Conrail Windsor St Yard (York PA) Engineering Report

[davefoxx]

Ed,

Maybe I missed it, but what's going to happen to the layout when it comes down.  Will it saved for future use or will it be dumpster bound?

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed,

Maybe I missed it, but what's going to happen to the layout when it comes down.  Will it saved for future use or will it be dumpster bound?

DFF

Probably a little of both.

The yard will likely be re-separated (like it arrived) and travel to the new place where it'll be laid up good order until its next call to action.

The rest of the thing, well, the benchwork was all modular, but the design isn't. So the benchwork will be moving, but I'm thinking most of the styrofoam won't.

The trees, however, are all going in a big tote and being treated with kid gloves for use on future endeavors.

The buildings will be saved, of course, with a bunch of loaners going home.

Haha, maybe I'll sell 1 foot squares of some of it.

[MK]

Document with pictures of the take down!   

[Dave V]

I know you want to salvage some of it but for the pieces that are doomed to the dumpster...try peeling up just the rails and do an abandonment photo shoot!  Hell, you could even have a scrap train in the spread.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I know you want to salvage some of it but for the pieces that are doomed to the dumpster...try peeling up just the rails and do an abandonment photo shoot!  Hell, you could even have a scrap train in the spread.

I like this. 

[wm3798]

I have no idea what I will do with it, but I'd like to call dibs on the yard...  Too much history there...

I'm cementing the ops session date in stone.  I'll see you there.

Lee

[chuck geiger]

What ever you settle on will rock. Ditto on the row homes. PA THING. Owned one for 6 years in Bethlehem.

[OldEastRR]

Jeez, another of the "bedrock TRW" layouts fading away. When I first came to TRW 6-7 years ago I saw all the great "little" layouts (remember that HCD craze you guys had back then?) and I really enjoyed following the progress (and regression) of each one. And DKS's minilayout plans/layouts that came fast and furious. But now ... they may not all be gone, but they've been Retired in Place. And off go the builders into other scales.
The N mega-layouts that are here now don't interest me as much. No interest at all in scales other than N, either. But time moves on.

[davefoxx]

Jeez, another of the "bedrock TRW" layouts fading away. When I first came to TRW 6-7 years ago I saw all the great "little" layouts (remember that HCD craze you guys had back then?) and I really enjoyed following the progress (and regression) of each one. And DKS's minilayout plans/layouts that came fast and furious. But now ... they may not all be gone, but they've been Retired in Place. And off go the builders into other scales.
The N mega-layouts that are here now don't interest me as much. No interest at all in scales other than N, either. But time moves on.

Yes, time moves on.  Try to look at it this way: for every one of those layouts coming down, a new one (or two!) will go up in its place.  We haven't lost the modeler, and his or her skills will likely be improved so that the new layout will be even better than before.  Several folks have kidded me about my HO layout being similar to the plan of my former N scale layout.  Yes!  And with improvements to eliminate the deficiencies in my N scale version.  So, in my case, I'm building much of the same thing in a different scale.  Should be no loss to TRW community.  Most of the N scale equipment I sold off has been replaced with the HO version, right down to the same road number in a few cases!  In Ed's and other's cases, they may be moving on to something different, but that will be fresh and keep this forum from becoming the same-old, same-old.

So, this doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.

DFF

[DKS]

Yes, time moves on.  Try to look at it this way: for every one of those layouts coming down, a new one (or two!) will go up in its place.  We haven't lost the modeler, and his or her skills will likely be improved so that the new layout will be even better than before.

This.

[Dave V]

Stagnation is the enemy of creativity.

As has been said countless times before, when interests change and new opportunities arise, a modeler should not feel compelled or even "shamed" into continuing work that's become less fulfilling just because of what some guys on the Internet might think.

Now, if you want to pay Ed and the Daves to stay in N scale for your own comfort, that can probably be arranged.  But absent royalties on our N scale endeavors, we are all going to follow our passions because in the end it's our time, money, and satisfaction on the line.

[coosvalley]

The N mega-layouts that are here now don't interest me as much. No interest at all in scales other than N, either. But time moves on.

We have mega layouts?..  ..

And to counter your point, I like all the scales. I generally only shop in N scale, but enjoy seeing layouts in any scale. I don't get "scale elitisms" .  If Ed wants to dabble in O scale, are you saying you wouldn't even look at his threads, because of scale?.. ..

Sure N scale is obviously the bestest ever , but I've seen inspiring work in every scale.

The best way to see layouts you like is to build one and share it. That is what will make a better forum, not complaining about other folks choices of scale or layout size

[Jbub]

Several folks have kidded me about my HO layout being similar to the plan of my former N scale layout.  Yes!  And with improvements to eliminate the deficiencies in my N scale version.  So, in my case, I'm building much of the same thing in a different scale.  Should be no loss to TRW community.

A good track plan is a good track plan regardless of scale. They can all be adapted to the builders chosen scale with the only major change being the actual dimensions of the layout. I know I've taken a lot of idea's from Seaboard 3.0 in planning a potential N scale layout, I couldn't care less that it's HO. Each scale has their advantage and HO has the advantage in level of fine detail on rolling stock and engines, unless you are Max. If you're into sound, you have all that room for bigger, better sounding speakers and true keep alives for DCC operations. I think N's advantage, at least for me, is scale of scenery. You can create a fairly accurate locale with rolling hills, rivers and bridges like @Scottl Cisco bridges and @robert3985 Weber canyon. You can also create a city that has more than one street in an area that's only 2 feet wide. I guess what I'm saying is it's about what the modeler wants out of their layout. What brings you joy in your trains?

Jbub

[OldEastRR]

Not complaining that people move on. Just like when your favorite vintage tavern is converted into a multi-TV sports bar or that great deli with the tasty sandwiches gets torn down for a condo, you will miss that really good stuff that never ever will be back again. There may be replacements but it's not the same.
As for mega-layouts ... there are a fair number of layouts on TRW that fill (or will fill) whole basements, garages and even a full-sized warehouse (and use helixi), so yeah they seem to be the majority. Fine and dandy for people who love them, not my cup of tea.
But yes, good track plans are good no matter what scale. But seeing how realistically that plan is built into a scenicked layout is what interests me.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Don't worry guys.

This layout may come to an end, just like the one before it, but cooler things are in store, also, just like the one before it.