Building the Black Diamond Central

[RDG_Rich]

Or... Door Delusions

After a year of fun in the sun (read Iraq) my life has finally allowed me to do some things that I have been wanting to do for a long time...(read build a layout). I spent the last few years playing with track planning software, dreaming up many different layouts, with many different themes, in many different scales.  I had started a logging layout in 2007 on a door that never materialized past the track laying stage, and I was smart enough to save all of the turnouts, and as much flex track as I could.  After changing my mind what seemed to be 8 million times, I decided to pick something simple, and just complete a darn layout.  Try as I might, I couldn't come up with a track plan that I liked that was any better than the Carolina Central.  I like to build models. Operations isn't something I am really interested in, and I'll admit that I like to set up a train and watch it go around in circles...for hours. A simple loop of track Is pretty lame though, so some switching might be fun, and that's how I finally decided.

The layout will be based (loosely) on the Reading Company's Shamokin Division in the 1950s, with Anthracite being the #1 commodity, so I can put my FAs, and FTs to work, with a VO-1000 running switching chores. The eventual goal is to try my hand at kitbashing locos to get some distinctive fat fireboxed power.

The layout as of right now:



The two tracks in the foreground will be for a kitbashed Walther's New River mine, and I'll have another industry or freight house, and team track or interchange, which will also double as a programming track for DCC. 

The spot for a bridge in the foreground will fit an ME 80' deck on a slight curve, and along the front (picture right) of the layout I will be installing this gem:





That's the new Central Valley kit. Obviously not done, but I have a good start on it. I'll be vacationing in the Poconos with the wife this week, so no modeling, but there might be a day trip to Steamtown  ;D to get pictures of Reading T1 2124, and all the other goodies (Big Boy etc.)

So... that's all for now. I'll keep working!

Rich

[CVSNE]

Looks like a great start . . .  ;D

[oakcreekco]

Looks nice, and you'll get years of "going in circles" with a smile.

I've got a modified verson of that plan on a 4'x7'. Fun to build and just "operate" a mainline.

I've had years of enjoyment from mine, and more to come.

[davefoxx]

Rich,

The Carolina Central was the inspiration for my last layout, which was a layout that I cherished so much, I couldn't trash it when I was forced to downsize.  It now resides in a friend's home.

Like you, I enjoy occasionally just opening the throttle and letting them run.  Trust me, your layout will be fun for that.  You may get teased for building a roundy-round, but the scenic divider does a nice job of hiding the "loop."  Instead, just try to think of the layout as one scene (as you would see when railfanning) and the reverse side of the layout as the rest of the world.

Here's one of the last pictures that I took of mine:

By the way, note the addition of the staging yard in the distance.  If you have the room, and you can add more capacity, this will add significantly to operations.

I often miss my old layout, so I hope that you enjoy yours.

Dave Foxx

[oakcreekco]

I look at loops, done correctly, as separate "operating dioramas".

[RDG_Rich]

Thanks all.

Dave: I have given some consideration to adding another door like yours (and Dave V's) eventually. The layout is actually spun 90 degrees away from it's eventual home (against the wall in the photos). I toyed with making two run through scenes on opposite sides, but because my workbench is so huge (an old executive type desk) the layout takes too much space as it sits, so very soon it will be spun into place. I still have to cut some masonite to size and float it behind the layout as a backdrop.

[RDG_Rich]

Today I got the Central Valley Truss completed, and a coat of grimy black sprayed...



The pic quality is lousy...I'll get some better ones when she is weathered, and track installed.

[wm3798]

Oh man.. That's sweet.  And just in time for another bit of relief on the family budget front!  Hmmm.  Might have to let Santa know about that...  I wonder how hard it would be to bash it into a deck truss?

Lee

[RDG_Rich]

I haven't worked much on the layout in the last two weeks or so, other priorities.... :-[

Today however, I had the day off. (benefit of being a Veteran working for Uncle Sam) I spent a couple hours in the basement working on getting some basic scenery in place so I can reinstall the CV bridge, and get trains running again.

Here's the scenery overview... I haven't done any scenery in a few years, so I'm a little rusty.



Here is the bridge laid in place... The rails need to be re-fastened (obviously)



You can't model Pennsylvania without crappy roads...



And an eye level shot (My Son's eye level)



Now I have to weather the bridge, and reinstall.....

[DKS]

Really nice.

[Caleb Austin]

Indeed! That is a really nice bridge scene.

The texture and colors of the ground cover are real nice too.

[wm3798]

Inspired.  More.  MORE.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah! What DKS and Lee said, more more more!

[Dave V]

Welcome to the Northeastern Prototype HCD Layout Club.  Your work qualifies you to be President.  And Beer Guy. ;D

Very well done!  Let me echo the sentiment...  Bring us MORE!

[RDG_Rich]

Thanks all! 

I experimented with a wash on the bridge...which had to be fixed. I normally use india and alcohol...note to self...go with what you know.  So I had to fix that this evening, rather than progressing with the work.

The ground cover is paint, then sifted dirt from the garden, then ground foams, dirt, and tea leaves. I played with leaves and a coffee grinder today, which makes me wish I had the space for S Narrow or O Narrow...but ground up leaves don't work well in N. The gravel on the road shoulder is sifted limestone dust from a parking lot I got a few years ago, and the road is cork roadbed (N) with an extra filler piece, covered in joint compound and sanded.

Oh and Dave V...If I'm beer guy, I only buy Yuengs, Reading, or Imports. Hope that's not a problem. ;D

Rich