I've been working on designing a new layout that I will build in the next couple years. I decided that my current thrown together 4x8 wasn't going to meet my needs, both operationally and aesthetically. Here is what I've come to so far:

https://northcountrytrains.wordpress.com/2021/01/08/were-getting-closer-closing-in-on-the-final-trackplan-for-my-new-layout/

Today I consulted a local expert on the D&H in my time period and have completed a more finalized trackplan for the Plattsburgh yard/station and former Ausable Branch area. After a heated legal battle, I was finally able to get the investors/owners of the other railroads give me some more trackage rights… Well, ok, they didn’t give me any definite answers yet, but I’m pretty sure I can extend the layout to the post, shown in dark red. Here’s the plan as of now.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZYKhYGkyjTga2qNGM0Fz7P8qSq0Tj0Gf/preview?

Hopefully, if you’re from the area you can somewhat recognize the Plattsburgh train station, the yard, and the Ausable branch. Also, things are starting to get more complicated… but don’t worry, I’m still planning on taking a more modular approach, so hopefully I won’t get weighed down too much. In this 3D render, you can see the removable staging yard with a 10 car train, the two peninsulas, and that darn pole.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Wx1IXz6NaeCchUYgRSMLDb3CM5Qazu0/preview?

The Plattsburgh yard will be the operational hub of the layout, with a full time switcher/local crew, SC-12. The track that extends beyond the green area will be a clamp on extension, representing the dock area.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oipk28VUq_xXJ6h3AKEHoK4nUD-bnZU6/preview?

Here is how the layout will function operationally:

The SC-12 will be a full time job, switching cars from through freights and switching the industries on the line.

The two “local” through freights, the southbound SC-20, and the northbound SC-19 (present day CP 252 and 253), would run between the two staging yards and pickup and setout cars in Plattsburgh.

The two “paper trains”, RW-6 and WR-1, (the hottest trains on the D&H North End) would run, at the beginning (northbound) and end (southbound) of each session. These trains would not work Plattsburgh.

There would possibly be more through freights, but I have not done the research on that yet.

I haven’t finalized the GP mill part of the layout yet, but that will most likely be the last part I build, so I’m not too concerned about it at the moment.

Well, I don’t have much more to say, other then I will continue to refine the plan as I (cringe) slowly start to tear down my existing 4×8. If anyone has any comments, suggestions, or questions, please post them below. -Harrison