Hello, everyone. Having recently moved into a new home, I find that a 30"x96" space is available for me to play with trains. Here is what I have come up with to get me going. I know it is boringly flat, a matter that may be subject to change down the road, but this will suit me for now. As my avatar suggests, I am modeling the Western Maryland, 1960's-1970's. Now, I expect that this is a lot of track for a small space, but darn it, I like to run trains. The trackage gives me the chance to do so while keeping an economic justification for a working railroad. My imagination will have to provide geographic separation. The large yard at 1 has 2 spurs representing Baltimore-and-beyond, to/from which material can be exported/imported. Three of the yard spurs, plus the turntable and locomotive storage and repair tracks (labeled 2) belong to Hagerstown. Trackage at number 3 is Westminster, number 4 will be the limestone quarry at Union Bridge, and 5 is to be a coal operation at Frostburg. I have converted 3 locos to DCC (2 GP-38's and 1 SD-35) and purchased one more (Alco S-4) just this week. Most of the wiring is done, the rest to be finished this weekend. After that, I'll mix running trains with scenery construction. I was in a hurry to get something up and electrified. Now I can slow down and grow in this wonderful hobby.
It's always possible to break it up some with either structures or backdrops to divide it into distinct areas. Of course some of the same effect could probably be achieved with trees.
That's the plan. I have some old scratch built buildings from years ago that I'll dot around for now -- they'll all have to be replaced. I want to go into operating mode for a time to test my track plan -- to see if it is consistent with my vision of the railroad. Easier to make changes now than after, and I'll add appropriate buildings and scenery as I learn how. The construction this far has taught me about wiring, and especially how better to isolate electrofrog turnouts. I'll probably redo some of the first ones I installed. All of Hagerstown and Baltimore use electrofrogs, while I used insulfrogs for Westminster, Union Bridge and Frostburg. Also, I installed switch machines under the two turnouts along the back wall. My back likes it better when I don't reach across the 30" stretch. My intention is to use this layout to learn how to go about scenery, scratch building, weathering and prototypical operations, all on a working layout. Once the trains are running (by tomorrow), I'll take my time with the rest. Retirement is wonderful!
Really nice, what kind of foam is the green stuff, and what is the black thing in the middle, the connection for power and DCC? Once again looks really good. Also, what brand of turntable is that too? So many questions, sorry!
I got a 4x8' sheet of 2" thick builder's foam from Lowes. Cut it to size with a box knife. It is glued to a frame made of 1x4" lumber. It is light enough that I can flip it up to do the wiring without crawling underneath. Too much arthritis for that. (Was it OK to say the store? It was simply the closest supplier to where I live. Other lumber outfits probably carry it also.) The black thing is indeed the connector for my new NCE PowerCab. That's an old Atlas turntable that I have had for 20 years -- most of it in storage. The turntable makes an interesting project for me. I have only ever seen two or three prototype turntables. One of them is just a dim thought that I saw one in the B&O Camden yards when I was with my great-uncle in the early '50's. Not sure about my memory there, I was too busy in the locomotive cabs with uncle Fon. The second is the one in the B&O Museum roundhouse, which is a flush-to-grade affair like the Atlas one. And third, the turntable in Frostburg, MD, where the Western Maryland Scenic Railway turns its locomotive. The Frostburg one has a bridge on a sunken pit. I have been toying with the idea of sinking the Atlas model into the foam, and scratch building a bridge over it. I'm going to leave it as-is until I learn a LOT more about this hobby. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.
July 2008, here's the turntable at Frostburg, MD. How cool it is that we can still ride the WM's grade as it climbs west from Cumberland.
I am impressed with your really clean work. I could learn from you Great job so far and thanks for the explanations to my questions. Can't wait to see how you progress. Good luck,
A suggestion, Maybe consider adding another passing siding on the main track between the two spur turnouts on the back side of your layout? Currently your layout is setup to always operate in a clockwise direction, not a bad thing but, with another passing siding on the side of the layout opposite the main yard, it gives you a little more flexibility, just a suggestion. I agree with the previous poster, a good operating model railroad starts with good track work, you've done a very nice job.
I may add a passing siding as you suggest, because it's a great idea. I have had rolling stock on the layout for only two days now to test operating runs. I actually have been operating both clockwise and counterclockwise, and in the directions you wouldn't expect. For example, on the theory that the trackage on the spur from the main on the right rear to the industries on the left front is supposed to be a long main run (not a short spur), I have so far refused to back a train down it. I have been using car setout/pickup on those industries as a puzzle. A freight enters that spur in a counterclockwise direction, driving straight down the spur. The puzzle is to how to setout/pickup the cars while allowing the locomotive (and the caboose, which I insist on using just for grins) at the proper ends of the train on the way out. This means that the locomotive leaves that trackage long hood forward, but that's an approved regulation on my line. The other spur, from the back left to the industries on the right have the same problem, added in complexity by the fact that one of the two tracks of the passing siding there is used to load gondolas with coal. I'll work this way for a bit, and then probably will put in the passing siding you mentioned -- it'll add some welcome options!
