Ok, I have decided to start a thread on my layout. Many of you have asked to see some more photos from the layout. The layout is baised on Conrail in PA in October, 1998. The layout is currently in it's "summer" colors as I will start to add the fall scenery later. I have done alot of work over the weekend so there are also more photos to add. The layout is mostly geared towards operation. 80% of trains going up or down the mountain require at least one of the 12 SD40-2 helper sets. Helpers are added/removed at Altoona and Cresson. There are 3 coal mines on the branch line to keep those who like to switch busy, along with 2 crews required to switch and sort Rose Yard. [ March 27, 2005, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: Ian MacMillan ]
I have been slooooowly weathering them. Only I think 3 out of 25 have been weathered. Cars on the other hand are in and out of the weathering shop everyday!
Very nice work Ian, I espacially like the trackage in the industrial scene. Too bad you're not modeling the same scene 50 years earlier! Then you'd really have my interest.
The pictures look GREAT! My weathering process is the same way, cars in and out in a day and the engines are slowly being weathered.
Ian, thanks for posting pics of your layout the greenery is superb and is exactly what east coast railroading is all about I'd be interested in knowing how you actually operate the layout. Do you use a card system or anything?
Thanks everyone for the comment! The layout has been a blast to work on! As in how the layout is operated...Well it can be basic, for just a few crew members, or complex for the full 15 crew members. The layout is run with a 4 move car card system. All the trains are modeled after CR trains on the line towards the end of 1998. The trains, and their times are listed on my website here;http://www.portsmouthbranch.com/symbols.html Rose Yard is a working yard and is also visible staging. Trains are built and taken apart here. Trains enter the layout from Rose and head to Altoona. Most trains stop at ALTO tower and add their helper sets. 80% of trains require a SD40-2 helper set. Most of these helpers stay on to Cresson. The helper sets are run by crews who man them the entire operating session. The helpers are not "consisted" with the lead locomotives due to the fact that the head end can be at a 2% grade, while 70 cars back the helpers are at 1%. That is basicly how the main line is run as 95% of the trains are going from Philly to Chicago and don't get switched anywhere. The Blairsville Industrial track, shown in green on the map, leads from CP-Alum to Dias, PA. There is the Heinz Pittsburgh Food plant directly off the main line, shown in the first pictures, then there are a series of 3 small coal mines. The Industrial, past Heinz, is restricted to 4 axle locomotives. The there can be 2 coal trains and someone switching Heinz comfortably on the Industrial. That is pretty much it. The layout is run by the Digitrax Empire Builder and other DCC items. The 3 track main line is about 150' each, and does not include non mainline trackage. For those of you in the New England area, the layout is scheduled to be on the "Tour de Chooch" layout tour in November '05. I also noticed I have the size wrong on the map....it should say 25'x30' [ March 28, 2005, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: Ian MacMillan ]
Excellent Ian! Great to see the railroad I grew up with in minuature. I made a trip to Altoona & Horseshoe curve in 1992. I was blown away by the heavy traffic. Did you ever consider modeling CR's Boston line?
Very nice pictures Ian , thanks for sharing . What's the slope percentage in your horseshoe area ? Again , like I said before to you I love the way you did your mountain !
Acutally I modeled the Boston line in HO before my switch to N. 1.75% to 1.78% approach and departure grades and 1.45% on the curve itself...as close as I can get it to the real thing. The HSC has a curve of 9 degrees 15' or 625' radius. That makes the curve 7.8' in N scale....Which is the size of the HSC on the layout. I need to pick up more intermodal stuff for the TV trains....hint hint Alan! [ March 30, 2005, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Ian MacMillan ]
