Monocacy Subdivision

Seanem44 Jun 18, 2013

  1. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    This is the official birth of a thread for my new HCD layout I am calling the Monocacy Subdivision. The layout has been finalized as far as I am concerned and I will use this thread to post my progress as the layout develops over the next 6-12 months.

    History: I grew up in Maryland in the 90s, West of DC in a small country town called Poolesville. We had moved there from England (I'm and Army Brat, and now a Reservist) and my Dad retired there from the Army in '88. I still remember, although vaguely, Chessie paint running through the area. My layout will focus on CSX operations in the area, though I may go back to '88. Realistically, I can run Chessie paint with my YN2 AC44s. The last of the Chessies dissapeared the summer the AC44s showed up. Though I had to research this. I had no clue what was happening at the time.

    Prototype: Poolesville falls near Point of Rocks and Brunswick. I am very familiar with the Cumberland Sub and the Shenandoah Sub. I suppose closer to where I lived, we would have fallen under the Metropolitan Subdivision. We took day trips quite often and I have fond memories of Harpers Ferry. One place we frequented often was Frederick, MD. The road from Poolesville to Frederick lead us through Dickerson, and across the Monocacy River. This area has rolling hills and is essentially the gateway to the Appalachian mountains.

    My layout will be an imaginary route, borrowing from the line that runs through the area. It will essentially condense the entire Shenandoah/Cumberland/Metropolitan Subdivisions, borrowing things I love most about them. That is why you will find the "Monocacy" River snaking through the bottom portion of the layout. The Bridge on the left will be a Pratt Truss by Central Valley that I built. This reminds me of the road bridge we would cross over the Monocacy to get to Frederick. It also reminds me of Harpers Ferry, though I can't fit Harpers Ferry on a HCD realistically. The right hand bridge will simply be a Cornerstone through-Plate Girder bridge. The Mountains and tunnels echo Point of Rocks and Shenandoah Subdivision. I say this layout will have a village, but it will be a few buildings as found going through Dickerson, MD. As coal is the primary freight in this area, coal is what I will haul.

    So this is my plan, and inspirtation. It is a simple tail chaser with minimal operation. But it will be my first true layout. I hope you enjoy my progress. I am sure I will need your help.

    LAYOUT.JPG
     
  2. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    Just a photo of my Central Valley Pratt Truss that will be a focal point on the layout. The question now is do I leave it pristine or weather it up with the realistic rust I have? Any thoughts?
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  3. GimpLizard

    GimpLizard TrainBoard Member

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    Weather it. Pristine is fine for a the fireplace mantle. But on a layout, weathering adds character and realism.

    By the way... that's some fine modeling.
     
  4. hoyden

    hoyden TrainBoard Supporter

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    I worked south of DC for 6 years and rode the C&O Canal many times from the Monocacy River to Harper's Ferry. You have a lot of great scenery options. Point of Rocks station, tunnels, vegetation covered rock cliffs, viaducts, and bridges. The viaduct at Cactoctin Creek is small enough to fit nicely.

    I look forward to your progress posts.
     
  5. brokemoto

    brokemoto TrainBoard Member

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    There is a guy who had a website all about the Catoctin Creek aqueduct. I do not know if the site is still up. I know that he started it before the aqueduct was restored, but I have not looked at or for it since the aqueduct was restored.

    If he goes back to 1988, he would have to model it in its collapsed state. I do recall that the above referenced site had photographs of it in its collapsed state. I seem to recall that it collapsed in the early 1970s, so if Seanem44 goes back to an earlier period he could model it in its intact state. I seem to recall that the same site had photographs of it in its intact state. Since I have not looked at it since the aqueduct was restored, I do not know if it has photographs of it in its restored state, assuming that the site is still up.

    EDITORIAL NOTE: I could not find the site in the first seven pages of a Google search, but there are photographs of it in its various states, over the years, on various other sites. It did collapse in 1973. The restoration was completed in 2011.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 20, 2013
  6. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    I'm excited about finally getting this project running. I wish I had more room to do it justice, instead of trying to condense everything. I forgot about the aqueduct, I used to go fishing out there at night. Good catfish. Probably polluted, but I was in HS. Lizard, thank you on the bridge compliment. Central Valley made a great kit. I highly reccomend it.
     
  7. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    In strange coincidense, I just ordered the Kibri aqueduct to create the allusion of the Catoctin Creek Aqueduct. That was about an hour ago. By random happenstance I stumbled upon (through google) your original post about the bridge where someone suggested Kibri.
     
  8. hoyden

    hoyden TrainBoard Supporter

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    I finished work out east before Cactoctin Creek aqueduct was restored. I would enjoy going back sometime to see it. I read they would restore the elliptical arch, which was the weakness that caused the original failure but would use steel reinforcement to strengthen it. They did a nice job restoring the Monocacy River viaduct.

    When I mentioned the viaduct I used it as a reference point for the railroad viaduct, which I plan to model. I need to make a triple track version.
     
  9. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    It really is a beautiful area to model, and railfan at. Dickerson, up to Point of Rocks following the river and through tunnels into Brunswick and then Harpers Ferry. I would argue that outside of tehachapi loop and some areas in PA, Harpers Ferry is probably one of the greatest places on earth for a railfan for scenery and history.
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    You could keep the bridge pristine. When freshly maintained, and for some years after, they will not show much evidence of rusting. Perhaps some light smudging of exhaust soot through the center would be enough.
     
  11. Brian K

    Brian K TrainBoard Member

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    Until the first acid rain comes along and then you have ugly brown spots... ;)

    I'd weather the tops of the beams a little with some dirt just for good measure. The exhaust down the centerline of teh bridge works too.

    Brian
     
  12. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    That bridge will look even better with those two super detailed AC44s rolling through them with a drag of coal! I have some scenic rust that is actually real rust that I am going to apply. It gives an awesome effect. Ill powder some black down the center and on the deck.
     
  13. Brian K

    Brian K TrainBoard Member

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    Sometimes 2+2=3 in my world...this wouldn't happen to be one would it? ;)

    The other two are still somewhere between there and here.

    [​IMG]

    Yep, you need to post that picture when you can. That will look awesome. Nice job on the bridge by the way!

    Brian
     
  14. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    That would be the one.... I still think this one is one of the finest N scale works you have done, not counting your custom paint work. Of course, I am biased towards it. If I know the MPSA, it's probably sitting out in the sun at the Mail Terminal. Funny, we averaged 7-9 days for mail in Iraq when sent from the East Coast.
     
  15. dieselfan1

    dieselfan1 Guest

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    Heres a few pics of a 40''x81'' hcd layout I built and sold a couple years ago. This is a roundy round that should give you some ideas. hcd1.jpg hcd2.jpg hcd3.jpg
     
  16. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    I started the process of weathering the Monocacy River Bridge, which will be part of the bridge/aqueduct focal point of my layout. Looking back, there are things I would have done different, for instance, weathering the deck before installing. Lessons learned. I used DeluxeMaterials Scenic Rust. I love the Rust effect, as it is essentialy real rust. It will porbably turn redder in time. There are some gobs I need to knock off with a moddeling knife. I missed one big chunk on the upper lattice, which will be a challenge to get off. Next up, I will hit the bridge with some rust pastels to further it, and hit it with black pastels up the center and on the deck. lastly, I'll seal it off with dulcoat to knock the glosscoat off that I used to keep the rust binder from showing too much.

    photo.jpg photro.jpg
     
  17. Brian K

    Brian K TrainBoard Member

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    Just keep in the back of your mind that Dullcote will not only take the shine off, it'll hide some of the pastel chalk effects you've worked hard to accomplish. I always go heavier with the chalks because of this effect.

    Looking good though!

    Brian
     
  18. GimpLizard

    GimpLizard TrainBoard Member

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    Nice job on that bridge, Sean. And that earlier layout looks pretty good, too. Can't wait to see what you do with the new one.
     
  19. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    Another day and another bridge. This one will allude to the Catoctin Creek rail aqueduct near Brunswick, MD. I would say that this Kibri model has an uncanny resemblance, though it is larger, which is fine with me. I still need to add a couple of more parts, decide if I want some of the parts that belong. And then I have to repaint and weather the entire thing. That should be fun.

    On a side note, this bridge kit it probably one of the easiest I have ever assembled. Not only that, it is very sturdy. German engineering I suppose.

    photo.jpg
     
  20. Seanem44

    Seanem44 TrainBoard Member

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    Progress!!! I dusted the coating of cat litter off of the HCD I had assembled in the garage last year and moved it inside to the bottom floor guest room. With foam on top and not yet glued down I started to arrange track.

    Lessons learned, I will probably keep it to just two switches and omit the third that exited into nowhere. Real life is different than a track planner. And being my first layout, I am not too concerned with growth, as my next house will likely have a basement.

    Also, not having the right track is killing me. I really need two Atlas #6 switches (or was it 7) and not the #10. The ME switch has suspect quality, as does the ME flextrack. Not as easy to bend as the peco track I am used to. Maybe China will ramp up production before it's too late. I don't feel like waiting until winter for it though, so I will make due if I have to. Fitting track is always fun and imagine I will use more flextrack that I plan at this point. Next step is another layer of foam subroadbed under where the track will go. Photos:

    board1.jpg board two.jpg
     

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