About the scale

I see your scale of 1/2"=1'; however, you do not show the overall dimensions and in using "quadrille" paper (1/4" grid), it appears 2 grid squares would be 1/2" hence 1'. Would it be convenient for you to alter the drawing to show the overall dimensions? Since the ruling is faint, I may have counted in error, it appears the width is 28 feet. I that correct?

The plan

  A few comments on the plan to make it easier to follow.   

       The prototype CCT is a shortline based in Stockton Ca.  In the era I'm modeling the CCT extended through Lodi to Sacramento where it interchanged with the SP and the WP.  The CCT interchanged with the ATSF, SP and WP in Stockton, as well as an SP interchange in Lodi. On my track plan the Stockton headquarters,"the Shops" is the red building on the peninsula on the right. The ATSF Mormon yard interchange is represented by the staging yard a bit left(south in this case) from the Shops. Counter clockwise around the curve on the top right takes one to Lodi Jct. where the branch line to the Lodi "fruit spur" and the Lodi SP interchange veers off onto the "east Lodi Ave." benchwork. Continuing left along the mainline from Lodi Jct. one passes thru "east side" and "Guild" and beyond to Sacramento staging which is accessed by running thru the dividing backdrop onto the SP Lodi mainline. Around the bottom curve takes the north bound Sacramento train to the SP Haggin yard represented by the lower end of the staging yard. An SP train can originate in the same yard representing Stockton in that case and run clockwise to Lodi interchange then on north around the perimeter loop to Sacramento or turn and back to Stockton. It's a bit convoluted but allows me to run a representation of most  of the CCT trains and traffic. The design covers quite a few years of possible CCT traffic so should be pretty flexible as to suitable rolling stock and engines. A lot of the design compromises were based on what I'd like to model in S scale rather than closely following the CCT reality...DaveB

 "it appears the width is 28

Hi Bill,   Yes it's just a bit less than 28 feet. I don't have the exact number with me now but I'll check it out and add it. The mainline perimeter loop has a 42 inch minimum radius and the Lodi branch a 36 inch minimum other than a couple of the tightest spurs by the CCT Lodi freight house  which are about 30 inch radius.....DaveB 

Now that looks like fun!

hey DaveB,

 That looks like a really fascinating project. Far from another "me too" layout that looks like not only fun but a lot of interesting challenges in the building of it. Man, I want to see every stage of this thing. 

Rick

"Now that looks like fun"  

Hi Rick, I'm glad you think so since my goal is to make it look a lot like your Visalia electric layout.  Pretty similar operation just moved north a bit.   I've built a lot of S scale rolling stock but this will be my first S scale layout. I'm trying to simplify the track work and scenery with mostly railroad related structures (cannery, packing sheds, etc) and let the freight business tell the story. Keep in touch as I'll be asking you lots of questions when I get to some actual scenery :> ) ........DaveB

The start

     The L shaped space is part of my workshop that I partitioned off for a layout, it has bare wooden stud walls so quite easy to install benchwork and backdrops. I have most of the backdrops up and primed, and about 50% of the benchwork installed so far. As part of the planning I set out some track and cardboard mock up's of key locations to see how it would fit. First is the Shops area shown from different viewing angles and then the Fruit spur south end to see how much could fit on the 30 inch wide benchwork. 

Note, the little pale blue tin shed is the first building actually made for this layout, it was a test using foil flashing tape for corrugated tin siding and roof and will probably end up somewhere on the Shops property...DaveB

Some benchwork progress

  The Shops peninsula with benchwork installed ,the turn back curve heading for Lodi junction is in the background (with misc. freight cars parked along the curved backdrop).  

  Lodi junction benchwork under construction, the turnout to the Fruit spur will be about where the nail gun is sitting.  

     Heading north beyond Lodi jct., East side and at the far end the curve into Guild winery and the divider backdrop where northbound trains go off scene to reappear on the SP mainline heading to Haggin interchange.  

  Going south (clockwise) from the Shops the CCT tracks cross the lift out for the double doors then  enter Mormon yard thru a gap in the corner of the wall .    

   At the south end of Mormon yard(also Stockton and Haggin SP yards) the tracks cross the 2nd lift out and turn back to the SP main adjacent to the Lodi Fruit spur (the mock up visible in the last photo)....DaveB

Some "firsts"

  The little tin shed(first building) Masonite core with scribed flashing tape for the tin overlay. Windows and doors from my scrap box. 

      First turnout( TO # 21 on the track plan) at Maggio's packing shed at East side. I hand lay the turnouts at the workbench on thin plywood roadbed then install them complete. I'm planning to use Caboose switchstands with home made brass SP style targets. I'm going to try to get by with dead frogs by installing Keep Alive capacitors in my engines.

       First Caboose, an American models bay window freelanced to represent a shoving platform for use on the Lodi Fruit lead if I want to run more recent era operations. Older era operations will use an ex-ATSF cupola car. .....DaveB

The CCT is jointly owned by

The CCT is jointly owned by the UP and BNSF.   Formerly it was jointly owned d by SP, WP, and ATSF.   It was shown on Santa Fe maps as part of the Santa Fe system. 

A very interesting prototype

I'll be eager to see your progress!

Looking forward

I'm happy of course, to see what looks like a great new S scale layout in the offing. 

Since my layout has been finished for some time, I really miss the planning and implementation phases of MR.

I'll be looking forward to more posts as you progress.

Penn Western Railroad

  Hi Roy, Nice to hear from you. Your layout has always been an inspiration to me and to many other S scale hobbyists.  With this construction blog I'm hoping I can maybe start a few more folks thinking about S scale since we know it has some nice size advantages especially for older modelers....DaveB

Good to see another S scale layout under way

While I have moved up to 7mm scale outdoors, I still have a soft spot for 1/64 scale.

Look forward to seeing your progress.

One of our local modellers has been using dead frogs for his US HO layout for many years. He builds the isolated frog section as short as possible. By adding stay alive caps to your locos you certainly would enable even an 0-4-0 not to find them an issue.

 Bob Comerford

Keep alives

    Hi Bob, Thanks for the encouragement. I used dead frogs on my O scale layouts with no problems but they were not DCC and the engines were more massive so possibly could maintain electrical contact better than a smaller engine.  I'll have a segment of track and turnouts laid soon and can then give it a try. I might even go ahead on add some scenery in a TOMA like manner to the initial section.......DaveB

Looks like you are well on your way

to a very nice 1:64 S scale layout. I will be following your progress, thank you for sharing the journey with us. There are su many aspects of your approach that I find very appealing, from sliding eras, S scale, California/western U.S. proto based, hand laid turnouts, etc. etc. Bravo!

 "many aspects of your

Hi Kent, Thanks for adding to the conversation.  A lot of those aspects come from my difficulty in making decisions( not pinning down an era for example) but they make it easier to proceed. I admire the folks that know exactly what they want but I enjoy the flexibility of not knowing too. Modeling in S scale takes more work as there is less stuff to buy so one has to build more and be satisfied with less in some respects but the size is so nice to handle and work with that it is worth the extra effort to me. I have a couple of turnouts and connecting track installed( turnouts 21 and 22 on the track plan) so now need to get a keep alive cap and install it in one of my engines for some test switching...Great Northern is one of my favorites too BTW. ....Regards, DaveB

Impressive start

I have recently also switched to S scale after 30 years in HO.  I just find the size to be better, even though I will have a much smaller layout, I"m convinced it will be a better one.  It's helped to rejuvenate my interest! This (and the PennWestern) help to show us that there is a future for S scale, and there is plenty of equipment available!

I am impressed with this "Limited Space" as you say version--I only wish I had a full 28' wall to work with That CCT Caboose looks great!

Thanks for keeping us s-scale newbies inspired...now off to find S scale decals!

"I have recently also

  Hi DR, Thanks for the post, glad to hear the thoughts of another S modeler. Although it's pretty large it's a relatively simple layout.  I'm not sure I'll ever finish this layout, but if I move to a smaller house I'm sure I could be happy with a much smaller S layout. My last O scale layout had 12 turnouts spaced around a 9ft  by 16 ft oval and was quite interesting to operate so something similar in S scale would suit me fine. I'm building most of it in modular form so I can save and re-use sections if I ever move...DaveB

Track tools

Here's a couple of homemade track tools that come in handy when hand laying . The first is wooden track gauges to hold the rails in approximate alignment for spiking.Final gauge check is done with a metal NASG gauge( similar to an NMRA standards gauge). Any reasonably dense wood will do, these are something I got out of my scrap wood collection, might be teak from the way it cut. Saw kerfs to match the rail code are made with a backsaw. The other tool is a spike set made by cutting a slot in the end of a bolt or other piece of metal. The slot fits tightly over the railhead and lets one set the spikes with a final tap. It's handy to have if a test run shows any spike heads hitting flanges......DaveB ​

Nice innovation

That's a neat tool Dave. I always enjoy seeing folks coming up with simple solutions to problems.

Tools

Hi Peter, Thanks for stopping by. The neat thing about these tools is they cost very little, especially if one has the parts in their scrap box. The wooden track gauges only require a hand saw and the spike setter a hacksaw and thin file for finishing off the slot.....DaveB 

spike setter

I like your spike setter.

Not having easy access at the time to NASG gauges I made all my own tools for building points and setting wheels BTB.

The first S gauge loco I had was a GE 44 tonner made from cardboard and used an Athearn F7 mech with the wheels spread out to run on S gauge track.

Bob Comerford

44 tonner

Hi Bob,  Thanks for contributing to the thread. Must have been interesting scratch building an engine from cardboard.The CCT's first diesels were GE 44 tonners so I'd like to get one someday.   Are you still modeling in S scale? .....DaveB

my s scale

Hi Dave, I am no longer modelling in S although I may one day return. I have my hands full modelling in 7mm scale gauge O these days.

One of the things I like about S is that is modelled to the same ratio worldwide.

Here in Oz it is usually used for modelling 3'6" railways (Sn3.5), as far as I know I was the only one to build a layout based on NSWGR which is standard gauge.We had a couple of GE 44 tonners (79 class) modified to fit the loading gauge. I also built a 40 class (modified ALCo RSC3) from an American Models RS3.

Cheers

Bob