I finally was able to obtain all the information I needed on Fred Soops Chicago AmTrak layout. Mr. Soop and his layout are the inspiration for my current layout and my passion for model trains at the moment.
Originally, I was going to do a 1930s-60s version of his layout using all the classic trains such as the MRW Olympian Hiawatha, PRR Broadway Limited, NYC 20th Century Limited, etc. Even throw in Kato’s nice C&NW 400 train.
But then Amtrak and Metra fever struck me and I am trying to figure out how to construct a layout similar to Mr. Soops but with more emphasis on running as his version 1 layout did before he reconstructed it several years ago.
My thoughts are since I am running N Scale I definately have the space. But the challenge will be how to run two different periods on the same layout. I might try using hidden staging when I want to switch time periods on the fly from the 60s and earlier to the modern Amtrak and Metra period of the 1990s to present.
Basically, hide the trains from the period I am not using in hidden staging and vice-versa.
Also, Mr. Soop mentioned the North Concourse as “Commuter” and that got me thinking to run my Metra and CNW 400 trains out of the north concourse and my classic trains and Amtrak trains from the South Concourse.
I will post some photos when I get a chance, but wanted to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Here are some links of Fred Soops layout for reference:
Your layout plans are ambitious, to say the least. You mention that your emphasis will be on running trains. What destinations do you have planned?
I clicked on both links to view Fred Soops two layouts. That first one is interesting with the “traffic circle” loop for turning trains as well as continuous running. The second, newer layout is really neat.
You are going to take a lot of liberties with the use of the North and South Concourses of CUS, but that’s OK. Even on bigger layouts, designing and running passenger trains is a challenge. On my Dearborn Station themed layout, I have devoted 25 x 42 feet to the station, the large freight houses and the coach yards. To simulate destinations, I have a double track mainline all around the perimeter of the layout.
Good luck with your layout and keep us posted on your progress.
Dearborm station was always my first choice, but like an idiot I dropped, broke, then discarded a really nice Walthers trainshed I could have used to represent Dearborn station.
My 2nd choice was Union Station, and both stations come after 11 years of constructing to 50% completion and then tearing down several times of an O Gauge layout of the NYC&HRR New York City 1875-1920.
Sadly, it took 11 years to realize that O Gauge was too large for my train room and although I am obsessed with the NYC&HRR, it was like fitting a square peg in a round hole with tons of frustration due to the space limitation.
With N Scale, I can just about do anything I want with relative ease.
My problem is I love Amtrak and Metra just as much as the famous trains from the 1930’s tjru the 1950’s. Which creates a round peg square hole of another sort.
You’re not alone. At one time, I fantasized about leasing a 100’ x 100’ warehouse to build a layout with all six downtown Chicago train stations in the 1950s. Eventually, reality set in, and I settled for Dearborn Station.
The union station layout with the full post office is incredible. Can’t imagine how long it would take to build something that size.
Sounds like I’m not alone imagining getting a big warehouse or industrial space to set up and also keep the mess out of my house. I’m along the Ravenswood viaduct and there’s several dozen multi-tenant industrial spaces but practically everything is full. Anytime there’s an opening, it’s only on the market a week two.
One of the limitations of a passenger train oriented layout is space. To do it justice, you need a large train station, a train shed tp protect passengers from the elements, several passenger station tracks, and a coach yard.
In my case, Dearborn Station in the 1950s had 13 large structures (inbound and outbound freight houses and freight offices) to service the six railroads that owned or leased space at the station complex. So, a freight yard would also be required to handle LCL freight cars.
All of that requires a fairly large layout, and you still need space to run trains to, or at least toward, their destinations.
It’s one of the reasons I settled for a fantasy suburb in NW Chicago. Somewhat built like Oak Park where it has the infrastructure and architecture of the city, but the stations and height can be scaled down and still be very convincing My Metra trains are stiil like 7’ long, but in real life they don’t even fit in the suburban stations, so at least I could argue that point.
I have always felt that selective compression is the key to modeling passenger train themed layouts.
Depending upon what you are modeling and the era, you probably want a downtown station and shed, at least a small coach yard, one or more freight houses, and a REA building.
Trackwork in and out of the station is critical, and it must be somewhat complex to be credible.
If space allows, a destination point is highly desirable, such as a small town or suburban train station. Or, better yet, a second downtown station as a destination. If you are modeling more than one road, a destination for each road is highly desirable but probably impossible because of space constaints.
One solution is a space to hide trains until you plan to return them to their original location. If you have the space to turn them around to return in the same direction back to their original location, so much the better.
Just some basic observations on passenger train modeling.
UPDATE: Its 3 years later now and I started this project over.
I am using Fred’s newer (2012) track plan as shown in the OPSig and Fox Valley articles and the Full article from Spring 2012 Layout Design Journal (LDJ) #46. layout, the 3 level one. My layout is in N Scale.
But, I am not using his Lower and Upper Levels, only the Main Level.
The much needed staging of Lower and Upper levels as well as Santa Fe Yard, will all be on the main level now.
I was able to convince my wife to allow me to use an extra room in our house we were using for storage as my 2nd train room. The other being O Scale.
chipset35, I have spent some time reading through the various threads that you have either authored or participated in, and I wonder if there is a copy of Fred Soop’s track plan publicly available?
From the photos and descriptions of Mr. Soop’s layout, it is quite impressive.
That is quite a layout. Will you exactly replicate the Main Level? That should be huge in N scale. I really like the fact that he includes some downtown Chicago streets - Harrison, Taylor, Roosevelt and then Halsted. I have done the same thing on my Dearborn Station themed layout.
I wont be replicating exactly 100%. More like 75%.
No space for Halsted Street and the LaGrange Park area.
Santa Fe yard will be off to the side and be dual purpose yard/staging.
I might have seen your layout on the web, do you have a link or photos?
