Interactive Scenery Clinic: Week 5 - Layout Aesthetics

[wm3798]

Erik,
I know you're doing the Rockies around Moffat, but you're scenery calls to mind my recent trip to the Youghiougheny...


That would be CSX snaking along in the footprints of the B&O there behind the trees.  You've really captured the feel of this type of terrain.

Lee

[Lucas in Alaska]

I find this topic very interesting and it is a great topic for this group on TRW.

I now officially have to call myself an armchair modeler. I have come up with a few plans in the last 10 years that I would like to build in the space I have (with a one year jaunt into HO scale) that I never built. I now find myself moving to Anchorage, AK and looking to probably another year before I can build anything.

I love reading about track planning and this topic of "Layout Aesthetics" is not touched on very much. I haven’t finalized a track plan but I do have an idea of how I want my layout to be laid out and to operate (when I do build it). I originally started out wanting the spaghetti empire a room FULL of track, then as time went on and I read about and operated on different layouts and learned a little more about planning. One track plan I have always loved is Bill Darnaby's layout, long linear and you moved with a purpose. I know the bench work wasn't deep but it accomplished what is was intended to do, provide a long mainline run.

Here is now my dilemma I model the CB&Q transition era somewhere in the Midwest, which is relatively flat, and the track is usually quite straight. I have always known that track following the edge of the layout can possibly be, not to offend anyone, boring, but done correctly like Lee has done can make it quite enjoyable.  Erik on the other hand has done a superb job in making the track look like it's following the terrain, which it does in the Rockies.

You have to excuse my ramblings it's still early. The way I see it you have to take into account (like everything else on a layout) what you want to accomplish, space, and where you model. I think for right now I'm going to stick with the idea of narrow bench work between towns with straight track and wider bench work in the towns but try to keep the track from being parallel to the fascia.

The one thing I have learned is I need to cut back on the number of industries I have. My main town with the small yard I was planning on;
Yard with engine facilities and car shop
Power plant
Interchange with one or two other railroads
Freight terminal
Fuel company
Furniture factory
Scrap/salvage
Brick factory
And maybe; printing, lumber or milling company

The other two towns were a lot more reasonable with the number of industries.

Lucas

[Dave V]

Scenery above and below track level is key to the illusion that we're in a 3-dimensional world and not on a table top.  I wish I could take credit for the design of this scene, but it's based in Lou Sassi's plan for the Mowhawk Division...  all I did was use a PRR-style arch bridge instead of a steel bridge.  But the roads crossing under and over the tracks are such a signature element of the original project 1993 layout I had to include them.  I find they remind me very much of the roads we find ourselves on when chasing the prototype in Pennsylvania:



Also, there's another underpass scene...

[SOUPAC]

Well, I'm not as far as Eric yet, but I've at least got a start...

http://www.spcascadesub.com

[wm3798]

Great Website, Soupac.  I really like the prototype description on the home page, and what follows shows that you are really meeting the demands of your preferred line.
Lee

[SOUPAC]

Great Website, Soupac.  I really like the prototype description on the home page, and what follows shows that you are really meeting the demands of your preferred line.
Lee

Many thanks, Lee. I haven't updated the site recently because I've been laying yard track which includes 10 or 12 scratchbuilt turnouts, and scratchbuilt switch machines for the manual types. I still have to build a #11 turnout to replace a #8 that's currently installed. I've checked for shorts all the way from one end to the other just short of the yard throat. An issue with the current #8 is causing problems beyond its physical footprint. When I get that done and finish short-circuit evaluations, I'll wire it and get some more photo's posted.

Rick

[cv_acr]

SOUPAC:

That's some nice scenery and flowing track plan you've got there too.