New direction

[ATSF_Ron]

On another thread I posted that the old layout is gone and a new one (simpler and more focused) has taken its place.  Utilizing the same lumber and some exrtuded foam, I put down different track (Code 55 Micro Engineering vs. the old Kato Unitrak) with only 3 turnouts.  The region is still SoCal, but I'm leaving some flexibility for era selection.  I like the 60s-70s, as that's when/where I lived at the time, but I also like the more modern-ish era so I can run my awesome Fox Valley GP60s.  Below is a pic of the general track plan.  Everything is down except for a siding to the furniture factory at the back of the first pic ( or whatever I decide the industry will be).


This is a shelf switching layout, inspired by Lance Mindheim's LA Junction.  My location is more south and east than the LAJ and will use SP, UP, and ATSF motive power.  I've decided to go 100% DCC with frog juicers on the three turnouts.  At some point there will be a connection to the other side of the L section from the previous layout plan.  For now I'm focusing on this 20" by 8 foot section.  The past few weeks have been working out the kinks in trackwork, wiring, and running some test switching ops.  I'm very happy with what I have thus far.  Any remaining analog locos will be either converted to DCC or sold.






In these pics we see SP SD9 #4355 (DCC/sound equipped) switching some cars and heading back to the yard for another cut.  In the first pic of 4355 there is a Walthers kit behind it which will be rail served by a "dummy track" behind it.  In the very first pic near the steel ruler will be a lumber yard, with a freight house and team track beyond that.

The old lighting arrangement sucks due to storage and moisture damage, so I will be replacing the warped horizontal foam boards above the layout with some thin plywood and new LED lighting strips.  I'm very much enjoying the simplicity of this version of the layout and not worrying about trying to cram in too many features that don't really enhance operation or enjoyment.  I'm discovering that for me, less is really more!

Thanks,

ATSF_Ron

[ATSF_Ron]

No clue why that 3rd pic is upside down! 

[ATSF_Ron]

Nothing new in scenery, but more operations testing, this time in the steam era.  I love the Roundhouse steamers!  No, not fantastic in the detail department, but their running quality, although DC, is superb.  I love this little mogul with it's Sacramento Shops green paint.  Yes, I know the moguls didn't get this paint, but it looks great to me!  Overall, I'm happy with the track plan.  It's simple with only 3 turnouts, yet challenging enough for a good 30 min. op session.  Next up will be adding streets and parking lots, finishing up the buildings, and adding much needed ground cover and some signature SoCal palm trees.

ATSF_Ron

[wm3798]

Nice stuff there.  My pending design remains a roundy roundy, but I do want to include a little switching puzzle somewhere in its midst.

I also like the era flexibility you're building into it.  Will you be feeding this with a staging yard?  Or will the 0-5-0 be doing most of the time travel?
Lee

[Jesse6669]

No clue why that 3rd pic is upside down! 

My guess is it was taken with your phone?  If you turned the phone around to get a different angle, the image is "as it was taken"--you couldn't tell because most phone image software will automatically re-orient it.
The solution is to re-save it on the phone or in your computer--and it should have the new correct orientation.

[ATSF_Ron]

Lee, the old version did have a staging yard, and I will use it.  The old plan was an L shape.  The new plan is a simple 20" by 8 ft. shelf for the time being.  I will eventually reconnect it with the other part of the L that has the staging yard.  For now it's the old 0-5-0.  The staging yard section will also get a "reboot" like this current section.  I like having the era flexibility as well.  I'm a steam fanatic, so I can't NOT model that era.  But I also like the 60s/70s as I grew up.  Then of course, there's the last years of SP/UP/Santa Fe while they were still not giant mergers.  You can't have just one!  Lol!

ATSF_Ron

[ATSF_Ron]

Jesse, thanks for that info.  I'll try that next time I have an update.

ATSF_Ron