I’m almost 18, and have been a m.r.r. since about 5. I’m currently building a 12x9 around -the- walls layout ranging from 2- 3 ft in width. I have a Bachmann Spectrum Decapod, 7 pass. car consist, 2 custom cabeese, and a 40 ft. boxcar, all lettered for the A.C.L.
I was thinking of modeling around '54-'55,(since that time frame is consistent with most of my other rolling stock) but found out most acl steam engines were either scrapped or sold by '52.(I love steam)
I’m not sure whether to back- date my plans, or ‘‘proto- freelance’’ and claim an Illinois Central scenario of a traffic surge requiring steam’s removal from the dead lines. The next decision is: The Trackplan!
My questions to you are:
–Should I go with the majority (i.e. rolling stock), and go with the I.C. scenario, or sell the ‘‘offending’’ cars and focus around '52?
–My 7 pass. cars are Athearn heavyweights, which don’t look ‘‘acceptable’’ on 30’’ radius curves.The best I can hope for is 24’'! What can I do?
–I love engine terminals, and could fit one I’d be more than happy with on part of the 8ft long, 3ft. wide straightaway, but that’d equal nearly half the layout! How much does an engine terminal REALLY offer in the way of operations?
–I’ve been scouring my 40 year collection of MR and RMC, but the dozen or so plans I really like (and would work) are just a LITTLE too big. (It always seems to be ‘‘If I only had another 2 ft…’’ Doesn’t it?) What to do?
–AND FINALLY: where can I further research the acl, and find out things like ballast color, standard building schematics & paint charts, ect.?
I’ll skip the first one as that’s really your preference, but - do you really like the ‘offending’ rolling stock?
Will it be financially difficult to replace, or is there enough of a demand to make it worth selling?
As for the passenger cars - I’ll answer that with a reply about the engine terminal:
If you really like engine terminals, then focus on that, use the rest of the room for staging to give your locomotives a place to go.
Maybe the other side of the room could be a passenger terminal. Connect the two with hidden staging, thereby hinding the too sharp curves between them.
And instead of looking for a complete plan, take bits and pieces.
Do you have John Allen’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation?
It’s great for helping you to work out answers to what you really want in a layout, and avoiding traps in your track designs, like hidden S-curves that will make operation less than enjoyable.
I can totally relate to your dilema with the space! I have a thread over in the layout section on my 8x15 plans - I learned a ton from posting over there with an initial idea and letting everyone provide input. If you look at how my plan evolved over several pages of the thread, you can see that there are some very helpful people in that section. I would say get some graph paper out and start sketching up some ideas… once you get something in the ballpark, post it up and let the critics help you out.
I too wanted a turntable and roundhouse - but, didn’t think it looked right squeezed in… so I went with a smaller coaling tower and water tank near my passenger terminal for swapping out loco’s for service while passengers are unloading/loading… doesn’t take up much space, and gives you a reason for having 2 locos vice just one.
I would just start with the benchwork on a sketch (make copies of the empty benchwork) and just start putting ideas down… its only graph paper. Most of all, have fun with it…
Nice to see an ACL fan. Although I primarily model the SCL and NH, I include a lot of ACL rolling stock since SCL had not repainted the majority of it’s heritage freight cars from ACL and SAL until the mid 70s.
I’m a member of the ACL-SAL-SCL Yahoo group. Go to Yahoo, and join up!. The guys there are prototype modelers that have a wealth of knowledge that can help you. A good number of Floridians are members. But don’t leave this forum as there are good people here with info that’s helpful as well.
If you need more info, send me an email in my PM box.
Some years back - perhaps in the mid-1990’s, Model Railroader published a story on the 's, Perry Cut-off in . This story included a modeler whose layout is similar to the one you are planning and was a two tier affair. I mention this because a two tier may give you the additional layout area to accommodate the track plan you want to use.
I don’t think anyone is going to get bent out of shape if you have a couple steam locomotives on a 1954 layout. Actually the scenery is going to be close enough you could work up both a 1945 scenario and a 1954 scenario. Just change out the automobiles… Or just model 1945-1955. Nothing before 1945 and nothing after 1955 but everything in between could be believable.
Hmmm, Athearns are already shorties. If you aren’t satisfied with that I say park them and just run freight.
Not a lot unless you want that to be the focus of the operation. Model a division point where they swap power and on each train take off the loco, put on a new one. Take the loco to fuel, sand, water, ash pit for the steam, inspection, service if necessary. Have some sort of timer know how long to leave the locomotive at each station.
[qutoe]–I’ve been scouring my 40 year collection of MR and RMC, but the dozen or so plans I really like (and would work) are just a LITTLE too big. (It always seems to be ‘‘If I only had another 2 ft…’’ Doesn’t it?) What to do?
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I don’t think you will ever find a pre-made layout that will meet your expectations and desires. The thing to do there is design your own. If you really have been doing this si