Large Scale Central

A public layout

General Discussion
#1

Another fine mess I’ve gotten myself into. All I can say is, it sounded like a good idea at the time… I kinda got talked into doing a temporary, to possible permanent layout at out antique machinery club showgrounds, inside the 15" gauge RR. OK, cool! We can do that! Hmmm, how about making some models of local historic buildings? Way Cool idea! Which ones? Let’s see, I like this one, and this one, and… My, that list is getting awful long! How much room? 14 or so by 20-25, you say? That’s probably do-able… Trains would need brought in and out daily, track and buildings taken up between shows… Operate 8-10 hours a day over 8 show days/year? … gonna need back-up motive power! A 3AM trackplan

I have all the curves, not sure on straights… Need some turnouts! Featured buildings chosen so far: To be made from Coroplast and wood. #1. Evans City B&O station

#2 Wagner-Bentel House ca 1810

#3. Passavant House, ca 1808

#4 Stone Tavern/ stage stop ca 1822

#5 Mennonite Meetinghouse and graveyard ca 1825

#6 McConnell’s Mill ca 1868

#9 Wagon Maker’s Shop ca 1870s

#13 Settler’s log house ca 1805

I’m still looking for a small, but ‘picturesque’ local brick/stone foundry or factory, and a couple local stores. Oil wells will be ‘Pennsylvania Standard’ style with 70 foot derricks. I may add a sucker rod powered pumping scene. The sawmill will be another (simplified) portable one under an open roof, powered by a steam farm engine . I’d love to add a small pig iron furnace as well. Too ambitious?

#2

Mik,
Looks like a lot of work. I’m sure you will enjoy it.
How soon is this supposed to be finished ?
I like your choice of buildings so far. Other than the station, and Passavant house, they
look to be fairly simple structures.
Ralph

#3

That sounds like a great project. While it will be work I look at the great building subject and think what a ball.
Keep us informed on your progress.
Dave

#4

That’s a rather ambitious project, but we all know you can get it done :smiley: I like your choice of buildings. PA has some beautiful old structures - you’re lucky to be in the middle of it where you don’t have to go far to find nice prototypes.

Good luck on the project.

#5

That’s quite a project but do-able. Have you got a club to lend a hand? I would say moving the trains in and out will turn out to be the largest project. I currently have an electric cart with a flat bed that I move mine on but the train barn is nearly done and they’ll be moving there. /you could also convert a wagon.

#6

1st outing will be the 3rd weekend in May. Plenty of time, but even more to do!

The site is more or less level, being right at the edge of where they took dirt from the cut to make fill at the other end of the 15" gauge loop. I planted the two immovable trees a dozen or so years ago (little twigs 12" from the Arbor Day Foundation, now 18 feet tall!) , so there’s nobody to blame but me that I have to work around them now. Trying to move much further to the left side, and the switch machine on the 15" gauge would become a problem. Try to go the other way and there is an ugly electric pole. Further to the bottom and not only does the ground start to drop away you run the risk of some moron trying to park on top of it.

Right now I’m thinking a mulch ROW, and sawdust for the ‘road’. Cheap, and if we decide not to do it again it can just be raked up and dumped. If it goes permanent, I’ll probably use those 8 x 16 x2 cinder block pavers as sub- roadbed and building pads because they can just mow over them. (Track and buildings would have to be taken up between shows to prevent theft or damage)… I was also thinking an eventual rock garden, since this is a Moraine area. And wrought iron patio railing to match what they’ve used elsewhere on the 15" gauge train… but that’s a few years down the road.

The station is already 2/3 built. I’ve been informed by my sister that it’s HERS for the display inside the 15" gauge RR’s station if we ever decide not to use it anymore. (Just gotta love little sisters, even when they get big)
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=11950

The ‘fun’ part is going to be that I’ll pretty much be busy elsewhere during operating hours, so the ‘roadmaster’ will be my 8YO nephew, with my 10YO daughter as assistant roadmaster, conductor, and village mayor… Simplicity and trouble free operation is a MUST. Also, for that reason, I’m thinking a 12v power supply (8-10 would be even better, but harder to find) to limit train speeds to something below warp 7.5, two tethered and color coded throttles, push button reset circuit breakers, and a gfi, all mounted in a rain proof box with a cooling fan. The key is finding all this stuff without having to take out a loan. Ideas?

As for a club to help. There’s 3 of us right now… me, myself, and I. My GF Kim and my BiL will help with laying track and setting out buildings, and my BiL would probably make stuff like bridges if I asked. As long as I keep it as a ‘temporary’ private display, I won’t have many headaches… If I admit from the start that the goal will be a permanent display, or get too many people involved, then a written proposal would have to be submitted to the engine club’s board for approval. That said, I wouldn’t turn down more assistance.

#7

Used computer power supplies can be had cheap or free and will give you 12V at low current. You need to trick them into thinking the CPU board is present. Usually just a resistor will work.

#8

MIk,
I totally understand! I got talked into doing a (1st time) Lionel layout last year for our local museum as a Holiday display. Our local hobby shops donated track and train sets all that was needed was a plan “We dun need no stinkin’ plan”. Well the holidays are here again as I just read the museum member flyer and “Trains Trees and Toys” will open Nov. 26th!! DO YOU THINK I GOT A CALL YET???
So I called them and asked what the plan was for this year…Well that’s up to you and your crew Dave!!!
Sigh…the kids really enjoy it though (so do I but don’t tell them)

I like #4 “The Tavern” for it’s many unseen details and #9 “Wagon Shop” for it’s simple rustic beauty…actually staring at the “Wagon Shop” gives me ideas.
:wink:

#9

David, I uploaded the building pix I’ll be working from to this file
http://s397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/buildings/

Feel free to download any you want for your own use.

#10

I was wondering about one of those 3 amp trickle chargers… Should I assume that there is a problem with that idea since all you thrifty railroaders don’t use them? The Aristo 10 amp power supply gave me the idea since it’s the same metal case.

#11
Mik said:
The Aristo 10 amp power supply gave me the idea since it's the same metal case.
I'm not so sure the Aristo Ultima isn't just a 24 volt battery charger. Ralph
#12

It’s not, but those cases were commonly available in the electronics market.

#13
Mik said:
David, I uploaded the building pix I'll be working from to this file http://s397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/buildings/

Feel free to download any you want for your own use.


Thanks Mik…The mill pictures are VERY cool!