Trackplan

First up is the track plan.  The layout is designed to support 5-7 people for an operating session and was developed with operations in mind.  One of my favorite aspects of the hobby is operating and watching trains deliver cars to a customer.  I always try to end up with the local or turn jobs when I visit others layouts and wanted to incorporate that kind of job into my layout.  The industrial branch (blue track) should keep someone busy for a few hours with four different customers and a lot of pulls and setouts.  The classification yard will have to handle building this industrial local as well as servicing trains from two interchanges.  The Copper Basin Railway will have trackage rights over the railroad to run ore back and forth from the upper and lower decks, as well as receive a mixed train of supplies.  Staging will be representative of Phoenix, AZ and Barstow, CA with the interchanges at those yards being BNSF.

Benchwork Started

Started some benchwork this weekend!  I am going to cantilever the shelves from the studs and then use plywood on risers for subroadbed.  I'll fill in the areas around the subroadbed with foam for scenery work.  A masonite fascia will be screwed to the front of the transverse pieces, and a 16" masonite backdrop will run around the room at the top of the benchwork.  I was a little nervous about how rigid this system would be without legs, but it holds up well even when someone leans on it.  Track height for the majority of the railroad will be 54" on the upper level and 39" on the lower.  I've got a set of blinds that I still need to paint and mount over the window.

Nice!

I'm really going to be watching this blog closely Doug.  I like modern regionals a lot, and the ARZC has always been a favorite.  As much as I enjoy strict prototype modeling, the liberties you're taking with the ARZC roster look very appealing and realistic, and your modeling seems to be top notch.  I'm looking forward to watching this take shape.

Looks Good

Looks pretty good to me. Seems like a very well thought out layout. What did you use for lumber 2x4's? just outa curiosity. Hope you keep posting more updates looking forward to following yout progress. Looks to be a great operations oriented layout.

Kevin

I like the simplicity

of your track plan very much.  It shows you've put a lot of thought into it.  Seeing as most all your window will be covered with back drop, have you considered cutting some 2" foam to wedge in there first.  You could paint it blue like the wall and it would also act as a temperature barrier.  Looking forward to the pictures of your construction.

Interesting plan

Doug, you have a really great looking plan and available space...looking forward to watching your progress. I enjoy seeing other modelers tackle desert scenery, and look forward to the scenes you will create.

Welcome Aboard

Being a fellow N scaler, I like how this is starting off.  The masking tape on the walls to mark your studs is a brilliant idea - it will come off when you are done,a nd if its in the middle of the stud it means you'll get a good solid hold on your framing.  The backdrop and fascia will definitely help.

And I vaguely remember when my layout room was that neat . . .

Thanks!

Joe - That's a big compliment coming from you.  Your modeling is phenomenal and your strict adherence to the prototype is commendable.  Once construction gets underway, I will be studying your operating scheme to learn a bit more about how a regional railroad actually operates, especially with the different districts that the IAIS has.  When I first started thinking about this layout, I thought about using the IAIS system as a resource applied to Arizona.  The ARZC is not all that exciting in real life, but I love the paint scheme and locale, especially the large crossing of the Colorado River.

Kevin - The lumber is a mix of 2x4's and 1x4's ripped from a piece of plywood.  I needed something beefy across the window, but the 1x4's should be sufficient for the rest of the room.  Operations and sharing this layout with others is the goal!

Michael - Haven't thought about using foam in the window.  This room stays very comfortable all year, in fact we built it in the middle of winter.

Verrne - I always look forward to your updates to see some great desert scenery.  I plan on painting the backdrops, and between you and Rob S., plus a couple of others, I think there are enough resources here to point me in the right direction.

Phil - The masking tape was such an easy solution, rather than looking for pencil marks or running a stud finder every time.  The studs really have a strong grab on the horizontal runners with no rotation.  I've been good so far about organizing and vacuuming each time I finish for the day in the layout room, hopefully it continues.

Regionals

Thank you Doug!

It's funny you mentioned that, because I often struggle with the temptation of doing exactly what you are - expanding the roster to include locomotive models the IAIS didn't have in my era.  Looks like a lot of fun!  But now you've got me thinking about IAIS GP30s and SD40-2s... 

Let me know if I can help with that.

You've just described my prototype to a T...at least using the standards by which we normally judge excitement in the hobby.  IAIS had (and has) basically one daily train each way over my portion of the railroad, plus grain extras and a local.  Fortunately, you don't need a large number of trains to get tremendous enjoyment from operations - especially on a lower-speed railroad.  

I originally built my layout to handle a large number of trains per session, modeling an era when the UP used to funnel up to 8 trains a day over the IAIS.  I eventually realized, though, that I didn't want big, busy op sessions with 10+ people vying for aisle space.  Moving to an era when things were more laid back, using 2 two-man crews per session, has been much more enjoyable and relaxing to me, and better represents the friendly, bucolic nature of many regionals.

"It's funny you mentioned

"It's funny you mentioned that, because I often struggle with the temptation of doing exactly what you are - expanding the roster to include locomotive models the IAIS didn't have in my era.  Looks like a lot of fun!  But now you've got me thinking about IAIS GP30s and SD40-2s..."

  No one is gonna know if you build some "what if" locos and run them when no one is around :> )  ....DaveB

What-ifs

True, but I've got more than enough projects on my plate already. 

ARZC

Doug,

I will follow your project with great interest. I have also found inspiration for my model railroad in Arizona: The Peavine line which have a junction with your ARZC. I am stuck in the area around 1960, but if I ever modernize, that might well be with those lovely green engines running on my line to swap trains at Castle Rock Spring.

Keep up the good work.

Wow looks like you have a

Wow looks like you have a good plan, and good start with the benchwork. I will be following this build closley.

So you live in Parker? I'm in Broomfield. Great to see some more Colorado folks here.

Speaking of Colorado, why are you modeling Cali and Az, and not Colorado?

Nice looking plan but....

.........why have the diamond crossing between the two industries on the industrial branch? I could see it if you were pushed for space there but it looks to me like you could put the turnouts heel to heel and still get the same result with out the added complication of a diamond!

Please ignore the comments if you just want it for looks, now that I can understand!!

Some Replies...

Joe - It's tough not to freelance, especially if there is a particular locomotive you want to see in your scheme, like my MP15 and F3. At least with the scenery you are working on, you can keep the temptation to build those other locomotives at bay, although I agree with Dave, no on will know if you run them in secret. I will let you know when I am ready to discuss regional operations. I'm surprised your prototype is such a low volume road, I figured with the UP yard at Council Bluffs, there would be a lot of interchange activity and train building for most of the IAIS. I understand what you are saying about the low speed railroads and two man crews. As long as you get a good partner, 2 man crews work well, and efficient.

KnuT - The Peavine is a great route to model, and you can get the Matthie Wye in there as well!  Swapping trains at Castle Hot Spring is about as exciting as it gets on the ARZC, if they are ever on time!

Michael - Good to hear from a fellow modeler in Colorado!  Let me know if you make it down to Parker, I'd be happy to show you my railroad.  I grew up in Northern California around the California Northern RR, so it was an easy step to the Arizona & California.  I did throw around the idea of modeling the industrial areas north of Denver, but decided I wanted a layout with mainline operations as well.

Graeme - The diamond is just for looks, I had to get one in somewhere that would see traffic both ways.

Some Replies...

Fortunately, I've been able to model the units I like, but that IAIS doesn't roster, on adjacent railroads:  SD40-2s on UP detours and van trains (the latter operating out of IAIS's Bluffs ramp that I model) and a GP30 (okay, GP39M) on BNSF that I can display on a BNSF yard track.  Fortunately, IAIS also has SD38-2s, which are close enough to the 40s for me.

Train volume is low, but car volume is relatively high.  Much moreso today than in my 2005 era thanks to the growth of ethanol.  IAIS just tries to keep crew costs down by running one huge train (sometimes exceeding 18,000 tons) rather than multiple smaller ones when the need arises.  In my era, separate grain extras were more common, but now that DPU is on the scene, they'll more likely just DPU the road train and add that 50-car grain pickup enroute.  Further east on the IAIS, especially between South Amana and Silvis, train counts are significantly higher.

More Work!

Had some help from my group of round robin friends to get almost all of the cantilever benchwork up on the wall.  We were also able to get some backdrop up, but I still need to fill in the countersinks, cove the corners, prime and paint.

You can see two helix frames in the corner, the next step in the build process will be to rip some plywood up for chords and to lay the track in each helix.  I can then get those standing and set my track elevations from there.

Nice work!

That benchwork is coming along nicely!

That looks promising!

That looks promising!

Sub Roadbed!

Had some friends over this week to help me install some subroadbed.  We put a layer of plywood on the lower deck for the staging yard and started on the mainline on the upper deck.  Along with that, I built a couple of switches for the Republic Waste peninsula.  I hope to get some track down this week so I can finally put a train on the new layout.  Track height will be 54" on the upper level and 38" on the lower level.

You can also kind of see in the photos how the masonite backdrop has started to warp.  I believe this is due to expansion as we hung it flush with the wall.  It could also be the walls contracting and forcing the masonite outward.  What experience do some of you have with hanging masonite directly on drywall?  I do not want to install vertical supports on the benchwork.

Masonite

Nice progress Doug!

I've had the same problem with my backdrop mounted to vertical supports, as well as with my fascia and valance.  On the fascia, it seems to be controlled by simply attaching it at more frequent intervals.  I haven't bothered with trying to fix it on the backdrop, as I didn't feel it'd be worth the additional holes from the new attachment points.

"I've had the same problem

   I've noticed it occasionally too, I just shoot a few more brads in where it looks loose then paint it a flat color so the bow is not apparent when viewing it from the aisle. Along the top I add a thicker trim board and along the bottom the scenery holds the backdrop to the wall. .......DaveB

Attachment

Hardboard is a sheathing material, not a structural material. Closely spaced fasteners are required.

Masonite Backdrop

Just to be clear, the masonite is attached to the studs behind the drywall, not just attached to the drywall.  I'll have to measure them later, but I don't think they are more than 16" oc.

Seeing as my layout is only 12" deep typically, I would rather have the backdrop as straight as possible.  Are brad nails sufficient enough to keep the material from bowing in between screwed connections?  I'm not sure what would happen with 2.5" of foam between the masonite and the subroadbed, if the foam would crush or if the masonite would then try to bow up and out.