Conrail Windsor St Yard (York PA) Engineering Report

[narrowminded]

In my case I sold the layout to start over...but mine was small enough for that to make sense.

The person who bought the JD hopefully will take good care of it...but ultimately it doesn't matter. 

THAT I can understand.   Selling it and letting the effort continue to be enjoyed.  

Taking the sawzall to it...

[pdx1955]

It will warm the cockles of your heart to know that I just brought home two bags of unsanded grout to use for scenery. In two of the lightest beige shades, I'm going to see how they work for depicting soil around the current Colton project. I'll experiment off the layout first, of course!

Ditto .. Thanks to Ed, I got that box o'grout too. I do want to see how well it will simulate that hard-packed soil that's common in many places.

[mu26aeh]

I'd hate to see it go, but if it did, next logical location for Hagerstown/Windsor Yard would be my place as an extension of the YorkRail line I have branching off the CSX Hanover Sub.  Just saying....

[MichaelWinicki]

Lee hit the nail on the head.  I'd fly with DPM and Walther's kits with a few iconic buildings.  As Lee pointed out you do not have to use those structures as is... Change'em if you want or need to.  And nothing says you have to keep them forever. 

You're putting too much pressure on yourself.

I couldn't imagine doing an urban-scene (and I have'em) without using a single DPM or Walther's structure... It would take four-ever and I'm not sure the end results would be superior. 

[Hamaker]

All this reminds me of when I sold my last race car.  So much time and money.....and memories.  Ties you in knots !!

[coosvalley]

I understand Ed's desire to avoid DPM structures, or more specifically, creating "DPM town".  Aside form scaling issues, they also seem to be on every layout built since they came along. Sure, they're fine as stand ins, or background filler, but on a signature scene they will just make it look like every other layout. I too try to avoid this. They're kinda like seeing Matchbox cars on HO layouts.

I will say, however, that the oversized bricks have become less of an issue for me, as I'm finding that scale sized bricks become too small to see or even weather correctly as easily as the larger ones. At least the oversize bricks are visible!

In situations where I'm getting stuck like this, I find I have to put the prototype reference photos away, and work from "the minds eye"...Model what you notice enough to remember, ignore the things you don't, that sorta thing..

[wm3798]

I think Ed's penchant for yard ops will not make the yard obsolete in its next home.  If it does, I call dibs.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think Ed's penchant for yard ops will not make the yard obsolete in its next home.  If it does, I call dibs.
Lee

I don't know, honestly. If anything, the shape might.

I'm thinking about doing something set up in the Reading Cluster (how can you not love http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/OnLocationWithConrail/HardCoalCountry ?), and the yards up there were quite different.

But then again, it all depends on the space. Like this: https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/36404898_zpid/globalrelevanceex_sort/39.438016,-76.598525,39.396706,-76.655259_rect/13_zm/
or
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/36386159_zpid/globalrelevanceex_sort/39.4306,-76.620873,39.420273,-76.635057_rect/15_zm/
or
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/36378255_zpid/globalrelevanceex_sort/39.4306,-76.620873,39.420273,-76.635057_rect/15_zm/

But, for now... I plow ahead paving roads and building buildings.

[wm3798]

The first two look awful. 
The roof on the second one is a total CF.  I see about a dozen places where it could be problematic.  And the floor plan under that mess must be a rabbit warren.

The third one is cute, but it looks like the layout would have to be outside.

Perhaps you and I should have a chat about what you're looking for... Maybe there's a buildable lot somewhere in the area that offers some possibilities.

Lee

[nuno81291]

Room on the lot of the third one for a train bunker? It is cozy... looks like you would need to go down to TT scale to fit any serious railroading down there though. 

[chicken45]

We need @tom mann to talk to you about the plague of McMansions!

[squirrelhunter]

Looks good man, but if you've milked this cow dry...may be time to move along.  Changing focus after burnout is liberating!  I know you want GMR but have you considered instead doing MRP?  You put a *lot* of thought into planning this and the incorporation and re-purposing of Lee's yard is a unique bit that might garner MRP's interest.  That way you're also not tied into finishing something that's stressing you only to move and ditch it within months.

Just a thought.

I think Dave V has a point here- MRP features plenty of layouts that are still under construction, the use of part of another layout in the planning/construction would be an interesting sidebar issue, and the effort you have made with prototype research and integrating that both into the operations and scenery is excellent.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Perhaps you and I should have a chat about what you're looking for... Maybe there's a buildable lot somewhere in the area that offers some possibilities.

You know, that's not a bad idea, honestly.

Hmm...

Also, for everyone else's benefit: I'm not planning on giving up! I just like complaining... lol.

In fact, this morning, a conversation with @conrail98 made me realize the solution to my city filling issues might be a lot easier than otherwise expected.

[nuno81291]

You know, that's not a bad idea, honestly.

Hmm...

Also, for everyone else's benefit: I'm not planning on giving up! I just like complaining... lol.

In fact, this morning, a conversation with @conrail98 made me realize the solution to my city filling issues might be a lot easier than otherwise expected.

Is the solution negative space via industrial detritus? Abandoned lots overgrown with all sorts of junk? this thread needs more pics of modeling!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is the solution negative space via industrial detritus? Abandoned lots overgrown with all sorts of junk? this thread needs more pics of modeling!

Not entirely, but my plan is to have some vacant lots until the buildings get constructed.