01-29-2013, 08:47 PM
Well, have the blues left me for a while. Talking with you guys, checking your layout and reading some classics gave me some ideas over the day. After a quick set on sketches drawn in the bus (the teenager beside me was completely puzzled has doodles made their way on white sheets!), I finally got hold of a concept, maybe a track plan, using Cookshire as an interesting point of departure.
I came upon Steven Peck magnificient Lehigh layout few hours ago. Not my intention to pretend doing the same, but I still found it had character, mainly because the rural scenery was breathing and not choking. Often, a simple track plan with a well done ground cove beats anything else.
Why Cookshire? Because MEC meets CPR International of Maine. Because a few miles from there, you cross the border and you can interchange with many canadian and american roads (which I own a lot of cars). Because, I know the place and always had a keen interest in this underrated MEC international division into Quebec heart.
Why it's a good starting point for an ISL? Because it got interesting industries that carry a good deal of freight traffic. In fact, the town was born after the railroad. Out of 4 quite large industries that could be found in the late 1890s, 3 remain (only the oil dealer shut down). And you get an interesting interchange point with shared freight shed and passenger station sandwiched between two mainline (because MEC pull out in late 1928s, there was 2 water tanks side to side).
Another good point is information. I was able to find a lot of detailled info about the place, its industries and the railway history is well documented.
The place as it stand today: http://binged.it/TUiz94
According to a 1928 insurance maps, most industries were already quite big at the time. They didn't change a lot between the 40s and 80s, which means someone can easily backdate or fastforward the layout. Nowadays, it's MMA, I think only the feed mill (ex-flour mill) is still rail-served.
![[Image: CookshireMap_zps1aac58cc.jpg]](http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt111/sailormatlac/Cookshire/CookshireMap_zps1aac58cc.jpg)
And now, the proposed track plan design according to doors salvaged from a previous layout and shelf brackets still in place in my office room.
![[Image: Cookshire3_zps7da31698.jpg]](http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt111/sailormatlac/Cookshire/Cookshire3_zps7da31698.jpg)
At this point, there may be to much tracks. The engine house is maybe just a gimmick. I'm not sure also if 2 two-ended siding at the station are too much for my own sake. It follows the original track plan, but I think things could be slimmed down a little bit... and the runaround extended much further.
Matt
I came upon Steven Peck magnificient Lehigh layout few hours ago. Not my intention to pretend doing the same, but I still found it had character, mainly because the rural scenery was breathing and not choking. Often, a simple track plan with a well done ground cove beats anything else.
Why Cookshire? Because MEC meets CPR International of Maine. Because a few miles from there, you cross the border and you can interchange with many canadian and american roads (which I own a lot of cars). Because, I know the place and always had a keen interest in this underrated MEC international division into Quebec heart.
Why it's a good starting point for an ISL? Because it got interesting industries that carry a good deal of freight traffic. In fact, the town was born after the railroad. Out of 4 quite large industries that could be found in the late 1890s, 3 remain (only the oil dealer shut down). And you get an interesting interchange point with shared freight shed and passenger station sandwiched between two mainline (because MEC pull out in late 1928s, there was 2 water tanks side to side).
Another good point is information. I was able to find a lot of detailled info about the place, its industries and the railway history is well documented.
The place as it stand today: http://binged.it/TUiz94
According to a 1928 insurance maps, most industries were already quite big at the time. They didn't change a lot between the 40s and 80s, which means someone can easily backdate or fastforward the layout. Nowadays, it's MMA, I think only the feed mill (ex-flour mill) is still rail-served.
And now, the proposed track plan design according to doors salvaged from a previous layout and shelf brackets still in place in my office room.
At this point, there may be to much tracks. The engine house is maybe just a gimmick. I'm not sure also if 2 two-ended siding at the station are too much for my own sake. It follows the original track plan, but I think things could be slimmed down a little bit... and the runaround extended much further.
Matt
Proudly modelling Quebec Railway Light & Power Company since 1997.
Hedley-Junction Club Layout: http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com/
Erie 149th Street Harlem Station http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com/
Hedley-Junction Club Layout: http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com/
Erie 149th Street Harlem Station http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com/