The Port of North Jersey Railroad

[VonRyan]

The mayhem is underway.



The Port of North Jersey Railroad is a 36"x80" HCD layout that focuses on industrial switching in a tight out-and-back set-up.

The plan was designed by the one and only DKS.

The "background" for the line is that it is a PRR branch responsible for working the various industries, wharfs, car floats, etc. on the New Jersey side of the Port of New York/New Jersey.

The era(s) that I'm modeling is anywhere from the 1920s to the late 1950s.

All trackwork is Atlas c55.

Turnout control is undecided yet since the delicate nature of Atlas code 55 trackwork has ruled out using NJ International twin-coil solenoids. I might go down the slide-switch route if I can find ones with enough travel but are so small that they can be "paved" over in any street running track. For the turnouts in the ferry terminal, I'm thinking about using Micron Art swtich-stands since they move, or a comparable product if some can be had for cheaper. I might have to tap into my prized stash of Arnold/Rapid detachable side-mount solenoids for trackwork beyond the front of the layout. The whole theory behind having the remote operation of the turnouts is to prevent any damage to structures/details in the gritty, urban area that I hope to create.

So far I have come up with two "versions" of the layout in terms of industries and side-street positions. I have a third version that I have not finished, mostly because I've run out of ideas. I'd have uploaded them in this initial posting, but my printer/copier/scanner does not take SDHC cards, and I cannot seem to find my regular SD card... Once I find it (more like if), I'll post all three "versions".

Thus, I start my saga for all the world to see. What there is to be see has yet to be seen, but that hopefully will change very soon.

-Cody F.

[avel]

Cool! Looks interesting. I like these types of layouts.

[DKS]

What there is to be see has yet to be seen...

That's... um... deep. 

[VonRyan]

That's... um... deep. 

And I'm starting to run out of spoons 

[pwnj]

Now that's tasty!

[packers#1]

and you say 20's and 30's era? that is gonna be some kind of HAWT! Are you thinking detail like the Franklin & South Manchester?

[Specter3]

Good luck on rolling stock for the the 20s era, you will be fighting me for all the 36ft Athearn cars that show up on the bay. Would love to see it though.

[Coxy]

Great concept. I like the street tracks running diagonally and separating the two switching areas.

Do you have access to all 4 sides while operating? A couple of the spurs are pretty far from the water side which I assume to be the front. I generally use 18 in as absolute max reach for uncoupling, with 12 in a good typical limit. If you have access to the staging side, this may not be a problem as long as you can reach over the backdrop.

Certainly off to a good start with lots of great modeling potential.
- Coxy

[Scottl]

I really like the concept.  With a mind of potential expansion down the street, and perhaps to make the termination easier to hide, perhaps curve the street and trackage a bit so the both come to the edge at 90 degrees?Then you can add a second door or whatever easily, and not impinge on the hidden tracks.

This will be really cool to see develop.  I love the urban canyon layouts.

[Lemosteam]

I really like the concept.  With a mind of potential expansion down the street, and perhaps to make the termination easier to hide, perhaps curve the street and trackage a bit so the both come to the edge at 90 degrees?Then you can add a second door or whatever easily, and not impinge on the hidden tracks.

This will be really cool to see develop.  I love the urban canyon layouts.

Exactly what I was thinking too.

[VonRyan]

and you say 20's and 30's era? that is gonna be some kind of HAWT! Are you thinking detail like the Franklin & South Manchester?

Mostly late 30s into early 1950s as the major focus. I'm certainly going to be drawing from the F&SM for some influence, but making it less depression, more WWII and post-war boom.

Do you have access to all 4 sides while operating? A couple of the spurs are pretty far from the water side which I assume to be the front. I generally use 18 in as absolute max reach for uncoupling, with 12 in a good typical limit. If you have access to the staging side, this may not be a problem as long as you can reach over the backdrop.

Uncoupling will be via buried uncoupling magnets similar to a product on the market that uses a metal plate and 4 neodymium magnets at the corners. I will be making them in a large batch using neodymium magnets from china that can be had in lots of anywhere from 100 to 1000 for great prices. I'll most likely mark the uncoupling areas near the industries with blue 55 gallon drums from Presier.

I really like the concept.  With a mind of potential expansion down the street, and perhaps to make the termination easier to hide, perhaps curve the street and trackage a bit so the both come to the edge at 90 degrees?Then you can add a second door or whatever easily, and not impinge on the hidden tracks.

I had similar thoughts, but I plan on just shortening the staging tracks since the trains coming into the scene won't be very long.


-Cody F.

[packers#1]

Mostly late 30s into early 1950s as the major focus. I'm certainly going to be drawing from the F&SM for some influence, but making it less depression, more WWII and post-war boom.

sweet, grimy but with hope  I like it

[gpumph]

as a jersey guy I love the idea of modeling the NY/NJ terminal area.  will be watching...

[VonRyan]

Finally managed to get these scanned and now uploaded.

Some of the versions feature modifications to the length of some of the sidings, but they were mostly just some options that I sketched out if I desired to switch longer cuts of cars. Of course those changes in track length could always be brought over to another version, or more versions could be created.
Two of the versions are "complete" in terms of how the "landscape" will sorta look. (of course that could change)
The third version never was "completed" as I just couldn't seem to figure out where to take it.

Anywho, here they are

Version #1:


Version #2:


Version #3:


Thus I'll open the floodgates to allow for everyone's thoughts and ideas to materialize and for all the thought-smoke to clear.


-Cody F.

[DKS]

FWIW, here's what I had in my mind's eye, except for the coal dock Cody included, which I think is perfect for that spot.



I love the density of areas like this--wherever a structure can exist, someone will squeeze one in--like "Lucky's Barber Shop." I also like how some industrial areas will have homes mixed in.

Also note that, instead of bending the track at the top right, I bent the backdrop so the street can remain straight yet still be extended should the layout enjoy expansion in the future.

If I had the room, I'd build this myself.