I have an old hollow-core door, 80 inches x 28 inches. I would like to build a small switching layout on it. I'm plan to have it run off on both ends so trains can run off into staging on both ends. My major source of inspiration is Bill Denton's N-Scale Milwaukee Road Kingston Sub layout, expecially the right side 6 feet of layout (that incluides Ohio Street Over pass and Wallace press) as seen on his website and in the May 1998 issue of MR. I plan on having a high way over pass or possibly a railroad over pass. The problem is, I am hung-up with the track plan. I want something fairly complex with a lot of industry to serve in small spaces, but not unrealistically close. I'm modeling Pittsburg, instead of Chicago, so I plan to include a Heinz Pickle factory and some steel-related business. If anyone could provide some input into a track plan or ideas, that would be much appreciated. Thanks. (feel free to suggest #4 switches and sharp radii, I plan on using S2's and SW1200's exclusively on the layout)
Pat, I had always intended to have some street switching on my new layout, but it turned out rather differently! Good luck with yours. May be a good idea to cross post this in the layout design forum.
Hollow core doors are great for building layouts on. I think They work better for N scale where you can actually get a continuous run on the single door panel. With HO switching you might get more from using a accordian/folding door panel set and put them on wall brackets end to end. or in an L shape. It just seems like the longer you make the switching layout, the more spurs you can fit on there. This o scale magazine has free downloads of old issues. Perhaps a track plan from their site could be scaled to HO scale... Or printed out and modified. (hint hint) http://www.oscalemag.com/ I like the layout in issue #1 personally.
I was doing some pre-planning and studying for my new layout or layout extension (haven't decided yet, might as well be both). In the July 2004 issue of Model Railroader, PelleSoeberg cut strips of cork from a sheet and attached to plywood and scenicked from there. I'm going to use a hollow core door, should I do the same, or use 1 or 2 inch blueboard foam? Cork or homasote road bed? Being that I am building a switching layout at streetlevel, do I really even need to use cork or homasote if I use foam board?
I'm in the same boat with the scenery issue. I have decided that for my layout I don't need to put down foam. I may want to add a river , but I can cut the top layer of the door for that and put foam between the two layers of panel to help brace it up. Considering that you aren't going to be having any over and unders I wouldn't worry about it on your layout either. I think that for people like us who need small layouts, the no foam option is also good because it makes the layout more portable. Have you seen the model railroader series by John Pryke on building the Union Freight railroad? It's a pretty interesting switching layout, and has alot on city scenery and making street trackage.
I'm looking at posibly doing the same thing, I have a slightly smaller space and it's L shaped but I think I could pull out all of my HO stuff and work out a nice switching layout. Where is that Union Freight layout? Thanks.
September 2000 issue of Model Railroader has the first of 3 parts about the Boston Union Freight Railroad. Also, the April 200 issue MR has a nice issue about switching a large industry called, "Working the Mill Job" on page 62 by Paul Dolkos.
