First I have been toying with and actually downsizing some, okay quite a bit. Reduced both my locomotive inventory and all of my excess buildings. Been working on what would become hopefully my retirement layout and have been downsizing that also. I really found that I don't like the loopty loop type of layout plans and it is hard to come up with any type of continuous run track in a much smaller layout without a lot of compromises especially space to get return loops and have a sense of some realism. Thus I started playing with some point to point designs. Then I got away from having any class 1 railroad trackage in the picture at all, deciding instead to go with an isolated shortline road with limited connections to the outside world. So that has occupied my workbench for awhile now. If I need to continuously run locos I can get my fix with my test track now set on a 6' 6" by 24" hollow core door with three separate tracks of 11", 9.75", and 8 inch radiuses. So my concept has evolved into a point to point with an upper level reached by a switchback with approx. 30 feet of mainline running and approx. 18 foot of switchbacks connecting to various spurs or short branches. The upper area will have a log camp area and a load out set up using 34 ft. flat cars with bunks. The upper area also has a mine spur using 28 foot ore cars for loading. A small sheep loading facility uses mostly 34 foot stockcars and another spur serves the quarry again using 34 ft. flatcars. A few feeder barns and a set of log style structures complete the upper area. The lower area has a sawmill with a footprint or 9" by 14 "for the main structures and logs are fed to the mill from a cold deck rather than a pond. To the right of that is the main rail facility with a stone type two stall engine house with attached shop, a small yard and service area and a small village with a few stores utilizing my smaller bldgs. The layout is again shaped like a capital G lain on it's side and the port facility currently wraps around the bottom of that letter G. The port which is strung out along the river, loosely based on Astoria, WA., has a grain elevator for barge shipment of grain and a fruit processing and canning facility. Further down is a fuel dealer with barge delivery. A fish cannery and a fish distributer are further along the port, followed by the lighthouse and the USCG station with cutter docks. Next to that will be the car float which is the outside rail connection to the rest of the world. A boat repair facility and seaplane dock complete the port along with the engine facilities. This engine facility has just a 1 stall wood engine house and a 100 ft. Atlas covered deck turntable that will be powered. Another Atlas 100 ft. covered turntable is at the main facility and the port facility has fuel and water also. The layout is designed for a 10 X 10 foot space and can be cut back to a 9 x 9 foot space. Everything is built on hollow core doors set on kitchen cabinet bases for storage and a solid support. The upper level will be made using thin Masonite board and foam. All areas containing track are kept within a 30 inch reach. While the design uses 9.75 radius curvature some 8.5 and 9 inch curvature will be used since the locos and cars have all been tested on 8 inch and tighter with no issues. All turnouts will be manual and within reach at under 30 inches. Motive power will be limited to using my Atlas Shays, the Class A Climaxes, and five rod locos consisting of two 4-4-0s, two 2-6-0s and one 2-8-0 all old style small engines. A single 2-6-6-0 will handle most of the mainline runs. Slow speed running is the norm with nothing over about 25 scale mph. Passenger service will be with 34 and 50 ft. Overtons between two small stations I acquired years ago. That means at some point I will probably get rid of my modern passenger car fleet. If any diesel gets used it will be of the 44 and 70 ton variety or size. I did plan on a possible interchange track with a mainline located where the upper port would be but I am leaning strongly against that preferring the car float route instead. That would have been in hidden trackage emerging at the area of the upper port and hold a single locomotive and about four cars as simulated interchange. Works better without it. Only one tunnel on the layout and it is so short no self respecting spider would think about it as a home. I also may end up reducing my freight car fleet since something this size will require less and I know I have some cars with duplicate number laying in my storage drawers. Just have to get off my rear and winnow them out. Anyway I think I have come full circle to find something that pleases me and a lot of switching opportunities are in this layout plus the slow speed and old time feel takes me back to my younger days. And in another bit of news It has been almost 7 months since the stroke left my left hand with no more use than to serve as a paper weight. I will probably always have the Igor shuffle with my left leg since it is the slowest thing to come back and with cold weather it is worse. However I have finally regained enough function with my left hand to make a attempt in the next week back at the workbench. And I will see what I can do with those pickle car kits that I left off with when I had the stroke. So backed by baying hounds and the Crypt Kit of Five Igor returns to the lab err workbench to see if N scale continues to be a viable option, although somewhat reduced, for me. And as a postscript I am not worrying about the switchback grades. I have enough small power to double head everything and add a pusher on top of that for a 10 to 12 car train at the max.
Good to read yet again of your progress. That is one of the nicest hand drawn track plans I have seen in a long time.
John, I do believe that your hand drawn layout plans are the only ones I've been seeing that can be trusted. I think my Dad had the templates for drawing layout but they must have disappeared at some point. Nice work!
A lot of the templates I use are from CTT Inc. I believe based in Texas. A lot of year ago I bought some from them and when my N scale rule and a few other things became very much worn I decided to get some more only to find out they did not produce the railroad templates and scale rules any longer. I have never since then found anyone that came close to the quality or accuracy of their products. Most of the N scale rules I have all vary especially when you get to measuring the longer items. Either too short but usually too long. So I make do with the old ones and a little ACC plus a strip of paper backing. I have gotten into the habit of going back and coloring in things to help distinguish features and items. Tried some of the puter generated programs but me and puter programs don't get along. Some of my other templates come from artists supply stores since I dabble a bit in art. The layout is a bit over designed in that some areas will see the smaller radius curves, almost the flavor of narrow gauge, certainly in keeping with backwoods logging lines. All the curves are laid out at 9.75 R so if it gets built the smaller curvatures will actually end up freeing up some more space. And the curvature and grades as stated will not be an issue in that I did extensive testing early last year both as to what they would traverse but also as to number of cars on grade that could be handled. Thus I already know this is double headed or even triple headed on the switchbacks and upper levels. I have also designed with a change of scales in mind if N doesn't work for me anymore. Basically a little less track and using only small HO locos and the same basic plan. Layout is designed to fit in a small bedroom and can have a foot cut out of the two long ends and a little of the port leg if needed.
Very happy to see your progress and admire your determination. I am curious. Are any of the Shays patterned on the Lima Locomotive works? I grew up in Lima and railroads and steam engines. Jack S
The Atlas Shays are based on a two truck Lima model but I'm not sure which one. Probably the most intricate model that has been produced in a long while. The only issue was some of the all thumbs folks who got their hands on that delicate little mechanism or opened the throttle on the old power pack too wide and tried to pop a wheelie. Just like the 1 to 1 version the top end is not much more than about 20 smph or the side gear shafts start coming apart. Any time the real version got over 30 mph it was usually going to be out for some heavy repairs to the drive train. I have hoped that they would eventually come out with a three truck version but alas not to be it seems.
Well this morning I took out the tool carousels, glues, paint. and a new single edge razor blade. Managed to find the pickle car parts after 7 months being stored away, and then set down to see if I can return to some building again particularly with the tiny and fragile N scale parts. Plenty of breaks while glue set up and things could be handle and a very slow deliberate pace. Tonight while the winds raged, lightning crossed the sky along with torrential rains, I toiled at the workbench before the power decided to quit in protest. Meanwhile Young Frankenstein played on the puter and Igor was going on a rampage. Tonight the pickle vats were attached to the flatcar and all that is left is to add the ladders, a little paint and some weathering. Tonight I can announce that I have made my way back to the world of N scale modeling and am no longer just a bystander. I most likely will not return to my former scratch building and kit bashing self as age and other things have taken their toll but I have enough function to continue with N scale although much more limited from this point on. So after the storms and an almost 40 degree temperature drop I sit here at the puter looking like Gene Wilder on a bad hair day but happy again. and the last shot. Just needing a little paint here and there the ladders installed, one hatch hinge straightened out and some India Ink weathering.
John... Slow progress is better then no progress. I tell myself that everyday when I go out to the trains and at least do a little something. BTW...the pickle car looks great
Wonderful to see that you finally are getting out of your personal pickle and back into the more enjoyable and rewarding modeling pickle.
Finishing up the 3rd and final pickle car and now have to think up a snazzy name like Klingon Pickles Mountain Grown in Volcanic Soil. However no photos for awhile until the puter gets back from the shop. Storms and high winds coupled with a major tree limb falling across the wires surged the power right through the so called surge protector. Blew out the left oblique framajammit so now using the Wife's puter. Found a major oopsie in the car I was doing right before the stroke and managed to come up with a solution that will be hard to spot to the untrained eye. Have some old time 34 ft. water cars that I had previously applied bands to the wood tanks and have decided to go ahead with the project for some smaller cars maybe pickled Herring from the fish cannery to be transported to the other cannery to be put into glass jars. Last car will be used for a load of new wood vats for the brewery. I have one last wood car kit, a 25 foot caboose to do and it will be the last that I intend to ever do. Hand writing is clearly on the wall as far as dealing with these little craftsman style wood kits. It has been a struggle. Dealing with a plastic Tichy Trains kit I can handle Also dealing with a wood building kit I should be able to handle those just because of the lack of small delicate parts and I have a few to do. Once I have these cars done that will be my next endeavor. See how well I do with a craftmans' wood kit Little's Lumber Company. That should clearly define what direction my modeling will take. I had a couple of oopsies with the cars one was breaking a end sill support and the other was breaking a stirrup step off the flatcar. Successfully cut sanded and fit a small section of wood back in place and managed to drill out and install a replacement stirrup step so I know I have enough control and function back to do car and some loco repairs.
Nice to see you at it John. Rehab is very important for better recovery. I like the " Klingon Pickles Mountain Grown in Volcanic Soil. " name for the car ... nice to see you still have a sense of humor!!! I know when I had my 2nd heart thingy , I was almost resigned to the couch and tv ..... now I do not live in fear , but seek to enjoy life all the more today.
John, If your caboose turns out half as nice as the pickle cars you should be very happy with your results, post stroke. Good luck with your full recovery. I like the downsized layout plans. Looks like it will be fun to operate. Sincerely, Rick
Or if you don't mind mixing Klingon and Vulcan, Live long and prosper with Klingon Pickles.:startled:......Mike
Finished the pickle cars except for a suitable decal of some kind. Probably when I get my puter back from the shop I'll print out something. These were the last thng I was working on before the stroke and I found that the one partial finished car had a big oopsie. All three are in the photo below so see if you can find which one I messed up on and how I recovered. And I had also decided to do what are called Vat cars. Using the Bmann 34 ft. old time water car I had added bands to the wood tanks pre stroke. Doubt if I can manage that today at this point. Interesting combination of wood parts and styrene since the super structure is all wood. Still awaiting adding walkways to the top and some paint to the tank tops. Trimmed down MT spare roofwalks are being used and replacement reefer hatches for the Vat hatches. Once these are done the 3rd Bmann oldtime flat will get gondola sides added and three water tanks will be trimmed and placed in the car as a load of new wood fermentation vats for the brewery.
Finished the last car kit a Laser Kit 25 foot caboose and completed the vat cars which are modified Bmann 34 ft. old timers. Seems like nobody has yet to oick up on my original goof up on the one pickle car all of which are also Laser kits. Has been a trial and some tribulations working on these and as I had earlier stated I can clearly see the handwriting on the wall. My days of laser car kits and extreme kit or car bashings are over. I think the old eyes and the effects of Father Time were beginning to tell me that before the stroke. My hands are steady enough to handle the equipment and effect repairs on the less delicate stuff but that is about it. Even before the bout with the eyes and then the stroke I could not see the fine print on the decals even with an optivisor with extra lenses, so any decaling done from now on will have just the basic stuff. Little small Fs on the diesel frame sills and the class info on the bottom sills of the steam cabs won't be there unless the manufactures puts them there. Next on my self evaluation list will be a wood craftsman kit of a sawmlll to see if I can handle that aspect of the hobby of cutting and measuring plus fitting. A little larger on the details so it may go better.
