Some research for a car float layout placed here so that I'll know where to find it
http://youtu.be/zUCJNx-Ex6w
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triborough/2957778253/
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/2/9/7/1297.1307503064.jpg
http://yourrailwaypictures.com/TrainStations/CPR_Station_at_Nakusp_BC_and_yard_1935.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foamerbill/4503058348/
http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/stinksandbangs/Port%2520Rowan%2520in%2520S/Resources/RailwaysKootenay.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=378904&nseq=3
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=404516&nseq=1
That'll do for now
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thoughts on building a car float model railroad
(This piece was originally published on the Micro Model Railroad Cartel blog on Tuesday January 8th)
It's no secret then that I am quite taken with that image of the Naksup wayfreight on the car float. Plenty of inspiration to be had in that photograph. Short prototype length trains in a small space. I figured you could fit the design in about four feet in length in HO scale. I also figure that you could probably fit the concept into an APA box in Z scale.
But before I get too carried away with the scheme lets look at what you'd get in your small space layout. The trackplan is as simple as it gets. Two sidings. You don't even really need any switches. That is the root of the problem with the scheme. If you look at the layout from the point of view of a person who has no idea of what the layout is about would see a locomotive push and pull cars on and off the car float. Not terribly exciting, I'm sure you'll agree.
We need something more to lift the layout above the ordinary. To make people want to take a closer look.
How about making the car float move? Not too difficult a task for some clever modellers I'm sure. I bet there's several different ways to go about making the carfloat move. Those who know me will know I believe in operating features to lift the visual appeal of small layouts.
That would really make the layout different. But where would the carfloat go to? It would have to go offstage somewhere like the trains appear from offstage. I'll leave you to think up your own schemes I have my own ideas.
But when it comes down to it you're still only shoving wagons on and off the car float not terribly interesting operation for the operator.
So lets make a bit more of the shoving of the cars on and off the car float. Take a look at this image of the dock at Woodfibre British Columbia, there's a small yard right alongside. This is a promising development. This could be a very interesting way of going about building on the scheme. Operation would be considerably expanded over the original concept. A locomotive brings a cut of cars into the yard where it is sorted prior to being loaded on the car float. A loaded carfloat arrives, the cars on the float are changed out for those on the dock and the carfloat leaves, then the locomotive leaves with train that was on the float. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?
That's just my thoughts, thats how I would approach the idea.
Waking up...
After 14 months of inactivity I wonder if anyone still reads this?
My Z scale activities may have been dormant but my model railroading hasn't. I've built layouts and explored several new avenues of railway modelling. Even inventing one that was a world wide craze for a while. Though initially not as successful as I hoped for me personally. I was always open to another go at the project.
Then I had this picture bought to my attention. What a delightful scene, and so model-able and you could even fit it into a small space. Say 4' long even in HO scale. This would have been the kind of idea that my late, dear friend Carl Arendt would have gone for in a big way. I mooted the idea in HO scale but strangely the idea that appeals most to me is to create this sort of scene in an APA box in Z. I bought a whole load of the boxes. I also have stock and track to build this in Z scale.
I've said before that I like Z scale. I was really impressed with the quality of the running of the set I have when I ran it at the Granite City Train show. I've been wanting to do something more with Z but I've been waiting for the inspiration to get a project up and running. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to fall together like this. So we'll see how things develop.
My Z scale activities may have been dormant but my model railroading hasn't. I've built layouts and explored several new avenues of railway modelling. Even inventing one that was a world wide craze for a while. Though initially not as successful as I hoped for me personally. I was always open to another go at the project.
Then I had this picture bought to my attention. What a delightful scene, and so model-able and you could even fit it into a small space. Say 4' long even in HO scale. This would have been the kind of idea that my late, dear friend Carl Arendt would have gone for in a big way. I mooted the idea in HO scale but strangely the idea that appeals most to me is to create this sort of scene in an APA box in Z. I bought a whole load of the boxes. I also have stock and track to build this in Z scale.
I've said before that I like Z scale. I was really impressed with the quality of the running of the set I have when I ran it at the Granite City Train show. I've been wanting to do something more with Z but I've been waiting for the inspiration to get a project up and running. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to fall together like this. So we'll see how things develop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)