Port Allen like it is tomorrow waiting in a big box to be open in summer
I open this blog for the on the way planning and future construction of the extension of my Maclau River in N scale.
I have already mentionned I live now in Québec; the room for my layout need big works which are not started for now,; You all know the winter is heavy here in Canada and the room is not well heated.
I hope to begin to work for the room early in summer; contractor has already take appointement to put a new heating system and isolate the building which was an old wood workshop; big cleaning, painting, some walls to condemn like Windows are the modifications on the list too; a drop ceiling already exist but need to be heavily cleaned for dust and new lighting like electricity specificaly for the layout need also to be put in the room.
My extension for the layout is the achievement of my dream empire layout which has run in my head since 45 years.
Since a few months I work ( unfortunately slowly because lack of time due to my new installation) on a new track plan.
I will share my layout plan, my benchwork construction which is not usual, electrical arrangements,and scenery construction
And I wait for your comments of course !
Concept background:
The Maclau River is a fictitious line in Virginia parallel of the NW which start at Corinnesburgh with her Port Allen (which already exist) and end at Cincinatti; the company has many exchanges with the N&W and the C&O for transportation.
The one deck layout philosophy is a long mainline with some double track but also big siding and one track main; the main doubled to itself starting at a big town, one part going "down" along the Maclau River and one part going "up" in the mountains, probably two branch line will be included in the design
The line cross numerous villages with big and small industries like many small port towns along the River; my other blog about Fos wharf is the future of Port Elisabeth, the biggest town along the River.
I am fortunate enough to have had the chance to keep my Port Allen all these years with me, even if my life was not a quiet river with numerous moves; thanks dad to design the layout transportable in a big module fashions 45 years ago.;his last move was accross the Atlantic to live with me in Québec.
The philosophy:
The operational theme is first coal transportation and steam is primary power, but also mixed freight.
Coal will be really transported with really operating mine and the coal trains will be decharged on real working coal dumper ( see my other blogs about them).
This include a good timetable and quiet a lot of local switching, but I don't ask to go to far in "real operations"
Sure two yards will be included in the layout, I like yards.
Design:
The basic design is a walkaround layout along the walls with two big peninsula, no depht over 3', I try to maintain all track at 2.5' from the edge.
The design includes curves not under 18" ( in Port Allen some are 15" this is part of my old design 45 years ago)
The rule is to use the broadest curves as possible, I prefer to adapt my scenery to broad curves; I will use the Yardstick method to trace the track and cut the roadbed; on long run may be spline will be used.
Staging will be included under Corinnesburgh and Cincinati to allowing exchange with N&W et C&O but also to open the company to the "real world"; I try to include return loop in the staging
Track is only ME code 55, turnouts on main are #8 even some #10; industrial and yard are for the most #6, curved are #8; except Port Allen which use Peco code 55 turnouts and track, , new track turnouts will be Fastrack home made turnouts with a few piece of Peco track like double slip.
Switch machines are Tortoise on the main but I will probably come back to Hankscraft display motors which I already use in Port Allen ( more than 25 without any trouble since 30 years) because they are cheaper.
DCC (now Lenz) will be upgrated probably to Digitrax with CVP handled throttle.
I'm not avid and don't now a lot about electronics, so the layout will be quiet simple in some aspects and some may be will say it's a vintage conception but I need to maintain and understand how my layout work
Grade is maximum 2.5%, river route will go down on no more than 1.8%
Only main turnouts are motorized; all local are manual, all yard turnouts are motorized.
To operate turnouts,local panels and probably a centralized one will be used.
Benchwork is my own design build in modules; I use only plywood but fixed on a iron frame like my Port Allen; this allow to have a minimum of feet for the benchwork and extreme rigidity in construction.
Benchwork level "0" is at 53" from the floor.
All plywood and cutting work will be done out of the room and wood benchwork will be painted.
I'm a iron worker by formation and will use many standarzition for benchwork modules construction and also Template to speed up construction
Backdrop will be hanged linoleum not often used in US and probably in Canada but often used in Europe; quick to build, easy to put in place and without any cracks in the future and no dust in the making of.
Layout lighting is only led with night effect concealed in a valance; all the valance, ceiling and contours of the layout will be black painted to make a lighted layout box showcase.
Valance will contains curtains to protect the layout when not in use from dust
Scenery hardshell is Red Rosin Paper to avoid dust with already molded rocks glued on; vertical scenery will be used to make big hills wehre the trains snake
Big project of around 15 years to be completed I beleive; benchwork is around 4 months work, track laying in two years and the rest...... just a whish
But I want to complete main first before anything else so trains could run along the layout, this is my primary goal.