I thought I'd better introduce my (current) layout to all of you. I usually refer to it as "the layout" - some refer to it as a name less than complimentary. My son suggested the formal name "Heritage Division" as I explained how I was modeling parts of the original Wisconsin Central mainline. I liked his idea.

I do not yet have a pretty schematic of the layout for you all to look at. I will work on that later. The concept involves modeling (or simulating, as I call it) part of the Wisconsin Central mainline (as it was) from Neenah to Stevens Point. Since I had some room left, I squeezed in a representation of Wisconsin Rapids as well.

What do I mean by "room left"? Well, that involves the rest of the story. Originally, I thought I was modeling part of "the funnel". That is, Chicago to Fond Du Lac. By the time I had all the benchwork completed, I realized that I was attempting to simulate too much. The little voice in my head told me that I needed to look elsewhere. As a friend and I were railfaning the Neenah to Stevens Point area, the light went on. I decided to place an entirely new track plan on existing benchwork. Yikes! It all worked out fine, but the proof will be realized in operations. You see, one is not supposed to model a division point in the middle of the layout! But this worked well for the existing benchwork.

The layout is simple, if big. It is just a dogbone type plan: single track with passing sidings. My main concerns were to model the places on the prototype that "spoke to" or inspired me. And also include enough industries to make operations interesting. Also important to me was to not crowd the layout with track and include lots of scenery, as much as Central Wisconsin gets that is.

So the result of all this is a two level shelf layout. The concept is very simple, its just that the layout is a bit biggish.
 

Here are a couple of pictures:

I like the bridge. Good view.

Some of us elsewhere have been enjoying watching this one for some time.

Love the shot of the approach to the river bridge. Great modeling.

John

What you've shown us looks great, and I'm anxious to see more.  I always enjoy hearing of someone else modeling a regional.

Here are a few more images. A lot of these scenes remain unfinished.

At least one place on the layout features a cross section of forest. Careful observers may even notice a train.

Here is some former FRV power on a train at Nelsons:

Just could not get to my camera fast enough to get a picture of the power on this train. Rats!

Trying to represent the "elevator" complex at Dale. Its not fine scale modeling, but it at least gives a representation of a famous spot where so many railfan pictures have been taken over the years.

I've been working on racks for this lumber dealer. Now, I need to get some banding on those stacks.

I tried my hand at modeling the inside of an industry. Not great, but not terrible. There has apparently been a lot of forklift damage to the soda machines in the past...

Heh... Actually, all those protective pilings around the soda machines are probably not enough. You should paint some chip marks onto them with silver or rust-colored paint, and bend one or more of them away from vertical a little - they tend not to survive perfectly intact more than a year or so.

I work around reach equipment (propane and electric forklifts) every day, and trust me, that building looks WAY too pristine to have been in use around them! You need some darker trails along the floor where the wheels have worn the concrete down, a few dings at around fork-level in the walls where pallets get slid into - the forks extend beyond the pallets and if an operator isn't careful he/she may ding the walls when a pallet is slid into place. A random "oil spill" isn't a bad thing to model for an older building. Most lift machines use hydraulic fluid in the fork assembly, and it isn't uncommon for one to spring a leak or bust a hose at least once in their career. Likewise, running forklifts over the floor may cause some cracking or pockmarks in the pavement, especially near ramps and doorways - there should be some rough spots and chips in the concrete pad near the rails where the weight of the lifts (2+ tons on a LIGHT forklift) has caused the edges of the slabs to chip off. Put a dent or ding in one of those rail bumpers as well - same reasons as above. If something CAN get hit with a lift, it probably WILL. Most damage is fairly minor - a small dent here, a scrape there, but here's the thing: a forklift traveling at 5 mph will cause the same damage in a collision as a small car traveling at 60 mph, JUST due to the weight ratio.

Just my two cents' worth on the interior scene. Looks really nice though - I especially love to see the vending machines with the protective pillars - something a lot of people miss, and we lift drivers like our soda and coffee! ;)

- Brian Panthera

Now, when was the last time you saw a layout where you had to (or even could) view the train through the trees?  Conversely, when was the last time you saw a railroad (in an area where trees grow) where trees were never in the way?

Like lingerie on a beautiful lady, sometimes hiding a little bit makes things look even better!

Awesome Layout!  Detail is great!

More, bad photography, unfinished scenes, & things...