| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 7:32:57 PM
Just a little intro into what I am planning. The Indiana Northeastern is abased on the prototype of the same name, but started in the 80's. It will interhange with the Norfolk Southern and the M&IN. It will use some of the old Wabash and NYC R/W's. All comments and suggestions are welcomed. I am backsliding from On30 to HO as I want to have more of a modern short line Railroad.
Mark |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 07/09/2012 : 10:28:55 AM
James, I should memntion that I would also add 2 lengths of 2x2 for support the backdrop will fasten to the shelf track. The shelf tracks will be every 4' with 18'" or 12" brackets as needed.
Mark |
| jbvb |
Posted - 07/09/2012 : 07:24:57 AM
Laid flat, 1/4" plywood isn't very rigid. It will be stronger if you glue the foam to it, but the added strength will come from the foam in compression. With only 18" width of foam, you might need brackets every 3 feet or so. If you will be using a backdrop, one way to get longer spans would be to permanently fasten the backdrop to the plywood, possibly with a wood reinforcing strip in the joint. A 12" to 18" backdrop done this way would allow much longer spans. |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 07/08/2012 : 10:37:15 PM
James, I am thinkin about using 2" foam and am looking at some kind of shelf braket system with 1/4" plywood under the foam. I was thinking about the track for shelving with brakets. Stong but light construction. Ed Traxxler used a simular set-up to hold his On30 moduels. Being mostly flat there will be limited elevation change.
Mark |
| jbvb |
Posted - 07/08/2012 : 5:54:34 PM
What are your preferences regarding strength and depth of the benchwork? Some people are just using 2" rigid foam, which reduces depth to a minimum, but isn't very strong, won't hold screws, and must be carved or laminated where you want changes in elevation. Wescott's L-Girder is strong, easy to modify and can accommodate all kinds of scenery and track arrangements, but is generally is at least 10" deep. I combined L-girders with open-grid style crossmembers because I wanted long spans between legs while maximizing clearance underneath so I can use the space behind the layout for storage. |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 07/07/2012 : 10:10:33 PM
While on the topic of design, I have decided to use Atlas code 83 track and switches. This decision is based on economy as well as my preference. While I like Peco switches they are quite expensive and I am on a fixed encome.
Another topic for discussion is benchwork, I am not going to have any thing wider than 18" and I am thinking about lighter bechwork and ease of construction. What are your thoughts?
Mark |
| joem5127 |
Posted - 06/26/2012 : 10:13:41 PM
Mark,
Glad I could help. I look forward to seeing how the plan develops.
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| BBLmber |
Posted - 06/26/2012 : 3:16:09 PM
After some morw planning and a lot of help from Joe Mattes, I am going to model the area at Ashley. At that area are four different industries, sewer treatment plant, feed and fertilizer, glass reycler, and a new tank farm. We are still working on what the tank farm will be used for as it is under construction. The other industries will get covered hoppers and tank cars as well as a occasional box car. If room permits there is another trucking company near by that has a sper into it and receives hoppers, bulkhead flats, and possible tank and covered hoppers. This area could become quite busy and keep a crew busy switching for most of a short session. This will also give me a greater varity of traffic and interchange.
Another possibility is to add a helix instead of the staging tracks for the northern section and addd a second lower level to model Hillsdale and litchfield. Litchfield has a power plant and reieves small unit trains of coal and there is a large elevator at Hillsdale and a yard with RR facilities.
What do you think of these changes, as always commeents are welcomed.
Mark |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 2:49:10 PM
Thanks Joe, I have been looking at google earth and have taken note of the track locations as they are to industries. Champion Homes does manufacturwe modular homes. They wouldn't ship anything but would receive lumber and hardware. Currently there are no tracks in Topeka, so I can only guess what was there. I can see the old grain elevator and several modern builds where the homes and RV's are made. There is a road where the tracks once were. If you look closely and follow the tracks from South Milford you can locatee the old r/w.
Mark |
| IAISfan |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 12:31:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by BBLmber
So far the industries are , a grain elevator and Chainpian homes at Topeka, a grain elevator and team track at South Milford, Agrain elevator at Helmer, Stubenville will be the juntc. with the Northern part of the railroad, and Eden with either a grain elevator or fertilizer facilites. Any rthoughts about these choices?
That sounds like an accurate mix of industries for a midwestern short line Mark, with a heavy focus on elevators, plus a few other supporting customers. What's "Chainpian homes" - manufactured homes? What did they ship/receive? Don't forget that many/most elevators also take in fertilizer, often just having a different spotting location on the same track where they load grain, rather than a dedicated track for fertz.
Also, when designing your elevator locations, something I've found to add interest is to place them about halfway along their spur/siding, allowing space for them to shove cars as they're being loaded. Not only is it more prototypical, but it makes switching them more interesting, and could even provide justification for you to put one of those BLI Trackmobiles to work.
For example, if you have a double-ended elevator siding that holds six cars total, and you put the elevator at one end of that, not only do your crews have room to spot all six cars at once (unprototypical, and too easy/boring to switch), but the elevator has nowhere to shove cars once they're loaded. If you put the elevator halfway along that six-car siding and instruct crews that they can only spot three cars at a time (i.e. only as much as they can fit to one side of the spout), then your crew has to spot the first three empties, then come back later, after those cars are loaded and shoved through, so they can pull those three loads and spot the other three empties.
It's stuff like that that can make a smaller layout seem much bigger, because just by altering the placement of the elevator, you're essentially adding a second customer to switch, and making things more fun and prototypical for your crews at the same time.
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| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 09:12:09 AM
So far the industries are , a grain elevator and Chainpian homes at Topeka, a grain elevator and team track at South Milford, Agrain elevator at Helmer, Stubenville will be the juntc. with the Northern part of the railroad, and Eden with either a grain elevator or fertilizer facilites. Any rthoughts about these choices?
Mark |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 3:12:06 PM
Well, the planning continues with the town names for the RR. They will be Topeka, South Milford, Helmer, Stubenville Jtc., and Edon. There will be grain elevators at least four places. The engine service facilities will be at Topeka. The yard area at the right side of the drawing will be the interchanges for NS and M&IN RR. Now to wait til the move is complete so construction can begin.
Mark |
| brakie |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 5:07:29 PM
That would be nice! I like the idea. |
| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 7:43:26 PM
Yeh, something like that would br great at that spot. Thanks john.
Mark |
| Schoolmaster |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 7:14:33 PM
Yes, something like this at Pleasnat Lake.
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| BBLmber |
Posted - 05/16/2012 : 5:27:57 PM
I was thinking maybe anpld freight station now used by the railroad for storage and maintainence workers , maybe even railroad office. May even use a regular station with attached freight depot. Mite even park a peice of mow equiptment on the short spur.
Mark |
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