CSX Hanover Subdivision 3.0

[mu26aeh]

Some time this afternoon before work beckoned me, I was able to get some benchwork built and hung up.  This area will represent between Smiths Siding and Center St yard, the base of Hanover Sub operations.  Maps image shows from Smith to the right side, and Center St to the left.  Hanover Foods facilities in the middle.

[mu26aeh]

No work and no football on the TV tonight meant more layout progress.  I got the Center St module mounted and cut all my foamboard to fit.  If I curve Center St yard a little bit, I can build it almost to scale length.  I may shorten it a little bit so as to not over power other scenes that can't get the same treatment.  Or do I go ahead and build it full ?  Center St is the base of operations for the Hanover Sub.  I used Google Earth to measure out 1:1 distances and scaled them down to get my lengths.

[packers#1]

I think it depends on how important it is operationally to your layout plan. It being the centerpiece of the prototype operation, I would think it’s pretty vital to the overall ops on the layout. Given that you’re not looking at the layout in one single view all the time, I don’t think it will overpower any other scenes since it can’t be directly compared visually.

[nickelplate759]

I'm impressed that you've been able to use dimensional lumber and achieve a sufficiently flat layout surface.  Any tips on how to achieve this?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is N scale. If you can do it to scale you owe it to our scale forebearers to do it to scale.

[mu26aeh]

I'm impressed that you've been able to use dimensional lumber and achieve a sufficiently flat layout surface.  Any tips on how to achieve this?

Biggest tip is getting good material to start with.  Make sure boards are straight, no curves or bows in any direction.  If not using right away be sure to store it in a manner it stays the way you bought it.  Other than that nothing really to add

[wm3798]

As an operations hub, it needs to look right, and be the right size for your layout. 

If the real yard can handle (arbitrarily) 100 cars, but your layout operation can only handle 60, then there's no need to make it any bigger than it needs to be to feel and look right.  If your operation requires room for all 100 cars, then by all means, build it to scale if you can, or as close as possible.

Lee

[wm3798]

I'm impressed that you've been able to use dimensional lumber and achieve a sufficiently flat layout surface.  Any tips on how to achieve this?

For a long time, it was more economical to buy 3/4" sanded plywood and rip it down to 3.5" strips (equivalent of 1x4).  Properly assembled, that's more dimensionally stable than lumber, although a bit heavier.  Right now sheet goods are a bit ridiculous, so the comparative costs don't work out as well.

Lee

[mu26aeh]

As an operations hub, it needs to look right, and be the right size for your layout. 

If the real yard can handle (arbitrarily) 100 cars, but your layout operation can only handle 60, then there's no need to make it any bigger than it needs to be to feel and look right.  If your operation requires room for all 100 cars, then by all means, build it to scale if you can, or as close as possible.

Lee

This yard in my early time frame was mainly used as locomotive parking for stone train and the east bound Hanover turn.  It's alot more active with the new process/schedule, holding cars for a new Hanover local they run and more cars going to Emory Grove area

[PiperguyUMD]

Do it to scale!! I’m going to do in in 1953 on freemo N modules 

[mu26aeh]

Trains can now make it to Center St yard in Hanover.  This is the eastern base of operations on the Hanover Sub.  It's all but to scale length and design.  Over the years, tracks have been cut, moved, and removed so spacing and direction are all over the place.  The engine house is long gone (torn down late 90s/early 2000s) but is a rare Jim Coshun exclusive kit (only a dozen or so were cut IIRC).  Had to be included on the layout, wish I finished it before he passed.





Heading east from the yard, 2 Hanover Foods sidings are in place.  The first is for a warehouse/outlet store that receives boxcars.  The far, 2nd siding is for the production facility where they get 1-2 covered hoppers, usually ATSF/BN/BNSF 4750 hoppers.  It's 4 axle power only, or they need 13 buffer cars to dig out the empties, so I removed 30+ ties from the flex track and spaced remaining out to simulate poor track conditions.



And finally got Smiths Siding back in service.  This is the YorkRail/CSX interchange area.  I was able to add 6-7 cars to storage capacity so should be able to model the prototype fairly well.

[packers#1]

Sweet! Very nice progress, gotta love when the hurdles come down and you can see forwards from where you’ve been stumped. Seeing how small that yard is overall as the prototype, I think you’re going to like having it to scale. I know when I’ve said in the past “eh thats far enough for what I want to accomplish with these tracks” I’ve always regretted it. Every. Single. Time.

[wm3798]

Good times yesterday. 


And bad...



Lee

[mu26aeh]

I relaid the bean plant siding to better reflect the nasty S curve coming off on the turnout that the prototype has and is the reason for 4 axle power only.



And moved west of the yard with benchwork and started on roadbed for the next industry, Hanover Terminal