Contoocook Revisited

[fotoflojoe]

Nothing to it, but to get down to it, I guess...

I have delusions of grandeur... One day, I will build a basement-filling, around-the-walls empire. It will be magnificent!
For now though, for my first real layout, I will build a HCD layout (extended to 3x9, courtesy of mission-creep).
I've been thrashing back and forth, trying to work out or find the perfect track plan.
What I only just realized is, there ain't no such thing, and it's real easy to waste a lifetime waffling through analysis paralysis in that search.
Good or bad, I really need to just jump in and start building something.
For a while now, I've been lurking and following Davefoxx's Seaboard Central build. While I really like that layout, his Virginia Central is what really reeled me in.
Unfortunately, most images of the Virginia Central seem to have gone missing - I've only seen two. But I like what I see 

I'm as ham-fisted as it gets when it comes to track planning, so I really needed to find a decent existing plan to start from.
I think I found it.

Over on Trainboard (Am I allowed to mention other forums? If not, I apologize), a user named "Arizona ShortLine" designed an N scale layout, named "Tonto Y Sudinero" based on the Carolina Central. The new design was created in 3x8, then quickly expanded to 3x9. As far as I know, Arizona Central never actually built the layout. In finding his blog, he is currently modelling in On3. The original design is meant to be sceniced as a southwestern desert mining layout. I'm shamelessly lifting all of Arizona Shortline's work, however, my layout will exist in the Northeast. It will model The B&M's White Mountain division, specifically set in and around the town of Contoocook New Hampshire.

Several years back, I'd started building the layout from Lou Sassi's book "A realistic HO layout for beginners". That project - set in Contoocook - lived a short life though, since we moved to a new house about halfway during the project.

I want to have some simple operation potential... But when it comes right down to it, I'm a roundy-round railfan.

I haven't given a lot of thought to industries, but...
The spur to the left will feed a mill (set at the edge of a pond/river)
One of the spurs on the right will feed a fuel dealer with a coal trestle.
How innovative am I!? 

The plan will be built using C55.
I'll also be trying my luck at hand-laying turnouts.

Here's the track plan I'm planning to build. Minimum radius is 12.5", it uses #7 turnouts on the mainline and #5's in the spurs. The original plan had a turn table. One of two changes I've made so far is to get rid of that, opting instead for a turnout feeding a two-stall engine house (a la John Allen). The second change I made was to add the three track yard in the lower right corner - I'm not sure how I feel about that so far.
One of the things that I really like about this plan is that there's a lot of space for scenery.

Please feel free to comment and or criticize the plan.
It will be gratefully appreciated!

-Joe

[davefoxx]

Joe,

I like your plan.  If it were me, I would probably add another track or two to the staging at the top of the plan.  Also, be sure to make sure these are as long as the trains you plan to run.  Great start!  Can't wait to see construction begin.

Also, PM sent with access to old Virginia Central photos.

DFF

[Bsklarski]

I think I remember your old layout from another site. I always wondered what happened to it. I model B&M too, except a little Southwest of were you do.

[fotoflojoe]

I like your plan.  If it were me, I would probably add another track or two to the staging at the top of the plan.  Also, be sure to make sure these are as long as the trains you plan to run. 

Well, actually...
The track plan that I lifted from actually does have three tracks in the staging area.
In duplicating the plan, I removed the third track. I'm considering doing a couple things:
- Modify the designated "Carolina Central" - style staging area to be a countryside/rural type scene. The scenic divider would be a ridge, running roughly lengthwise down the middle of the layout.
- Immediately create an unsceniced staging extension connected by a wye, just as you did with the Virginia Central. Over time, ideally, this staging area would become the start of a layout extension.

I think I remember your old layout from another site. I always wondered what happened to it. I model B&M too, except a little Southwest of were you do.

Yeah, I posted build threads for that layout on a couple sites. Unfortunately, it never got beyond being a plywood pacific before we moved. Which section of the B&M do you model? The Fitchburg line and old Mass Central cutoff run less than a mile from where I grew up. The Fitchburg line is what I'd originally wanted to model.

[MVW]

Nothing to it, but to get down to it, I guess...

I have delusions of grandeur... One day, I will build a basement-filling, around-the-walls empire. It will be magnificent!
For now though, for my first real layout, I will build a HCD layout (extended to 3x9, courtesy of mission-creep).
I've been thrashing back and forth, trying to work out or find the perfect track plan.
What I only just realized is, there ain't no such thing, and it's real easy to waste a lifetime waffling through analysis paralysis in that search.
Good or bad, I really need to just jump in and start building something.
...
Several years back, I'd started building the layout from Lou Sassi's book "A realistic HO layout for beginners". That project - set in Contoocook - lived a short life though, since we moved to a new house about halfway during the project.

-Joe

Hey Joe,

I applaud your decision to dive in and start building something. I came to the same realization a few years back. If I'd waited until everything was in place for the dream layout, I'd still be waiting.

Build with portability in mind, and with the thought of incorporating your current project into a larger layout someday ... maybe.

Good luck!

Jim

[Bsklarski]

I model the Conn River focusing on the Holyoke Mass to Northampton area right now.

[garethashenden]

Sounds good! I'm always in favor of B&M layouts. Make sure you include that covered bridge. That will really set the location.

[Philip H]

Nice start.  Since I don't have Xtrackad (!) or any other fancy program, I hope this Paint revision of your GIF aids in my suggested explanation:



Looking at this, I think the track work is too heavy on the one side of the layout, and you'd be hard pressed to add back in the third staging track without seriously cramping your scenery in the corner above my black oval.

So I'd recommend taking off the three tracks in the oval, and realigning them to the large open are in the left.  You can probably get longer tracks (with greater potential for operations) and more room to re-add that third staging track.  I'm not wedded to the trailing point switch where it is, but I'm sure you get the idea.

All that said, build away.  You'll never make everyone here happy with all your choices, so as long as they satisfy you . . . . your a winner.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think there are a lot of switches for someone who just wants roundy-round.

To support that type of operations, you really want staging, this way you can run a few different trains at once without setting them out and putting them away all the time.

I think it'd be important to focus on staging, and forget the yard you have in there (unless it needs to exist for prototype adherence). Also, the other things like the engine house wouldn't be necessary then either. That'll give you much more room to focus on what you really want out of the layout.

[DKS]

I agree with Phil and Ed. Yards are big space-suckers, and unless the yard is your primary focus, better to yield that space to industries and other features that support the ops you're looking to have.

[fotoflojoe]

And now for something completely different...

I agree with Phil that the plan's original form is unbalanced.
I also agree with Ed on the need for staging.
Originally, the yard was added as an afterthought while duplicating the plan - added simply because I could. It seemed superfluous, so it's gone.
This revision is an attempt to balance the plan somewhat and make it a bit more like the Contoocook layout I'd been building previously.
Both spurs in the lower right corner will attach in a wye configuration, leading to an as yet unidentified staging area.
River, mill, and the spur feeding it are elements lifted from David Popp's "Naugatuck Valley RR" (Told you I had no imagination...)
The line running more-or-less down the center is intended to represent the peak of a ridge scenically dividing both halves of the layout.

I'm trying hard to avoid turning this into a bowl of spaghetti.

[Philip H]

This I like!

Now bust it out in two weeks in hand laid code 40 and we'll be even more thrilled!.. Seriously, I think this is a way better match for your Givens and Druthers.

[Bsklarski]

Sounds good! I'm always in favor of B&M layouts. Make sure you include that covered bridge. That will really set the location.

The pedestrian bridge in Holyoke?

[davefoxx]

I like the latest plan, and you know how I feel about the expansion to a staging yard.  Get yourself a 12" HCD and build a Yard-on-a-Shelf^TM.  That added so much goodness to operations on the Virginia Central.

DFF

[fotoflojoe]

The pedestrian bridge in Holyoke?

I'm pretty sure he means the covered railroad bridge in Contoocook, it's a fairly iconic landmark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contoocook_Railroad_Bridge

I like the latest plan, and you know how I feel about the expansion to a staging yard.  Get yourself a 12" HCD and build a Yard-on-a-Shelf^TM.  That added so much goodness to operations on the Virginia Central.

DFF

Yessiree!
Once again, I'm lifting elements from other people's layouts... Swiping the off-layout staging from your Virginia Central (and Dave Vollmer's Juniata Division).
Funnily enough, I've already got the baseboard constructed for staging; Last summer in a fit of desperation to run something, anything, I built a temporary switching layout using materials and equipment on hand.

The baseboard is 16x96 open-grid framework with 1/2" plywood glued/screwed, and a piece of 2" pink foam laminated on top.
I swear, the thing could withstand a direct nuclear hit.
It hosted a temporary version of Linn Wescott's "Switchman's Nightmare" in HO, with code 83 track held in place with nothing more than t-pins.

Using that bit, N scale staging for Contoocook will be massive.