I really like the angled pier configuration. Reminds me of Seattle, on a much smaller scale. I cannot think of anyone who has modeled a waterfront scene on such a scale or with as much history based detail. Nice!
Thank you both. When the idea hit about combining a maritime scenario with a railroad I thought of Vancouver but then I discovered the San Juan Islands between Vancouver and Washington State. I modeled the Hill lines so the area was a give and I already had the equipment of the GN, NP, and SP&S. Plus I had some Canadian equipment. Some heavy research followed and I settled on San Juan Island rather than Lopez Island as having the most interest. The only railroad I found that the island had was a short steam line between some quarries and Roche Harbor where the products were transferred to ship. Further research developed that Friday Harbor had a fish cannery and a fishing fleet in the early years. The early years roads were poor and you got around the island by plane and boat. There was a active seaplane service and passenger car ferry to the islands. And there was agriculture and sheep raising. I always had an interest and a liking for narrow gauge rails. Thus the far west extension of the real Turtle Creek Central was born. I liked Turtle Creek and there were commercial decals available through Micro Scale in N scale. A win win there. I did not want the expense of messing with narrow gauge so a testing program was conducted for what motive power could take some tight narrow gauge curvature on standard gauge track. I found I already had a number of locos that could do that and restricting the length of cars to not over 40 foot further developed the concept. I sold all of my locos that needed larger radius along with my larger length cars. About that time I discovered some Japanese equipment that solved my need for short compact and tight radius taking passenger equipment and I ordered direct from some Japanese dealers as that type of equipment was hard to find if at all in the states. The next issue was finding maritime vessels that were not overly large in N scale. That led me to Japan again for some and for some buildings that were port related. The rest of the vessels I have built myself setting a length limit of not over 220 N scale feet. Some the railroad and the port is entirely freelanced I have the freedom to run wild with my stuff. The fish cannery and fishing fleet is long gone from the island along with the quarry operation. The islands once had an active smuggling trade in bootleg booze. Thus the brewery was born and the industries are still alive on the freelance road. The latitude is right for growing hops thus a hop mill that supports the brewery and provides shipments off island by rail car and car float. A marine research institute is located on the island thus became to excuse to build a research center, docks, and some research vessels named after Clyde Cussler's NUMA which is a real organization. Since there is heavy ship and ferry traffic in the Straights of Juan De Fuca the Coast Guard station lighthouses and a buoy tender came about. The inter coastal ship traffic meant small vessels and some type of support system thus the ship repair and the floating dry dock, and the marine service center and fuel depot. About 2-3 years ago I decided that maybe I wanted some early type of container traffic. Since I am a fan of Japanese rails I took a page from them in small containers used for inter island service of local industries. For the ship I chose a container feeder vessel that visits small ports and ferries container to a larger port to be transferred to larger ocean going vessels. Finding nothing suitable I purchase a plastic military kit and with heavy mods I build my own. 000_0074-1 by John Moore posted May 15, 2016 at 12:53 PM The same thing was done with the Coast Guard Buoy Tender. It once was an LCI kit. 000_0083-3 by John Moore posted May 18, 2016 at 8:44 PM For the small containers again I went to Japan, both Bandai and Kato, to get 14 foot containers, and Bandai for the 40 foot container flatcars. I also went there for some Bandai tankcars. A number of my railroad cranes became surplus when I downsized by rolling stock and they became floating cranes. I made my own rubber molds and cast a number of hulls from resin. Some of those hull became vessels and some became barges. Fuel lighter, dredge and two barges. by John Moore posted Nov 29, 2014 at 2:46 PM 1:144 Plane kits were cut down to make some 1:160 seaplanes. Old 1:144 plane conversions to N scale by John Moore posted Nov 11, 2012 at 9:23 PM The two large planes are going to be in the air over the harbor. A Coast Guard PBY and a WW2 era German seaplane that is a NUMA plane. Both of these are close to N scale planes that I found. Large seaplanes for the harbor scene by John Moore posted May 31, 2013 at 1:26 PM And somewhere in the harbor will be found the Oregon, an old lumber carrier, now converted into a disguised heavy armed special operations vessel, now operating as the Nogero. Lumber carrier finished and weathered. by John Moore posted Dec 8, 2012 at 5:09 PM Some more of those repurposed cranes now my compact harbor cranes. Completed dockside crane for NUMA Docks by John Moore posted Dec 3, 2014 at 2:42 PM Some of the harbor modules, the ACME marine service terminal. ACME Marine by John Moore posted Feb 3, 2015 at 8:03 PM And some of the Acme marine service modules that will be in the rear of the harbor. ACME Marine by John Moore posted Feb 6, 2015 at 3:02 PM Except for some wood kits and some DPM buildings most are scratched. For my passenger equipment I again went to Japan for some compact Bandai units that could be converted to mini RDCs and run as a 3 or 4 car train. They came as a kit that could either be electric or diesel and these are them running on my test track. One passenger train is about the length of a single lightweight standard car without the issues of the tight curvatures or station platform space. I have them as express/mail or pure passenger with at cab car at each end eliminating the need for turning. These have the Bandai all wheels powered chassis under them the same chassis that is under my DD51s which can pull over 30 cars up a 2 % grade. In short the idea of a more compact and old age friendly layout started happening about 8 years ago. The layout consists of two HC doors one 36 inches wide the other, port area, 30 inches wide all mounted on kitchen cabinet base units that allow this old body to sit down and run trains. The furthest turnout is within 20 inches of reach and most are the power routing Peco short radius turnouts that are manual. Other turnouts are Atlas and Atlas code 80 flex and section track are used. I use DC and the Peco turnouts give me block control without wiring. I wanted minimal wiring and instead concentrated on multiple power feeds to three area of the track. I finally eliminated all tunnels and their issues. I have about 20 feet of continuous run track part of it double mains. In all about 33 feet of track from the furthest point of the port to the continuous loop. Power currently is an MRC power pack that can support 6 locos running. About half of my locos are equipped with dual mode decoders so If I ever decide to switch to DCC half the battle is done. Twenty four locomotives power the TCC split between some 44 and 70 tonners, two SW units and three DD51s. Two Class A Climaxes with Bachmann dual mode decoder mechanisms and four two truck Shays. The maximum grade is now about 3% coming out of the port area and about 1.5% coming off the Moly mine spur and both are short grades of about 2. to 3 feet. Minimum radius is right now 8 inches and there may be some tighter radius in the port area access to the docks. The minimum radius my locos can take depending on the model is 7 inches and all operate on the 8 inch. Industries consist of the mine, brewery, grain elevator, hops processing elevator, feed mill, and the stone works and then the docks have the container and ore dump, the cannery, car float, and NUMA Coast Guard pier. The port occupies about 90% of the 2nd HC door now. Hope today to get the timber facing done on the cannery pier.
Finally starting my timber and pile facing of the cannery pier. I have one more section to do. Then some work on the pier deck before I can glue it in place. 000_0611-4 by John Moore posted Jan 1, 2019 at 2:52 PM And from this ugly thing shall come a new ferry being not happy with the present one. One of the PCEs was dismantled and a new deck laminated on the resin hull after it was reshaped. Vehicles below, passenger cabin on top. and the pilot house on top of the passenger cabin. Clearance has been figured for a 1940s-50s era tractor trailer. Some parts of the former PCE will get reused. 000_0610-3 by John Moore posted Jan 1, 2019 at 2:52 PM Meanwhile time out while I attend to roasting a mini turducken for dinner. A turkey breast, wrapped around a duck breast, wrapped around a chicken breast with a Chinese sweet sausage in the middle rather than the whole birds deboned, just the breast meat that has been butterflied. I made two of them the other day and have one frozen for later.
I finally got the cannery pier done except for mounting some track. I installed the board and piling facing around in three locations. The waterside of the cannery already has a wood pier. The pier that is part of the fish market already has a facing and bollards that were part of the kit. 000_0614-10 by John Moore posted Jan 1, 2019 at 10:10 PM Next up is to line the ore loading and container pier but first I have to glue on the pilings and bollards then paint the sections. Each section has had three coats of paint with last being a dilute wash of deep green acrylic made by Tamiya for years of marine growth. It is pretty much what I am seeing here in the tidal salt water here on wood piers and concrete.
Late last night I worked on the last two sections of wood facing for the piers getting all the pilings and bollards glued in place and the first coat of my paint mixture. This morning the gray wash and the green wash went on and now I am ready to start cutting and fitting to another pier. I also figured out the center line for the new ferry boat and test fitted some cars on it. Next will be the side supports and steel work to support the passenger cabin and the pilot house after I round off the front and rear decks at the end corners. So while the glue is drying on the wood pier facing I will work on the end pier. 000_0616-2 by John Moore posted Jan 2, 2019 at 1:13 PM And before I be like the painter who paints himself into a corner of the room with no way out I need to work on the far right corner at the Coast Guard and NUMA dock. I was unhappy with the harbor entrance and redid that portion earlier. Still unhappy with my pier facing I am going to make some new ones using the construction techniques that I did with the wood facings. Then I am going to concentrate the rest of the month getting that pier completed. 000_0617-1 by John Moore posted Jan 2, 2019 at 1:13 PM While I wait for glue or paint to dry I can work on my new ferry or the other areas at the back gradually finishing the back along the scenic backdrop then finally moving to the front where I will not be having to lean or work on structures.
Made a bunch of bollards last night from plastic strip and rods. The strip was drilled out and the rods inset into it. They are in double sets and are 2 and 3/4 scale feet high. Last coat of a grimy black went on this morning and are now ready to be cut out and the ends touched up with some paint. Started the superstructure for the ferry this morning. 000_0628-3 by John Moore posted Jan 3, 2019 at 1:13 PM Also finishing up the timber facing, pilings and bollards for the ore pier today. 000_0626-2 by John Moore posted Jan 3, 2019 at 1:13 PM And in the third on going operation I painted the end of the NUMA/Coast Guard pier where I made the changes including the sky and water. The faint outline of Lopez Island is barely seen through the fog down low in the corner. The first section of the new cut stone facing for the pier is installed and glue drying with the hammer and tape holding things in place. I made exactly 4 feet of this stone facing which should give me enough to line what is left of the harbor. I followed the same technique that I used with the timber facing except there are only three pieces rather than four in each section. Next up is some more silicon caulking back where the lighthouse goes to seal some more gaps where my water pour could leak out and hopefully finish lining this pier today. 000_0627 by John Moore posted Jan 3, 2019 at 1:13 PM
Got the last of the cut stone pier facing and the wood buffer strips installed last night on the NUMA and Coast Guard pier. Now just awaiting some bollard placements. A nest of large wood pilings was installed out at the corner of the pier which are often found as protective buffers at some pier corners and ends. If needed a 16 mile field trip from my home to Gwynns Island gives me a look at actual commercial piers and docks and a fishing fleet. And an almost equal distant travel south can give me a look at the docks and piers of Norfolk and and Portsmouth. Crossing the bridge I have a great view of the concrete docks of the Naval Weapons station. Living in the middle of great reference material. 000_0631-2 by John Moore posted Jan 4, 2019 at 10:53 AM I decided to make my own bollards first due to cost just for a package containing no where near enough for what I need. Money saved there can be put toward another order of turnouts. And I am not happy with the scale size of some of the commercially available ones. Took me about 3 hours to turn out a one foot long strip of bollards. The package of styrene rods and strip and the paint I have had for years and used on other projects so my cost was probably less than $2. And for my time. well I am retired, it was raining. and too cold to go fishing, or crabbing, and I am happiest when I am creating something. Plus the Missus is happy that I am out of her way and in the man cave and the felines are often with me and out from under her feet. At the same time I continue work on the ferry boat that fits better in my harbor. Today work started on the passenger cabin. 000_0630-1 by John Moore posted Jan 4, 2019 at 10:53 AM More rain in the forecast so I will be in and hopefully be installing structures on the pier with the lighthouse first then some storage buildings and shops. In order to reduce the curvature to access the piers I chose to install them at an angle which both make it easier to get the track on it but also creates more space in the harbor. The right pier in the first picture has an angled approach to facilitate the track and keep the radius at 8 inches. This pier gets this crane which is one of my re-purposed 250 ton railroad cranes. Completed dockside crane for NUMA Docks by John Moore posted Dec 3, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Today got the bollards installed and the lighthouse and Coast Guard building, along with a Butler Building and the research vessel. 000_0633-2 by John Moore posted Jan 4, 2019 at 6:44 PM The Coast Guard buoy tender will go on the opposite side of the pier close to where it is now and two more small armed Coast Guard vessels will be located in the area also, fast pursuit vessels with a dual 20 mm and .50 cal. machine guns, that is if I ever find them where I packed them away. Further structures and the crane will go in as soon as I install a section of flex track probably Peco and a Peco St-6 turnout.
Tonight I worked on the new ferry for a bit while things were drying on the layout. Finished the passenger cabin and decided to recycle the old pilot house of the PCE that is providing the hull. And I think I may have solved the access to both the passenger cabin and the pilot house. Also settled on a colr scheme of blue and gray. 000_0634-1 by John Moore posted Jan 4, 2019 at 10:20 PM
Not much done today with domestic duties being foremost including having a plumber in the house fighting with the pipes of this 100 year plus old house. But I did get the first track laid in the harbor which was an absolute must before placing the rest of the structures This pier when completed which inclides moored vessels will determine the spacing on the next pier which is for the car float, and that determines where the ore pier goes as I work my way toward the head of the harbor. Laid a section of Peco code 55 track and a Peco ST-6 short radius turnout and managed an 8 inch radius. The track is wood ties with a dark brown color setting on the concrete pier. I have only one issue with Peco track and that is their rail joiners being flimsy so the rail joiners that come with the turnouts already attached were removed and Atlas rail joiners used which are more substancial and a bear to get on. I managed it without shedding any blood. 000_0635-1 by John Moore posted Jan 5, 2019 at 4:38 PM Tight clearance on the little building and I had to take a sanding drum to get it to fit and then add to the base to raise it to clear that 40 foot boxcar. This track will only see the wood boxcars and short flatcars along with a 44 tonner on it. An old wood explosives boxcar will also call here for the armed Coast Guard vessels.
All the structures on the NUMA and Coast Guard pier are now glued in place and the crane installed. The research vessel and the buoy tender are affixed with some clear silicon caulk. There are five vessels in the photo and the Wiley E. rescue tug will probably go where it is at as soon as I finish the small docks in that area along with at least two moored seaplanes and maybe a couple of dingys. Crossing of the dock rails will be done by done by using my thin shelf liner cork cut into strips and painted. The last section of track needs to be installed up to the building dock behind the main NUMA building. And a couple strips of blue sky wall paper will go on the small section of white window frame behind that. 000_0640-2 by John Moore posted Jan 6, 2019 at 12:23 PM Notice in this photo the crane is in a different position. When I built it I made it fully movable including boom and lines. 000_0641-1 by John Moore posted Jan 6, 2019 at 12:23 PM Next up is the rear line of structures and docks and starting work on the car float dock lift apron. The structure was once a lift bridge and has been re-purposed to the apron lift mechanism for the car float.
I got the edge of the window frame papered and the last section of track here installed Now have to sand down some spare sections of ties to fill in the gaps at the joints and apply just a tab of glue to the new section to hold it in place. 000_0642-4 by John Moore posted Jan 6, 2019 at 2:28 PM I took an aerial trip over the Seattle docks courtesy of Google Earth Pro Edition last night. Now I don't have any remaining hang-ups on getting the piers too close. Just need to have enough space for my fleet of small tugs to maneuver between two docked vessels on either side. So that is also going to determine pier spacing for the next three piers that all angle into the harbor.
Started work again on the car float apron and just decided to wing it as far as the lift mechanism goes. Decided on a hydraulic system so the pistons are laying in the back and the white part is the height adjusting apron ramp. 000_0643-5 by John Moore posted Jan 6, 2019 at 7:59 PM
Continuing work on the next pier in line the car float pier and at the same time working on a small dock that sets in the angle between the two piers. Two pieces of track from an Atlas short track assortment are lined up with the car float tracks and glued down on the apron and two of the hydraulic pistons are in place on one side while the other two await adjustment for length and then paint and installing. 000_0644-1 by John Moore posted Jan 7, 2019 at 11:33 AM Since this pier comes off at an angle from the main pier into the harbor a Peco ST-6 turnout is being installed also at an angle which will keep the radius of the approach off the main pier to an 8 inch radius or a little above. 000_0645-2 by John Moore posted Jan 7, 2019 at 11:57 AM I love these little Peco ST-5 and 6 series of turnouts. They measure a short 3 and 1/2 inches long so take up very little space. The turnout off of them is a 9 inch radius so a big six axle diesel or a large diameter rigid drivered steamers would have some issues with them. However my little four axle diesels and my small drivered steam has no issues with them with the 40 or 50 inch drivers.
After a brief visit to the dentist and a prescription for antibiotics, and an appt. for a root canal later I am back at the workbench. Spent the afternoon trying to fit a small section of flex track in a finally got it done on the car float pier. Next step is to install some bollards at the ends of the block supports and then finally glue it in place and fill in the seam were the piers meet. Another Peco ST-6 and a short section of flex track will hook it to the main dock tracks. Next up is to complete my back row of structures and docks and then on to the ore pier and container pier which is a single combined pier. At some point I will break out my artists paints and paint some wakes that will be behind at least 3 fishing vessels coming into the harbor. The small wakes will show through the water pour and then Mod Podge will create the small waves. I may try tinting the Mod Podge with a water based paint maybe a very light blue. 000_0647-4 by John Moore posted Jan 7, 2019 at 5:21 PM After supper I may work on the new ferry for awhile and give some thought to how I want the ferry landing.
Made some progress on the ferry. Passenger cabin now glued on and the pilot house has had new windows installed. And I built a set of stairs from the auto deck to the passenger deck. Another flight of stairs will go from the pilot house to the passenger deck. 000_0648-5 by John Moore posted Jan 7, 2019 at 8:53 PM A comparison between the old ferry and the new ferry. When I built the old ferry I was counting on more room than I have now. So thus a newer more compact version and this time a double ender. 000_0649-6 by John Moore posted Jan 7, 2019 at 9:07 PM Parts from the old plus from the PCE will go into the new which is now about 50% completed.
Chose to not work on the layout today but instead just work on the new ferry at the workbench. Just as well since Mr. Murphy decided to raise his ugly head. First I lost a small section of white railing that slipped out of my tweezers. I have a red tile floor and a red carpet yet it completely vanished even though the railing piece was white. Then I lost the 2nd piece same as the first. And to top things off I hit my head on the computer keyboard tray with resulting bloodshed. After some choice words not in the dictionary like nottafinga and daggnabbit I resumed work. Cut two new pieces of railing and installed them. So I am about 70% complete on the ferry with some railings installed and the exhaust stack for the diesels. 000_0651-1 by John Moore posted Jan 8, 2019 at 2:57 PM
More progress on the new ferry now about 95% done. Just need to stick a mast with radar on it, two searchlights. some lifeboats, and touch up some paint plus paint the hull, and install gates at each end. The lifeboats and their derricks came from the demo of the old ferry, now stripped completely down and the usable parts thrown in a box. The hull which had been stretched has had the middle section removed so it can have the two halves rejoined for another use is in the foreground. The last PCE on the right will also be demo'd and the hull converted into a 2nd small ferry that is going to be just like the other. My intent is to build a double landing in the harbor and have one ferry boat loading with another arriving. The two smaller craft replacing the two PCEs are on the left of the picture. Have not decided yet what the old ferry hull will become. Maybe another barge or possibly a towboat. 000_0652-6 by John Moore posted Jan 8, 2019 at 10:21 PM
