There is something mysterious about walking on or cycling along the many abandoned railway lines in North America. Has anyone tried replicating an abandoned right-of-way on their layout?
I have not however I saw it in ho scale, if I remember they had ho scale track without ballast that were well run and rusted, (like stored in an attic) and they had tiny trees like 1:200 and put a few between the rails and put some grass on the outer wooden parts.
Only during the process of tearing down an old layout and building a new one. [:)]
No. I see too much of that in real life.
Seems to be a very good idea … in fact a great idea … it would add some realism to a layout … instead of the same ole = same ole … additions like that is what makes the highly praised layouts differ from the run of the mill ones . [tup] There’s nothing more bland and extremely unimaginative than a grass turf covered piece of plywood with buildings just set there .
Aren’t those usually called Halloween layouts? [:-,]
This idea was featured in a HO magazine a few years ago. They had a number of ideas to add realism. Rusted rail tops, light brown ties, severely weathered structures, etc.
Dennis
I did it on my last 2 layouts by putting old track outside in the rain and sun and got that dilapidated look. Then I had an area where I laid the track where it “use to connect to a branch main.” I modeled where the switch use to connect and the applied random ground cover over the added ties. A good area for this is some corner or out of the way area. It doesn’t require much space. Sorry, no pix.
I did on my last layout. Just 2 pieces of old rusty 0-27 track that I made run off the edge of the table to nowhere. Put extra ties and made it look abandon by grass and brush all over it. Also had a Bumper I made look beat up to look like it was a siding.
IDM1991, I know what you mean about R.O.W. mystery, thinking how it used to be and what ran, when the R.O.W. was active. Where I live, there are more R.O.W’s. and it seems that, as soon, as possible the tracks, ties and ballast are removed, so that a vehicle road, or buildings can be put in place. This is similar to model train clubs and hobby shops closing, around these neck of the woods. Not only is it a mystery, of their closing, or removal, but why have they disappeared, when it seems as if they would still be needed and used. I 'm stating and I know others will disagree with me, that the closing and removal, of hobby shops, train clubs and RR’s. must be the wheels of progress turning, or greed, or both! That is my opinion, for what is worth! Ralph