Hi All,
Newbie here.
Had a small HO circle table (4'x4') back when I was a kid and my interest was reignited recently. Since money and time now dictates I can have a little fun, I began construction of a 2' x 8' HO switching layout in November. I figured this way if my interest waned I wouldn't have got in over my head. I had very little experience with anything but DC. I did all my research and bought an NCE Powercab. Its been a simple delight to add new levels to model railroading like sound!
My 'prototype' is a small CN yard based in Saskatchewan. I took my inspiration from Symington yard in Winnipeg (albeit a MUCH smaller setup). I drew inspiration from a couple pics I saw of the hump there. I've posted a pic below. The track design I used is easily incorporated into a longer point-to-point layout should the bug ever strike me to grow it.
I have two industries, and a team track currently unfinished. The first industry (and largest) is based on the Canpotex Rail Car Maintenance Facility just outside Winnipeg. I have a good friend who runs a business 3D printing parts for other industries, and he fancied a challenge so he is currently creating the building for me. Its custom to fit my setup and is a slightly compressed version of the real thing. The real operation has 15,000m of trackage, and I've got enough space for 12 cars max - but hey, do what you can! Its currently represented by a cardboard box covered in painters' tape.
The second industry is an Ethanol and LPG distributor. I'm in the process of building the unloading racks now and used a Walthers kit that came fairly close to the prototype I viewed locally at a small chemical company where I live.
The team track will be rotated with box car, wood load, and flat car traffic as switch list dictates. I've taken a keen interest in the actual operations and am currently creating a card system to really add some realism.
My roster is currently about 15 cars and one loco. I plan to purchase two more locos (to represent actual inbound local freight) and continue to use my Rapido GMD-1 as switcher in the yard. I am also currently assembling my staging cassette or fiddle yard that will clamp onto the West end of my layout.
I'm not working in any particular order and just creating as the inspiration strikes me.
Comments welcome. Just wanted to say hi and share the fun I've been having. Pics below.
R
View from West end
Wider view from West
Staff crossing at extreme east end
Tanker Unloading location 1 (3 racks on spur)
View from East End
Inspiration Pic
Canpotex Railcar Maintenance Facility
Newbie here.
Had a small HO circle table (4'x4') back when I was a kid and my interest was reignited recently. Since money and time now dictates I can have a little fun, I began construction of a 2' x 8' HO switching layout in November. I figured this way if my interest waned I wouldn't have got in over my head. I had very little experience with anything but DC. I did all my research and bought an NCE Powercab. Its been a simple delight to add new levels to model railroading like sound!
My 'prototype' is a small CN yard based in Saskatchewan. I took my inspiration from Symington yard in Winnipeg (albeit a MUCH smaller setup). I drew inspiration from a couple pics I saw of the hump there. I've posted a pic below. The track design I used is easily incorporated into a longer point-to-point layout should the bug ever strike me to grow it.
I have two industries, and a team track currently unfinished. The first industry (and largest) is based on the Canpotex Rail Car Maintenance Facility just outside Winnipeg. I have a good friend who runs a business 3D printing parts for other industries, and he fancied a challenge so he is currently creating the building for me. Its custom to fit my setup and is a slightly compressed version of the real thing. The real operation has 15,000m of trackage, and I've got enough space for 12 cars max - but hey, do what you can! Its currently represented by a cardboard box covered in painters' tape.
The second industry is an Ethanol and LPG distributor. I'm in the process of building the unloading racks now and used a Walthers kit that came fairly close to the prototype I viewed locally at a small chemical company where I live.
The team track will be rotated with box car, wood load, and flat car traffic as switch list dictates. I've taken a keen interest in the actual operations and am currently creating a card system to really add some realism.
My roster is currently about 15 cars and one loco. I plan to purchase two more locos (to represent actual inbound local freight) and continue to use my Rapido GMD-1 as switcher in the yard. I am also currently assembling my staging cassette or fiddle yard that will clamp onto the West end of my layout.
I'm not working in any particular order and just creating as the inspiration strikes me.
Comments welcome. Just wanted to say hi and share the fun I've been having. Pics below.
R
View from West end
Wider view from West
Staff crossing at extreme east end
Tanker Unloading location 1 (3 racks on spur)
View from East End
Inspiration Pic
Canpotex Railcar Maintenance Facility