One layout, two eras - plan of attack

[Dave V]

Okay guys, as you know my layout is dismantled until August due to a relocation.  Fortunately, it was designed that setup takes an hour at most, so as soon as I'm moved into my new home I can go back to "playing with trains."

My 36" x 80" hollow-core door layout was designed to serve with me while I serve the US Air Force.  With 12 years in the service, I have another 8 yet before I reach retirement eligibility, so I need to keep this tiny layout interesting until I land somewhere permanent with a nice, big basement.

So, a plan I came up with involves essentially two layouts in one.  The current configuration represents the PRR in July, 1956.  The businesses, vehicles, and lineside structures all reflect central PA in the 1950s.

The second era would be 1980, four years into Conrail.  I've mused aloud about why that is in other threads, so I won't belabor them here.

The challenge:  Make a layout appropriate for two eras that can be interchanged at regular intervals without too much "trauma" to the layout.

The good news is by 1980, Conrail really hadn't changed the face of the PRR much, so signals and lineside structures were mostly intact.

Step 1:  Purchase the trains.  Already started this one with a CR caboose, PC boxcar, and RBOX boxcar.  I'm anxiously awaiting Atlas' Trainman N scale Conrail GP15-1.

Step 2:  Vehicles.  Gotta get some 70s wheels; the '51 Hudson Hornet might look a bit dated.

Step 3:  Lineside structures.  I plan to buy "seconds" of the two interlocking towers, the watchman's shanty, the section house, and the Lewisport depot.  In the Conrail era they'll be two-tone gray (instead of the current two-tone brown with red window shashes per PRR) with Penn Central-style signs nd boarded up windows.  Lewisport depot will get Amrak signs.

Step 4:  Businesses.  The freight station (complete with permanently attached PRR signage) would probably not still be doing business in 1980.  Instead, I was thinking to have an entire removable base (like the current styrene sheet that forms the "paved base" for the freight station) for a lime/limestone loading facility (common in central PA).  I would make a modern addition with 1970s style signage to add to the Juniata Machine Tool Co.  The coal trestle will remain but either be abandoned (with a gate or wheel stop) or be one of the last remaining operating coal trestles in PA.  The mine will continue as is.  I may also convert one the of sidings along the front of the layout to a team track.

Roads, most structures, signals, and scenery remain the same.

This will take some time to impliment (that's good; keep it interesting!), but will essentially give me two layouts in one.  Figure on switching eras every month or so.

Oh, and at some point I may re-lay the track with code 55.  And I'm thinking of calling the layout the "Juniata Division" insted of the "Middle Division" since it's freelanced.  No matter how hard I try to shoe-horn a no kidding segment of the real Pennsy (or even an LDE) it "just don't fit."

[tom mann]

This is the thread of a crazy man!

I would put a divider down the center and do a half-and-half thing: once side 1950 PRR, the other Conrail.

[Dave V]

This is the thread of a crazy man!

I would put a divider down the center and do a half-and-half thing: once side 1950 PRR, the other Conrail.

...and then have staging in the tunnels between sides...  So the train leaves the PRR side as the Broadway Limited and comes out as the Amcrap express, complete with pointless arrow logos.

Hmm....

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like the idea Dave! (but I bet you already figured I would...)

I think you're on the right track here. Do you have any ZTS maps for the area? I don't think I have them for the Pittsburgh Line, but I know people who probably do.

If you're not sure what they are, they're the maps included in these (which you may really enjoy reading, anyway): http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=51

Those should give you some good ideas for industries. I also have a couple more for more rural branchlines which I can scan for you if you want.

Oh, and you're going to need more power than just a GP15-1. I'd suggest some of the Kato SD40s. I've just worked on one and I'm pretty happy with it. Four would probably take care of your needs there. There's also the SD40-2 situation, which you'd need a few of, but those take work to get to (but not as much as your M1...).

You may also want to look for some GP40-2s which are still available at places, as well as the GP38-2s (I'd suggest the Atlas ones, not the LL ones, but others may disagree).

With all of those covered, you'll probably be quite alright motive power wise.

Oh, and you may need another caboose or two, I'd suggest a Bowser N5, an N5C and a LL N4A (the NE Standard). I have one I may be able to part with... Ideally you'd want a couple bay windows too, but they're tough to find.

Anyway, that's the quick rundown on what I think you might be interested in.

[Dave V]

Down, boy!

Jeez Ed, you're more excited about this than I am!

My budget is going to need a real shot in the arm before the "massive acquisitions" begin.

My wife's reaction:  "So this is really just one more thing you can spend money on..."

Yep, that about sums it up...

[wm3798]

Don't forget your Kato F40's and gob of Botchmann Amtoobs.

re: the freight house, I would build in a permanent foundation.  The building is there in 1956, and only the foundation in 1980.  Do some really cool weeds and shopping carts... use the house track for some MOW equipment... ;D


Lee

[Wlal13again]

I have the same thing going on Dave. I have Conrail circa 1988 and PC circa 1970.

[davefoxx]

I like it, Dave!  Perhaps a nice addition to your website would be "before" and "after" pictures, showing the changes that are to have occurred between 1956 and 1980.  That would establish a history to the layout and demonstrate the passing of time of the going concern, despite a failed merger, bankruptcy, and takeover by the federal government.  I remember Model Railroader doing an article where the author took pictures of the same scene three or four times, each with a different era.  Not too often that people model the fourth dimension!

Dave Foxx
Rising Sun, Maryland

[Wlal13again]

One thing I was thinking about was the signage on my town structures. Business` changed in my home town during that time, what I did was use signs that could be used in both eras. 1980 you could use paint out locos and cars, adding some more variety...

[Dave V]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

A challenge will be the signage and the road markings.

Right now my layout has 1950s-style traffic control; white street dividers and yellow stop signs.

Now, the 1954 Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices permitted red stop signs for the first time.  So, I can go red in 1956, although most signs were probably still yellow at that time.  The dividing line on the road is probably a wash; I'll have to leave it white.

Chances are I'll need at least one or two town structures to swap out...  Figure maybe a fast food joint or something.

I like the idea of leaving just the foundation of the freight station, and turning the platform into a public team track.

For the Machine Tool factory I might be able to have a pre-fab 70's add-on section (I have room) with a 70's sign on it.

The covered platform across from the depot may instead become an Amshack.

All cool ideas.

[wm3798]

The Conrail Krishnas have gotten to you, Dave!


Would you like a blue flower?

Lee Rahjah Mayhemi

[Dave V]

Hare Conrail Hare Conrail
Conrail Conrail Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Guess what...!

I got a fever!

...and the only perscription...

is MORE CONRAIL!!!

[bradb]

Hi Dave-

I think this is a great idea.  Since I've decided to model the early 2000's I'd resigned myself to missing some of the good stuff from the early 70's (I'm thinking the variety of consists in the early Amtrak days, not disco).  A solution like yours gives a person the best of both worlds and if done right, an incredible amount of flexibility.

This may be a bit more drastic than you intend, but are you going to build a new layout or modify your existing one?

If you're building a new layout, have you considered a more modular approach, like oNeTrak?  I suggest that because:

1) You could configure your layout to fit the space you have available - maybe make a half-dozen modules and in times like now, when you're prepping to move, pack everything up except maybe 2 modules so you have something to use in the interim.

2) I've seen a thread somewhere where a guy was building modules that had removable scenery sections (maybe 8" square) that he could take to shows and be able to easily change the look (so people don't get bored with the same old thing).  This would be more complicated than a few removable structures but gives you quite a bit of flexibility.

And probably the biggest advantage of all (and the only thing you can't do even with your existing door layout):

3) More flexibility in changing the trackplan itself by swapping out modules.  Not all of them, maybe one or two.  If the structures and most of the bigger details were removable, you could share them between modules.  I guess I think it'd be pretty cool to have one module with a bunch of rail-served businesses vs another with abandoned sidings and boarded up loading docks, some of them even out of business.

I'm not sure any of the above is desirable and probably needlessly complicated, but it's food for thought.

I'd also think about having removable signage - not all of it, just a few.  I think it would make a big impact to feature one or two period billboards or some such to help the viewer get a better "feel" for the time being represented.  Oh yeah, don't about the possibility of changing the automotive traffic too.

Finally (and probably the most useful part of this post), not to pimp any other sites or anything, but if you go to trainboard check out Jon Grant's "Sweethome Chicago" modules.  I know I've seen some threads where he backdated his layout from the 50's (I think, I'm not sure) to the 1930's.  He has posted a few picture heavy threads about the backdate process that while not exactly what you are doing may help give you some insight.

Again, a great idea regardless of how it's implemented and I eagerly await your progress.  Something I'm going to keep in the back of my mind for my own work.

Brad.

[Dave V]

Brad,

Thanks!  I don't plan to build a new layout...  the idea is to find a way to keep the current one interesting for the next few years.  I may end up relaying the track with code 55, but I don't think I'd change the plan too much (except maybe a second crossover).

[Greyryder]

For businesses that have changed over the years, Swappable signs, would be fairly easy to pull off. Free standing signs could use the old headphone mini-jack trick to plug in securely. Flat signs on the sides of building could glued to a thin piece of sheet steel, and held to the building with a magnet glued to the inside of the wall. If the business name is painted on the wall, just go a for a magnetic sign that goes over it. Having a bit of an old owner's name visible gives the building a nice sense of history.