Okay, so My layout isnt working the way I want, and to save money and some space, Ive been thinking of taking apart the layout and rebuilding (by reusing as much as possible) and making a smaller more fitting layout than my 20' by 10' attempt at an HO scale DMIR layout. But the idea is smaller, and smaller wouldnt be good for my 6 axle tunnel motors, so now Im also looking at new locos, not to mention some new structures, and more rolling stock that doesnt consist of only ore cars. Now my money saving ideas dont work so well.

So Im thinking of more of a narrow along the wall style shelf layout. Maybe two levels,one level could be a yard/oredock, and the other a taconite yard built into a reverse/return loop on the top. Im thinking there is potential for a nice lone strech of mainline for between the two. Im just wondering if anybody could possibly draw up some ideas for me as Im having some issues figureing it out. I dont have exact measurements, but here is something close.

Thanks guys, Id really appreciate some ideas to work off of.

...well, actually from the northern part of Illinois, which is still south of where I live in southern Ontario.
As some of you have seen elsewhere on the Forum, I recently visited the Illinois Railway Museum, a large site with lots to see and do. If you get the chance, visit it in person - you'll surely enjoy it. However, if you want to have a really great time, see it with someone who really knows the place - I was very fortunate to hook-up with a couple of good friends who showed me around. Here's a shot of all three of us - I call it Three Amigos, but a bystander quipped that we looked more like The Three Stooges. Larry is on the left, and I'll leave it up to you to decide the identities of Moe and Curly:


I saw lots of stuff new to me, including this CB&Q SD24, on which the paint was barely dry:


A Milwaukee Road dynamometer car:


A Milwaukee Road Northern, under power (well, okay, electric power):


One of my favourite steam-era heralds, in mosaic tile, no less:


We rode Ceres, the diner of the Nebraska Zephyr, behind an E5 (we were all dying for a coffee, but when I looked in the galley, the chef was nowhere to be seen):


I learned that Burlington Northern was unable to take advantage of Kadee's close-coupling for Stewart F-units, and had to improvise for their "Executive Fs":


You'd be forgiven for thinking that I'd strayed even farther south, but this SP "Cadillac" is far from its Los Angeles base - the lovingly applied weathering gives it a real "in-service" appearance, though


I also thought that I'd found romance, but we were unable to load this lovely lady into the trunk of my Mazda:


Another shot of The Three Amigos:


On the way home, I stopped at Owosso, Michigan, site of Railfest 2009 later this week. Unfortunately, the place was locked-up, with only a glimpse of PM 1225 available. I did see, though, through the fence, this restored F-unit lettered for the Cincinatti, New Orleans & Texas Pacific - Southern's famed "Rathole" Division.


All-in-all, a great (if too-short) trip, made even better in the company of friends - thanks Deano and Larry! As someone once said: "I'll be back!".

Wayne

I saw your answer to foulrift in his thread ( <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1592">viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1592</a><!-- l --> ) about doubling your industries, but didn't want to steal his thread.
So, how does that work?
Thanks.
P.S. I hope this is the right place for this.

Loren

Congratulations, we've got some winners to announce.

For the "Going Somewhere Scale" contest, we have the following:

• 1st place - Selector
  2nd place - cn nutbar
  3rd place - shaygetz and Steamtrains (tie)

• 1st place - Trains Winnipeg
  2nd place - Selector
  3rd place - jbaakko and ezdays (tie)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.

...which isn't the same thing as an eye test.
Evidently, some folks, especially those on dial-up, are having trouble viewing pictures on Big Blue. Below are four photos from various sources - if there are any that you can't see, please answer here to let me know which ones and if you're on dial-up.

The first one is from photobucket:


This one is a thumbnail from photobucket:


One from our own Gallery:
[album]1153[/album]

And finally, an attachment:    

Thanks for your input.

Wayne

I have a small 3x5' layout that I've been working on (I've posted about this layout here earlier this year).

The layout is coming along very nicely now and working really well. It has two loops of track which are connected, an outer loop (using 18”R curves) and an inner loop (using 15”R curves). There is one siding on the outside edge of the layout as well as some sidings — basically an Inglenook arrangement — inside the inner loop.

I’m now thinking of adding a small fiddle yard in the next little while. I would simply add an extra 12” to 18” onto one end of the layout. I would set up 2 to 3 storage sidings where various trains (i.e. "actors") could wait when they’re not “on-stage," on the layout.

I’ve never used a fiddle yard before on my layouts, partly due to lack of space. I also have a larger 4x6’ layout but it has never had a fiddle yard as well. I’m just beginning to understand the benefits of having a fiddle yard and was wondering if anyone could offer any suggestions or feedback.

I’ll try to post some updated pics in due course as well.

Rob

Hi guys,

Ive been thinking about my plans for the Modesto & Empire Traction Company. I have it hanging on my closet door, so everytime i open my closet or walk out of my room, i see it hanging, waiting for some more work.... Ive been thinking alot, and i really want to condense it somewhat. Currently, i have it set up in somewhat of a Free-Mo setup, with 35 modules which would occupy a space of 40'x30' if they were all set up together. Of coarse, i did not plan to set them up all at once anyways, and rather just run a few at a time....

Now im thinking of trying to setup this plan to be partial layout, and partial modules. I have always wanted to take a few modules to a train show, set them up with a group, and run them and watch people look at my work. I had planed to do this with my original M&ET plans, and i still want to be able to take a few modules with me to a train show here and there, so i will have to keep that in mind.

My plans for this re-design on this M&ET layout would be to have a double decker layout, with a helix connecting the 2 levels. Now since the M&ET is a shortline railroad, and they only have switchers (the newest ones being 2 Gensets #2000 and 2001 which arrived in December of 2008) this would mean i could keep the helix radius down to a fairly small radius of 22". It does not have to be large, nor does it have to look good with a train going up or down, because it will not be seen.


Here is the original plans for the M&ET i came up with after spending 2 months working from Google Earth, Live Maps, and Google Maps Street View. This first pic is a shot showing the overall design, zoomed out

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I spent this past winter in Portland, Oregon. Boredom got the better of me tonight so I thought I'd finally post some photos from my trip.



Portland's best-known railroad attraction is Union Station home to Amtrak's Empire Builder, Coast Startlight, and Cascades corridor. It is also soon to be host to Portland's MAX light rail network once a new north-south alignment opens later in 2009. There was a great article on the station in Trains magazine not too long ago.




Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight departs the station on an abnormally sunny winter day. The condo developments around the station are definitely a recent phenomenon. Through the 1980s much of the land was occupied by railroad infrastructure.




The north end of the station is just as good for train-watching as a southbound Cascades with Talgo equipment approaches 9th Street and the north throat of the station. The Fremont Bridge is in the distance and carries I-405 over the Willamette River.




Freight trains can also be seen downtown as evidenced by this Union Pacific transfer run returning home to Albina Yard after making a run to BNSF's Lake Yard. Note the speed limit signs for Freight, Passenger, and Talgo.




A few blocks away in the Pearl District is the northern extremity of Portland's municipally-owned streetcar. A southbound car is passing Jameson Square with the Fremont Bridge looming in the distance.




Portland's light rail network, known as MAX, is operated by Tri-Met the regional transit authority. Here at Elmonica, near the west end of the system, a westbound train shows off its advertising wraps.




Also at Elmonica are the west end shops for MAX as viewed here from the eastbound platform. The eastern shops are located at Ruby Junction and were also the subject of a recent Trains magazine article.




In Beaverton the line's heritage shows. Built on the former Oregon Electric right-of-way later operated by Burlington Northern and Portland & Western freight operations were not entirely vacated before transit construction started. Here can be seen the remnant of a freight stub kept along the light rail to serve a now-closed GM plant.




At Beaverton Central a westbound MAX train crosses Hall Blvd. with two cars showing off MAX's paint schemes. The close car is a low-floor Type 2 while the far car is a rebuilt high-floor Type 1 sporting Tri-Met's newest colors.




Beaverton is home to a store of the Powell's chain that is known for its railroad section. This is one-fifth of the new and used books available on one of my many visits to the store.




Streetcar and MAX are not the only rail transit options available in the Portland metro area. Starting in February a new commuter service known as WES, for Westside Express Service, opened linking the western suburbs of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville. Colorado Railcar DMUs are operated over Portland & Western trains during rush hours on weekdays only. In spite of this the operation is generally well-received by patrons and local transit officials are already eying expansion options. Here a southbound train eases down Lombard Ave. in Beaverton on February 3, the second day of regular service.




WES trains are crewed by Portland & Western and wear a modified Tri-Met uniform. First time patrons were shocked to find a conductor on all runs; MAX and the streetcar operate on a proof-of-payment system with random checks by fare inspectors.




And so our tour ends with two WES trains meeting in Tigard in this view from Main Street. The gantlet track to the left is required for freight trains to clear the high level platforms; freight trains do not utilize the right track.

I need some advice on how to store these little guys after I'm done painting them, throwing them in an old pill bottle will still allow them to rub together and scratch the paint off

So far I have 3 guys done