ATSF Los Angeles Division, circa 1949

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks guys, appreciate it. Here’s my inspiration, some period photos. I have a ton more I’ve acquired over the years, the research is actually a lot of fun. The old and dark brick Los Angeles of the 1800’s giving way to a new, light, steel and concrete LA of the early 20th century. The depression era Union Station (LAUPT) was the last of the “Great Stations”. The last, color photo, shows the setting; my perspective is as if looking at the scene from the top of the giant gas holder opposite the depot.
Fun stuff,
Otto

[OldEastRR]

Has making the staging yards a focal scene changed your plans on using it as a staging yard? Are you going to make it a true passenger terminal?

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, a good question. Yes and no. The primary function has to be bringing trains in and sending trains out onto the layout in order to make the whole thing work. But, there should be time inbetwen to do other things as well.

My LAUPT is a through station, not a true “terminal” (see page one of this thread). There are/were eleven passenger trains a day that come from San Bernardino, four UP and seven ATSF, not counting two locals. Most passenger trains just come in, sit and leave according to their schedule. Some change power, just like the prototype. hence the four-track engine facility at Redondo Jct. Some have have their head end cars switched out and replaced with other cars. A switcher from any of the three railroads (SP was a tenant, too) is/was assigned to do this work. Currently I have a UP S2 assigned, but this can change...

The freight side is a bit more complex. There are two ATSF switchers available, one to make and break trains in Santa Fe’s First Street yard, the other to switch the “Patch”, a patchwork of industries and freight houses behind the yard. A freight comes in, its power gets put on another train that’s already made up, and back it goes to San Bernardino where it gets serviced. Inbetween trains, there should be time to yard work, exchange cabooses (way cars in Santa Fe parlance) and switch the Patch. How much time there’s available for this during an op session, versus between sessions, remains to be seen. Job One for the LA operator has to be bringing trains in and feeding the railroad. UP trains will probably not be worked but just be staged in “East yard” the two through tracks just behind the industrial area.

So much for the theory, anyway, I’m sure this will evolve as we learn...
Thanks for your interest,
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Brilliant Otto.  I have an unscenicked staging yard too.  Yours is inspirational.

That’s quite a compliment Steve, thank you. We’ll see how it works out in reality...
What does your staging yard represent?
Otto

[Yannis]

Admirable work Otto!!! Having a small(ish) layout at the moment and hoping to add either SB or LA as one scenicked end of the railroad in a larger version of the layout, your LA part is quite an inspiration. Looking forward to all future steps/updates.

Thanks for posting!

Yannis

[Steveruger45]

That’s quite a compliment Steve, thank you. We’ll see how it works out in reality...
What does your staging yard represent?
Otto

Currently it is totally bare.   The base is pre-finished hardwood flooring though 😊.
But I was thinking of scenicking it as an intermodal yard based on Houston’s Bayport Terminal where ships are loaded. I go there a lot with my job as a Marine Classification Surveyor.
 Problem with that is my Amtrak trains and mixed freight trains parked there would look very odd.
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[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks Yannis. Steve, I see what you mean. Perhaps something more generic would do..?
Otto

[OldEastRR]

Looking at the MR version of this plan you posted, it shows the LA tracks going through a backdrop and (apparently) going to staging yards(not shown). Your layout, however, shows you curved the whole LA end staging yards into a giant reverse loop. Right?

[Cajonpassfan]

Yes. LA takes up the lower deck under the entire Cajon peninsula, and San Bernardino, which used to transition into staging at the Mt. Vernon overpass has been extended into a full blown double ended yard. Of course I’ve yet to extend the freight yard: another phase, after all electrical is finished and all scenery is at least roughed in.
The accompanying MR Planning  article explained the concept: build this large layout in multiple operable phases, any of which could be the last. It also included plans for the east side of Cajon pass, in the adjacent garage, past Victorville, which I will never build; too much layout. Instead, I built permanent staging there for Barstow/points east and north.
Thanks for your interest.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

My wife and I have been traveling, Belize and Guatemala this time, barrier reef and Mayan pyramids, so not much layout work is getting done. D’oh.. Glorious things to see though....😎
Seeing these beautiful but troubled places, and the numerous cheerful and friendly people who were unlucky enough to have been born into utter poverty there, with few opportunities, reminds me of just how fortunate I am to be able to travel and have a hobby and play with model trains and have a room for it the size of two or three shacks that masquerade as family homes over there...

But I digress. The travel didn’t stop me from pondering the rest of my Los Angeles backdrop: 6’ of downtown Civic District and Union Station are sort of done, but another 8’ of it needs to be developed. I installed some distant hills, see pics, but between the tracks and the background I’d like to capture a handful of local, location-defining spots: the monster LA County hospital sitting on a distant hill, “Dogtown”, an early WWII era public “garden” housing project adjacent to the tracks that’s still there today (William Meade Homes), steel “HYDRIL” Corporation buildings often photographed with trains arriving/departing Union Station, and of course the Post Office Annex, which ended up being much larger than Union Station itself. I’m learning that two and three point perspective doesn’t work on a curving backdrop, so it’s a work in progress...
To be continued, I’m sure...
Otto

[MK]

My wife and I have been traveling, Belize and Guatemala this time, barrier reef and Mayan pyramids, so not much layout work is getting done. D’oh.. Glorious things to see though....😎
Seeing these beautiful but troubled places, and the numerous cheerful and friendly people who were unlucky enough to have been born into utter poverty there, with few opportunities, reminds me of just how fortunate I am to be able to travel and have a hobby and play with model trains and have a room for it the size of two or three shacks that masquerade as family homes over there...

So true Otto, so true!  Be careful traveling now a days with the virus going around.

[Cajonpassfan]

Yes, we’re staying put in the short term. Less time out, more time in the trainroom...
Time to go to work on “Dogtown” and the HYDRIL buildings...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

I spent a couple of days’ worth of “train time” on the HYDRIL buildings flats. Straight, rectangular buildings on a curved backdrop make  perspective a bit of a challenge. I had to bow them out in the opposite direction to make them look straight at eye level. Photoshop is your friend. Still, I’m always amazed how much *time* the seemingly simple stuff takes😜 Still, I’m fairly happy with the results, see below. Next stop: Dogtown!
Fun stuff,
Otto

[Steveruger45]

That looks really good Otto.  Just like the photo of the real thing.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you Steve. Glad you like it.
Moving clockwise along the backdrop, I’ve mocked up “Dogtown”, the massive public housing project built during WWII as a cutting edge garden apartment development adjacent to the tracks approaching Union Station (interesting history, if one is interested in such things. Just google William Mead Homes, Los Angeles. The Dogtown moniker precedes the location into the late 1800’s).

I don’t have much room to work with, less than 24” long along the curving backdrop, and about an inch of depth. I’m trying out a two-layer curving flat, with mixed results; again, perspective is a challenge. Other than some literal rough edges, I think it should work and convey the feel of the place, and I plan to layer some additional detail, trees etc. into the transition between the tracks and the backdrop. Progress pics below...
Otto