest of the layout in either era.
It will be depicting the Wheeling, WV and Benwood, WV areas with some poetic license. The rail road will depict a merger that was actually talked about in the press but did not occur. The principal roads involved are the Virginian and Wheeling and Lake Erie. The two lines would connect end to end via some new trackage and the Ohio River Railroad that ran from Wheeling, to Kenova, WV.
Other railroads picked up would be the Akron Canton and Youngstown and the Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The line would also extend a branch from Zanesville, Ohio to Columbus, Dayton, and finally to Cincinnati, OHIO.
Wheeling will be the site of a small yard at the neck of the funnel to the Atlantic Coast. The major cities served Via the Northern end of Wheeling will be Pittsburgh, PA, Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Ohio. Going South from Wheeling will be the mill and coal mine at Benwood, Parkersburgh, Huntington, Kenova. The real Virginian would be able to connect to the Ohio River line in the area around Huntington both North and South of the city. From Kenova the line would expand into the Big Sandy coal fields of Kentucky.
The railroad would interchange with the B&O, Pennsylvania, C&O, Western Maryland, Norfolk and Western, Nickle Plate, Wabash, Ann Arbor, New York Central, Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, and Southern. Traffic base would consist of Coal, Steel, Manufactured Goods, Limestone, Chemicals, Aluminum, Automobile, Railroad Cars ACF plant in Huntington, Lumber and Glass from on line shippers. Due to the connection of the Great Lakes and The Atlantic Seaboard as well as the South a lot of bridge traffic will be rolling over the line. It will also have a couple of the components of the old "Alphabet Route" in the system and that will also generate traffic.
The Railroad seems like it would have a good traffic base and an excellent source of revenue until the Carter Years and the beginning of the decline that America is still going through.
The area actually modeled will consist of parts of 15 miles of the line to include Wheeling and Benwood. Liberties will be taken with actual places and industries. The line will be more about depicting the flavor of the area than actually modeling specific structures. The line will represent the sections of the railroad along the Ohio River with the river being in the isle.
On the section I am modeling The B&O and Pennsy will have trackage rights and have equipment running on the line. I may include some run through deals in the 1960s era depiction from other railroads as well. Passenger service will be non existent. This will be a freight only operation as all meaningful passenger service ended prior to the time periods being modeled.
At this point I have been acquiring rolling stock and structure kits for the 1959 version. I have the kits required to build the extensive engine terminal which will depict the main loco facilities on the railroad, and an integrated steel mill that will be better than what was there in reality.
Sorry for turning a post into a blog.
Rob
J.Rob
What stages are you in right now (planning, designing, building, etc.) because I'm sure everyone who has commented would love to see how far along you have come or are working on right now.
Any new projects or updates?
I'm not good at real history, much less making up a time line that coincides with it, so I kept it simple. Facts: I grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon. Southern Pacific was the carrier there. Around a hundred years ago, There were plans to connect CB to Roseburg by rail. and Chrome was mined for a short time southeast of CB. There's a paper mill in the area too. Fishing and lumber were HUGE up to the '80s, lumber mills everywhere. Lots of ships in the bay then too. These are true facts about Coos Bay.
So I thought, what if the bay (as in Coos Bay) was pushed a bit further south, into what is a sizable slough, say even only a half mile or so, opening up another industrial area? (called Southgate*) With a rail to ship or barge chrome ore loading dock? And a larger engine terminal than CB had? And those rails were laid to Roseburg? (Allowing through trains) That's what I'm working with. Southern Pacific is definitely the dominant road, but there will be some locally owned equipment too. So There's not much altering of history, and I like the given guidelines.
Oh. about 80% of my track is laid an in good operation, including main lines and staging already fully operational, as of YESTERDAY! I have a couple buildings, 80+ cars on the rails, More in boxes, and room for them, (10x20 room, around the walls) More locomotives than I want to admit, no scenery yet. I do have 2 ship model kits, and some boats. And a ton of vehicles, sheesh!
*The name Southgate actually came from a fictitious 1/24th scale tow truck company with 6 models I built, I liked the name. Years later, it fit the theme, ya know? Dan
Southgate I'm not good at real history, much less making up a time line that coincides with it, so I kept it simple. Facts: I grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon. Southern Pacific was the carrier there. Around a hundred years ago, There were plans to connect CB to Roseburg by rail. and Chrome was mined for a short time southeast of CB. There's a paper mill in the area too. Fishing and lumber were HUGE up to the '80s, lumber mills everywhere. Lots of ships in the bay then too. These are true facts about Coos Bay. So I thought, what if the bay (as in Coos Bay) was pushed a bit further south, into what is a sizable slough, say even only a half mile or so, opening up another industrial area? (called Southgate*) With a rail to ship or barge chrome ore loading dock? And a larger engine terminal than CB had? And those rails were laid to Roseburg? (Allowing through trains) That's what I'm working with. Southern Pacific is definitely the dominant road, but there will be some locally owned equipment too. So There's not much altering of history, and I like the given guidelines. Oh. about 80% of my track is laid an in good operation, including main lines and staging already fully operational, as of YESTERDAY! I have a couple buildings, 80+ cars on the rails, More in boxes, and room for them, (10x20 room, around the walls) More locomotives than I want to admit, no scenery yet. I do have 2 ship model kits, and some boats. And a ton of vehicles, sheesh! *The name Southgate actually came from a fictitious 1/24th scale tow truck company with 6 models I built, I liked the name. Years later, it fit the theme, ya know? Dan
Keeping it simple is always great too. Ones layout doesn't need to be complex to be fun. :)
I'm building the "Coosa Valley Railroad"...a modern short line with a connection with NS. The line operates over 20 or so miles of branch line trackage serving a very large kitbashed papermill located at the end of the branch. It also serves a large quarry operation and a couple of much smaller industries such as a log loader and woodchip loader. This is a two room layoug withe the first room comprised of the interchange yard and branch line trackage that winds through hills and a river valley to the second room. That room is an around the wall shelf terminating in the paper mill module which is about 2 x 10 feet. My first layout so I'm learning a lot.
Coming along well though. Tracks all in and running with DCC. Scenery about 40% complete. Paper mill complex in place.
Atlanta Dave I'm building the "Coosa Valley Railroad"...a modern short line with a connection with NS. The line operates over 20 or so miles of branch line trackage serving a very large kitbashed papermill located at the end of the branch. It also serves a large quarry operation and a couple of much smaller industries such as a log loader and woodchip loader. This is a two room layoug withe the first room comprised of the interchange yard and branch line trackage that winds through hills and a river valley to the second room. That room is an around the wall shelf terminating in the paper mill module which is about 2 x 10 feet. My first layout so I'm learning a lot. Coming along well though. Tracks all in and running with DCC. Scenery about 40% complete. Paper mill complex in place.
My model railroad is my second layout, but first in N scale.
Some history has come and gone since this thread was last active, so it's a good opportunity for an update.
I've pretty much finished up with the carfloat terminal at Mooseport, somewhere on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
A carfloat is a convenient ruse in model railroading. It can function as a small staging yard, or as an interchange track. I decided to add a lot of scenery approaching it, too, so it's a focal point for observers, too. The geographical location caused me to pick up a few related boxcars, notably the Port Huron and Detroit and Ann Arbor railroads, from the "other side" of the Lake.
Mooseport itself is pretty much done now, so I've turned my attention to the other side of town. I'm building the Empire Leather Tanning Company, a multi-structure Walthers kit.
The kit itself came with a 1-page writeup on tanneries, including the gozintas and gozoutas for such facilities. They take in hides, acid and salt, which gave me the opportunity to buy a couple of boxcars, a chemical tanker and a covered hopper. The tanker is an old Athearn Hooker Chemical car I picked up on eBay and spruced up with metal wheels and Kadees. The hopper is a Bowser kit that I painted and decaled for the fanciful Saltzburg Salt company, and the boxcars will be beat-up Tichys, nearing the end of their service lives, and marked "Hide Service Only" in this last job before the scrap heap. It will be an operational plus, too, because the hides will come from the Swift packing plant across town.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.