B&M Conn River.

[Scottl]

That oxbow is famous in geological circles.  Seeing it in model form would be awesome.

I like the potential of the empty blob on the opposite bank of the river.  It could make a very interesting scene that is disconnected from the layout.

[Bsklarski]

WOW DKS. This is a good one. Its a different approach that I like. Im too hard trying to follow the prototype trackage and that is what is hurting me. What RR is that interchange track for? I think there is a way you can move that station to the correct side. Its alot more simple than I have been trying to do. Only thing is the water covered the joint from one piece to the other, I might see if I can make a bit different as when the sections are taken apart, the water will be the issue. I need to study this one, Thank you!

[DKS]

Glad you like it. Interchange can be anything--I think PC was mentioned. As for water across the joint, a road bridge ought to solve the problem.

[Bsklarski]

Its been a few weeks since an update. Been hashing out in my mind what I still want to do. Same story, go to work for 12 hours a day playing with 1:1 trains and the last thing you want to do is play with toy trains. Well I still do lol. The way I see it is that I dont have alot of time or half days here and there. I also have been thinking about relocating to Florida in the next few years. Its pretty easy for me to transfer to another property. Yes I will loose my senority and maybe even a pay cut. Not sure what the other places are making or what the contracts look like if there even is one. For the sake of moving the layout to a new home, I am going go the Dr Dave route. The blank 36" x 80" HCD with 2 inch foam that is down in the basement for the last 3 years will be the new jump off point for the layout. I went to the distributors today and got 4 packs each of C55 section track, 13.75 radius and 15 radius. I laid them out with some Kato E8s and passenger cars, and a few Gp9s and era freight cars. Its doable. It even looks decent. Acceptable for me anyway. I have seen photos of Dr Dave's layout with the passenger cars and asked questions. I can live with the tighter radius, so Its a go. I am going to build the 36" x 80" layout and make an extension for staging and one for either the New Haven Branch or the Easthampton Branch. Gee Mr. Vollmer, I think you have built one of the most influential N scale layouts of the day. There are at least 6 people here on TRW that done something because of yours. Its easy today to see the pictures and progress of yours in a modern day. I know you based it off the Mohawk Div. Layout, but not much ever was published about it. SO I hope this layout keeps me going for at least 5 years on it until I get some room for something larger if and when that move happens. Now to think about a trackplan.

[davefoxx]

Welcome to the HCD collective.  You have been assimilated.

You know that I am fan of HCD layouts.  Portability is a plus of the design.  You could certainly do worse than to follow Dr. Vollmer's plan.  If you want originality, choose a town or two and base one or both sides of the HCD plan on the track plan(s) of the town(s).  Remember to plan for expansion, as you have seen Dave Vollmer do and you will see me do hopefully soon.

DFF

[Bsklarski]

So lets talk about benchwork. I see some people have had great results with table type legs you can screw or bolt onto the bottom of the HCD. What about building actual benchwork? I was thinking I would like something sturdy and heavy that can support weight. I plan on using that same bechwork to support the weight of the extension on one end of it. Also the thought of some cabinets or something like that framed out to make a base for the layout. Any thoughts on this guys? Who has had good results with that? I thank you in advance!

[kt9797]

If you want some good photos for insperation rrpicturearchives or nerail photos and look up the pionneer valley railroad. They interchange with PAR in holyoke. Lot of great photos of them running along the canals and they have a very interesting mix of traffic too. One of the railroads I am trying to take some scenic elements from for my layout (Diamond across the B&A bridge over the Conn River).

[Bsklarski]

Track and cork is going down. 97% sure it will be double track all the way around. Playing with structure placement. Trying to get out of the old school ideas of squares and such. Trying to angles and going to cut down and use structures to double the size against the backdrop and make them longer, ect. Would love to hear ideas. Trying to give the feel of the area.


>

[crrcoal]

Nice progress Brian!!

[Ian MacMillan]

The glasses look out of scale.

[garethashenden]

The glasses look out of scale.

It's an art installation.

[Bsklarski]

Wait until I make the park with the 1/150 B-52D on a pole.

[Bsklarski]

SO I'm thinking.. with the Mt Tom power plant. Should I try to stay proto and have only the power plant on the track? or should I put a smaller seldom used customer there at the end?

[Chris333]

The more customers the merrier.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I say be true to reality.

There's not really a lot of room to play with there.