Ideas for the next Model Railroader Project Layout

[stokesda]

Kyle

 

Sure you can change the scenery and industries on a track plan you like, but MRR has a lot of articles on the scenery, industries, and rolling stock.  While all the articles can help you, the ones with your era/location are the best.

I started this thread to see what everyone's thought was on what should the next MRR project layout be based on. I would prefer to stay away from "well you can change ....."

 

Fair enough, but the focus of your original post seemed to be on the modeled "era" and not so much on the track plan, concept, or benchwork design. I thought your point was "I'd love to build this layout, but I wish it was geared toward the modern era." My point was if you like the layout, it's easy to adapt the era.

Yes, it would be more helpful to have the scenery/industries/rolling stock part of this project be specific to your preferred era, but they can't cover every possible era for every project railroad in that level of detail. There have been plenty of one-off modern-era scenery/industry/rolling stock articles in MR recently to get some good ideas to fill in the blanks.

Others have brought up good points here about layout design concepts, e.g. point-to-point vs. round-and-round, staging vs. no staging, etc. All good info, but I didn't think that was the focus of the original post. Maybe I misunderstood.

As far as what I hope they do for the next project, it doesn't much matter to me. I also prefer modern era, but I usually pay more attention to the overall layout design concept and construction. I like the variety they've covered in recent years, and although I enjoyed the quarry mine thing they did a while back, I thought it was kind of a cop-out for a "project layout" since it was simply an addition to the MR&T

[Pruitt]

I'd like to see something other than the small layouts that have been done recently. How about something in the size range of the Kinnickinnick (sp?) Railway and Dock Company of many years ago, or the Clinchfiled?

[BRAKIE]

Brunton

I'd like to see something other than the small layouts that have been done recently. How about something in the size range of the Kinnickinnick (sp?) Railway and Dock Company of many years ago, or the Clinchfiled?

I agree..With the growning popularity of switching layouts it would be a timely article for many.

The (if you will permit) updated KR&DC should focus on modern ISL designs with solid LDEs.

Just for fun..I would favor SW1500s or MP15DCs as motive power.

[mlehman]

BRAKIE

You and I are no doubt in the minority that rotates cars and maybe locomotives between operation sessions.

Like Bob, I rotate cars that go to staging. I have 10 4' long drawers right under the main staging area. I'll even guess there's 100s of cars in them.

There are three groups of cars in staging (omitting ones that really are in long term storage.) First, the bulk are there for the choosing to go on and off. Then there are ones you see going through on trains, but aren't swicthed out on the poertion I model. Then there are the ones that go to the "Return to..." location on the car card that is on the layout. You'll see them quite frequently, despite being a relatively small part of the whole.

[Steven Otte]

mlehman

I've got an idea for the next project layout. "Moving In: The Model Railroader Reality Show." People enter their names and one lucky winner gets a different member of the MR staff every week for 16 weeks to help them finish their layout for the big reveal.

There will be Cody in his wifebeater t-shirt and Bugs Bunny slippers at breakfast. It turns out Neil snores...a lot...so you have to ask him to sleep out in the camper or your wife will renounce the contract. Steve O. went to graduate school with Julian Assange for a semester...lots of hijinks ensue when they spend an afternoon Skype-ing to catch up.

This could be fun...

 

I must take great exception to your unsubstantiated characterizations of the MR staff.

I'M the one who snores.

[Kyle]

I think it would be cool for MRR to Protolance a layout.  Pick a railroad, pick a location, and then follow some of the prototypes in the area and the prototype railroad.

I have thought of a protolanced branch line.  It would be based on the Kyle Railroad, but based in North Carolina or Virginia.  The Kyle Railroad has a really nice blue color scheme.  In recent years, it looks like the quality of the locomotives have gone down.  There are a lot of old BN and SP paint schemes.  I would change history to say it was bought by a business man who kept the equipment looking good.  Almost all of the locomotives were painted in the Kyle Blue, and they kept the GP40s.  For a small layout, I would model a few GP40s, the SW1000, maybe two SD40-2s, and an exSP SD45T-2 (In Kyle colors).

Modeling the Kyle Railroad would make some really good articles MRR could do.  For example, they could detail the GP40s using photos of an exKyle GP40.  In the Information Desk for one of the issues, they could talk about using the features on websites like rrpicturearchieves to trace the owners of a locomotive, and see pictures of it through out its life.

I would like to see this concept used for the MRR Project Layout.

[jmbjmb]

BRAKIE

I agree..With the growning popularity of switching layouts it would be a timely article for many.

The (if you will permit) updated KR&DC should focus on modern ISL designs with solid LDEs.

Just for fun..I would favor SW1500s or MP15DCs as motive power.

 

 

Absoutely agree with your thoughts.  I've always loved the KR&D concept so it would be interesting to see it updated to a more current design aestetic (sp?).  The ferry and a large export elevator could by themselves drive a lot of switching.

[Kyle]

jmbjmb

 

 

BRAKIE

I agree..With the growning popularity of switching layouts it would be a timely article for many.

The (if you will permit) updated KR&DC should focus on modern ISL designs with solid LDEs.

Just for fun..I would favor SW1500s or MP15DCs as motive power.

 

 

 

 

Absoutely agree with your thoughts.  I've always loved the KR&D concept so it would be interesting to see it updated to a more current design aestetic (sp?).  The ferry and a large export elevator could by themselves drive a lot of switching.

 

I tried to look up the track plan in the MRR database, but I couldn't find it.  Could you possibly post a track plan or at least describe it?

[BRAKIE]

Kyle

 

jmbjmb

 

 

BRAKIE

I agree..With the growning popularity of switching layouts it would be a timely article for many.

The (if you will permit) updated KR&DC should focus on modern ISL designs with solid LDEs.

Just for fun..I would favor SW1500s or MP15DCs as motive power.

 

 

 

 

Absoutely agree with your thoughts.  I've always loved the KR&D concept so it would be interesting to see it updated to a more current design aestetic (sp?).  The ferry and a large export elevator could by themselves drive a lot of switching.

 

 

 

 

I tried to look up the track plan in the MRR database, but I couldn't find it.  Could you possibly post a track plan or at least describe it?

 

No worries..Here;s a link for the plan: 

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/data/etowsley/2005822223845_krddmastrjpeg.jpg

The design was ahead of its time since switching layouts wasn't all that popular back in '72.IIRC it was the first advanced designed switching layout.

This layout is what started a life long love for switching layouts.

 

[NittanyLion]

I don't particularly care about the region, era, or what have you.

What I want is another monster on the scale and scope of the Cripple Creek Central that seemed to go on for years.

[jmbjmb]

One of the unique things about KR&D was the track through the ferry that loops back around and appears to be the main coming in from somewhere else.  That track was actually intended as a in/out connection such that the boat switcher could load/unload the ferry and a transfer run down the back could bring cars in from "somewhere" else.  It wasn't intended as a reverse loop for the locomotive to go through the ferry.

This was the first layout I saw devoted to concepts like interchange and switching which gave me a whole new perspective on what a layout could be.

jim

[Kyle]

It would be cool to have some interchange points that could also be connect to a existing layou, or could be used for future expansion. 

Lots of switching would be one of the top requirements, but the layout should stay away from a lot of curves as that would make it difficult to customise to your space.  As I posted earlier, it would be great to design it so it can be easily lengthened or compressed slightly.  

I would also like to see 22" minimum curves at least.  Especially if six axle locomotives are used and some of the longer modern rolling stock.

One industry I think would be great to model is an intermodal yard.  It is very compact as you can only model the tracks with a container crane, and imply that the containers are stores where the aisle is.

[delray1967]

Since the Beer Line series, which I thought was a great idea (multiple arrangements of the same layout), I've thought a series on how to build Free-Mo modules.  It could include several modules, using different construction techniques and follow through as the modules get used at a Free-Mo setup to report how things went.  Any equipment (meaning the latest offering from any manufacturer, regardless of era) can be run and for the most part, can represent any location (except for desert/mountains...but any scenery fits into a Free-Mo setup by grouping similar modules together).  There are Free-Mo standards for several scales, so it's possible no one would be left out if several modules were built.

These modules could easily travel the country so readers can see first hand the project layout...something that rarely happens.  I mean, how many of us has seen a project layout in person?  I'm sure many have, but probably many more haven't.

The series could also expand on operations or signalling (signalling is relatively new on Free-Mo modules, but some do exist).  Module construction techniques easily carryover to home layouts since many people have realized having a layout in sections means there is little chance of tearing a whole layout down when having to sell or move from their homes.  If anyone decides to (or is forced to) retire from Model Railroading, these modules can be sold or given to a club and may survive for many years, regardless of the location (Free-Mo is a nationwide standard).

Another idea for a project layout series (but not one I'd personally be interested in), is european modeling.  I hear several stories about how modelers living across the pond model the U.S., how about us trying to model their country (model railroading is a world-wide hobby!).  Are european railroads operated differently than U.S. railroads?  I assume so, but have no idea.