Here are some pics of my new freelanced layout, the Canadian Eastern. Here's a bit of history about the railroad. The now bankrupt Iron Ridge Railroad still had 4 locomotives in it's roster and no track to run them on. While on vacation in Ontario, CEO Ed Burchell noticed a stretch of track between the CP and CN while railfanning. Upon further inspection he noticed on how heavy the switching traffic was with CP and CN switchers running here and there spotting cars in the massive network of spur tracks. Seeing the potential in bringing the origional roots of the Western Valley Railroad back into focus, he set out a goal to buy the rights to this portion of track. With the CP interchange to the north and the CN interchange to the south, he struck up a deal with both major railroads. They would drop cars off on either interchange track and leaving the switching details in the interchange offices, in exchange, the new railroad's name would reflect both of their interests in the Canadian railroad industry, hence the name Canadian Eastern. Orange building is mockup of engine facilities. Track that disappears off left edge is CN Interchange. Overall view of Taylor and Taylor Harbour. Track that leads off top right corner is CP Interchange. Mockup of furniture factory and a few smaller industries that make up small town Future home of truck transfer warehouse and TOFC facilities.
Nice! Looks like a good start, at least you have turnouts laid. The cars all seem to fit Eastern Canada, but isn't that cylindrical hopper much more modern than those 40' boxcars?
Nice, Ed. You should have a lot of fun switching on your layout. How will you uncouple the cars? verse
I am modelling the 1980's to present and basically what will be on the layout is whatever the CN or CP send me to switch. There's no loops, no ovals....just a point to point switching layout. As for a trackplan I could make one.....but if you look at the pics I took them with enough overlap that this is the trackplan. Pic 1 and Pic 2 are each half of the main layout...notice the tank car on the passing siding, the upper left corner of Pic 1 (behind the mockup enginehouse) connects to Pic 3 and at the bottom left corner of pic 3 is the switch that connects pic 4. I'll do a trackplan for you anyways. I have a simple switching tool that I use made of a piece of wire. I made my own walkaround throttle from an AFX slotcar controller with reverse switch, and wired to a serial mouse jack...the layout has computer com ports installed at various points so no matter where the train is I just plug in and run. I do have to stop the train long enough to unplug and plug in the throttle but that's a small price to pay since the layout is so small.....and it takes just as long for the switchman to jump down from the loco and throw a switch..LOL.
