Black Diamond & Augusta Railroad

[poppy2201]

2013 saw  a lot of ups and downs for our family (including having to dismantle my Bay Line project).  I am determined to get a layout started and for the last couple of months I have been working on a scaled down version of The Bay Line and another fictional line, the Black Diamond & Augusta Railroad.

The scaled down Bay Line is okay but a lot of compression had to be done plus a lot of new track would have to be purchased.  Purely from an economic standpoint it seems that the BDA will be the route to go since the only piece of track I will have to purchase is the 3.5 Wye.

I'm sure all of you will recognize the plan.  I borrowed Dave Vollmer's plan with just some slight changes.  The BDA will be an agricultural based theme located somewhere in the Midwest.  The name is derived from the 2 streets that run through our apartment complex.  The founder of the BDA and his story is fictional.  Augusta Schroeder made his fortune in the diamond mines of Africa before immigrating to the U.S. In the late 1800's.  He and his family settled in the Midwest. and he saw a need for a small rail line to serve the surrounding farm communities in the area and also to connect with larger lines such as the ATSF.

There is one aspect of the layout that is based on fact and that is a tribute to my great-grandfather.  P. L. Jantzen who owned and operated the creamery in Hillsboro, KS from 1895 to about 1903.  Peter Jantzen was certainly a leader and visionary in the community, owning and operating the former Edward Ebel creamery. In 1895 after Edward Ebel had passed, his wife exchanged the creamery for the P. L. Jantzen farm. Now known as the Jantzen creamery, the creamery was a most successful enterprise, reportedly picking up 5,000 gallons of milk every day from various rural stations in the area.

Not only credited with improving the creamery, Jantzen was also partly responsible for establishing a telephone system in the area due to the needs of the creamery. A gentleman by the name of John Gaede had made some early attempts at a phone system. During this time Jantzen sent employees to the train station regularly to check on train schedules so that the butter and milk did not sit unduly long in the heat and weather. To improve efficiency, Jantzen strung a private telephone line along the west side of Ash Street to facilitate an easy phone call to the depot instead of sending workers at frequent intervals.

The layout is N scale and was drawn up using AnyRail.  It will be controlled by DCC.  It measures 88” x 36” and I am planning on using Sievers bench work this time around.  Structures for the layout will consist of mostly items I already have with a few exceptions.  Construction will not begin for a couple of months or so and you will be able to follow also at my web site, http://www.bdarr.weebly.com.

I would like some input on the structures and their placement.  Are there too many?  Of course the creamery has to stay and its location since that is based on fact.  Any other suggestions/comments are always welcome.



Regards,
Charles

[S Class]

I would like some input on the structures and their placement.  Are there too many?  Of course the creamery has to stay and its location since that is based on fact. 

How are you planning on breaking up the scene? Dr Dave, I think, uses his structures fairly thickly on the ground to separate the sides of the layout, while Dave Foxx uses the hills on his Seaboard.

A for the track plan, how do you envision operations? mainline or rural branch? I'd suggest maybe a small yard for stock storage if you have a collection and maybe a crossover to the right of Ash Street so your local can be on the correct line after serving the Silo.

Shows how well the design works when this must be the 4th or 5th iteration on these pages.

[DKS]

Actually, since Elizabethtown appears to be an urban setting, I'd say you have far too few structures. Towns like this will usually be predominantly wall-to-wall buildings--which would also help to serve as a visual divider. I'd recommend you start saving up those pennies for a bunch more kits...

[poppy2201]

How are you planning on breaking up the scene? Dr Dave, I think, uses his structures fairly thickly on the ground to separate the sides of the layout, while Dave Foxx uses the hills on his Seaboard.

A for the track plan, how do you envision operations? mainline or rural branch? I'd suggest maybe a small yard for stock storage if you have a collection and maybe a crossover to the right of Ash Street so your local can be on the correct line after serving the Silo.

Shows how well the design works when this must be the 4th or 5th iteration on these pages.

I see it as a Class III line that will interchange with ATSF.  I don't own a steamer but I plan on getting one, maybe a 4-4-0, and run this as a steam operation but coming into the age of diesels.  I may also decide to just run a steamer excursion but primarily my diesel fleet.  I don't have a huge collection so I am not worried about a yard just yet.  A yard was a plan for the future as an extension or possibly a portable cassette.

Actually, since Elizabethtown appears to be an urban setting, I'd say you have far too few structures. Towns like this will usually be predominantly wall-to-wall buildings--which would also help to serve as a visual divider. I'd recommend you start saving up those pennies for a bunch more kits...

So I have added about 20 more or so structures to the plan to help hide one side and with the addition of trees this should help.  DKS, lots and lots of pennies.  The mint may have to increase their production!  I have also widened "D" street to accommodate sidewalks and parallel parking in front of the businesses.

Regards,
Charles

[poppy2201]

Okay, here's the new plan with more structures and I added a cross over to the right of Ash Street.  I had to use curved turnouts to make everything work and fortunately I have these in my inventory, so the only piece of track I still have to purchase is the 3.5 Wye.



Regards,
Charles

[MichaelWinicki]

I like the additional buildings.

The only thing that would give me hesitation would having it appear as though the RR serves the same town from two different points.  If there was a way of isolating the spur that goes to the co-op then the better.

[Baronjutter]

Usually DPM "style" buildings were built wall to wall, no spaces between, just the occasional alley. 

[S Class]

I would also say the double track and class III theme would be exclusive. BUT, and a big BUT, rule #1 applies so disregard what I'm saying if that's what you want.
Frankly the only further suggestions I can offer is raising the town to offer scenic break between layout sides and to go for it.

[Blazeman]

I'd flip the co-op and the farm scene. Put an industry on the outside that way. Agree with others the extensive double tracking does not lend itself to class 3 RR'ing.

[poppy2201]

Any thoughts on employing a scenic divider and this particular arrangement?



Regards,
Charles

[DKS]

I would also say the double track and class III theme would be exclusive.

Agree with others the extensive double tracking does not lend itself to class 3 RR'ing.

+1

Just tossed this together to give an idea. Town is made focal point and substantial enough to divide the layout--I'd envision it slightly raised. Also ran some streets over/under the track to break up the loops.



You could also compress the town a little by running a backdrop divider right though the middle of everything and placing low-relief building fronts against both sides.

[poppy2201]

Just tossed this together to give an idea. Town is made focal point and substantial enough to divide the layout--I'd envision it slightly raised. Also ran some streets over/under the track to break up the loops.

David,
1.  Looking at the grid it appears that this is 36" x 80" (HCD which is good)
2.  What outer radius did you use?  I drew it up in AnyRail with 15" outer radius which puts it very close to the edge.

Regards,
Charles

[DKS]

As I said, I just tossed it together to convey concepts (hence the overall size discrepancy). Curves were eyeballed, although AnyRail indicates they're about 15", give or take.

[poppy2201]

Okay, I think I know what I want to do.  I'm going to run a hill populated with lots of trees across the middle of the layout.  There will be a cut in the hill with a common road that will connect Elizabethtown to Connorsville.  This should help with disguising the two sides.  I may even elevate Connorsville slightly to help also.  I will also add a bridge on the right and also on the left will be Monroe Models Country Road bridge (another possibility is a concrete overpass of which I have in my inventory).  These two bridges will provide some additional visual interest. Structures for the towns are not set in stone but are depicted to give an idea of what I'm thinking.



Regards,
Charles

[packers#1]

I really like this plan; I think if you were to single track it like DKS had it and then have the Co-op along two parallel tracks in Elizabeth town it would really look good; however, if you want to go with double tracking so you can have an orbiter while the local works then I'd say go for it.