The Border Line - an achievable layout?
Oct 29, 2020 3:39:58 GMT
Country Joe, dennym57, and 6 more like this
Post by firewood on Oct 29, 2020 3:39:58 GMT
For my latest layout, (a once-every-15-years event I guess 😜) a positive family response in real estate negotiations resulted in some serious building during our first lockdown spell.
I always like a back story for a layout. Flipping that philosophy to fit what's available for the layout space, the rolling stock availability and my personal preferences is always an interesting exercise. Getting something up and running in a reasonable spell of time was also a big consideration for me, so the "good enough" attitude plays a part in all this.
My Border Line is set in the rugged country along the Canada/US border west of the Great Lakes. Around this region, there were several real-life shortlines that never quite made it. These railroads led a Virginia & Truckee-like existence, gradually fizzling out over the years following the railroad-building mania of the late 19th century. Of course, our layouts can throw such nonsense out the window.
The Border Line's premise is that these shortlines connected up over time, and the period is now the late 50s / early 60s. More familiar railroad companies are rubbing shoulders through their paper subsidiaries on a small network that criss-crosses the border. Roads are CN, CPR, Great Northern plus whatever else I can weasel in there. (I'm sure I can find an excuse to extend the North Woods Hiawatha run 😉) The rugged landscape has its fair share of hydro-electric facilities, and past mining activity could have seen some electric railroad development. That gives me a mix of steam, diesel and electric - so far, so good.
A reasonable building period resulted in a 10' x 13' continuous run layout, loop-to-loop with passing capability and a small yard. Track is sectional, 0-27 profile with all curves being 0-42. I've had small switching layouts and like the fiddling around, but watching a train run steadily is also part of the relaxation factor. Scenic dividers are marked off for the illusion of distance, and there will be some switching ability for a way freight or two - good enough. Control is conventional with dual cab control. I've hoarded some Marklin HO catenary for future overhead.
The construction isn't exactly conventional, but suits my limitations and hopefully I'll have some progress reports to follow.
FW
The video shows a section of the GN Empire Builder checking out the unfinished "Bowlegged Bridge", so labeled by my GN expert Ron. It's Lionel trestles glued feet-to-feet with card girder overlays in progress and Plastruct bracing yet to be added.
I always like a back story for a layout. Flipping that philosophy to fit what's available for the layout space, the rolling stock availability and my personal preferences is always an interesting exercise. Getting something up and running in a reasonable spell of time was also a big consideration for me, so the "good enough" attitude plays a part in all this.
My Border Line is set in the rugged country along the Canada/US border west of the Great Lakes. Around this region, there were several real-life shortlines that never quite made it. These railroads led a Virginia & Truckee-like existence, gradually fizzling out over the years following the railroad-building mania of the late 19th century. Of course, our layouts can throw such nonsense out the window.
The Border Line's premise is that these shortlines connected up over time, and the period is now the late 50s / early 60s. More familiar railroad companies are rubbing shoulders through their paper subsidiaries on a small network that criss-crosses the border. Roads are CN, CPR, Great Northern plus whatever else I can weasel in there. (I'm sure I can find an excuse to extend the North Woods Hiawatha run 😉) The rugged landscape has its fair share of hydro-electric facilities, and past mining activity could have seen some electric railroad development. That gives me a mix of steam, diesel and electric - so far, so good.
A reasonable building period resulted in a 10' x 13' continuous run layout, loop-to-loop with passing capability and a small yard. Track is sectional, 0-27 profile with all curves being 0-42. I've had small switching layouts and like the fiddling around, but watching a train run steadily is also part of the relaxation factor. Scenic dividers are marked off for the illusion of distance, and there will be some switching ability for a way freight or two - good enough. Control is conventional with dual cab control. I've hoarded some Marklin HO catenary for future overhead.
The construction isn't exactly conventional, but suits my limitations and hopefully I'll have some progress reports to follow.
FW
The video shows a section of the GN Empire Builder checking out the unfinished "Bowlegged Bridge", so labeled by my GN expert Ron. It's Lionel trestles glued feet-to-feet with card girder overlays in progress and Plastruct bracing yet to be added.
