Some inspirations for you. I can post up the Thomasville area I mentioned before, but sine you have yourindustries back in place, I'll await your request. However, here's the two engine facilities for some inspiration. The only real difference between the two is that one comes with an atual enclosed building and an overhead crane, one does not. West Marmon a switching industrial park, this track would normally park an SW1500 or a visiting loco needing turned. Cementville is kinda out in the midst of nowhere. The area is a junction between the Naptown & White RIver's priamry South leg and the Cementville Sub. The road swticher for the sub also processes the four industries here, including the Leigh Cement company the area was named for.
Dude, Those shots are indeed inspirational, thank you for sharing! That's pretty close to what I am going to do with the Hope engine terminal. I had one of my friends dig out my copy of Model Railroader's "Guide to Locomotive Servicing Terminals" (I say "one of my friends," because my "library" is in storage while I'm remodeling the basement...) and I'm going to build Hope's engine servicing facility similar to the one that Marty McGuirk describes. It will feature a Pikestuff small, modern engine house, and a custom built servicing pad with Woodland Senics' diesel servicing facility bits 'n' pieces, and a Stewart Hobbies sand tower and Snyder fuel crane. I'm also going to have a Stewart Hobbies diesel fuel storage tank as well. That will allow me to custom build a compact servicing facility for the Hope local (and, yet will also facilitate a six-axle brute, during the grain season). So, that's the plan for the servicing facility. The only other news worth sharing, is that the Digitraxx Zephyr Plus unit arrived today and yesterday my order of DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) switches arrived from Radio Shack that will operate the switch machines... once I get those ordered. I also have another order that should be arriving tomorrow, consisting of three grain hoppers I ordered from my supplier in the Twin Cities (Becker's Model Railroad Supply). So, I will get a shot of them along with the other donated equipment (I FINALLY got my pictures developed the other day, so I have an empty image card and can get some fresh pics posted of the layout!). So, that's the latest on the RF&L. More to come shortly...
Well, given the responses from my inquiry about creamery ops, I'm going to re-do that section of track to the creamery yet again. Instead of a curved siding, I'm just going to shorten the track and keep it a straight section parallel to the rest of the industrial trackage and the "main drag" through town. The creamery will be a truck-centric industry, but will have the occasional refer car of butter to ship out. This will also help me with designing said street, as I've been trying to figure out how to route it from the edge of the layout, through town and to the other side of the layout. Now, I'll have a relatively straight shot through town. This will also allow me to orient Hope's downtown around the grain elevator, which is the commercial center of town. Like many towns here in rural, SE Minnesota, Hope grew up around its elevator, as farmers would come into town with their crops, and then do business with the local merchants. Hope is also located on the intersection of two highways 19 and 76 (hey, this IS fantasy and 1976 was a good year! ), so, through traffic has also helped keep Hope alive. At least, that's the backstory of Hope as I've imagined it thus far. Anyway, I'm going to go do some re-aranging and tweaking. Hopefully I'll be able to post some new pics tonight, but we'll see. Until then.
Well, I went and gave a presentation to one of the local community groups in town last night and they were kind enough to give a financial contribution for the layout, toward the purchase of the switch machines, so I ordered them today. Now, all I have to do is get some wire, and we'll be ready to wire up the layout. I've also finished laying the roadbed for the spur to the engine servicing facility and the lumber yard (MMA Van Der Plas Lumber Supply LLC). All I have to do, is relay the track for the grain elevator area and lay the track for the engine servicing facility/lumber yard, and the trackwork will be done... again. I also have some pics to post, so I'll do that here shortly. But, that's it for now. More to come later, so stay tuned.... same "Bat-Time," same "Bat-Channel!"
As promised, picture updates... The Digitraxx "Zephyr Plus" DCC system and one of the twelvve DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) switches I ordered from Radio Shack, which will operate the Tortise Switch Machines. An in-progress shot of the rebuilt spur for the lumber yard (MMA Van Der Plas Lumber Supply LLC) and track to the enginehouse. I used the yard stick (labeled for Preston Lumber LLC, interestingly enough) to mark the center line for the track leading to the Pikestuff small, modern enginehouse. I measured 3" and 4" from the centerline of the spur "ladder" to figure out the best placement for the engine servicing track. The track 3" from the "ladder" was determined to be the best choice, as it gave sufficent clearance between the enginehouse and spur track and a gentle transition from the turnout to the engine shed. Utilizing a piece of Atlas Flexi-track, I laid out a gentle curve from the turnout to the enginehouse track.
Update, part deux... Centerline marked for the curve from the turnout to the engine servicing facility. ready for cork and track. And a look at the finished corkwork. Van Der Plas Lumber Supply LLC will run along the right side of the spur. The cardboard mock-up represents the location of the Pikestuff engine shed on the service track. A scratchbuilt concrete pad will be built next to (in front of?) the enginehouse which will feature fuel cranes and a sand tower (a mix of Woodland Senics and Stewart Hobbies details). The "L" shaped piece of cardboard represents the footprint of the passenger depot. An overall view of the grain elevator track. The cardboard structure represents the Walther's Valley Grower's Assn. grain elevator that will occupy the scene. The feed/seed distributor and creamery will occupy the ends of the two tracks and the third stub track is for the bulk oil/fertilizer dealer (big enough for two tank cars). In the background, you can see the track leading back to the stock pens for the livestock sales barn. A closer look at the elevator tracks and the track leading back to the sales barn. As you can see, I still have a little work to do to finish up the re-design of the industrial trackage, but still have a LONG way to go with the layout. I'll keep you guys updated as things progress!
Well, guys... The RF&L will soon be taking delivery of some motive power... Remember that SW-1 I mentioned a while back? Well, thanks to a financial contribution from another family member, the RF&L will be taking delivery of said locomotive. Currently, it's painted in Rock Island colors, but it will be repainted in Milwaukee Road orange and black, with "bandit" paint-outs. The unit will also then become RFLX #1855. (As my hometown of Preston is hosting the Relay for Life this year and 1855 being the year that Preston, MN was established as a municipality (three years before Minnesota entered the union as the 32nd state!), I thought it would be a nod to the city's history.) I'll post pictures as soon as it arrives on the property. Anyway... Nothing earth-shattering, but still worth mentioning. More updates to come, so stay tuned!
Did a little trackwork tonight on the grain elevator scene. The track is pinned down temporarily, but will be nailed/spiked down in the near future (tomorrow?). (I would have done so tonight, but the other inhabitants of the household were in bed, and loud hammering noises from the basement would not have been appreciated!!!) But, that should give you a better perspective on what the grain elevator tracks will look like. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to get some trackwork done on the spur to the engine servicing facility and lumber yard. Another quickie, but I thought I'd share. More to come...
There are in such universes, nicel little wooden-handled push-me-down trak nailers. If this is to be the only layout, they aren't all that neccesary, but if you plan to maybe build again, you might see what you can locate. they take almost no effort, quiet, and spare the misery of trying to use the thumb as a track nail. Ask me about THAT one, or better yet, don't.
Flashwave, I will, indeed, have to look into this handy-dany, little tool of which you speak, as this will not be the only layout (there may be more layouts built for future Relays, as well as my own personal railroad). Anyway, as for the RF&L... I haven't done a lot with it for the last couple weeks, as I've been busy with other projects and have had to put the railroad on hold for the time being. I do, however, need to get this thing wired up SOON. I have a thread here in the HO forum regarding that (here... http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=127091 ) and anyone in the tri-state region (Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin) who would be interested in assisting with "bulletproofing" the track and wiring can send me a PM if they want to lend a hand in that. I have also ordered a magnetic gluing jig from Micro Mark to assist in assembling the structures on the layout. So, that will help speed up progress on that front. It should be here sometime this week, or early next week. Then, I can get rocking and rolling on that front. I am also planning on running to Rochester (MN) in the next few days to get some paint brushes, so I can get working on that front as well. So, things to do and things in the works and updates to come as they progress. But, let me leave you with this parting shot... Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific ("Rock Island") Baldwin S-12(?) #802, sitting on the track to the engine facility. Soon (hopefully!) to be re-painted into a Milwaukee Road, orange & black "Bandit" scheme and renumbered RFLX #1855. (I'll post pics of some of the rolling stock that's been accumulated in a little while, they're boxed up at the moment to keep them clean and safe while I'm working on the layout and the other projects!) More to come, so stay tuned!!!
MY MICRO-MARK GLUING JIG ARRIVED TODAY!!! LET THE STRUCTURES RISE FROM THE "PLYWOOD PRAIRIE!!! ** EVIL LAUGH **
By the way, guys, I made a page on Facebook for the RF&L... http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/RFL-Layout-Project-2011/161518673902359 Thought I'd use the power of Facebook to promote the project.
Well, guys... Quick update here... Got a box on Thursday, got my agri-businesses: the grain elevator, feed and seed dealer and the bulk oil distributor. I also happened to be in LaCrosse last Saturday, and got some stripwood (.250 x .250) to make the base for the depot platform and stumbled across a Walther's Southtown Hi-Fi kit, which will be an auxillary building for the feed/seed dealer (lawn care, fertilizer, pet supplies, etc.). Also, on Thursday, I made a run to Rochester (MN) and got some paint brushes, so I can start painting the structures and some 3/16" thick foam core to use as the roadbed for the streets/highways and foundations for my buildings. Friday was a call to my guy up in the Twin Cities who has a grain conveyer and a Smalltown USA trucking terminal, which will become the bulk of the creamery complex. I have some add-on windows I was going to use to build a brick enginehouse for another layout (that never materialized), so I'm going to add those onto it, then tack on a smaller, office structure and truck loading/unloading, made from DPM's modular wall sections. So, things are coming along on the RF&L... Now, if I can get it wired up, things will be even better. (Looks like I'm going to have to get a copy of "DCC For Dummies" and do it myself, though.) Updates to come...
Another day, another box... This box comes from my supplier in the Twin Cities and conains both a Walthers conveyer for the grain elevator complex and a City Classics trucking terminal. It will be to the latter that I will add a two story extension, and some DPM modular wall sections to make the Creamery complex. So, the agri-businesses are coming along nicely. I just need to spend some quality time with my gluing jig and painting bench and they'll be ready for final instilation. After I get the streets done. Which will be after I get the track done... Yeah... Oh yeah... BIG photo update to come here...
Okay... PICTURE TIME!!! Strips of cardboard used to plot out the layout for the roadwork on the layout. The "main drag" through town is Minnesota Hwy 40. The road that cuts off to the right at the "Y" intersection will become County Road 9. Here's one version of the intersection I came up with while I was plotting the roadwork.
This was the original location of Bob's POP at an intersection of a county or city road and HWY 40, across from the feed/seed dealer. However, I got to thinking that in the "real world" a businessman would try to take advantage of the best possible location. So, I moved the station over to the junction of HWY 40 and Cty Rd 9. Like so... The orignial Bob's POP has an angled pump island, so I figured I would mimic the layout, plus it is a more efficent layout, allowing cars to easily pull in, get serviced, and be on their way. The Minnesota State Patrol is keeping a watchful eye as I progress with roadwork.
This is the first structure to be semi-assembled (held together loosely with Scotch Tape) and placed on the layout to figure its location. This will become "Miss Evelyn's Cafe," so named for my Paternal Grandmother (my father's mother), who died of Cancer ten years before I was born. Many relatives have commented on her cooking prowess, and so I feel this is a fitting tribute to her memory. Right now, I'm planning on painting the facade white with blue trim, to give it that "Scandinavian feel." I also need to find a 1:87th scale Norwegian Flag to place over the door (to honor my Norwegian ancestory). (If anybody has one to spare, please let me know!) And Miss Evelyn's, as seen from the rear. The rear and side walls will be regular brick (although I haven't decided on the color of the woodwork). I might put a sign on the side of the building, like an advert. for PEPSI, or something like that. (Maybe Oleson's Fish Market in Minneapolis, which specializes in Lutefisk...) Before I moved the POP to it's current location, I thought about putting the cafe on the corner, and then having a small park or parking lot on the corner location next to it. I decided to move the cafe to the other side of the tracks and down the block, closer to the passenger depot.
And here the feed/seed dealer and grain elevator are put in place to help figure out how the highway will be oriented around the scene. The foundation in the foreground is for a Walther's "Southtown Hi-Fi" kit, which will become "Orville's Outdoor Outfitters." My father's oldest brother passed away from Lung Cancer in 1993, and was one of my favorite uncles. He was an avid outdoorsman and a noted hunter, so that will be my tribute to him. Another view of the agri-businesses. And, a trackside shot.
A Walthers' "Merchant's Row II" kit will comprise the main bulk of the downtown business district. I think I'm going to get a Glover Park Hardware kit (from Walthers) which will become the Hope IGA grocery. (I work for an IGA store, so...) A Rix house that will soon become a slice of Americana. The black 3/16" foam core that will be the roadbed for the highways and biways of Hope.
