Given that the scale of this project is different, a seperate thread seems appropriate.
INTRODUCTION
I have had HO scale trains for longer than any of my large scale stock. My dad’s ex-wife took most of the HO stuff from my childhood when they split up, but I still have a tanker car from way back then. More recently I have acquired a number of pieces including an entire Hogwarts Express collection, an assortment of freight rolling stock, an engine my dad gave me that was his when he was younger, and a Bachmann unpowered cable car.
My intention is to create a scene that mimics that which is seen at the local public park here. Sticking with my general theme, the old NYNHH line in this area (red line in map below) used to run right past Look Park, which has their own smaller scale train. (The rough location of the loop is the blue line below.) The original, also below, I believe was 1/4 scale, the newer C. P. Huntington that the park now runs, is larger.
red line - former NYNHH
blue line - still location of the Look Park train
Fun Fact: There is a small section of track, just north of Bridge Road, that is still there from the former NH.
I am planning to go to the park soon to take some photos. But, if memory serves, the most iconic scenery in the area of the tracks include the covered pedestrian bridge, the tunnel, and the station itself. So, I plan to model those as well as I can. In addition, the park’s zoo entrance is inside the loop of track, so I’ll find someway to allude to that being nearby as well. Again, recon is the next step.
This project, however, will not be a model of the existing railroad at Look Park. Instead, it will be an expansion upon it. Per my railroad’s lore:
After a few successful seasons, The Businessman approached the park again. He had an idea to expand the train service regularly, which would add a yard, another station, and at least one additional main line to the existing circuit. Look Park has always been a non-profit operation, and to release control and financial burden of the train seemed like a good plan to them. Details were worked out between the two companies so that everyone made their fair share over the next year. Once the management rights to the park’s railroad transferred to the LHRR, the new division to the company was opened, The 1/4-Scale Railroad .
THE PLAN
So, I am taking what is now at the park and expanding it, due to my decent amount of stock on hand already. Having said that, I am mixing history with the modern and I intend to model the train pictured above “The Streamliner” as a part of my scene. This is mostly because I already have a shell for a very similar locomotive. The shell needs a LOT of work, so, I figure, why not re-paint it too!
This is the single-track version of my plan. I think I’ll start here, but allow for room to add a second loop next year.
So, again, this build will require:
- scale model of the existing station
- scale model of the existing covered bridge (both in 1:24)
- version of the existing tunnel (double tracked?)
- some indication that this version still has the zoo nearby
- trees
I’ve already drawn two different versions of the bench work on SketchUp for this project. My plan is to make it modular so that I can transport it, if an opportunity arises.
Since I’ve never actually worked in HO scale, suggestions, comments, and critiques are all welcome!