Amoskeag Northern - Conrail Portland (PRO&C) Line Engineering Thread

[PRRATSF]

Ian,
The idea for your ceiling sounds like a project I undertook while renovating our 200 yr. old log home. What is now our dining room was once an out kitchen that was added in the 40s, when indoor plumbing was added to the house. I needed to make the ceiling accessible for the bathroom plumbing above, but wanted more than a typical drop ceiling. I came across an Amish company that deals in recycled timbers and framed the ceiling out in 4x6s and spaced them on 2' centers to mimic floor joist. the upper edges are rabbeted to accept tongue and groove panels that gives the impression of the sub floor above. everything is removable for convenient access. looking forward to seeing how your project turns out.

Sam   

[BOK]

Ian I am amazed at your progress both re-modeling the basement and building the layout. I am impressed by how much you get done in such a short time with work and family responsibilities too. At 66 years old I look for smaller tasks to try and complete and leave the larger ones for guys like you.

Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your progress.

Barry

[Specter3]

Oooo brick and exposed lumber, that sounds oh so neat. I cant wait to see it!

[VirginaCSX]

Awesome progress, sir! Still, it's kind of spooky to see a fairly substantial layout being built from a Version 1.0 track plan, with no revisions... 

David, what you have to understand about Ian is that he doesn't worry about making changes on paper as he will make whole revision on the layout.  I've heard that he has redone significant portions of his past layouts (multiple times).  So just wait.

[DKS]

I've heard that he has redone significant portions of his past layouts (multiple times).

Oh, like this layout?--



--which would have looked like this if he didn't have to move?--



Funny, I designed that one, too...

...as well as this one...



...and this one.



So Ian and I do have a bit of history together.

[Bsklarski]

Oh, like this layout?--

That layout will never die. It will be used when I get my space in the new place. Palmer to Westfield. Well elements will be uesd.

[3DTrains]

Still one of my favorite plans of any size.

Cheers!
Marc - Riverside

[Scottl]

There will be enough plans and back story for an e-book soon!

[nscalemike]

...as well as this one...

I also really like this plan.

Mike

[MichaelWinicki]

I also really like this plan.

Mike

It's amazing how many operators you could keep busy with a plan like that, given that it's not a huge layout.

You could have one person just in charge of the staging yards... Rearranging trains... swopping cars on & off.

Tremendous operating potential.

[Ian MacMillan]

It's amazing how many operators you could keep busy with a plan like that, given that it's not a huge layout.

You could have one person just in charge of the staging yards... Rearranging trains... swopping cars on & off.

Tremendous operating potential.

It was one of my favorite DKS plans. It was a blast build and just as fun to operate. It was a rendition of that plan...I believe it was revision 3b that eventually made it into the Simonds Industrial Branch that I took to several shows for 2 years. We could easily run 3 operators on the front. 2 main line, 1 local with no issues what so ever.  With the new baby on the way, I do not foresee me having the time to do shows for quite some time. I offered up the layout to someone who will give it a home, but there's not much interest out there, so I will be taking some things off of it and using it on the new layout. I'm planning on building a small diorama using the concrete mill with the half billboard.










This plan is still epic; Always was and always will be. I did actually built 8' of that layout before the divorce and the resulting fall out from it began. Hindsight is 20/20 and if I had known what I know now I would have fought to keep that house so that I could have at least attempted to sell it, instead of letting the other half letting it foreclose.  However. That basement taught me many things in model railroading, such as that basement, and eventually that size trackplan is just too much for one person to handle.  I did create some nice scenes on that very first layout though.





I am very pleased with the plan that DKS has come up for the new layout. Its a perfect blend of a large N scale layout, and a size that is realistic in accomplishing anything on it. Yes there are a few changes I would like to make to the East end of it but it fits the bill of what I want to a T.

I am appreciative of DKS and his banging out plans for me. I've built them all pretty much to a point, and had to take them down for whatever reasons, but he's done them all without a hit of complaint that he is...yet again...drawing me another plan.

Ian, if you're still looking for Atlas C55 flex, Charles Ro has plenty. After finding the sole vendor at Springfield who had some, and buying his last 12 pieces, I found the balance if what I need at Ro's this past weekend - I literally stumbled over the box sitting on the floor! Might be worth the trip down.

Wow for a shop that told me 5 years ago that they did not carry Atlas C55 because "no one uses it" I'm shocked to see they have any at all! I may have to send Dupsey over there to get more.

Ian I am amazed at your progress both re-modeling the basement and building the layout. I am impressed by how much you get done in such a short time with work and family responsibilities too. At 66 years old I look for smaller tasks to try and complete and leave the larger ones for guys like you.

Pressure gets things done. I was given deadlines on things being done in the basement....and you don't argue with pregnant woman. My other kids are also older, 9,7,5 so they are are school all day, and I work nights, so I have plenty of alone time currently to get in the groove on a project and work without distractions.

[nscalemike]

The plan from DKS was great, but the execution of it was equally impressive.   This was a great shot of many:

And all these were some of the first pictures that got me hooked onto Railwire. 

I have always enjoyed your construction progress pics and I see no reason why the new project will be any different.   Thanks for taking us all along for the ride!

Mike

[S Class]

I offered up the layout to someone who will give it a home, but there's not much interest out there, so I will be taking some things off of it and using it on the new layout.

I'm really sorry to hear that.

Sure Ed K doesn't have space for a third layout in his basement? 

[Bsklarski]

Are you really selling that old layout Ian?

[mcjaco]

I offered up the layout to someone who will give it a home, but there's not much interest out there, so I will be taking some things off of it and using it on the new layout. I'm planning on building a small diorama using the concrete mill with the half billboard.

Wish you lived closer, I'd be (and am) interested.