I would like to invite everyone to visit my layout. The NPBL, Norfolk Portsmouth Belt Line, has been under construction since September of 2008 soon after we moved into our new home. It is in the second bedroom about 10 by 11. After much thought and realizing that the room is not going to get any bigger, I was able to design a plan that gave me as much bench work, hense track, that I could get in the room.
The NPBL on my layout is in the decade 1965 to 1975. I have permitted myself quite a bit of license but am pleased with my efforts so far. The Tidewater area where the Belt Line is located is not small by any means and has water, a number of rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, around it. I decided to model trains instead of boats so there is very little water to be seen. But I know where it is and in my mind I can see what I cannot build.
Excellent job Bob, impressive. I look forward to seeing the track plan, so give a yell when you get it posted. It looks like it’s going to be a fun layout to operate.
Nice layout and thanks for sharing it with us. I have liked that shape since I saw it in an MR article way back as it get a lot more into a small area than placing a 4x8 against the wall. I look forward to seeing updates in the future.
I kinda fell for the Belt line too when I was in the Navy and stationed in Norfolk for a few years (1972-75). The railroad was always friendly to my visits and provided a lot of interesting trains and other neat things to see. I prefer the EMD-inspired paint job on the numerous switchers at the time to the new black with white lettering.
Your new layout looks very nice! My daily commute on I-464 takes me by the small railyard located in South Norfolk on the Elizabeth River Southern Branch that the NPBL switches. One day I hope to get permission to take some detailed photographs and measurements of the yard office located there and scratchbuild a model. It is a real beauty of steam-to-diesel transition era structure that hasn’t seen too many modifcations.
Have you ever visited Portlock Yard in Chesapeake and gotten a look at one of NPBL’s GP40’s coupled to a matching road slug? Their pretty impressive and their not the typical motive power you’d expect to see everyday.
I live in Suffolk also. I am about a mile from one stretch of the CWRY line. I emailed them last week and requested a digital logo from them that I could use with some decal paper to try and model one of the SW1500’s that are always over on Wilroy Road. If you would like a copy of that logo, I can send it to you.
I have an undecorated SW1500 that I hope to soon start painting. I have never done this, so I am not sure how it will turn out. I can pass on what I learn about the color matching and such. The big problem I see is that their engines are so dirty. Last year when they were newly painted, they really looked nice. Now, I could probably just cover a train with red oxide primer, then cover it in used motor oil and have a pretty good copy of the actual train.
I like the paint scheme too but I do not have the talent to duplicate it so I am going to stick to the black. One of these days I am going to contact NPBL to see if I might visit.
I don’t know for sure but I think the engines now have Rail Link with CR in small letters. Since there is a lot more traffic with the addition of the container freight they do not park their motive power at Wilroy as often as they used to.
I have some pictures taken in the summer of 2007 that I will share if you are anyone would like them.
I live in the Woodlake section off Nansemond Parkway. If you would like to contact me go to http://www.rclsoftware.com/contact.htm and call my business phone.
