Weekend Update 1/09/11

[Pomperaugrr]

Thanks Eric,

The colors look better in person than in the photo, maybe see you at Springfield if your going.

John

John,
I'll be there Saturday and Sunday.  See ya' there.

Eric

[bbussey]

My basement is a couple of days away from completion.  Then the worktable, spray booth and shelving get installed prior to the layout construction beginning.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's exciting Bryan!

It's going to be NH, convertible to CR, right?

[bbussey]

Yes - NH in 1956, and CR in 1980.  Progress reports are on my website.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's gonna be killer.

In other news, I wrote up a quick bit about the ROW study piece I did on my site:
http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=73

[DKS]

In other news, I wrote up a quick bit about the ROW study piece I did on my site:
http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=73

Good article. In particular, this is an excellent point:
 

I think it's important to try out ideas like this on "study" pieces, the same way that artists will often sketch out ideas for paintings well before committing them to canvas.

[bbussey]

Nicely done on the study piece.  For now, I've been working out questionable features building digital 3D models in SolidWorks, such as the grades from the lower level to the sub-level staging and return loops.  David gave me some quick tips with the AnyRail track planning utility, so everything but the upper level is plotted out.  I'm sure I'll have to work out some details with actual model samples as you have done.  As it is, I haven't decided where to start building.  I'm currently leaning toward starting with the New Haven Union Station area.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks. That's kinda what I think too, the real finding wasn't about the ROW width, it was that it never hurts to prototype it ahead of time, so you don't have to rip down something expensive (in terms of time or money).

What's funny though, is that my whole approach on the layout is that it's kinda all like that, that I don't want to do any of it in such a way that I'm committed without being able to change things.

[wm3798]

Hmmm.  I'm going to dispute your findings on a couple of levels.
First, the trail shot you post may or may not be in compliance with the original PRR standards.  Almost 40 years of disuse as a railroad, and reconstruction as a hiking trail may have significantly altered the substructure of the ROW.  Compare that shot to the one I posted elsewhere in these pages, which in my assessment is pretty damn close to what you built in your sample piece...


For the uninitiated, this shot was taken on the Northern Central at Padonia Road, near the Timonium Fairgrounds... Ironically, I believe it was in December of 1987, exactly two years after Ed's stated era.

The telegraph line poles are original, and there's clearly plenty of room between the track and the edges of the subroadbed.  In more recent times, this section was rebuilt to accommodate the Baltimore light rail's double track line.

Second: The only difference, in my estimation, is the lack of brush overgrowth along the edges of the ROW, compared to Ed's sample, which is cleared.  The additional details of litter and other detritus could also be added to "narrow" the view.

I think you need to include this profile in at least part of the shelf layout.  FWIW, the shot above does show that you've got the ballast color bang-on, and the diesel model looks right at home as well...

Lee

 

[John]

Here is what it looks like today ..

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qk86cc8md3hn&lvl=19.480574792415464&dir=173.77926898516768&sty=b

its pretty clear there is plenty of room for a 2nd track .. the left LR track seems to be about the same spot as the old railline ..

[Guilford Guy]

Bryan, will you be doing the EF3s, EP5s, and other miscellaneous New Haven Electrics? I imagine the operations at New Haven Station would be awesome if you had all the engine changes on the Boston-New York trains.

[bbussey]

Bryan, will you be doing the EF3s, EP5s, and other miscellaneous New Haven Electrics? I imagine the operations at New Haven Station would be awesome if you had all the engine changes on the Boston-New York trains.

Eventually EP3 "flatbottoms," EP4 "streamliners" and EP5 "jets" for passenger service and EF4 "bricks" for freight.  The EF4s would run through New Haven to Cedar Hill yard, where diesels would then take the consist on to Maybrook.  I'm starting with the EP3.  I've already figured out how to modify the Kato GG1 chassis, and have designed the EP3 end decks that will use the cow catchers from MTL's coupler conversion kit for the Atlas/RivaRossi Pacific.  I need to get my hands on an Overland HO brass model to confirms some body details.  The EP4 will use the Kato GG1 chassis also but the body will be tough.  I have the digital solid file done but RP technology isn't fine enough yet to go that route.  The Con-Cor or Kato PA1 chassis can be used for an EP5 and the body cabs and noses can be taken from a Life-Like FA2.  A modified Atlas Century mechanism can be used for an EF4 and the body can be scratchbuilt.

The east end of New Haven will have five Fast-Track #8 double crossovers to help with the engine changes.  I'm going to need DCC wiring advice when the time comes.

[sirenwerks]

Bryan Bussey, Nice room! I'm looking forward to seeing your new layout.

Ed K., Check your email. I ran across an easy ROW sculpting article you might be interested in.

Bryan B.