Getting started... shelf layout plan
Long time lurker joining the fray…. After several years of having the trains packed away, I’ve finally secured a small right of way in a corner of the basement family room. The plan below is for a 12’ x 6’, L-shaped HO scale layout for switching now and potential expansion down the road. As much as I think modeling a prototype road would be great, I’m more interested in getting out of the armchair soon – even if the effort turns out to be a chainsaw. So I’ve created enough of a back-story to get started.
The layout will portray a fictionalized coastal railroad in the eastern U.S. in the first decade of the 20th century. It plies the inlets and bays of New England, or maybe the Mid-Atlantic? This particular line connects several smaller towns on a large bay with a major division point and classification yard (off-stage). The modeled portion is a larger urban harbor town featuring car float and barge operations and a few local industries. There is a small yard for pulling and drilling the float traffic and making/breaking up the small local trains. Roughly a third of the float traffic is bond for the local industries with the rest either being distributed to towns to the north, or south to the classification yard and points beyond.
Trains and cars are short. Typical train is 5 – 36’ cars pulled by a small steamer. Curves and turnouts are a bit tight, with min. 22” radius curves on the main and Peco medium and small radius turnouts.
Constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Christian
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Great Layout
Great layout. I would suggest that you make the left side a car float also. That would give you four places for cars to go and enter the layout.
Mike Lee
Great Layout
Wayne
I like it. Nice shelf job. I especially like the crossing on two sidings as I had just finished mine up and had a chance to use it. Great. Thanks for the look see.
status
Did you get this one built? Love the design and would love to see some pics of the finished layout!
Thanks
Graham in Canada
Graham
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
status...Yes...Christian I would love to see what you did in 3D
Hope you built this...and would love to see photos of the progress.
Chuck
https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/33495
Decided to give this layout a
Decided to give this layout a go and build it - wish me luck - will post along the way as a first timer
Graham
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Nice.concept and plan. The
Nice.concept and plan. The options for expansion are good as well. You are likely to have just the opposite of a chainsaw layout with this one. Additional floats and a small interchange yard could allow you to interchange lots of cars to off layout destinations. I am looking forward to following along with your efforts.
Rob in Texas
https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/43245
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Minor Concern
I really like your plan.
Looked things over and really my only concern would be the tightness of the curves and turnouts. But as long as you don't ever plan on running anything larger than a 36-foot car and "assume" a very small locomotive you should be okay.
I did not see any "switching traps" and it looks like the majority of your plan will allow you to use the lead/main on the right side of the layout.
Given you will be running a short wheelbase locomotive at a slow speed and have a good number of turnouts, I would suggest going with frog juicers for your turnouts to avoid stalls. Another option, (if available for your locomotive), would be adding a "keep alive", "current keeper", or similar type of capacitor to your locomotive to avoid stalls.
Joe
Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas
" As much as I think modeling
Looks like a very neat design. To learn more about prototype car float operations I recommend Phil Goldstein's New York harbor terminals website,it has lots of photos ,track plans, and information about operations....DaveB
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Very nice
Nice layout, looks like it will be fun.
One thing I don't see is coal trestles or wharves. Steam ships in that era would be coal powered (as was everything) so coal was a HUGE commodity for railroads. Industries would have one spot that was also a coal dump for a boiler in the basement. There would be a wharf to dump coal into lighters to fuel ships or barges to take it to coastal towns. In addition there would be retail coal dealers delivering to houses, businesses and smaller industries.
Dave Husman
Modeling the Wilmington & Northern Branch in 1900-1905
Iron men and wooden cars.
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Looks Great
Looks Great!
Cant wait to see the progress!
Think before you post, try to be positive, and you do not always have to give your opinion.....