My new project

Below are the ideas I have for my second ISL Shelf Layout. You will see there are 2 size options and this depends on the decision made with my wife as to what will be acceptable in our spare room outside.

All ME Code 70 this time with #6 Turnouts

This one is based on a real Spur in StLouis MO at Alpha packaging, need to add a drill track on the left between the industries or use the purple industry track as a discontinued customer where I can place cars while switching.

Yet another option

This is a plan and idea stolen from https://thestagingyard.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/could-this-be-the-one/

It works very well in the room I have available but it takes up a lot more shelf space and is a lot more intrusive although its on a 16inch shelf rather than a 18inch wide shelf as the others are. I could build the whole layout in one go or build it in stages with the main body built first adding a small cassette for the switching of the lumber yard.

The full version would have the 1ft wide staging above my desk on the wall on the right with a lift out section across the doorway. The industry on the far right (behind the open door would be permanent and obviously only operated with the door closed. It would serve as the staging lead if I only build the main shelf.

So these are some of my thoughts out loud on this forum. Please excuse the multiple posts and I hope I have everything in the right place!!

Comments please...

I like the last one posted. I

I like the last one posted. I would add one more turn out and move one. I would move the connection of the inside track in the staging area near the top in the area of the other turn out. This would give you the runaround track and two stagging tracks plus a decent size tail track. that would really allow you lots of varieity with what you have planned.

Industrial Switching Layout

Hi Caltrigger75, Welcome aboard the MRH forum. I've been a fan of the South African condensing steam locomotive after learning about them several years ago. I'm also a fan of narrow gauge railroads, although I do not model narrow gauge railroads. The South African condensing steam locomotives are the best of both worlds, big steam power on narrow gauge tracks. Is the Red Devil still running?

All of your track plans look great and each one alone would be a very nice ISL shelf layout. I also have a very limited modeling space. I have chosen to model in "N" scale, I'm currently building a HCD layout in the space I have available. I look forward to following your progress as you build your shelf layout.

Industrial layouts are fun!

So much detail, realism, and operational enjoyment to be had in small spaces.

The first one I like a lot, but have a concern that there is no "run around" track to aid switching the cars about.  Number 3 addresses that and looks like it would be a fun layout to achieve.

5 Years and your 1st post???!!!

For those not familiar with his first layout, which I truly liked a lot, here the link to it's thread on another forum.  I remember following that one through and as sadden went it ended.

http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4271 

I am looking forward to following this one
too.

Steve

Interesting plans

Welcome to the MRH Forum Callum!  I'm glad you joined us.  Your plans and modeling all look very interesting, and I'm looking forward to following along with your progress.  

My layout's a bit larger than the typical modern shelf layout, but a friend once called it "a switching layout that happens to have moved to the country" or something like that.   That name probably fits, although the West End does have a fair amount of mainline separating the various prototype "switching districts" along the line.  Train volume is very low (one out-and-back road job, a local, and a yard job), with a heavy emphasis on giving operators a feel for what it's like to work the real jobs, replicating prototype practices and working at a realistic pace.

A couple of my fellow Iowa Interstate modelers have well-known layouts here on MRH that I think will be of interest to you:  James McNab's IAIS Grimes Line at  https://forum.mrhmag.com/journals-was-blogs-891775 , and Scott Thornton's IAIS Milan Branch at  https://forum.mrhmag.com/journals-was-blogs-891775 .

Hi Callum - nice to see you

Hi Callum - nice to see you over here!

Jack

Thank you Steve for the kind

Thank you Steve for the kind words, I can't remember if I ever posted here but yes I have been mainly on the BBT Forum and I wasn't sure if I was allowed to make reference to it here 

Thanks for the welcome, nice

Thanks for the welcome, nice to see familiar guys here. I was just wondering where all the modelers were as things get quiet on other forums and I like the layout of this one.

James McNab's IAIS Grimes Line is a huge favorite of mine and of coure Lance M's work is what made me go this route.

Old weathering projects

Here are some more images of the old layout and equipment.

Some further ideas I had

All of these had limitations, were unrealistic and crammed too much track into the space...

Realistic Track Planning

Thought I would share a plan I have and the means to which I designed it as a copy of a real spur in 1:1 scale.

Here is the prototype from bing:

And then the design that fits well on the footprint

Image size

Caltrigger75, Great Models and Plans!

Can you please set your images to 750px wide when you are posting them so they can been seen by everyone?

(note: height is automatic)

Realistic Track Planning

Callum,

That plan gets my vote, and looks like a great arrangement.

James

Images resized

Thanks Bill, will do!

Some other plans I drew

Uncoupling with Buildings Along Front Edge

Most industrial parks I've Google Mapped  (as shown in 1:1 prototype)  have the tracks running between buildings as your track plan.  I've always worried about the difficulty of uncoupling cars reaching over the buildings along the front edge of the layout.   Can anyone comment on experience with that?

Jack

Been there and done that. It is ok if 2 things are kept in mind, well 3 things.

1) keep buildings short, if you have to stand on your toes and lean way over to see the cars you are in trouble.

2) Freight dock covers can get in the way.

3) keep it close to the front edge and keep the building narrow.

Ok so that's 4 things, anyway doing the above I had no troubles uncoupling or coupling using a pick.

Jack

Your plans look fantastic,

Your plans look fantastic, and my working plan for my new (and second serious attempt) at a layout is very similar to your first one.  I'm also working with a spare room, though my wife has very generously given me free reign over it.  I'm resisting the urge to fill it completely up and keep it along the walls, so that I have plenty of room for a work bench and space to lay out/work on/pack military gear (you would not believe how many times you have to remove all the pouches on your body armor and reconfigure it for different missions...).  

The pictures of your first layout are phenomenal.  Was there a particular reason you decided to go with Micro Engineering over Peco for your next project?  I'm trying to decide between the two right now.  

I have found that frack sand operations are great for transload industries.  All you need is the standard team track, and the cars are short two-bay hoppers.  I've also seen industrial track areas get filled with these hoppers when a nearby drilling operation needs a large amount of sand, requiring clever switching and hoppers filling every available space, particularly industrial spurs that aren't currently in use for their original purpose.

Here is my working track plan:

Callum

Hey Callum,

good to have you here.  If you haven't already I'd suggest checking out http://lancemindheim.com/contact/

also one of the guys who responded to you earlier, James McNab, he does amazing work and it's sounds like you're into modern prototype stuff as well.  Those two guys can be great resources for you.  

Good luck keep us posted 

Thanks Alex, Your layout also

Thanks Alex,

Your layout also looks great, just dont get caught in the trap of thinking you need more industries to make it more interesting! Some industries can have more spots nad require more switching/respotting than 2 or 3 smaller ones!

Im going with the ME track as its Code 70 and highly detailed. Nothing wrong with Peco 83 and my experience with it was great, even the turnouts were easy to DCC install. I was torn last time between deciding on the two options so this time I thought I'd try the ME, happens to be cheaper too!!

A shelf builder

I am a fellow South African living in Knysna. I model HOn3 in both 'freelance' Denver & Rio Grande (locomotives and rolling Stock only) and a freelance logging railroad. We have just moved from Cape Town where I had a 22ft X 10ft layout which had to be dismantled. I am currently building a new double deck around the wall layout in a 14ft x10ft converted garage. Panoramic shot below is the start of the layout with the logging railroad on the upper 1ft wide shelf and the D&RGW will be on the lower 2ft wide shelf. Would be great to contact you to swop information.

Brian

South African fellow

Hi Brian, welcome to message me 0836598602. Not doing much at the moment, need to get my DCC stuff and build up a rolling stock inventory and a lco or 2, which could be a while with my 3rd kid about to arrrive!!