Cedar Creek Gravel Company

[VonRyan]

I'm interested in hearing everyone's thoughts here.

Another forum I'm on, NGRM-Online, is having their 2019/2020 challenge.
The details are pretty basic: "The challenge: Build a diorama for you to use for photographing your models."
Other than entries needing to be completed by the end of February, there's really no other constraints, and it has been said that it can be something that can be worked into a layout.

It got me to thinking about the other secondhand HO trolley module I have that I planned to use as the next portion of the layout. So I finally stripped it of all the old pavement that was on it tonight.

I drew a track arrangement on the homasote (blue) which I of course changed around after I drew it...
I planned it out using a piece of Rail Craft HO flex track to get an overall look and feel of things.

The red markings are potential marshy areas. Those sections of homasote would be cut away so that the track would be on a built-up causeway.

The other blue markings are for a possible water crossing. Marsh areas around where I grew up at are typically bisected by small waterways and such.

I'm not too sure about the marsh and river idea though. I'm tempted to just leave it flat but still stick with the revised track arrangement. The thought of having the marsh area start so close to the gravel loading area just doesn't sit well with me though. This is where I really need some insight from you folks.


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[VonRyan]

Been thinking about the plan for the second module again today.

I'm still not entirely sold on the marsh idea. I've even contemplated forgoing the bridge concept and doing just all causeway, but I'm just not sold on it.

When I consider doing the second module as just open space with likely a lot of brush, I like the idea, but then the proposed curvature of the track just seems silly to me. I could just simplify the track into a plain gentle S curve, but I'm undecided.

What's everyone else's thoughts?


Maybe I should go take a close look at the land around the gravel pit in my old stomping grounds. Maybe that'll help to solve the dilemma too.

[Missaberoad]

Examining the prototype for inspiration sounds like the best idea moving forward.

Perhaps a disused section of gravel pit would be a good focus for this module, you can include old tailing piles overgrown with vegitation and an abandoned pit where they dug down into the water table flooding the bottom.

Could justify the curvature and add a water feature. And provide a good stage for rusted out mining equipment.

[VonRyan]

As of a couple hours ago I decided to take the flat-land approach.

The initial curve at the beginning of the module will be justified by building some sort of shed/outbuilding there.
Or perhaps it'll be where I put a company office. Either way I'm thinking it'll be a stone-walled structure so I'll have to see what sort of suitable kits are out there.

The curve at the far end of the module is deliberately off center as it's the lead-in to the module which will have the pier/dock for loading barges.

[VonRyan]

I thought I made a mistake in adding my photo in the previous post as it didn't show up, but trying again in this new post isn't working either. Not sure if the problem is on the forum's end or my end.

[VonRyan]

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It's working today.

[wazzou]

Yoo Hoo and cookies to aid in the effort, I see.   

[dem34]

Yoo Hoo and cookies to aid in the effort, I see.   

Thats how you imbue the the layout with the South Jersey essence.

[VonRyan]

Yoo Hoo and cookies to aid in the effort, I see.   

No Yoo-hoo chocolate water here. That’s good ol’ chocolate milk and my mom’s homemade cookies. 
Gotta stay fueled up for faster tracklaying.

[VonRyan]

Rails are going down fast. Not soldering the joints on these ones. Instead I decided to solder a feeder wire to every piece of rail.

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[wm3798]

That's going to look good, and that's also an excellent premise for a Railwire Challenge.  It's not scale specific, era specific, geography specific, and, best of all, it's not a boat!  Might be a good way to get some of our armchair lurkers to put some of what they've learned into practice...

I'll get that whipped up and posted directly.

Lee

[VonRyan]

So with all the rails affixed on the second module...

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...I’m now turning my attention to some scenery.

So for the heck of it I just spread some Scenic Express “fine” grade dark cinder blend on a part of my layout. But I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.

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Being that I’m modeling an extremely small gravel pit operation in and around the 1930s or so, I’m thinking that a “true ballast” of cinders would be a bit much for this rather minuscule line. Instead, I’m thinking that maybe just going with plain ol’ dirt would be more appropriate.

What are your thoughts?

[Philip H]

Dir and gravel pit tailings.

[Hawghead]

I'd take the dirt you're going to use and mix just a little bit of cinders in so that it looked like, at one time, the track had been, at least, somewhat ballasted.  Over the years that ballast had been "pumped" into the ground and the dirt had risen to the top and replaced the original ballast.

Scott

[CRL]

This^^^^