Starting a new layout.

[enginseer]

Well, I'm in the new place and currently sitting here staring at a lot of bare concrete walls. Is it crazy that I couldn't sleep last night just thinking about starting a new layout?

I mean, I'm a grown man... or at least I thought so anyway.

6axlepwr with his Copper State freelance and his attention to detail got my creative juices flowing and I sat all morning at the local coffee shop
researching the local railroad flavor. Pretty scant I must say as the situation isn't looking very rosy here in that regard, but I intend to create a bright future (no relation to the CSX scheme) for my favorite old haunts from my childhood.

It was jr59 and his dioramas that set how I intend to use similar methods for use on my layout. I was blown away by the realism.

I am a stickler for detail and accuracy and intend to keep the date of my layout current.

The now overwhelmingly daunting task of designing a layout will begin.

I'm sooo confused...

Some basics are confirmed. Please offer any criticism you feel would be valuable to me.

1. My layout will remain current.

2. I intend to use all 1300 sq ft I have available. I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew.

3. My layout will be controlled via laptop and a walkaround throttle.
I'm thinking about the ESU system.

Please offer some suggestions on detailed, accurate HO scale Intermodal cars and Auto-Racks. I'm gravitating toward the Intermountain racks, but any advice from a more studied eye will be valuable.

I will post my paint scheme (for your amusement...) and other ideas once they solidify in my mind.

[Deleted]

If I may offer a suggestion. Keep your trackage to a minimum of what you need. Use as broad a curvature as you can get in and let trackage run through the scenery rather than the scenery run through the trackage.

If you can, I would suggest building tall deviders so you are only looking at the portion of layout that you are operating in. Gives the impression of a much larger layout.

I envy you have that much squre footage to design in. One day I hope to be in your situation.

Go with Sergent couplers and the current crop of freight cars. Yes, IM autoracks would be good. I need a number fo them also.

I am no layout planner, but what I do is go through all the layout palnning books (my favorite is 101 track Plans), then piece the parts together form the various plans. I also found one I really like from the time saver games in MR. I put together a plan for a really nice 12' long switching layout by doing this. Sorry, got off topic there.

Back to you. What area of the country are you modeling?

[nsc409w]

As a modeler living in an apt I have a very small layout and am unable to help much in the layout department. However Brian's comments concerning curvature, the amount of trackage and scenery is right on the mark. As for keeping your layout current it primarily concerns your locomotives and frieghtcars. Simple details such as adding the FRA mandated conspicuity stripes and painting the roller bearing caps blue on newer cars will help set your era. Types of rail cars also distinguish an era as well as a geographic location. Highcube boxcars such as a TBOX are one such example as they have largely replaced generic boxcars such as a Railbox. My locomotives follow the same principles as well. Modern spotting features are headlights on the nose, air conditioners, air horns moved to the long hood, and cab roofs painted white. I use websites such as rrpicturearchives.net to constantly monitor the progression of real cars, and I repaint, patch, weather, and add grafitti accordingly to match the prototype cars as they progress through time. As for intermodal Kato, Intermountain, Athearn, Atlas, and Walthers all make excellent wellcars. What kind of well cars you use will all depend on what kind of intermodal you plan on running whether it is a domestic container train with 53' containers or a land bridge container train with 40' and 20' containers. Detail wise the Intermountain auto rack will probably be above walthers but quality control with Intermoutain is extremely poor and not worth the price. Better off with Walthers. Atlas and Athearn genesis have made articulated auto racks in the past. I hope this helps.

Shane

[Deleted]

Shane,

Good call on the quality control aspect of manufacturers. I did nto giv ethat much thought. Also, not know much about freight cars. I can use your suggestions too. Thanks.

[enginseer]

Being on vacation this week I've kept my nose in this forum periodically and I had hoped to get some work done on the basement. I'm having it finished so I can't start immediately, but the layout design has begun.

@6axlepwr:
Thanks for the info. As to the radii in my layout I do intend to keep them as realistic as possible. As to scenery, the track will be the focus, but scenery will dominate even if the section looks a bit sparse. The look will be the thing for me.

It will be about visual realism along a midwestern regional railroad during an economic resurgence allowing the addition of a solvent regional railroad. ;D

1. Focus on a connection somewhere along the NS line between Chicago and Detroit. Might be interesting to show that the state and NS got their acts together and made a high-speed rail line.

2. Or, focus on the old GTW route arcing through mid-Michigan. I had thought of a "what if" where GTW is off on its own again... and profitable.

3. Or, possibly, a focus on the Plymouth Diamond (near where I grew up).

4. Or, Focus on a revitalized Ann Arbor route.

Lots of ideas, but too little information yet.

nsc409w:
Hadn't heard about QC issues at Intermountain. That's a real bummer considering how awesome the auto-racks look on their website. I was ready to reserve 10-20 of these things! Thanks for the heads up. Thanks for the modern tips as well.