Proto:87 Redux - A Test Bed Shelf Layout

[ednadolski]

I've been dabbling more lately with my Proto:87 stuff and decided to build a test bed project layout.  I am putting this together without much planning and trying to make use of the track and rolling stock that I have on hand.  To keep it simple, I'm going for a more generic look with passable scenery and not a more faithful representation of any prototype.

I'm now at the point where things are operational, and a bit of scenery has gone in, but I have become somewhat stuck in trying to figure out what sort of industries might be feasible with the cars that I have.  I might just stick some sort of warehouse along the back track and call the rest of it a transload, or perhaps a building materials distributor.   Any thoughts/suggestions?

One thing I'm expecting to add is the Rapido 73' centerbeams when they release.

EDIT - 04-24-2023 - Fixed broken image links











Quick vid of the Athearn Genesis GP9 converted to P:87.   Not sure if I might patch or re-paint this unit.

Cheers,
Ed

[packers#1]

Hey Ed, that layout looks pretty similar to a Home Depot DC, specifically the one on the SMS rail lines in New Jersey. It’s got a pad with a couple tracks for centerbeams etc, and a building for drywall and what not. Lumber in center beams (and probably bulkhead flats) with drywall and other bulk goods to the side of the building in boxcars. Other than how you’ve got warehouse behind with with the of in front, it fits pretty well, and what you’ve got set up looks perfect for a corner of a big industrial park/lead. Trains.com had a paywalled video of SMS switching hint it but you can always make an email and do a free trial to watch it. Here’s a maps link to the DC: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oX5tp7eUjsTVwKUc8?g_st=ic

Otherwise, cool start; I’ve kicked around the idea of doing a P:87 shortline along with an N scale Interstate RR in my next house, but for now N scale makes the most sense for my space.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like the weird IAIS geep.

I have a big soft spot in my heart for the IAIS because its owner Henry Posner is a hell of a dude.

[Ted Thorson]

What was involved with converting the GP9 to Proto 87?  Just changing the wheelsets?

[DirtyD79]

The bulkhead flats, centerbeam, and gon would all be great for a building materials distributor. For the covered hoppers I'd say get either the Walthers bulk materials conveyor or their modern loading racks to transfer whatever the covered hoppers are hauling to trucks.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The bulkhead flats, centerbeam, and gon would all be great for a building materials distributor. For the covered hoppers I'd say get either the Walthers bulk materials conveyor or their modern loading racks to transfer whatever the covered hoppers are hauling to trucks.

Just some vac setups and a couple of those dry bulk trailers.

Ed, if you feel the need to start switching this with a P87 steamer... check out Strasburg's transload setup.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Strasburg+Rail+Road/@39.983777,-76.1580881,193m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c639eb5d0e7f53:0x22060f7dcde3cf03!8m2!3d39.9829796!4d-76.1607054

[ednadolski]

Thanks all, interesting thoughts about doing a distro center.   Another possibility could be to use the FG track an an interchange, perhaps with the BNSF or UP, but I am not sure how well that might work out.

What was involved with converting the GP9 to Proto 87?  Just changing the wheelsets?

Pretty much, similar to this:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=30117.msg328737#msg328737

I like the weird IAIS geep.

I think the real IAIS 306 is now in a RR museum as WP 731:  https://www.iaisrailfans.org/info/IAIS306



I'm thinking to weather/detail/patch it with an alternate history of being sold to a Denver-area regional short line and modernized (hence I justified adding the ditch lights, tho the real reason is that I like ditch lights).  Probably would be a bit less distressed than than museum pic.

Ed

[ednadolski]

YT vid of the IAIS 306 ca. 1989..... looks like I've got to change my horn sound for a better match.

[crrcoal]

That's the best sounding HO diesel I've heard to date! All on board sound? If so what speaker/s are you using? Or is it the under layout sound set up like Lance Mindheim talked about? Great work!!

[ednadolski]

@crrcoal  it's actually both.   There is the usual onboard sound with the Loksound v5 decoder and a pair of cellphone-style speakers, plus an identical, stationary decoder with the same sound file set to the same loco address and connected (thru an AOT) to the input of a standalone (Bose) computer speaker system.  I set the stationary decoder so that it only emits the prime mover sound, so no horn, bell, air, etc. sounds come from that. I try to adjust the volume of both so that (a) they are not too loud, and (b) the speaker-driven sound does not overpowering the sound from the onboard decoder.  (Better to set them on the quiet side, then only increase levels if really needed.)

One other thing, the stationary decoder has to have its volume output set pretty low, otherwise the signal level going into the speaker system will be to high and become distorted/clipped.

It works well enough for a single user, shelf style layout.  I am not sure how well it would work with multiple users in proximity where the sounds could compete or become cacophonous, but any sound application would have that to deal with that.

Everything on that vid was recorded by the camera's mic, so nothing was added or overdubbed for that.

Ed

[crrcoal]

Add a proto throttle (if you dont already have one) and you have the ultimate set up. Nice layout and modeling!

[ednadolski]

My P:87 stable just added a new horse.  This is an Athearn Genesis GP39-2, with a LokSound v5 that I installed and set up for the subwoofer sound and ProtoThrottle control.  This comes with the factory-weathered paint job showing the fading and the patches.  I am (of course) planning to upgrade the details and apply full weathering, in due time.
 

Proto inspiration:

Thanks for looking!

Ed

[wvgca]

how much is different from proto87 to normal 87??  i -assume- the tread widths are narrower, and the couplers themselves are a little smaller  ..i know there are differences as well on the track and turnouts but i -think- you indicated you were using 'normal' track and turnouts ??

[ednadolski]

@wvgca Proto:87 is the same as HO scale, except that the P:87 wheels are a close representation of a prototype wheel profile instead of the common/traditional NMRA RP25 wheel profile.  Basically that means the wheel tread is much more narrow (Code 64 for P:87, vs. Code 110 for RP25), and the flanges are considerably smaller.  (Couplers can be whatever you like, P:87 doesn't specify any particular kind, tho the Sergents/Inventive Models are a popular choice.)

The track gauge is the same (hence you can use the ME flextrack [1]), however the turnout dimensions are incompatible between the two -- you cannot run P:87 wheels thru NMRA turnouts, nor NMRA wheels thru P:87 turnouts.  The difference is in the frog/flangeway areas, so what I do to convert an ME turnout is replace the NMRA frog with a P:87 frog, and install new guard rails using the correct flangeway dimensions.  The conversion is not too hard, tho your first one or two likely won't work too well since it is a bit of a learning curve (like pretty most everything else).

You can also scratchbuild P:87 turnouts much the same way as any other, except that the dimensions will be different. I haven't yet tried myself, tho since P:87 dimensions are close (not identical) to N scale dimensions, I figure that if I can scratchbuild an N scale turnout then a P:87 one won't be much of a stretch (basically just using larger rail and wider gauge).

P:87 does take a bit more care to lay the track smoothly and with minimal bumps/waviness (RP25 wheels are more tolerant in that regard due to the larger flanges).  In practice I have found that this is not too hard to achieve, and it also helps to stick with the 4-axle, short wheelbase locos.  That said, my converted SD45-2 runs pretty reliably on the same track, tho it is in the paint shop at the present time

Ed

[1] Note, some other brands of commercial track may have over-sized gauge and/or a loose/sliding rail, which would be too sloppy for use with P:87.

[wvgca]

thanks for the information  .. appreciated