New Layout - New Reckless Experimentation

[VicSmith]

I have been continuing my examination of harbor terminal layout design, I find R1 design translates well at 75% reduction to HO 18"R, I took the plan above for a fellow on MLS and reduced it to HO, which I am now so very tempted to try:

This also includes another harbor terminal layout, the first large terminal in the first pic above with the circular freight house was based on a terminal in the Bronx, this lower one is based on a Harlem area terminal, again totally self contained little railroads with lots of operations. The upper right layout is a condensed version of the Harlem yard, both are based on plans from Carl Arendts website.

My biggest problem is that I have far more ideas than I have space to provide for them, so almost all of them will never get beyond the plan stage

[Greg_Greg_Elmassian]

How about at least a place to display your ideas?

I’d be happy to give you a page on my site.

I really enjoy seeing your creations.

Greg

[VicSmith]

I’m intrigued Greg, PM me let me know what you have in mind.

[VicSmith]

I did a thing today, I ran a train, two actually, after revived this dang layout. 4 weeks ago a footstool collapsed under me as I was on top shifting boxes around in the garage and I fell breaking my tailbone. So that’s left me unable to sit without a donut cushion but I can stand and work standing up without any problems. I have been planning to revisit this layout and have been creating an updated track plan with additional storage tracks so with standing and needing to do something to keep my mind off my posterior, I began clearing out, cleaning up, and rebuilding the layout. Same original track plan but with a short upper track section added with planned expansion further into the garage but I have to clear out a bunch of old furniture on Craigslist. Tonight I finally figured out and repaired the power wiring and hooked up the Crest Basic Train Engineer controllers for both sections. No pics for the moment, plan later. I’m taking it very much slower this time around. Gees has it really been 10 years since I started work on this?

[wengnut (Bob Wenger)]

Vic,
This sounds very interesting, but the pictures did not survive the website update. Can you repost the trackplan and a few of the pictures?

Thanks,
Bob

[freddy (Fred Mills)]

By gar…ten(10) years…it has gone by rather quickly !!
It is great to see that a few of us old timers are still around…and still actually running trains…not just wishing we could !!
Keep at it Vic…
Here in Ottawa, we are at last seeing a good melt, and the track is slowly reappearing. It looks like our outdoor projects may get started in a week’s time or less.
All is well… Keep having a great time, and I wish everyone, a pleasant Summer, with good health.
Fred Mills

[John_Lenheiser]

At age 78 I’m working on my last layout, well I think my last layout. It is a shelf switching layout 3X22’, 5 tracks wide in some areas, yes I could make it much larger, but for me it is all I really want to tackle at this time. Building a shelf layout requires much more building then I think a full size layout does, mainly just about everything has to be scratch built as everything become just a front and not a full size structure. My engines are all Rail Pro battery power so moving track is just taking it apart and moving it, no wiring, just do what works for your industries, etc. I’m now working on building backs, the railroad side of the structures, will work from the back to the front of the layout. I hope to use mirrors at the ends of the layout to give the appearance that the track goes on on each end, this will take a lot of though on this, TOY MAN TELIVISION’s YouTube channel is doing this on his inside layout portion, check it out. All being said, I like the idea.
trainman

[VicSmith]

John, That’s a nice setup. Mine is similar. I’m also looking at alot of building flats and compressed scenery, alot of which will be removable to access hidden storage tracks under the upper layout. I drew up plans but they are really just sketches as I have already deviated somewhat from the original drawings. Its one thing to plan, its another to see how it works in reality and make adjustments. Overall I’ve just been eyeing it as I go. I was just happy the original wiring was still functional but boy the track was dirty, between the scotch bright pad and in a couple spots a drywall sander to get it polished up and shiny.

[VicSmith]

Track plans

[VicSmith]

Hopefully not premature to post but this is the eventual full buildout. Of course subject to change at any moment. Willtry to post some pics soon, its still a bit of a mess.

[Cliff_Jennings]

Looks super fun, Vic!
How many levels??

[VicSmith]

Technically three, the red lower level and the blue upper level. They will meet at mid-height where it says Pizza Layout Above as an interchange point, and the pizza will find a new permanent home above that. It will still be moveable but I doubt at this point if it will ever go to another show if it’s just me by myself. This gives me two big loops and scenery, a smaller loop, and two pizzas to mess with. I gotta clear out a bunch of junk first, modern problems huh.

[Cliff_Jennings]

Sounds like fun problems Vic! I’m looking forward to seeing your further plans, even though it might take a while.

[VicSmith]

Guess I can post an update on this, been working on the background buildings. Mostly using old building faces from previous layouts. Working slowly no rush. Placed bridge faces on the north side, looks good, better than just plywood.

[Korm (Korm Kormsen)]

i like your big collection of building flats,

[VicSmith]

Thanks Korm, given my space restrictions its really the only way to go here. The flat scenery is a bit of a challenge to make look right.

[Cliff_Jennings]

Vic, I’ve really enjoyed your pizza layouts over the years, and am looking forward to seeing your skills (pizza and otherwise) applied to this super cool layout. So much action throughout, both horizontally and vertically! It’ll amaze everyone seeing it.

[Rooster]

Thinking I might go with reckless experimentation myself …can 1/26ish superliners do R1 curves ?

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

Depends on your couplers and truck swing. Would look pretty odd if they could! Need to build articulated cars!

[Cliff_Jennings]

Maybe ditch the couplers and use big rubber bands instead?