A Switching Layout in HO - Part IV

I've been pretty tied up with school and work since my last update, however I was able to make some progress on the layout yesterday.  I removed the old plywood that Chris has used as a base and installed new stuff.  In the process, I decided to bring the layout to a total depth of 18" so that the tracks aren't right on the edge.  Now the dimensions are 7' x 1.5'.

I have most of the track down at this point.  I'm going to have to pick up a couple of sections of Code 40 rail to finish off the back engine storage line and "spur" lines.

Thankfully, the joints all line up and the rolling stock moves freely across them.  Unfortunatly, this area also has the highest number of tracks.   Clearly, I underestimated the grading on this siding and I'll have to rework the ties.

A Switching Layout in HO - Part III

Every day more and more of Chris's original vision is lost as more and more of mine is gained.  I was however able to salvage all of his roadbed/track work as one piece (other than where I am changing the gauge from Code 40 to Code 100, in that case the rail and roadbed will be used separately)  After getting a little carried away at yesterday's switch building clinic in Summerside I decided to use my extra switch to incorporate a public siding at the right end of the layout as indicated on the updated map below.

Although not all the rail is laid, you can see how the runaround track will work:

Here is a view of that Public Siding, made mostly from roadbed salvaged from where the new left hand switch is located

A Switching Layout in HO - Part II

Between tonight and Tuesday I was able to make some real progress with the layout.  I have all of the Code 100 rail laid on one half and only have the points and one frog left on the two switches.  Overall, I am very pleased with how this is progressing.

My attempt at "continuous welded rail" in HO.  Actually, I really don't like the look of rail joiners and since there is only a small amount of track here I can focus on the details.  I plan to add styrene fishplates at a later date.

The "joint" for the two halves is clearly visible here.  The blue ties will be replaced by copper ones for added strenght.

Just by luck, there isn't a turnout in sight at 3.5' thankfully.

Some more creative rail joints - all credit goes to Mears for the suggestion.  I had to join code 100 and code 40 rail so I cut a code 40 rail joiner into four pieces and soldered the code 40 rail on top of the cut joiner to raise the rail head to the code 100 height.  

A Switching Layout in HO

Chris got bored with whatever he was working on (in this case, his most recent switching layout) and tried to send it off to the first bidder.  This time, I was lucky as the item in question seemed to be up for grabs internally before it hit his blog.  Long story short, I received Chris's switching layout consisting of beautifully handlaid Code 40 track.  After a little mix up in getting it home (half went up to Kensington while the other half stayed in Charlottetown) I finally got it home a couple of weeks ago.

The downside is that I think I'm beginning to develop to many projects, looking at my uncompleted layout as well as the pile of locomotive and freight car projects on the be.  Since I have everything on hand I hope to have this finished before the start of fly fishing in mid-April.

Last night I finally had the chance to work on it.  Since it was cut in half, I decided to straighten it out and add in a section to being it to an overall lenght of 7'.  I plan to build the front/back out to around a foot and a half once all is said and done.  The layout will separate in the middle for easy transport.  I will mount a backdrop of masonite 1.5' high on the back decorated with photos of the Appalachian Mountains, taken around Nouvelle, on the Gaspe Peninsula.  After thinking about it, I ended up with the following track plan:

The idea of the "spur to nowhere" is basically to act as a lead into the engine storage and will disappear into the scenery behind the warehouse.  The mainline in green will be handlaid code 100 track whereas everything else will be code 40.  Last night I was able to create a mockup and lay most of the ties.

In this view it is really easy to see how much of Chris's original plan will be retained and what will be changed.

Tonight I laid 1/4 of the total code 100 rail left to be laid.  I also removed all of the code 40 that was on the present mainline and salavaged it for the sidings.  The difference in rail height should provide for an interesting comparison.

Hunter River Mill Update

Here are some updated photos of the mill.  I suspect I will be stalled out on this one for a while now as I need to make the many Purina signs as well as windows and doors.

Hunter River Feed Mill

A while back I decided that I wanted to build a model of the Hunter River feed mill, which was serviced by the PEI railroad.  The mill was serviced right up until 1989 and burned in 2000.  I have little memory of it.

After many back and fourth emails between myself, Chris Mears and Steve Hunter I received some great photos of the mill pre and post renovations which took place in late 1989.  Originally the mill was finished in ashpalt brick siding which was covered with blue tin.  The roof appears to be plain silver painted tin.

This is a link to some of Chris's photos:
http://princestreet.wordpress.com/category/pei-railway/borden-subdivision/hunter-river/

Here is where I am at.

The property itself is still owned by the same company however a much smaller complex currently exists today.  I took a drive out this past Sunday, hoping to measure the foundation, however it has been covered over so the building is roughly to scale...although I think I made the elevator too high.

Operating on the Bayside and Tidewater

I would really like to start posting on this again.  I think I might try to keep it to a weekly post from here on out.

In addition to Canadisle Rail just outside of Kensington, there is a second layout in Summerside which we routinely operate on.  Our group rotates between the two on Sunday nights.  Scott Jay models CP loosely in the 1950's-1960's and has a very nice operation in his basement - namely the Bayside and Tidewater.

Here are some photos which highlight the main areas of Scott's layout.

-----

Derwin's Drop

------

Kenville

-----

Chappleton

-----

Tidewater Yard

-----

Stephenville

-----

Bayside Yard

The layout consists of two yards -  Bayside and Tidewater - as well as several trains, in no particular order:



Mainline Trains

West One - departs Bayside Yard, runs to Tidewater Yard.  The operator runs around his train and returns to Bayside Yard as West Two
East One - departs Tidewater Yard at the beginning of the session and runs to Bayside Yard where the operator runs around his train, returning to Tidewater Yard.

Locals

There is one local in each of the four towns -Chappleton-Kenville-Derwin's Drop-Stephenville- which set out cars for the two mainline freights and put away cars which are dropped off for the various industries.

Misc Trains

Milk Train - usually a string of wood reefers, hauled by two steam locomotives.  Scott runs this train at the beginning of the session, which starts and terminates in Wholinthol
US Interchange -starts mid session, basically picking up interchange cars from both yards.  It is hauled by three B&M RS-3's
Yard Transfer - takes place mid session between the two yards.
Coal Peddler - typically steam powered, usually runs to the mine in Derwin's Drop and terminates in Wholinthol


Clearly, operations were in mind when he designed this layout.  Unlike Derwin's Canadisle Rail, Scotts layout is not point to point, although he has the option to do so through an out-of-sight turnout.  Scott also has hidden staging in Wholinthol (hole in the wall) where the tracks pass out of sight into staging in his work space.