N Scale Hi Rail - Retro Hollow Core Door Layout

[wm3798]

Let me know if Hagerstown needs to be repatriated. Work + audition prep has done more than a break check on my plans for a shelf yard in the garage.

I'll keep you posted...

Lee

[PiperguyUMD]

I'll keep you posted...

Lee

🫡

[wm3798]

I do still have the corner module that fits the roundhouse.  It can easily be configured into the proposed layout plan, and I'm presently tinkering with several variations.
If you don't think you can use it, we can make the necessary arrangements @PiperguyUMD .
No hurry.  It will likely be the fall before anything significant happens.

Lee

[PiperguyUMD]

I do still have the corner module that fits the roundhouse.  It can easily be configured into the proposed layout plan, and I'm presently tinkering with several variations.
If you don't think you can use it, we can make the necessary arrangements @PiperguyUMD .
No hurry.  It will likely be the fall before anything significant happens.

Lee

I can absolutely use it, I just feel bad that I haven't had a chance to incorporate it yet. So if your plans change before I plant it, I think its perfectly fair if you want it back. Did I inadvertently kick off a layout building race 🤔

On another topic, I saw your LV baggage car. I sent you a WM RPO print right? That would be a savvy acquisition by the LV management after the WM canned the mail contracts.

[wm3798]

I can absolutely use it, I just feel bad that I haven't had a chance to incorporate it yet. So if your plans change before I plant it, I think its perfectly fair if you want it back. Did I inadvertently kick off a layout building race 🤔

On another topic, I saw your LV baggage car. I sent you a WM RPO print right? That would be a savvy acquisition by the LV management after the WM canned the mail contracts.

I have a back up roundhouse carcass tha I snagged at N scale weekend that's probably more right sized for what I'm planning.  I'm presently redrafting plans I used to build more of an Elkins style building with maybe 9 or 10 stalls.  (The LRV steam fleet now stands at 10 including switchers)

Yes, the WM mail car is on the to do list.  But  I plan to use the excellent decals that came with it.   I even have the MT car for donor parts.  Just need one of them Round Tuits.
Lee

[wm3798]

Will  there be an opportunity for Cornersville to be resurrected? Obviously on a corner?
And are you keeping the original backdrop in place?

@OldEastRR I dare say so.  In fact, I can reasonably expect to expand it, and perhaps even add a two-level depot that serves both lines.  I definitely want to create a space for that original dental resin Magnuson Models Merchant's Row.  Although in the new configuration it would be less of a corner, I suppose.

In other news, I've identified a potential base cabinet to carry part of the new work.  It's a 42" tall oversize wall corner cabinet at my local ReStore, which exactly mimics the shape of the Roundhouse module.


It would also start to solve some of my immediate storage problems.  The trick is going to be working around it as I work on the basement finishes, but I've resolved nonetheless to buy it if it's still available when I go back this week.  It's a bit of an odd duck, and not associated with a kitchen set, so I anticipate it will be.  If not, that's the hand of God at work, and I'll accept my fate!

Stay tuned for further developments.
Lee

[OldEastRR]

No worry about the town names. I'm sure there are plenty of towns in the SE that are named "Something=or=other Corners", so be it. the point is the town itself will be recreated in its compactness, I assume. I just liked how the streets and buildings and tracks fit together so photogenically.

[wm3798]

This is major.  This is real!

The beginning of my Island Paradise!

I picked up that cabinet from the Hagerstownn ReStore, and it's absof#ckinglutely perfect!



Lee

[wm3798]

The new cabinet offers tons of storage, as well.




I think this is the start of something that will be very nice, indeed.

Lee

[wm3798]

Before you get too far in front of yourself, you have to take care of your modeling space.


I'm building the bulkhead/lighting valance in my basement now.

Finish the room first!
Lee

[Dave V]

Don't forget a smoke detector...   

[dem34]

And remember, A pack of dimmable can lights saves a lot of eyestrain down the line.

[wm3798]

Framing is all done,  and yes, there will be six can lights illuminating the layout.


There is less tha 4 feet between the ceiling and the layout.   Should be plenty bright!
Lee

[wm3798]

Okay, with the ceiling framed up, I know I can center the island layout under it nicely, although the column will be in play.  I plan to wrap the column in some wood t/g boards so that A. it's attractive, and B. I can snake wire down and have a couple of outlets at the bottom to power the layout.  I have to check my panel, but I think I can run a dedicated 20 amp circuit to do the job, giving the layout a breaker of its own.

With the location determined, I now have a footprint to work with.



I can probably stretch it to 10' in length, but side to side is locked, and might actually be a bit wider than it should be, but the width is based on preserving the existing HCD.  (the length of that is 82" because I tacked a piece of 2" foam to the end with the station platforms)

The turntable module is what it is, the hole is centered in a platform that's roughly 36" deep and about 66" point to point.  It's prewired for the kit that I have, and I'd rather not futz with it.  Plus, once I add the roundhouse to one side, it's in a good location to add some service tracks as well as a yard lead off to the side opposite of the roundhouse.

Here's the lay of the land, showing the platform centered under the bulkhead.  The disc indicates the turntable location, and the existing skyboard is in place.





The alternate shift 12" toward the bar would open up a bit more floor space on the family room side.  There's only about 12' between the layout and the wall, and once the couch and a coffee table go in, it's a bit pinched.  One option is push the couch right back to the layout, then shuffle it into the room when company comes to run trains, but this would require a bit of difficultish to access track, even along the front edge, and I'm hoping to avoid that.

Another option would be to rotate the arrangement so the HCD runs along the long side, reducing the overall width to about 5'6", which would  require re-thinking how the layout currently sits over my workbench, which I really like, because there's enough room on either side of the desk for storing stuff you always want close at hand by the workbench.  (paints, tools, random parts etc.)  Plus, putting that at the far end by the patio doors means that you aren't looking at my junky workbench first thing when you come downstairs like you do now.  I would also have to rework one end of the layout to connect the HCD directly to the turntable module, which really works well at the near end with the cabinet.

Those are the givens, here's the druthers.

• 1.  Preserve the current scenic side of the existing layout.
  2.  Maintain two separate main lines, upper and lower, but hopefully work in a new connecting track, not for regular running, just to be able switch trains up and down.
  3.  I really like my collection of passenger trains.  I see the curving platforms at PawPaw remaining intact, but straightening out on the other side of the tunnel.  A proper siding should be about 42 to 48" long to accommodate a 6 car train with a big steamer or a pair of E8s.  With the existing scene divider, the straight end could be modeled as a different station, with maybe two more stub tracks to store a couple of extra trains.
  4.  I'll want at least a 4 track yard, with maybe 36 to 42" tracks for assembling freight trains.  That should actually be up on the upper level, since that will be the Laurel Valley terminal with the interchange track winding down to the B&O connection in the vicinity of the roundhouse/passenger station.  I'll put either a small engine house or the little Arnold manual turntable at the LRV terminal to deal with the smaller steam, with the big guys having to go down to the B&O facility to be turned.
  5.  My primary mode of operating will still be roundy roundy, so the yards really just need to be rudimentary storage tracks.  As long as there's a siding long enough to assemble a 12 to 15 car train that can depart in either direction, I'm good.  With the scenery focus being the existing river scenes, the new turntable module, and the storage tracks for freight and passenger trains, I don't anticipate much in the way of exotic scenery or large urban scenes, and very limited switching (although I'd like to add just a bit for interest) because I don't think I'll have room for it.
  6.  I want all of the track accessible and within a 24" reach from the aisle.  Since the layout is relatively tall, (nominally 48"... good height for a bar layout... there will be accommodations for cocktail glasses built into the fascia ) the horizontal reach will be limited to arm's length.  I'm toying with the idea of using the space behind the existing skyboard to build a quarry with some spur tracks to back into, but I'm hoping to avoid any main line running that I can't reach.
  7.  Minimum radius on the low line should be 12 or better, (the innermost loop at PawPaw is 11, if I remember correctly... that's the freight track!)  Minimum on the upper level can be 11.  I plan to use c80 Peco turnouts and Atlas flex (since I have a box of that stuff in hand) but might look at Unitrak because it's fun to play and plan with.  And yes, my retro fleet of locomotives and rolling stock will remain my primary cast of characters, operating with DC cab control.

So... I inquire among the faithful, what suggestions can you offer? 
I've attached a handy 1"=1' scale PDF you can print out and doodle on if you're so inclined.

There's no hurry, I still have a ton of work to do to make the space ready, but once it is, I'll be off and running.
Thanks for your interest.

It may be time to launch a new Engineering Report, but I think I'll wait till I actually have ... dare I say it... a concept of a plan .

Lee

[OldEastRR]

Which parts of this layout will be up against a wall? And are you keeping the awkwardly long Unitrack 2-level extension?