I am starting this topic, in order to get/and discuss ideas on how to make a simple bit OUTDOOR benchwork, look a little bit like an ore dock. This topic may, in some minds be more suitable in the “Track and trestles” forum, but I feel that it is more an “Outdoor Model” in itself, even if it is benchwork.
This whole project came about, here on our OUTDOOR operating railroad, when the ore train arrived at the yard at one end of the railroad.
The train usually consists of at least 16-18 loaded ore cars. These cars took over the yard, so other trains could not be made up while the ore cars were there. Then, at the same time, the empty cars had to be ready for the return run.
What to do with up to 36 ore cars, in town all at once…that was the question. Up until recently, we used to simply take the loaded cars off the tracks, and put them in their storage tote boxes, and replace them with the empty cars, but that still tied up the yard for half an hour or more, and did not lend itself to the feeling of a realistic railroad operation. I might add, that we had this same problem in both our operations; Narrow Gauge, and Standard Gauge. (We do not intermix SG and NG type equipment, and alternate our operations, week to week)
A few open minded members of our operating crews, started looking at the “Problem”, and came up with a possible solution. We had the track, and switches, so the idea developed into a simple design of a “Peninsula” connected to an existing peninsula…not even on paper, just in a demonstration on the ground> No computers, or drafting tables were destroyed or abused in this project !!
The actual construction started on the just passed, holiday Monday, and completed on the Tuesday. Even the track and switches were in place at the end of Tuesday. Pictures have been posted by several people, but mainly by Steve Mckenzie/Mike Hamer.
OK; the peninsula is in and the track is laid… four tracks wide, now what can be done to make it more resemble an ORE DOCK, than just a plain bit of benchwork, without turning it into a maintenance nightmare…it does have to stand up to our snow and ice during the Winter.
Too much detail is NOT an option, but giving the impression of the thing “Looking more like an ore dock” is the NEW PROJECT.
Anyone with suggestions or ideas, who would like to assist, is very much welcome.
Thank you, in advance…
Fred Mills