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Home   Forums   Events Calendar   Sponsors   Support the RRLine   Guestbook   FAQ     Register Active Topics | Active Polls | Resources | Members | Online Users | Live Chat | Avatar Legend | Search | Statistics Photo Album | File Lister | File Library [ Active Members: 5 | Anonymous Members: 0 | Guests: 31 ]  [ Total: 36 ]  [ Newest Member: Speedy ]  All Forums  Model Railroad Forums  Mid Scale Model Railroad Forum  Indiana Northeastern RWY Design Next Page  New Topic |    New Poll |   Reply to Topic |   Printer Friendly Author Topic Page: 1 2 3 4 of 4 BBLmber Fireman 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 W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/12/2012 :  7:51:14 PM     Here is a proposed track plan, which may be changed slightly fro what had been worked up earlier for On30. The room size is 14'x15', withe benchwork widths being 24" and 30". The engine facility will be at South Milford as well as a good sized grain elevator. The yard to the right will be the interchange points for the NS and M&IN. The rest has yet to be decided. Your thoughts are welcomed. Mark W,L,&E Edited by - BBLmber on 05/12/2012 8:04:08 PM Country: USA | Posts: 4235 IAISfan Engine Wiper Posted - 05/12/2012 :  8:33:37 PM     Hi Mark - I think you'll really enjoy modern short line modeling. I used to model a class 1 mainline, but have never regretted the move to focus instead on a modern regional 12 years ago. I like your plan. My only suggestions would be to simplify, doing away with all the switchback spurs and the short section of track connecting the two back-to-back spurs on your peninsula. Short lines are generally not going to have any more track than they need, and those switchbacks are pretty rare on the prototype. One other thing to consider, since you're modeling a rural prototype, would be to do away with one leg of the wye to allow more of a "wide open spaces" feel along the left wall. Since many modern short lines are becoming more attractive to big customers, you could also use that peninsula to model a single large customer that'd generate a lot of carloadings, rather than a third town. Some ideas for that would be an ethanol plant or a large transload facility. Either would allow a nice variety of car types and justify a LOT of traffic. The transload operation would allow you to spot almost any modern car there, but even the ethanol plant would allow modern ethanol tank cars and DDG covered hoppers outbound and grain covered hoppers inbound. Given the short distance from the passing sidings along the top and bottom walls, it'd probably be more prototypical to do away with the runarounds on the peninsula, since such a facility would be worked by shoving from either the top or bottom towns (depending on which leg of the wye you might choose to do away with). I think you'll be surprised at how few active spurs you'll need in order to keep busy with both construction and operation. Operating at a prototypical pace and pausing to allow time for your crew to do all the things the prototype does while switching really stretches things out and adds to the fun. Along those lines, I'd highly recommend Lance Mindheim's book, "How To Operate A Modern Era Switching Layout", http://lancemindheim.com/bookstore.htm . For that matter, many of Lance's other titles may be very useful to you right now as you plan your layout. His blog at http://lancemindheim.com/blog.htm is also excellent reading for those of us who enjoy these types of layouts. Please keep us posted on your progress. I'm really looking forward to seeing your updates. Modeling Iowa Interstate's West End, May 2005 http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Sub4WestEnd Country: USA | Posts: 206 cajon Engine Wiper Posted - 05/12/2012 :  9:05:20 PM       Hi Mark To follow up on Joe's comments about switchbacks etc, here's some revisions you might consider. https://picasaweb.google.com/107389354387456095061/MarkSRevisedPlan?authkey=Gv1sRgCLq0rvnBmvyYHQ#5741822501362898866 Edited by - cajon on 05/12/2012 9:08:01 PM Country: USA | Posts: 136 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/12/2012 :  9:13:46 PM     Thanks Joe, I enjoy your layout as well. I have plans to simplify the plan from what was planned in On30 and the wye is going to go. On the INE to the North I have found a couple of plastics molding plants and was thinking about them on the peninsula. Plaastic pellets in and car parts boxcars out. Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/12/2012 :  9:47:33 PM     Here is a link to the Real INE RR that I am basing my railroad on. This will give you some idea of what the locos will look like nad the traffic that could be found on the railroad. http://www.indiananortheasternrailroad.com/index.html Have fun and thanks for the comments. Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 brakie Moderator Premium Member Posted - 05/13/2012 :  04:29:07 AM     Mark,I always liked Indiana Northeastern NKP inspired paint scheme. Short line modeling is just plain fun and doesn't require all that much equipment.. Larry Engineman Slate Creek Rail. Country: USA | Posts: 6949 IAISfan Engine Wiper Posted - 05/13/2012 :  07:29:26 AM     quote: Originally posted by BBLmber On the INE to the North I have found a couple of plastics molding plants and was thinking about them on the peninsula. Plaastic pellets in and car parts boxcars out. Thanks Mark. You know, when I made my earlier comments, I was assuming you were proto-freelancing this railroad. I didn't realize it was a prototype, but after seeing your link, I remember Tom Johnson posting a photo of their GP30s a few months ago. So, ignore what I said about choosing industries. Since you're modeling a prototype, I know this might not be for everyone, but for me, I'd suggest picking a small segment of the INE and modeling the track arrangement and customers as close as you can to how they exist in real life. I've found this to be really rewarding as you watch locations you're familiar with come to life on your layout. Also, as with many short lines, it looks like your prototype will also allow you to justify the operation of class 1 power/trains, in your case, the NS grain trains. I've found that to be a lot of fun as well, since it not only gives you a chance to model something different, but I think the contrast between the class 1's new power and the older second-hand stuff that our regionals and short lines run is interesting. In my case, the UP is the class 1 my prototype interacted with most during my era, via detours they sent over the IAIS due to a derailment in May 2005. Besides the obvious visual differences, modern UP GEs and EMDs add an interesting mix of sounds to complement the IAIS Alcos and normally-aspirated EMD power. Modeling Iowa Interstate's West End, May 2005 http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Sub4WestEnd Country: USA | Posts: 206 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/13/2012 :  09:00:08 AM     Joe, I am still going to be proto-freelancing as I am backdating the starting era for the INE and using possible track loations that had been abandoned. The prototype is the inspiration and info on what is in the area. Most of the railroad's industries are spread out too far to model any segment in the room I have. Also I'm going to make a slight change in the loco lettering. I'm going to go with yellow instead of white to make it easier to make decals. Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 bnsf8000 New Hire Posted - 05/13/2012 :  10:36:09 AM     Mark, I look forward to seeing the progress on your layout. I really like the prototype. It will be neat to see what you add/subtract as you backdate it to the 80's. Definitely has some potential as a modern shortline. Also, I'd never looked at that link you provided. Makes it look really nice and homey. Great choice. BNSF proto/freelanced Montana Division Patrick Waltz Edited by - bnsf8000 on 05/13/2012 10:37:40 AM Country: USA | Posts: 6 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/13/2012 :  11:04:24 AM     Here is a little more simplified trrack plan. What are your thoughts on this? Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 MINRR Section Hand Posted - 05/13/2012 :  9:29:40 PM     This a photo taken at the South Milford,IN elevator in 2006.The building to the far right of the photo is for corn cobs. The second photo was taken in Topeka,IN IN 2007. The tracks have been long ago removed - But at the time the photo was taken the elevator was still in operation. I will be happy to send you more photos if you like. Quintin Country: USA | Posts: 63 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/13/2012 :  9:40:30 PM     Thanks Quintin, I love the photos and can always use more. I currently live in /Va. and I don't get around much lately. I used Google Earth this evening and covered the entire INE from one end to the other. It's hard to figure out some of the industries, so I'll have to guess what somme are from the rail cars. They have several sidings for loading from trucks. It's good to have someone closer that has visited thee area. Mark W,L,&E Country: USA | Posts: 4235 INRAIL Crew Chief Posted - 05/13/2012 :  10:31:42 PM     Mark. The only thing I'm not sure about is the turntable. Most smaller shortlines (perhaps all?) in the 80's didn't have turntables here is Indiana. Everything else looks good. Keep your track simple for what you're modeling. Tom Johnson Country: USA | Posts: 666 BBLmber Fireman Posted - 05/13/2012 :  11:15:05 PM     Thanks Tom, while doing some reading and thinking, I may make some major changes to the peninsuly. The changes would allow for hidden staging for the part of the INE above Stuben and would allow longer running from end to end. The down side is there would be more curving track added, but dble running length. My plan is to eliminate the TT and just have a two stall modern engine house. Mark W,L,&E Edited by - BBLmber on 05/13/2012 11:18:18 PM Country: USA | Posts: 4235 joem5127 New Hire Posted - 05/14/2012 :  07:59:42 AM     Mark, I live not far from the Indiana Northeastern and have also though it would make for an interesting prototype to model. I have rail fanned the line and studied parts of it in detail. I’ll be watching this one. Joe http://wabashcolumbiabranch.blogspot.com/ Country: USA | Posts: 6 Page: 1 2 3 4 of 4 Topic    New Topic |    New Poll |   Reply to Topic |   Printer Friendly Next Page Jump To: Select Forum Railroad Line Administrative Forums       Forum News       Administrative Posts General Forums       The Tour Bus       The Arrival Track       RR-L Member Personal Websites       The Crew Lounge       The Classroom       Interchange Tracks       Rail Events       Reference & Research Model Railroad Forums       The Sn3 Branch       Mike Chambers' Craftsman's Corner       HOn30 and HOn3 Forum       Early Rail Forum       The On30 Line       Railroad Photography Forum       Small Scale Model Railroad Forum       Mid Scale Model Railroad Forum       Large Scale Model Railroad Forum       Logging, Mining, & Narrow minded       Model Railroad Construction       Micro & Mini Layouts       Layout Design / Operation Sig Forum       Startin' from Scratch       DCC, Computers and Electronics for Model Railroads Shop Talk       Vehicle and Non-Rail Transportation Modeling       The Roundhouse       Rolling Stock: the Car Shops       The Diesel Shop Company Store       Railroad-Line Swap Meet       New Product Announcements Fallen Flag Railroad Forums       Erie / Lackawanna Railroad Forum       Raritan River Railroad Forum Railroad Software Forums       Atlas Right Track Software       Railroad Line Software Library Model Railroad Club Forums       The Model Railroad Club Forum Sponsor Forums       Rusty Stumps Scale Models       KingMill Enterprises Railroad Line Weblinks       Badger Creek Lumber Co.       Central Missouri & Southern RR       Raritan River Railroad       Thor's All Gauge Page  -------------------- Home Active Topics Frequently Asked Questions Member Information Search Page Railroad Line Forums © 2000-13 Railroad Line Co.
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