Building the Gulf, Texas, and Northern Railroad!

[Matthew Roberts]

Yes, after 8 months of going through lots of "theory" (if you wanna call it that... ;D), I am finally in a position where it looks like construction will start within a couple of weeks!    So, I started this new thread, on the suggestions of others, to discuss that portion of the model railroad.

I've decided to make this a railroad focusing on one town on the Gulf, Texas, and Northern; Burnet, Texas is located at the northern edge of the Hill Country, and in this freelance history, is located on the GT&N's Austin Subdivision (Austin-Llano, 75 miles, and the extent of the real Austin & Northwestern Railroad), and is the northern end of the Marble Falls Branch (actually several miles south from Fairland to Marble Falls, 6 miles). The main line, as in reality, bypasses downtown Burnet to the south, with a wye reaching north into town and past, to the connection with the GCSF at Lampasas), I don't know if I want to really model the wye and/or any of downtown, instead maybe focusing on a small yard at the southern edge of town, with a small enginehouse, and a base for helper operations up to Summit east of town. I believe the grade is somewhere in the area of 1.5-2% for about a mile or two.

The area available for layout construction is 4'-6" x 12'-10" x 8''-0", wrapping around the walls of my layout; there is space in the closest to the left of my room that may become stub-end staging, that would enter the layout in the top left corner. I do hope to be able to have loops for continuous running, which I might do occasionally. I drew in 24" shelves, but that could change a little.

Givens:

• Layout Space
• N-scale
• Freelance Texas-Denver line (GT&N)
• Era 1955-1958
• Medium-sized town with small yard

Druthers:

• Continuous run ability
• Single-track with passing sidings
• DCC control
• 15" min. radius, 20" preferred
• Ability to model occasional passenger and helper operations
• Model part of line to Lampasas and interchange
• Roundhouse and turntable

Grid is in 6" increments

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[Hyperion]

I drew in 24" shelves, but that could change a little.

That'd have to change quite a bit if you plan on Continuous Running but don't want less than a 15" radius curve.  You'll need at least 36", at least in the areas where you want the loops to be to turn back for the continuous run ability.

Otherwise, it's similar to the area I'm working in myself right now -- a 12'x6' U-Shape -- except I'm running with a 3-foot width.  Depth in the corners (reach distance from edge of layout to the far corner) is the concern in my case.  I've got no plans to have any trackwork out there, and curved backdrops will eat up some of the space, but it's still somewhat of an issue.

[Matthew Roberts]

Hyperion, that's for sure on those curves, that was just the general area I have... And now I'm doubting the need for continuous running....

[Matthew Roberts]

All this model railroading energy made me remember this thread...

Would any one be willing to help plan a layout? I'd still like to plan a similar layout to the above. A branch line terminal on the main Port Lavaca-Denver line. I've gone through lots of iterations on paper, and haven't really liked any of them. I think loops on either end would be nice for optional continuous running.

[Denver Road Doug]

Sure, I'll play!  Give me a bit to sketch some ideas and I'll post something.  In the meantime, how about post your "top 3" photos that inspired you to develop this "theory", or that might inspire us in the design phase, or that in general offer up the feel for what you want.  Fair enough?

[Matthew Roberts]

Here's some:

[squirrelhunter]

So is the Burnet/Marble Falls plan finished? I thought for your limited space doing something like a helper operation would add operational interest without adding too many space consuming industries. Actually, when ascii baron was talking about building a Milwaukee Road layout I thought the same thing, like mode a yard like Avery, Idaho and the first hill out of town.

I might try to scratch out a plan sometime this week. I am not a master planner, but I am familiar with the area you want to model.

By the way, where did you find the pic of I-GN 2-8-4 1121? I have heard action shots of the 2-8-4's are almost as rare as hen's teeth.

[MOPHEAD]

Matt.

 What happened to your plans for a Missouri Pacific layout? I was looking forward to seeing someone else doing 1950's MoP in N scale. I too will be starting to build my layout (10'x14') since I just retired and have a little more time to devote to it. Anyways, good luck on you new plan.

 And I agree with that squirrelly guy, that I-GN 2-8-4 photo is awesome.

MOPHEAD

[Matthew Roberts]

Squirrelhunter, that plan is still on, I just don't know how to plan out something like that. And no one had jumped on this before, so I thought I'd bump it a little and try to be more specific, though now I see that I just made it more confusing.

I still want to model operations around Burnet on the GT&N.

Mophead, that went down the drain a little while ago, like a couple months to a year ago, when I moved.

I found that Berk shot on the Screaming Eagles site. I think it's supposed to be somewhere near Longview.

[asciibaron]

I found that Berk shot on the Screaming Eagles site. I think it's supposed to be somewhere near Longview.

that confused me for a second - i'm part of this Screaming Eagles



-Steve

[Matthew Roberts]

Haha Steve. Is that a football club?

Another inspirational image

[Denver Road Doug]

Great photos.  That's exactly what I was expecting, thanks!

Unfortunately I've not come up with anything I like yet.  I have been sketching some plans out just nothing is working out like I want.

You mentioned a closet the could maybe be used for staging.  Can you provide more details, like the size, orientation, etc. (I know you said upper left side of the layout, but is that upper left side or top?  Also, maybe door width, depth, width inside, etc.)  Maybe having an idea how to incorporate that will jar something loose in my brain.

[Matthew Roberts]

Doug, the closet is in the upper left hand corner, available space is about 18" away from the top wall, and about 5' away from the shared wall with the shared wall (the wall that the short peninsula is on).

[asciibaron]

Haha Steve. Is that a football club?

the supporters club for DC United soccer.

-Steve

[Matthew Roberts]

I suspected that....