AC&Y - Ohio's Road of Service

[SAH]

It runs!  It only took me all day to re-figure out the ins and outs of Digitrax well enough to run a train via radio and get both units in the consist running in the same direction.     I've never been able to spend much time working with DCC, so slow going is to be expected.  But progress it is.  I also painted the section fascias all the way around the layout satin black.  It looks less like an assemblage of plywood, hardboard and foam and more like a railroad might appear some day now.  Next  we move on to the re-imagined Goodyear sections.  FUN.

[SAH]

The track for Goodyear Plant #2 is in place.  The rail feeders are next.  Then I'll take each section to the work table, clamp it on it's side install the switch machines and finish wiring. 

Here's a Plant #2 view looking East, the same orientation one would have standing in the aisle in front of the sections.  Easy peasy right?  The plan is to use view blocks placed such that you view the model as if you were standing at track level, unable to see the big picture.  The length of the structure will be shortened with a view block perpendicular to the section backdrop.  The bridges between the long buildings will help in that respect.  I think it will work and plan to mock it up once I get the track tested and trains running.  Just the same, I'm sure orientations for visitors will begin with "Imagine if you will . . . . . "  It's all good though.

[MDW]

Cool.
I’ve been pondering foreground view blocks and will look forward to seeing how this works out for you.
Great work as always.....

Michel

[SAH]

8/20/2020 @LKOrailroad wrote:
"Another AC&Y feature that may fit into your modeled area and one that only locals would know of (never have seen it on a map) was a disused short siding on the north side of Spur 4 immediately west of the New Era. It was real short, perhaps only long enough for a couple 40' cars. It laid parallel to Spur 4. In the 60s the switch had long since been removed but the siding rails were still there, rusty covered in weeds and slowly sinking ever deeper into the mud. It appeared to have served what was by then an abandoned, dilapidated, old building that was falling in upon itself. I have no idea what business was once there."

I was spinning through some online Sanborn maps and came across the image shown below.  The resolution is not great but the name appears to be Amazon Rubber (great name) and the location of the spur seems to match your description above.

[LKOrailroad]

Good find. Here is a view from the 40's of the siding crossing Massillon Rd. looking north. You can see the building I referenced on the left. Now we know its name. Beyond it is the New Era.

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[SAH]

Great photo Alan.  A reminder of how different things were in another time, not so long ago.  Lots to see in this one.
Thanks for posting it.

I started dropping the rail feeders for the Goodyear sections, but with 70+ degree sunny weather here in NE Ohio, most of the last few days have been spent getting things done outside.  There's a weather payback coming soon I'm sure.

Steve

[SAH]

The first of the three Goodyear sections is wired and switch machines installed.  Before testing I had to get the track at the section break between the Standard Mold/Harwick Chemicals/Coal Yard section and the 1st Goodyear section repaired.  I didn't plan this joint very well, the result being the mess I had after the re-install.  Here's what it looked like after clearing away the debris. 


It's not pretty right now but it's done and there's nothing about it some paint won't fix.  My work horse testing consist, FM16-44s 207 & 208, navigated the new track work with no issues.  And so we press on to the electrical and mechanical work on Goodyear section 2, North side of Plant #2.

[SAH]

It's nice to be able to see Brittain Yard under decent lighting again.  Extendable and dimmable 46" LED shop lights for $20 at Costco.  Nicely engineered hanger mechanism, which to me means I can easily modify it to suit my needs.  The rest of the hardware came from the existing valence lighting stock and the valence board itself was dunnage from the section move.  Can't beat the price.  My wife says I'm cheap.  I prefer thrifty.   

The backdrop is another story.  Backdrops for a moveable, section layout are a p.i.t.a. in my experience.  What is shown is leftover from last layout(s).  It's styrene.  Poorly done at that.  I scrapped the aluminum roof flashing sheets I used, which were also poorly done.  There's a theme here.  I think I'll try a 14" wide vinyl roof flashing roll this time around and just assume it will be trash if (when?) the layout is relocated.  Paint it blue and put any signature backdrop elements (Akron expressway bridge of instance) on a relief board in front of the backdrop.  It's a plan anyway.

[nscalbitz]

hi,
Just a comment on atmospherics and artifice I see.

All that bright natural light from windows in the 'development' photos is going to be blocked out by high walls and divisions I presume, replaced with cold narrow aisles with fake pseudo sunlight, blocking interaction between operators and limiting 'social' interactions that in my experience 'makes' a winning operations layout.
YMMV, all the best wishes,
d

[SAH]

Hmmm.  An interesting point of view. 

The exterior windows are still present and, during daylight hours, let natural light in.  Not enough to adequately illuminate the entire layout however.  Hence, artificial light directed on the layout.

As for the narrow, cold aisles limiting operator interaction:  My goal is to operate the railroad as the AC&Y did, given all the constraints scale modeling present.  A yard crew at Brittain makes up a train for Spur 4 customers.  They call a crew to run the train.  The crew is probably interacting with the other off-duty crew members in the lounge.  The Spur 4 crew interacts with the yard crew and the dispatcher to get the train out of the yard and onto Spur 4.  When they are successful in doing so they are now out of sight just as a prototype crew would be after leaving Brittain.  In this case they're on the other side of the view block.

A prototype based ops session is a team event with the goal to get trains over the road or on my immediate layout configuration, serve the customers.  Sounds like a winning social event to me.  YMMV of course.

Steve

[James Costello]

A prototype based ops session is a team event with the goal to get trains over the road or on my immediate layout configuration, serve the customers.  Sounds like a winning social event to me.  YMMV of course.

Gotta say, I love the museum / light box feeling from the dark fascia and valance and the lighting. Looks very professional and I think it elevates the model railroad to the level of seriousness and passion it occupies in our mind.

[SAH]

Thanks James.  A lot of bits and bytes are spilled discussing fascia and valence color selection.  I'm firmly in the "black" camp partly for the reason you state.  Plus it's easy:  Pick a finish (I prefer satin) and grab any old can of black latex enamel paint at the hardware.  Black hides lots of carpentry sins too.  A real plus in my case.

Here's a photo of the valence support structure.  Very simple.  White foam board will span the gap between the valence and the backdrop.  I spent lots of time constructing framework and such for previous efforts, with an eye toward easy removal for both maintenance and relocation.  Going to the ceiling with all-thread is a nice simple solution I'd not tried before.  To raise the valence, unplug the light fixture from the string and slide it upwards on the rod.  Then use a clamp to hold it in place.  Works for me.

[sirenwerks]

I like the black box effect you've created with the black fascia and valence.  The layout pops and everything else melts away.  It might be hard if you lose a contact but...


As for the window being out of sight... My wife tried to convince me to stay on the east coast by saying our trips to see family in North Africa would be seven hours shorter each way - so let me get that straight, you want to save 14 hours every two years by living in a rat race 24/7/365, versus adding quality and years to our lives by living in a Pacific Wonderland year round?  Pass.  You're modeling in that room, not gardening. 

[milw12]

In my experience, if the layout and operations are good enough there could be a picture window in the room and no one would notice it 

Steve you are well on the way to achieving this. I always like the progress and the finish treatment concerning the fascia/valance/lighting is top notch, as it is with your work in general.

Lucas

[SAH]

Thanks guys.  Come to think of it, most of the best ops layouts I've had the pleasure to run on have NO windows in the room.  Everyone has a great time just the same.

I have valences installed for the General Tire sections now.  I get a little better (more efficient) with each install.  I'm using up my CFL based valence sections but modified with the all thread mounting style.  When they're gone I will switch to the shop light valence design but use my stockpile of CFL pieces and parts.  It is SO nice to have adequate lighting on the layout once again.

Steve