Update on the Wisconsin Belt Terminal Railway..09/19/2013

What's going to go in the open area in front of the yard tracks?

 

Knowing Wyatt as I do, I would say he will need to resist the temptation to add even more tracks in the front! His one weakness in track planning is just that, although by the looks of this new layout, he is at least still on the wagon!

That said, and based on the old MILW Bensenville yard, it looks like a good area for either a container loading track (one only) or maybe a static scene of a car repair area, which would also be off to one side. I like the latter, since no one would worry as much if non operating models go damaged from leanovers, loose sweaters, etc. as much as if they damaged actual rolling stock.

Maybe one or two spurs off the engine house lead to warehouses angled )and partially modeled) at the front of the layout?

Or, it could just be a grass field, drainage ditch for some relief, piles of stored asphalt/gravel (which if high enough, might even help deflect some wayward arms up from the good stuff). When you really look at yards, there is often a lot more open ground than most of us (me and the IHB included....) model.

That stuff is best figured out sort of on the fly as the layout develops a bit, no?

 

Guys, after looking at the backshop kit in that area, I dont know if I like it there. Does the building seem too large for the area??? I am leaning in the direction that it does. I recently built the pikestuff kit called "shops", which might work out better, The centerlines for the doors are the same centerlines for the B-Mann sanding and fueling facility.

The idea I had was to try to move the facility turnouts further towards the south,,( closer to the camera). I want longer leads. Having a max of four tracks,, three would go into the shops, and the fourth one would be a MOW or a RIP.

As for the fueling and sanding area,which uses two tracks, locate it before the shops,then the third track can be a dedicated house track.

Maybe to help visualize better,, see the section of track right in front of the brown SOO caboose? that is where I would start the facility turnouts. So the two new tracks that are closest to the aisle would be the sand and fuel. Then the third track would be the house track,, then maybe the MOW and or RIP track could tail off behind the house and follow the curved lead,,kind of disapearing,, heck I dont know.

I do know that I want three tracks for the facility,,, I will not waver from that,, the fourth,,,, hmmmm I dunno. Hopefully I can get the sand and fuel kit built so I can see how it will all fit.

See page three of this thread is what I am talking about,, questions and comments,, bingo,,,, winner winner chicken dinner !!!!!!!!

Jeff, I really appriciate the comments,,, a heavy hitter,,, I dunno about that.

Wyatt

 

The building you've got reminds me of the SOO shops at Pigs Eye Yard in Saint Paul. That building is pretty snug where it's at, but it looks like classic MILW or SOO to me. SO what I guess I'm saying is I think the building looks right at home where it's at. The Pigs Eye shops have a RIP track on one side, fuel and sand on the other.

 

I agree with Karl that the structure you have there seems more "SOO" than the pikestuff. Granted, I'm limited in my knowledge of SOO facilities but I know it is a dead-ringer for one of the buildings I've seen.

The only thing that really bugs me about the scene is that there are no adajacent "outside" tracks. Seems in my mind you should have one track on the front edge of that layout going in front of the building. Maybe that is your intention and you're just limited by turnouts right now, but I think that's part of the reason the building looks too large. I'm having trouble picturing what you are talking about with the reconfig of service tracks so I'll leave that to somebody else.

I still say if you'd get in the 90's and be rid of all those cabeese you'd have all kinds of space available. :teeth:

 

Was just at Pigs Eye a few weeks ago and do agree it screams MILW! The Pikestuff might be okay for a small rural Wisconsin yard, but this doesn't look like that, does it?

I agree with Doug, that a track just outside the building would be perfect for parking prized locos to show off.

This would be very un Wyatt like, but it almost seems as if you angled the building just because you didn't have enough homosote to fill the area behind it. While in theory, angling stuff from the table edge is better practice, the linear geometry of the tracks almost screams to line it up. If you add one more turnout to the left of the existing three track lead, you could straighten the engine shop, move it closer to the lead, and fit in Doug's suggested show off track in front of the structure, no?

 

I like the shop building, and as you fill in more stuff around it, I think it will look better. if anything, I'd take out the diagonal track between the caboose line and the building and give your self some longer leads to get into the shop. That way you could have more space outback and way more loco "storage" capacity.

But that's me, and I still agree that this comment is really a well dressed "atta boy." Which you totally earn.

 

Ok,, After much comtemplation and scratching of the head with no hair,,, the building stays... I agree about the track in the front. I am working on a idea to get that front track in. Just have to move the turnouts and re-lay the track,, gotta love spikes and homasote.

I will work on the improvements,, hopefully will have some update news in a day or two,,, have to spend time with the family,lol

wyatt

 

kick start

From a purely aesthetic viewpoint, I believe that end of the yard will need some verticality to it , either scenery or structures. I like the structure you have there.

This thread is like an old Harley that has been left out in the cold for a few days.....keep kickin' it, it'll go.

 

Wyatt,
As others have said, don't give up. Then it will be one less thing to read on any of the boards!
I've enjoyed watching and participating with your engine facility in the recent months. I've also picked up a few things in process.

If you feel it's a waste of time to post your continuing progress, then let's figure out your blog and then do most of your posting there and then post a teaser on the forums you belong to. This keeps a visual history of your layout, not only for yourself, but for the rest of us as well.
Post it for yourself and your friends, if others want to look let them in.

I'd hate to not see how your stuff comes together,

Now as for your building, which it seems you've made the decision already, but I got to thinking about mine and how similar they look. I didn't follow my prototype, but just used what I had and what I though looked good.

I dug up a few shots:







The big building looks to be the same one you're using, the little one is a Pikes stuff two stall shed.

the first two tracks outside of the three will be the fueling tracks. I might put a few sand towers on these as well. If not the next two will be the sand tracks. The rest will be ready tracks.

The last picture is after I rebuilt the yard for us in the layout, the first two are from back when we used the yard for the modules. Back then, I planned the engine facility for nothing more than storage for the members locos! So I kind of revamped this area, but still need to get more stuff done like adding the sanding track ramps and what not.

 

Phil,
I think both forums already has this. I know RW does, and think TB has this as well.

If you look on the list of threads, you'll see this in the same row but on the right side of the row.

Let me know when you get the sign up sheet made, I'll sign up.......

 

You know Boxcab, that reminds me....thanks. :wideeyes:

 

I'm still kind of new here and I don't post every day, but I like your work. Your photos make me want to work on my layout.

 

I like the combo Pikestuff/Walthers. The more I look at the prototype (rail and industrial buildings) the more I see the prevalence of add ons in different styles. Doing it on the model just makes it seem "right" looking.....

 

Here is the new and inproved engine facility,, added some homasote and a 4th track.





Yay, nay, or what ever????

Adios , Wyatt