I’m new to the MRR forums and am returning to the hobby after a hiatus of several years. College distracted me from my trains, but I’m now an Infantry officer in the US Army and will soon be moving to a house or apartment with a spare bedroom, where I plan on building my first layout since middle school. I could use some help on picking a prototype and tweaking the deisgn for this endeavour. I’ll be dealing with limited space and funds, so I want to get this right the first time.
I plan on modeling a shortline or branchline based on such lines in central and western rural Oklahoma, near where I grew up. I think that modeling a smaller line is much more feasable than a major route with my skills and funds. I want to do some sort of modular around the walls design in a small spare room, not a 4x8 table top. I’m going for a more minimalist approach, I want to capture the essence of a rural line covered in weeds winding through the wheat fields and small towns, not have a mass of convulted tracks and industries packed into every corner. I don’t feel I have the funds or modeling expertise (as a history major in college, my OCDness won’t let me make a histroically inaccurate railroad), I don’t think I should attempt the steam era at this point, I’ll focus on an era well into the diesel era.
Option 1:
Model a fictional branch of the MKT, based on several that actually existed, sometime in the 1970’s. I love the paint scheme of the Katy in that era, a mix of the new green and yellow and the older all red, and there are plenty commerically available. Elements of this layout would include one small town with a large grain elevator, old depot, team track, and some sort of oil related industry. There would be a section of rural scenery with wheat fields, maybe crossing a stream, before reaching a scene where the line serves another rural industry (maybe a concrete plan
I have not digested all of what you have written in your post…it is quite long. But here are some thoughts:
Search this site, or even Google, the “San Jacinto District trackplan”. Its an HO scale layout designed by MR editor Andy Sperandeo and it would probably be very inspirational for your first attempt at designing a plan for your space.
As far as MKT or Farmrail…I would choose the MKT simply because Atlas produces locomotives that are better than the Walthers GP9, although I think the GP9 has turned out to be a decent runner.
And don’t be afraid to use a little “modeler’s license”. You can extend history a little bit into modern times. You don’t want to hold to history so much that the layout becomes boring. It is supposed to be fun…not really a history lesson.[:D]
Even long time modelers who model an actual prototype and period stretch reality from time to time.
Edit: If you choose Farmrail (Personally, I like shortlines) there are professional painters who will paint locomotives for you. Probably not dirt cheap, but you would only need a few.
And…if you freelance…you can use a factory paint scheme and just change it to your own railroad, by rubbing out letters and emblems, then decaling for your home road. Just a few block letters is all that it needed. A few second hand locos with a blue dip “ex-MOPAC” scheme can be a great base for a OKL shortline. The MOPAC scheme is so basic that it doesn’t even require rubbing out lettering.
I would vote for the MKT branchline; as I have aspirations of doing something similar. Somewhere I have a copy of an old Katy Historical Society magazine that has a nice, long article on the Katy branchline from Wichita Falls north into Oklahoma in the early 70’s from the prospective of a former employee. Lots of pictures and andecotes that would be of use for building a model railroad.
I’ll try to look for them tonight; and report back to you.
Since you’re now in the Army and will be subjected to a transfer some day, I would consider making the layout as portable as possible so you don’t have to tear it all down when that day comes.
Our club has a portable HO scale layout that is built on eight 2x8 foot, 4-inch thick styrofoam blocks. Each module is light enough to be carried by one person when it is moved for set-up or tear-down.
This way, you will be able to take it with you or have it put in storage if you’re suddenly sent to another location.
I second the modular idea. For ideas about modules, search the forum for build threads by mcfunkeymonkey; he builds incredible n scale modules/layouts. His ideas can easily be transferred to HO scale. I think he has links to his own website, as well.
Agree that the modular route is probably the way tro go. Also, agree the San Jacinto District could be just what you’re looking for. You might also want to look up a layout that was covered in Model railroad Planning, 2009 (?) featuring the AT&SF Alma Branch in Kansas. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to use ideas from that layout, with a Katy or Farmrail theme.
Thank you for all the advice! I certainly plan on making it modular, the latest issue of MRR had a great article on light, modular benchwork for small layouts. And thanks for turning my attention to the San Jacinto District! A superb plan that I think would work well for me, with a few tweaks. I’ve also been looking at the Wildcat Central from a MRR issue in 2000. I’d scale that one back to a single track mainline, of course. Any thoughts on that plan?
I like that the staging is concealed behind the town, rather than taking up precious space.
Also, I discovered that InterMountain will be releasing a run of Farmrail’s trademark ex-ICG GP10s next year in HO, so that option became much easier. Decisions, decisions… Haha. Thanks again for all the input.
Allow me to add my thanks to you for you service. It is truly appreciated.
A couple of ideas. Since you already have one engine lettered for Farmrail, and that is an attractive prototype for you, consider modeling that line. Many short lines have used locomotives in original owner’s paint, with just a patch job to identify the new operator. It is possible to model this using trim film and decals from Microscale. At some point you will want to try painting a locomotive as well, but until then this would be a legitimate way to deal with the issue.
It also seems that the physical plant of modern shortlines in many cases is better maintained than the branch lines of 40 years ago. Much of the jointed rail has been replaced, and code 83 flex track may be more appropriate for the modern day short line.
Finally, either of the scenarios you discuss can provide more than enough operational potential. It depends on your approach to operations. If you haven’t done it yet, I would encourage you to visit Lance Mindheim’s blog and do some reading about operations of small layouts. It has been a revelation to me, and after discussing the information he provides with some working rails, it sounds like they agree that he is shooting straight in describing actual operations. His work has influenced me greatly and inspired me to build a less complex layout than originally planned.
Google “Heart of Georgia” layout and you’ll find another example of a small around the room layout. The sections, are a bit narrow since it tries to stick to using one 4x8 sheet, but it can provide more ideas for you.
I was aware of IM’s ammouncement of the Farmrail GP10. Lately, manufacturers have had difficulty meeting their announced times, and I think that GP10 has been pushed back from its original time by a year already. It may be another year…maybe two…before it finally hits US shores. Just something to keep in mind.
I have become quite taken by the branchlines of Texas and Oklahoma and I am working on plans for a prototype based layout, only set in the steam era. Mine is based on an abandoned branch line in Texas, but I seriously considered the very same area you are looking at. Take a look at USGS maps–they are available for free download online. Lots of historical info available online.
There have been quite a few articles about modelling middle America in MRP and GMRR the last few years. I think you would want to stick with a narrow shelf to minimize the amount of scenery you have to build. Modeling the rolling plains of western Oklahoma is not as easy as one might think.
I would sketch out both concepts on paper, both track plans and operating schematics. Look at what is more satisfying. Consider what models are available. Don’t overlook N scale as an option. Don’t max out your current space-consider what future living arrangements might be like. Consider building modules that allow for future expansion. In other words sketch out a larger layout and then build a small section of it.
This layout can be switched out for Pennsy 1956, or Conrail 1980. It is amazing what one can do in N Scale for limited space! Note the subtle use of scenery as “view blocks” on the original module, and; the Enola Yard West End Bridge as a “view block” on the newer staging module (prototype at YouTube).
The May 92 MR had an article on the Farmrail that included some area maps and trackplan.
When I was in the service, I built a railroad as a series of bookshelf modules that I could easily connect by “disposable” scenes. That way I could take the detailed portions with me while the genaric connections could be easily made and disposed of.
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the continued advice. I’ve been continuing to research and plan, and I’ve come up with some conclusions. I want to make sure I keep it simple, I am still a beginner, and I have a deployment to Korea coming up in less than a year, I’d like to get trains running before then. I’ve decided to shift my prototype to another favorte line of mine, the Rock Island. Location will remain in western OK in the early 1960’s, there’s just far more ready to run in the Rock Island. There will be an interchange with the MKT. I’ll save the Farmrail layout for the next duty station where I will hopefully have more room for those long grain/crude oil/frack sand trains. Hopefully by then I’ll get my hands on some of those InterMountain GP20s.
Here’s what I’ve come up with:
Option 1: Wildcat Central (Modified)
Pros:
Its got hidden staging
Its designed to be sectional
The long spur to the industries is prototypical of Watonga, OK on an old Rock Island branch
Cons:
The way I’d have to build it, several pricey curved turnouts would be needed.
I’m not sure how hard the freestanding backdrop will be to build
The hidden staging isn’t too easy to get to, I’d have to make the backdrop easy to remove.
Option #2: The Heart of Georgia (Modified)
Pros:
Very easy and beginner friendly
Designed to be modular
Cons:
No hidden staging. That fact really bothers me for some reason.
That’s pretty much it. I think a simple donut plan is for me, the question
I see you are in the military so portabilaty is an important design must in your situation tomorrow you could be in lower woop woop and yes it is a case of you Aussies have funny expresions.
As I under stand it a short line is similar to what I know as a light railway in that it is built and or maintained to a lesser standard than a normal heavy railroad often has second hand loco’s and cars that may not be in that good a condition.
It also has a charm and perhaps a bit of quirkiness that goes with it that a regular railroad just doesn’t have.
But it still has laws and regulations that it must comply with.
OK looking at your post my thoughts are first purcase a pair of rose coloured glasses then using these create a shortline
That empasises the rose coloured some what idealised view of the place right down to the areas version of picture postcard houses, have weedy suitable ballast and all the rural and rustic cham you can muster, only just managing not to over do it this gives pleasant modeling time that could have theraputic benefits as well.
Bias alert Bias alert make it steam where the loco’s may be old but they are mantained to some sort of standard no claped out wrecks maybe the odd earlyish diesle loco
Keep your track plan KISS but enough to have operational interest with plenty of room for scenic development.
With your design make sure that that layout extention that just is not going to happen (we have all said that[:D] )
Can in fact be easily added at a convienient point or two on the layout sooner or later all layouts reach the time to extend, re arrange or scrap stage.
I have a DVD on southern shortlines it looks real weird a steam loco coming to the interchange yard and a modern diesle loco on a modern freight train rushing by on the main line railroad.
But it was real.
Seeing that the original post is a month old this is probably all a
Staging yard, Fiddle yard same thing spelt different.
And it is not nesasarily Hidden
Hidden is handy if you want the space for scenery
If it becomes an interchange yard it doesn’t need to be hidden and the fact there is a heap of cars standing around doing nothing doesn’t matter.
As its the start and finish point for trains, and if you really must you can model the other railroad disapearing into the scenery giving the route to the rest of the world.
First off lets concentrait on the accual build, you will have to move in the future so you need a lightweight and durable design. Start with a 2’x4’ module design made out of 1x4’s. If you do this and have a masonite backdrop suported by 1x4’s, you can ship two as a unit as long as you don’t make the backrop too high. Scenery will have to be a bit more planed as the one needs to flip to form a box. Use foam for your scenery and base also to cut down on weight, low on money use beaded foam, a bit more messy they say but a hot wire foam cutter fixes that. Also on note you will have to add square end peices when you ship.
I agree with your thought to go with a 1960s or so Rock Island theme with MKT connection. I was in Eastern Kansas in the 1970’s on the Rock Island, and they always had such an interesting mix of power. One never knew what would be coming down the line. One time it would be clean and modern power fitting of a true Class One RR and then the next train would have an old “chicken wire” F3 on the point and nothing matching. For modeling, the shorter freight cars of that period will look better on the tighter curves that we almost all have to use.
If you do not have it, I would suggest watching for a copy of Katy Northwest: The Story of a Branch Line Railroad by Donovan L. Hofsommer (Pruitt publishing, 1976). This concerns Katy branch lines in western Oklahoma, and used copies turn up at train shows and dealers like Ron’s Books. All photos in the book are black & white, but it contains quite a bit of information on operations during “your” time period.
Just a couple of thoughts to what has been said. For myself, I’m not a fan of hidden staging. Tried it on a couple of layouts and unless it is well built and easily accessible, something is sure to go wrong. Sometimes it seems when many talk about the advantages of “hidden” staging, they really mean “not on the modeled part of the layout” but out in the open on another deck or room.
The other thought is, if you are looking for portability, do a search on Dave Barrow’s Domino design and construction. He’s come up with a very sturdy concept that address much of the construction issues.
You asked I’m not sure how hard the freestanding backdrop will be to build
I set out a freestanding backdrop on another exhibition I built a few years ago which was directly on foam board. To mount the boards, drilled tight holes in the foam and force fit glued plastic cotton reel, My backdrop was 3mm MDF but I would now use foam core.
I glued rods which were a running fit for the cotton reel holes on the back of the backdrop to act as a support/locator for the backdrop strip so it could be lifted in and out. Mine also hid a staging yard with a station and a running scene at the front so I see similarity with your ideas. The industrial branch you have included will give you a fair bit of operating variety…
Might I suggest that you could make your modules with foam for any of the overall plans. You could set them up on trestle tables and keep your modules lightweight for transport.
In any event, enjoy building your layout and welcome back to the hobby!
