Progress on the Housatonic Railroad Layout

[Pomperaugrr]

I had started an earlier thread on the backdrop I painted for my new layout.  That can be found here:  http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,19034.msg170103.html#msg170103

This thread will document the (somewhat painfully slow) progress I am making with my layout.  I have installed a temporary loop connection to allow for continuous running.  I currently have 118 feet of single track main line plus sidings in service.

Here are some crappy camera phone shots of the recent progress on my layout.  I took these quickly this morning.  I'll take some better shots when I have a chance to play around with the lighting and the good camera.  Right now 90% of the yard and industrial trackage shown is in service.  All buildings are only mocked up and I threw in a few cheap Chinese trees to get an idea of the backdrop effectiveness.  I have only roughed in the river scene.  The color is not final, I just can't stand seeing blue and pink foam anymore!

Kimberly Clark mock-up.  6-7 box cars inside each bay, like the proto plus outside loading points:


Quality Oils and Pharmco mock-ups.  Vegetable oils, corn syrup, ethanol and box cars:


New Milford Bridge Scenes:





Overview of Berkshire Junction and industrial trackage:


Overview facing toward Kimberly Clark.  Building will extend to the backdrop with rear track and siding hidden from view.


Canaan yard and Engine House:





Eric

[MEC_FAN]

Hi Eric, glad to see you making progress, looks good so far keep going man!! Are you going to Springfield this year.

John

[Pomperaugrr]

Thanks for the encouragement John.  I will be going to Springfield both days, although I'll probably just drive up and back each day.  I'm only an hour away from there.

Eric

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice. I like the big sweeping curves in some of those shots.  What are your plans for some of the larger open areas?  Town, forest, other?  Lots of potential there.

Your progress may be slow, but it's way faster than mine. 

[Rick Abramson]

Very nice representation of the "Housy."

Rick Abramson
Sup't, Operations, Housatonic RR

[Pomperaugrr]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Thanks for the compliment Rick.  Unfortunately, I had to relocate the Canaan yard and the engine house to the east of the wye, due to space limitations.  B&D is also on the west side of the tracks, when it should be on the east side.  There are a number of compromises that had to be made due to the space I have available.    I had to flip Berkshire Junction's orientation and attach it and Pharmco to the New Milford yard as a victim of selective compression too.  I was disappointed with those compromises, but I had to do it, so that I could keep the feeling and familiarity of the main industrial and switching areas.

The Housy is a great railroad to model.  Living fairly close to it helps with research, but some areas are tough to research, due to access limitations.  I am looking forward to the Branchline Canaan Union Station kit to come out this spring too.

Tell Bob Bass that Eric Groody from the RMNE said hello.  He was my yearly instructor in their NORAC classes.

Thanks again!

Eric

[Rick Abramson]

Eric:

I will pass your "hello" on to Bob. If I can help in any way with the Housy, let me know.
Selective compression is a great option. I model in HO, the electrified portion of the NH complete with catenary. The center of the layout is the 4 track main at Devon complete with the wye. I had to "move" Derby Jct. 10 miles South to fit the layout.

Regards,
Rick

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Eric, this is really cool. I'm very much digging it.

[Ian MacMillan]

Oh man Pompy that is looking sweet! Cant wait to come run on it.

[Dave V]

I'm loving the broad, sweeping curves.  The proportions are all there; no cramped trackage.  Really, really looks realistic.

Also, very nice backdrops!

[jsoflo]

That looks great, you nailed the New Milford bridge, I grew up along the Housatonic, are you doing the old Newtown depot or Georgia Pacific distributor in Newtown?

great to see your progress shots, please keep them coming!
my best,
Jan

[Pomperaugrr]

Thanks again.  I still have a long way to go, but at least this is a start.  You guys set the bar pretty high here for detail, weathering and scenery.  Right now I am focusing on the track arrangement and reliable operations.

Jan, The primary industrial site that is still in operation on the Maybrook line is the HRRC's Shepaug Transload Center at Hawleyville.  If I can, I will add the GP Dist. Center and resurrect business there.  I'll also add in P&W stone trains, which run over the HRRC's Maybrook line to serve the Tilcon plant in Danbury.

I appreciate the comments on the New Milford bridge scene.  I'll add in the old bleachery and mill buildings along the cove, and weather the bridges and piers eventually.  The next step is dropping a ton of feeders.

Eric

[fcnrwy]

Nice Work!! ;D

BUT, get that trackwork "bullet-proof" before the scenery goes down.    Try me, I know!!! :'(

Jerry G.

[Pomperaugrr]

Nice Work!! ;D

BUT, get that trackwork "bullet-proof" before the scenery goes down.    Try me, I know!!! :'(

Jerry G.

Been there too.  Thanks for the advice.  I am currently running a (3) GP-35 consist with a 35 car test train forward and backward (at scale speeds: 15 - 30 mph) throughout the entire layout.  1 derailment due to a loose trip pin catching a set of points and 1 derailment due to an improperly weighted box car after 25 minutes of going backwards through sidings and main line.  I will run the hell out of the layout before ballasting and doing scenery.   :-\

Edit:  OK one more dreailment due to an improperly secured turnout as I was typing this.  Still, so far, so good.   

Eric

[Pomperaugrr]

Well, I finished building the Steel Trestle. I hated the look of the solid legs on the N scale ME Tall Steel Viaduct kit, so I replaced the tower legs with girders from a set of HO scale Central Valley bridge girders. I had to cut all of the cross bracing off the original tower legs and graft them on to my new ones. Once the bridge was completed, I cut the towers down to their final height. The height is half of the height of the bridge if built straight out of the box.



Comparison of original tower leg and my box girder version. Mine is on the left, solid one from the kit is on the right:



Footing:


Tower with box girder legs:


Overview before cutting to size:




Final configuration and painted. Still needs weathering and placement on layout:






That's it for now. Next up is cutting the foam and placing it in some scenery.



Eric