Micro Portage

logging loco Apr 5, 2014

  1. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've been away from the hobby for about a year and want to build something small and portable that I can run a Randgust vertical boiler Climax with some MT disconnects and an Aspen Climax pulling a few "first class" passenger cars. Sort of like standard gauge versions of the Eagles Mere RR and Susquehanna and Eagles Mere RR's.
    I'm thinking about building something based on the Micro Portage layout shown in Small Layout Scrapbook Page 44. http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page44/
    I would be substituting the car float and oil dealer with a Muir sawmill.
    Has anyone here built something to this plan?

    Thanks,
    logging loco
     
  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think I looked at this article referred to when I was researching for some ideas on designing a point to point layout. If space is an issue or one just wants to get their feet wet with a small layout then this isn't a bad idea. However there is reference to the branchline with a 5 inch radius and I don't think there is much out there if at all that would handle that. I have a couple of locos that will handle 7.5 inch but that is about the limit. If you have the space a single hollow core door at 36 inches wide and 6 feet 6 inches long would be a nice choice for a point to point. I would orient the door to fit against the wall on one end and then use terrain the divide the layout into two sides that would be accessible from either side. I would terminate each end at the wall and use the other end to accommodate the single curve as you travel to the other side. That would give you some decent radius that would accommodate just about any loco out there and a lot more running distance between points. The concept of a land route connecting two bodies of water has been done in real life although I can't remember where and would account for interchange traffic across the line. Using both side of a single door would also give you more space to include a sawmill or other type industry. And a single door is portable and will fit in most truck beds and some vans. I currently use one as a test track set up that when not in use stands up on end behind my workshop/office door. As for legs there are sawhorse kits that go together quick at most home improvement stores just substitute a longer 2X3 for taller legs than what is in the kit. Also the doors do come in varying widths so one can go with a narrower door.
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That plan looks quite interesting. I especially like the ability to use it in two ways.
     
  4. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    If I build it I will go wider than 8" to allow for larger radius curve. I have room for something larger, but I have other hobbies and demands on my time. In the future this layout could be incorporated into something larger.
    I really like the 3' sections for mobility. I could take it outside when the weather is nice and take it in the car when away from home. The small size would also allow me to hand lay track, super detail, and work on my scenery techniques.
    I would not follow the dock to carfloat scheme but would replace the carfloat with a sawmill and the freight house on left, general dealer, and oil dealer would be replaced with lumber piles with fiddle track behind. The freight house on the right would posibly be a coal dock.
     
  5. GimpLizard

    GimpLizard TrainBoard Member

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  6. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Gimp, Since your reply I've gone back and reread every Scrapbook page. Giles Barnaby does have some nice plans. There are some nice photos of his work on the internet.
    While rereading the Scrapbook I read about Padeswood Yard
    http:// www.rmweb.co.uk / forum / viewtopic.php? T = 471
    This little Micro really caught my eye. I'm going to try an American version of this first.
    My niece recently had her first baby, a boy. When I'm done with the layout I'll ship it to Colorado for him.
     
  7. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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  8. GimpLizard

    GimpLizard TrainBoard Member

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    That is a nice little micro, John. I'd be very much interested is seeing your progress with the Americanized version.
     
  9. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    If you're building anything like that, there's three things I can highly recommend:

    1) Use live-frog switches, I'm a fan of Peco C55 electrofrogs, but that's just me. Not intended to start a C55 battle.
    2) If you are using one of my Kato 11-105 Climax kits, such a small layout is ideally suited to put one of the gearhead motors in it. Solarbotics GM15 is still my choice for an ultra-tiny one.
    3) Tiny cars are good. N scale kits still has the 'right' 25' skeleton log cars. Bachmann 34' flatcars and some of the Shapeways civil-war era cars are also nice.
     

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