Alcanman

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look. I looked at the Humboldt Industrial Park when I was researching the R&N. It would make an interesting layout. I'm still trying to decide on a prototype location although the layout is purely fictitious. It will be sort of proto- freelance. Atlas have announced a R&N GP38-2 which is scheduled for release next year. Here is a pic showing the background structures completed so far and an NS geep shoving a short cut of cars into the interchange track.

Added a disused, non rail served. low relief warehouse and overgrown bushes.

Reading & Northern MP15dc #1540 spots a boxcar at the small Transload area. This track will also be used for 'off spots'

The silos and corn syrup tanks have been lightly weathered and fixed in place. I haven't had much time to do a lot of switching as I'm busy working on the layout, but I am finding there are more operational options than I thought. Next to the trans-load area, there is an 'off-spot' where a car waiting to be loaded at the main industry can be left until required. Switching takes between 20 and 30 minutes per session.

A lttle more progress today. I added some PECO Hayes track bumpers and concrete hard-standing to the small Trans-load area.

I've just checked my model of 37174 and it's fine except for the upturned buffers. This is the second model of 37174 that I've owned. The first one had buffers angled even higher than my current one.

I've now finalized the positioning of the main structures. The warehouse has been 'bedded in' and received some roof details. The corn syrup tanks and silos still require more detailing and weathering. The spaces between the tracks will probably be overgrown with weeds etc.

Well done Ray. Although I noticed that it's on the April page in the calendar. Your not trying to 'fool' us are you.

I've added a low relief line of tall bushes at the left hand end of the layout. They are made from seamoss covered with Noch/Gaugemaster leaves.

Good to see your are still modelling US and posting on here. You're right, a lot of people are now using Facebook, which goes our to a much larger audience. However, I still enjoy posting my layout threads on here as they give more continuity than Facebook. Although traffic is well down on a few years when there seemed to be a lot of like minded modellers building small switching layouts culminating in the annual TVNAM exhibition. I learnt a lot, and , of course, we had the late lamented Jack (shortliner) Trollope, constantly feeding us with his knowledge, ideas and track plans for small layouts. Prices have gone up, but I find the cost of locos and freight cars comparable with British outline.

Good to see you posting on here again. I particularly like your use of structures, makes the layout really interesting to look at.

A little more progress on the layout. Track painted and ballasted.

Wiring completed and tested. NS GP38-2 #5664 has arrived on the interchange track with the first cut of cars which will be switched by Reading & Northern. All 5 car spots are currently occupied. Time for some switching action!

Work has now commenced on the R&N Industrial Spur (Mk2). Track cut and lightly pinned in place until any final adjustments are made. I've also placed some structures and will also finalize their positioning later. Next, I'll proceed with wiring the layout.

Layout Update. Somehow switching this layout turned out to be not as satisfying as I'd hoped. Not sure why, but I think it had to do with the positioning of the staging track. I'm used to trains arriving from staging, switching cars, then returning to staging. I've decided to start over and this time I've taken inspiration from Alex Bogaski's superb 'East Penn' layout. I've increased the length from 7ft 6ins to my usual 9ft and added a small Transloading area on the sorting track. Once again, there will be a Norfolk Southern / Reading & Northern interchange track.

I've been using Peco Code 100 on my US layouts for years for it's reliability and robustness. With careful painting and ballasting it looks good. IMHO.

GE B23- 7 in CSX 'stealth' paint scheme on my old Marlborough Branch layout.

I've added hard-standing,piping and hoses at the oil depot siding plus some bushes to bridge the gap between the warehouses.

Here is a small TMD layout I built earlier this year during lockdown. 'Ashtown TMD' . Features a small servicing shed, fuelling point and oil storage tanks. Total length including fiddle yard is 9ft. A few years ago I built Tees Yard WRD with a small fuelling point and wagon repair depot. The fuelling point is a where the red class 66 is stabled. Also 9ft.

After running a few trains and random wagons, I decided that the layout needed another customer. ( in addition to the warehouse receiving imported timber in VGA vans.) By removing 6 inches from the front siding, I could fit in oil storage tanks to represent an oil distribution depot. I can now run some tank wagons.

Progress Update. Ballasting now finished. Later, I'll add grass/weeds to create a run down overgrown look. I've also been working on more low relief warehouses.

For my latest small layout project, I've returned to one of my favourite topics - 'EWS Enterprise' wagonload freight. I've simply imagined that wagonload freight has continued into the DB era, giving me an excuse to run big locos with short trains. Enterprise yard is a small run down railhead where the only traffic nowadays consists of imported paper traffic arriving in VGA vans to a small distribution warehouse. Steel wagons arrive to be later tripped to a nearby steel unloading facility. Engineers wagons also occasionally appear. Pure fantasy, but should provide plenty of shunting fun. I've made good progress so far. Track has been laid, wired and painted. Next, I'll proceed with ballasting. The scenic area is 5ft 6ins x 15ins with a 3ft 6ins fiddle yard.

Ashtown TMD is being replaced by a new small shunting layout. Watch out for 'Enterprise Yard' coming soon......

Yes. And I'm pleased to report the the 5 year old cable continues to work perfectly. Just tested the Powercab on my newly wired layout.

My replacement cable is still going strong after 5 years. Back in action, hopefully, tomorrow when I finish wiring my new layout.