[FONT=&]While working on the plan for the Black Diamond & Augusta, I ran across some old files on CD that I had drawn up. At one time I was going to model The Bay Line. Now that we have moved back to Panama City Beach I’m thinking that this would be a great opportunity to start this project. [/FONT] [FONT=&]A little history - [/FONT][FONT=&]The Bay Line Railroad (BAYL) is a 103-mile short line freight railroad that interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. Commodities transported include aggregates, brick and cement, chemicals, coal, food and feed products, forest products, metallic ores and minerals, and steel and scrap. The BAYL was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in 2005. The normal operating hours of the BAY LINE RAILROAD are 06:00 till 18:00 7 days per week at Panama City and 06:00 till 1800 Mon-Fri at Dothan. Switching services are available for other than normal hours of operation at charges published. [/FONT] [FONT=&]There are two major players in the area served by BAYL, the Rock-Tenn paper mill and Port Panama City. At Port Panama City there are several industries but I will only concentrate on 2 or 3. These are Berg Steel Pipe Co., the Lasaffre molasses facility and the dry bulk materials warehouse facility. All of this of course will be a scaled down operation due to room limitations. At least I’m hoping to capture the feel of the area. [/FONT] [FONT=&]As always comments and suggestions are welcome. I’m hoping that the Sensei MC Fujiwara will see this thread and offer up some advice. I have followed his work and admire his abilities (even his daughter’s tree and scenery skills). Thanks for looking. [/FONT]
Yes it is. I use to have a web site on the history of the ASAB but it no longer exist. Operations are pretty much the same even though they were acquired by the G & W in 2005. I really enjoy the history of short lines, especially southern ones.
I was looking at this line before i started my last layout. Toss up between the Bay Line and the Apalachicola Northern (pretending the paper mill was still open) but settled on a layout based off the First Coast just north of Jacksonville. Enjoy the papermill and port ideas for all three of the lines. Look forward to progress!
Some more tweaking here and there plus added some more structures on the plan. A lot of this is compressed and I would like to go on a grander scale (room restrictions won't allow) but I am trying to capture some of the local flavor. As a side note, my 11 year old granddaughter who is going to help me wanted to know about the port. As it so happens we were going into Panama City yesterday and a container ship was in port so she got a better idea about how those containers arrive and how they are off-loaded and either placed on rail cars or trucked out. She's starting to see the big picture now and I think it sparked her interests more. Forgot to make a correction for an industry at the port on the plan drawing, Berg Steel should be Berg Steel Pipe. Updated .jpg of the plan:
Asking For Input I don't really have any storage space for cars except the sidings. Now this happens quite frequently here for The Bay Line. Sidings are used sometimes to store empties or loads until they are taken either to the industry or loads to the yard for classification and then to further points forward. I was thinking of adding more storage space by adding a small visible staging area near the paper mill. Thoughts and input appreciated.
I'm in almost the same situation as you Charles and looking for a very similar track plan and layout. I like the elements you have included. I too am unable to have a staging area so will have to settle for sidings. I have a question regarding radius though. Folks posted on my thread to use 15" radius minimum, but you used 12 1/2". I understand the relationship between curves and the equipment being run. I may or may not run passenger cars so obviously the greater radius helps. What are your thoughts? What do you intend to run on your line?
First, I'm limited to what the room use is. It still has to function as an office and room for sleepover for the grandkids. If I expand the loop ends then I will encroach on other areas. I have already had to sacrifice a bookcase to another room which makes things a little inconvenient. Since it is a local line all I am running are some GP38-2's and a couple of MP15DC switchers. Secondly, the longest rail car will probably be the 89' flat cars for Berg Steel Pipe. I think it will be okay and if it looks a little off, I am the only operator for 99% of the time. The prototype here has some pretty tight curves especially at the port, so if they make it work so can I. Thirdly, no passenger service so no need to worry there. Yes larger radii are better, but sometimes we have to work within certain limits and restrictions.
Made some changes and would welcome any suggestions. Primarily I changed the track inside the loops from switchback's and replaced it with crossings.
I am also modeling The Bay Line and I a curious what you are using for wood chip cars. I have all of the commercially available Bay Line cars and engines but can't find a chip car that looks anything like the ones I am sitting next to here on 231.
Glad to see another ASAB'er (if that is correct). As soon as I can find some free time I'm going to have to dig back through some old files and see if I have any information. As best as I can remember those wood chip cars were a modification from other cars. If I find any info I'll let you know. I still have to round me up some engines as I never got around to purchasing any when I originally thought of doing the BAYL several years ago. Now that I'm back in the area it seemed like the right line to model.
I am here in PC...I have three gp38-2 Bayline locos that I got from Brooklyn locomotive works. Last time I checked they still had two of the three road numbers.
Help With Port Scene Planning As the planning phase is drawing to a close with benchwork construction to start in a couple of weeks, I have some questions regarding the port scene. I would like to address those now rather than wait until the last minute. I would like to drawn upon the experience of some of you. 1. How deep do you make the port? The port here has a depth of 36' feet for the channel and berths. If my calculations are correct that is about 2.7". I can't get anything larger than 3/4" foamular at the big box stores so I will sandwich 2 of those for 1 1/2" total. I'm not one to worry too much about rivet counting but I do want it to look reasonable since it is a scene that is first noticed when walking into the room. 2. I will be placing a container ship at the port and it will only be a water line model. Again I'm not too concerned about how accurate it is but needs to be realistic. Again my calculations are, even for a 210 scale foot vessel, that this is about 15 3/4" long. Do you sink it into the water or cut out the water pour so it can be lifted in and out if needed? 3. What best works for you and the color of the water? Okay, that's a start. I'm sure there are going to be more questions but I will address those when construction begins. Once that starts I'm going to move this thread into the N scale forum and report the progress.
Spent the day measuring and I decided I could spare a few inches here and there. I redrew the plan and now I have mostly 15" radius with a minimum now of 13 47/64. This should help with those 89' flat cars loaded with pipe from Berg Steel Pipe.
