Well it seems like the Candianian Canyons will be wrapping up soon. To me, they’ve really hit some home runs lately with the CC, Beer Line, Virginian, WSSB (love that little layout), and the David’s Olympia. To me these hit the same flavor as the KR&D and Clinchfield from the 70s.
So, with that background, what would be the next big hit? Perhaps Colorado Springs Joint line circa 1980 where the wide mix of diesel schemes in that era? Or maybe a steam era division point focused on engine servicing? That could be interesting. Maine two footer seaport? It gets exciting thinking about the possibilities.
Or has David already given us a hint in his series on track planning Crystal Lake?
That’s the vibe I got, unless that might be his next home layout. It would also be interesting to see David P. develop some of the ideas he set forth in an article (and trackplan) about his former home of Kirkland IL.
Another thought would be to attempt to recreate, but improve using today’s techniques and materials, one of the more interesting of all MR project layouts, the Sierra Pintada – not only was it point to point but it was not a rectangle.
I’d like to see something a bit bigger than the pigmy-sized layouts they usually do. Something that supports long-term operation fun would be really nice. What they usually do might be fun in the short term, but I think they tend to build what in a very short time become mostly dust collectors.
Canadian Canyons may be already familiar to MRVP subscribers, but we’ll be bringing it to Model Railroader magazine subscribers starting in the January 2019 issue. The project for 2020 is an O scale (Proto:48) layout built by MR contributing editor and Model Railroad Planning editor Tony Koester. We’re just beginning discussion of our project for 2021. All we can tell you for sure at this point is it will be HO scale. We’re looking at what new structure, scenery, and rolling stock products will be coming out in the next year to help guide our choice of prototype, era, and setting.
Thanks for the insight Steven. Larry, I agree about an updated KR&D. And in a nod to Mark’s comment about larger layout projects, I’ve always envisioned the KR&D as one terminal of a much larger basement empire (not that I have a basement to work with) where the carfloat hidden stageing links to the other end rather than looping back on itself.
Perhaps what’s needed for Mark’s question is something more along the lines of the old “Up Clear Creek on the Narrow Gauge” series that I think ran in the Gazette some years ago. MR probably doesn’t have the space and of course has to cover a wide range of interests, to take on such a long term project, but maybe there is someone out there who does? I could see doing it as a labor of love if I had more than my 2x8 space to work in.
Construction site narrow gauge. That was the way things were done before bulldozers. A high volume of trains moving dirt and/or concrete would require some sophisticated operation. Think about it before saying “NO! OH GOD NO!”
I recall seeing picture of the highway that went in front of my childhood home being constructed exactly how you described. Tiny trains on something like 15 or 18 inch gauge track. Horse drawn drag pans and graders.
What are the size limitations of a project layout? island plans are great, but shelf and around the walls are more realistic for a train room.
One idea might be a commuter layout, maybe a modern take of those Mike Welch plans? But I am biased to a Chicago track plan.
the background, planning, LDE, compression, operations, and design parameters might be the best value. Applying roadbed and building benchwork might be a little redundant.
After being a armchair modeler for years, the Operating the Virginian video inspired me to build a railroad.
I am surprised I haven’t seen any recent attempts to do a model railroad set in the Pacific Northwest. My recent trip up there for Thanksgiving sure has the area on my mind a lot lately.
I dunno a few other ideas, go international? I thought that OO Scale layout was a highlight of this year’s articles, and would love to see more of that. It would make for an interesting story if it is prototypical, just how would a group of American modeler’s go about recreating a prototype scene from an ocean away?
There is so much of a model railroading world outside of the Americas, but I guess that only few US/Canadian modelers would take an interest in participating in the making of a “foreign” layout.
With streetcars becoming more popular in US and Canadian cities these days, how about a modern traction layout?
I’d like to see something like SP in the Cascades or Sierra Nevadas in the 70s, they could do it in modules, its take some creativity to hide the joints in the scenery but a nice 5x15 layout would be cool.
Two I always wanted to build were the Kinnikinnick from the 70’s (I think that might have been the first project railroad that Russ Larson worked on), and Dave Frary’s PRR Middle Division from 1993.
–Randy
(writing from Amtrack train #670 so excuse any more than usual typos)
The Cripple Creek Central will always have a special place in my heart. I loved the no plan organic development of it. I also loved when they violated the “no soldering” rule on a late article on the justification of “well you’ll have to learn sometime.”