Essex Branch HO v5. Guilford in the 90's- a new beginning

[packers#1]

Looks good, I like the variety! One other industry you could consider is a waste paper recycler who receives baled scrap paper in boxcars; they’re all over the place here in Tennessee but I have to imagine they can be all over

[nuno81291]

So after some more brainstorming, and discussion with the CFO we have an exploratory research into a living space redesign. Out in my converted garage studio is half my home office/studio, and half is a workout area, misc storage. We decided that this may be able to be consolidated into the current layout room, giving both of us expanded room for our respective hobbies. I have been drafting up a few plans but this seems to be the best revision so far:




For a quick description: it is the same theme, it utilizes existing shelving on the entire plans right wall and lower L. The left most peninsula and center would be built freestanding and modular. There is access to the left peninsula from behind it, that is the music area however I have large tapestries dividing this space. I have room to run a 5 or so track staging yard ~10 feet which could store my MBTA and Amtrak gear for Ops sessions. The yard is a work in progress, no track finalized there just roughing. There is 2 industrial spurs, loosely based on local industries. There is also a downtown scene with a station adjacent to a larger bridge scene.

So far I have to say the idea is ticking off a lot of my wants. There is enough room to make a sizeable yard, with lots of breathing room for the industrial branches. I have included a continuous run connection in the form of the lift/hinge section. I envision passenger trains will enter from the stub ended staging, the MBTA stopping at the station in Essex Yard, which is based loosely on Lawrence MA. The Amtrak will pass this station, continue to Essex which will be a station stop for both it and the MBTA. I will treat this as a terminal station, and will then in OPS plan to shove both trains back through Essex Yard to staging. This would be based on Rutland VT where an Amtrak train terminates, as well as Haverhill MA where MBTA trains terminate, or any of the smaller North side terminal stations out of BON. I particularly like that there is a lot of breathing room for the industries, I included blocks to represent 85' and 50' cars respectively.

This isnt a final plan by any means, I would like to include a team track, or include the LPG dist. by the yard instead of the lumber yard. Ideally i could fit in an interesting Rock Salt spur that is part of LaValleys in Claremont NH. I don't have a strict prototype nailed for that one yet. Behind the left branch backdrop I included a staging track for freight. Figuring I would be able to put about a 20 x 50' car train there, perhaps I make it a few tracks and a bit wider so I can put a couple of novelty trains like Unit trains which are common to see such as the ballast train from NHN that comes by locally via Pan AM.

Time to play around with the yard area. I am considering putting a dedicated lead so I can recreate the videos and in person rail fanning I would do in Lawrence and seeing a train being built up while MBTA and AMTRAK rolled on by. I am trying to root elements of the layout from local lines so it is hopefully cohesive enough to maintain my interest through construction, not too cramped, and has lots of opportunity for scenery, industrial switching, yard switching, lite passenger ops, mixing urban and suburban localities.  Very Excited for the future of the Essex!

[nuno81291]

Here is a rendition if Essex is adjacent to the yard. This could be advantageous thinking that the continuous run setup can be seen 360* and not be around a backdrop/divider. This then puts the 2 industrial branches on the left side of the plan, seeming for a longer run from the yard for the local freight. I included a yard lead in this plan, a MOW scrap area, and team track in the yard. I am a total noob with yard design, but my goal is to be able to work the yard without fouling the main. I may get rid of the bottom crossover so an incoming terminating freights power would have to foul the main to run up the ladder to the engine facility. I do however intend to work the yard from one side, like Lawrence IRL. So it would be nice to retain the lead just for the burned in my mind image of the Yard switcher being at work while commuter traffic rolls on through. My last layout that I went for a single main line without a yard lead felt limiting in this somewhat urban appeal. I am saving the suburban for Essex station, and the industrial branches. Any critique of the track plan is welcome!

[packers#1]

I would consider  flipping the industrial branch spurs to all face the same way; as it is now, you’ll constantly work an industry, then leave, or have cars either side of the locomotive. It can be more switching fun when they’re all the same way because blocking and multiple moves come into play more. Otherwise I dig it

[nuno81291]

That is a great point! Why didn’t I think of that  thanks!

[wazzou]

Yeah, I was going to mention that or have a runaround on the left side somewhere.  It would be cool if you could shoehorn a Wye into the top center too.

[nuno81291]

Here is a rendering with the industries facing the same way. While I would like a runaround, few of the branches around here had them toward the end of their service. I am thinking that a shoving platform, FRED or EOT could be a good way to handle this, as well as add a bit of work for assembling a local.  I am not sure I have room enough to squeeze a wye in, but it got me to thinking about modeling a detached side used as an industrial spur, the Claremont Concord used the south leg of their wye as a LPG unloading spot IIRC.

[wazzou]

Yeah, the only way I could envision the Wye, would be to have it diverge from the main and cross the Beer Distributor lead, but you do have a lot of roads there to deal with.

[nuno81291]

The roads are just a rough place holder. I have collected a decent amount of shops and service sort of buildings that need a place to go, so drew in some lines for that. I am hesitant about a crossing and a wye as I have never dealt with wiring that configuration, and am adverse to handlaying.

[nuno81291]

Ok so I know this thread is useless without pics but I’ve gotten the benchwork largely finished. Any ideas of changes to the track plan before I start getting a lay of the land with the last plan? I figure having facing point industries  gives me the longest effective use of these branches as is. I have changed my plan a bit to have all of staging be on the left peninsula maybe 4 or 5 tracks and it will barrow the depth of the on scene branch, which is alright with me. I think about a foot is all you need for a convincing branch scene when relying on photo backdrops, less square footage to be bothered with is also a plus. Getting pumped up for next weeks free time I can start laying track.

[OldEastRR]

If you can deal with a narrow staging area behind the lumber yard, why not add another staging track between double backdrops down the center of the peninsula? With some effort you could even have that track part of the loop that runs across the liftout section. You could stage a complete train that simulates coming in from either end of the layout. Even an Amtrak one.

[nuno81291]

The Essex has come back swinging with the largest layout yet. Some in progress benchwork photos to stoke the fire. The shelves on the right were existing as stated above, built by my father and I don’t have the heart to rip them out so we designed around them. This puts the layout at about chin level, perfect for railfanning. a step stool necessary for yard ops. The backdrop frames in the peninsulas are just what came off the old layout and will need to be expanded. I checked and I can get a 5 track staging yard as shown on the left. The yard will be a bit complex to frame above the existing shelf, and adds quite a bit of turnouts so I intend to lay track on the rest of the layout while the hobby budget gets a rest before I buy a ton of track. And before anyone asks, yes the legs will be cut to height, left them on to get a final level before they get chopped.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The one thing that stands out in those photos is that you're gonna need WAY more light.

May I recommend the LED light strips from Amazon like these?
https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Integrated-Fixture-Utility-Electric/dp/B01HBT3BVM/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2R9DEZOO5X4V9&keywords=led+lights&qid=1553181226&s=gateway&sprefix=led%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-8

[nuno81291]

Thanks for the link, was thinking something along those lines hung from the ceiling versus an all out valence. However I am still considering a valence as if it is beefy enough could be lightweight storage above. Like George Carlin said we have our stuff and our *****! Always need more room for more stuff.

[wazzou]

Thanks for the link, was thinking something along those lines hung from the ceiling versus an all out valence. However I am still considering a valence as if it is beefy enough could be lightweight storage above. Like George Carlin said we have our stuff and our *****! Always need more room for more stuff.

You'll definitely find that the valance will focus the light on the trains which is the goal.