The Prototype and Track Plan

Part 1: The Inspiration and Track Plan

The Wetterau Food Services layout is based on a grocery distributor that once existed in the town of Desloge, Missouri.  The structure and tracks still exist, but it is no longer a grocery distributor or receives rail service.  This location is the inspiration for a micro layout I have constructed.  Although the track arrangement is very close to the actual prototype, this layout is not a faithful model of that prototype.  This location was once served by the Mississippi River & Bonne Terre, Missouri & Illinois, and the Missouri Pacific Railroad.  Today, the line is owned and operated by Union Pacific.

Reference Photos of the Prototype and the Track Plan:
[HO Scale Track Plan Dimensions: 7.5 x 54 inches + Staging (2" x 13.5" (L) & 3.5" x 28" (R)]

Tom Conboy 

Micro Layout or Inglenook

Tom, Your layout looks great. Have you thought of including your photos as photo backdrops? You have some really nice photos of the location. 

Future Plans

Rich, 

I have plans to do that in future, but my painted backdrop is sufficient in the meantime.  Prof. Klyzlr  volunteered to help with editing one of my photos, and I will be taking him up on that offer. 

The current backdrop was made with foam core (for weight savings), but warping has been a problem.  Binder clamps help, but eventually I am going to redo the backdrop with Masonite.  When I do that, I will use a photo backdrop.

Thanks for the suggestion! 

Tom

Very nice!

I like the fact that you can go crazy with details on this kind of layout, a sort of "active diorama". There is a lot of nice details in the photos you have taken, and I will download them for references if you allow me too.

What caught my eyes is the fence on the dock with the trash bin. The tracks looks beat up too. The embedded track is also of interest, maybe not for your purpose at the moment, but for another location where rail service has been abandoned.

Thank you for sharing,

Chris

Tom, great layout. I'm still

Tom, great layout. I'm still in love with your original 4x6 Owensville Terminal Railroad layout. I was sad to see that it was dismantled. Are you still going to use that 70 tonner?

Grocery distribution warehouses

I work for a grocery wholesaler, and we receive french fries in freezer cars and produce via boxcar.  These usually range from apples to potatoes - products that have a longer shelf life.

Geof

http://lyndonvillesubinnscale.blogspot.com/

@johnybgood18

Chris, 

Feel free to download the photos.  You can also repost them on your own website or blog as reference photos as long as you credit me as the source. Thanks for the comment! 

Tom 

@Mike Kieran

Thanks, Mike!  The 4x6 was a "chainsaw layout" and it served its purpose.  I learned quite a bit from it.  Yes, the 70 tonner is still in use.  I purchased a trackmobile last winter, and it has been getting a lot of operation time.  The old 70 tonner will still be used on this layout as well. 

Tom 

@avrinnscale

Geof, 

Thanks for the insight! I always appreciate this kind of information.  Any particular rolling stock model(s) you recommend? 

Tom

Using Foam Core Board For The Layout Sections

Baseboard Construction 

I constructed this micro layout from foam core sheets.  The sheet size is 20 inches x 30 inches and I chose black foam core sheets (About 3 sheets total used for all sections).  I used a construction method I received from a PowerPoint presentation pdf by Prof. Klyzlr* on a past episode of Model Rail Radio.  One slide illustrates Chris Ellis’s method of using flat modules connected with foam core clips (Clipboard Modules).   Some really nice illustrations by Jack Trollope which were included in Prof. Klyzlr’s presentation* aided me in putting this all together.  I modified the dimensions to fit my needs and used Pacer Industries Formula 560 Canopy Glue to fasten the parts together.  The left section’s dimensions are 7.5 inches wide by 30 inches long with a box depth of 40mm.  The right section is 7.5 inches wide by 24 inches long with a box depth of 40mm as well.  The left staging section (not pictured) is 2 inches wide by 13.5 inches long with a box depth of 40mm.  The right staging section (not pictured) is 3.5 inches wide by 28 inches long with a box depth of 40mm. 

Below are photos of the main modules under construction:

The clip is really good at holding the two sections together. So far, I have not experiencing much warping, even with the addition of water-based paints, scenic cement, and isopropyl alcohol. 
 
*Due to copyright, I am not able to post Prof. Klyzlr’s PowerPoint presentation pdf, “Foamcore Modules: A Different Approach to Layout Construction.”

Tom

Nice Job

Tom -

Nice job on your layout. I like the work you're doing with those foam core baseboards. It looks like you should have some fun just shifting Wetterau Food Services. Don't forget to throw-in those switching moves when the customer unloads the car closer to the end of the track rather than the car closest to the switch & then you have to pull the 2nd car & respot the 1st. I can't tell you how often that happens in the "real world." Keep up the good work!

Oh... love it!

Wow...  love how you did this!  I may have to do for a photography set up I will need in the future for taking picture of my rolling stock! And while I'm at it, I may as well built a micro switching layout so I can play with the kids on the kitche table...  My wife will love this SOOOOO  much! :-D

Thank you sir to allow me to use your pictures!

Chris

@PRR 2277

Thanks, Joe!  Been there and done that already! 

Tom 

@johnybgood18

You're welcome, Chris! 

Tom 

Laying Track

The photos below show how the track was laid.  I used Atlas code 100 track on this micro and glued it down with wood glue.  I used the wood glue since it is resistant to water/alcohol after it has dried.  It has a fairly strong bond, but is not too hard to pry up if you accidently glue a piece of track that is not supposed to be glued down.  A nice feature of foam core board is you can use push pins to hold everything down while the glue dries.  I was careful not to get any glue under the removable track sections.  After the glue had dried, I glued individual plastic railroad ties under the rail sections where gaps were present.  Everything is staying put, even with extreme humidity changes.   

Tom 

Great layout Tom - shared on the Andrew's Trains blog tonight

Tom;

Fantastic stuff, and a great display of the use of Fome-Cor in layout building. Good one.

Shared tonight on the Andrew's Trains blog also as the site seeing location of the day.

Thanks for sharing.

@iandrewmartin

Andrew, 

Thank you for the comment and sharing! I really appreciate it!  I have visited your blog and followed via my WordPress account. 

Tom

I thought this was an interesting warehouse

I really liked this warehouse, so I shared these pictures with someone who makes content for Trainz Railroad Simulator. The picture is below in another post.

If anyone wants a copy of the

If anyone wants a copy of the Clip-board layout drawings I can supply them on receipt of an email address to chacmool at lineone dot net ( replace appropriate words with symbols ) since I drew them Shortliner (Jack Trollope)

BTW Track fixing works well with clear silicone bathroom caulk - a thin smear does the trick!

Here is the warehouse in Trainz Railroad Simulator

This picture should be big enough for it to work, part of the warehouse is cut off in this picture. There may be a few inaccuracies in the model, it is inspired by the real one.

@shortliner

Thank you, Jack! The clip-board design is a good one! 

Tom 

@MeowRailroad

Wow!  That looks great! 

Tom 

I'll pass your complements on

I'll pass your complements on to the creator. 

Foamcore

Tom   

As I have been experimenting with foamcore modules I was very interested to read and watch what you were showing both here and on your blog/vlog site. I will certainly be trying out your foamcore connectors.

Did you find latex paint adheres well or did you have to give the foamcore some "tooth" ?  I have used cheap rattle can paint but it needed quite a lot.

Keep up the good work

Bryan              Geraldton  Western Australia