Layouts- On the coast?

Greetings;
First I'm new, this is my first post here.
Sooo... Good day to you all. I shall be calling on your vast knowledge and assistence. Mostly it will be opinions on this or that. Thank you for it all in advance.
Now the question: Anybody model coastline in Florida? May I see pics you might have of it(Website links, e-mail pics,etc.?)? I'm looking for ideas on how to do it. I have some, but seeing how another did it, and how it looks will save time, money, and trips to a shrink

 

Hey welcome a Board Ken, the TrainBoard, that is! One member I think of imediately is Gregg Mahlkov who lives in Florida, and is a great source of historical data on real railroading. All of us here will try to assist you, and would enjoy seeing any photos, suggestions, and need to know what scale you are interested in. Feel free to post whenever the thought strikes you, just chime in. I'll see what I can scare up for you too!

 

Thanks...
Well, I'm into N scale. But with the issue I've placed here, I feel it's non-scale specific; to a point. My reasoning is because it's where I live; I was born in Ohio (40mi. SW of Cleveland). Hence my Freelance rail idea of the Ohio & Florida. Perhaps I'll post the 'history' behind it sometime. I think I'll go with a shelf layout, 2ft. wide and keep eacg state between the two at 2 ft. each. With Ohio and Florida being the cicrle back points. Figure it will be a modified Dogbone with sidings and passings. Should make a good set. Anyways that's where I'm coming from.

 

Sounds good to me Ken. I'm in HO. There are a number of excellent N layouts and guys on the N Forum that can help too, and have photos.

 

You might want to try the Atlantic Coastline or Seaboard Air Line forums on this board. Both operated in Florida. I know there's a few guys there that would have info and tips on Florida modeling. The CSX and Norfolk Southern forums might be good for modern day information.

I have a small bit of SAL and ACL info; however, I'm limiting my modeling area to the Carolinas and southern Virginia. Depending on the era you're modeling and whether you'll use prototype roads to mix in with your freelance road -- Atlas, Kato, and Lifelike have become more friendly to producing models in southeastern road paint schemes.

"Look Ahead, Look South"

 

jan or feb 2001 Model Railroader has a great cover story on a Florida Keys HO scale layout that is fantastic!

 

Ken,

Welcome! Your concept of modeling each state between Florida and Ohio sounds great!

When I was younger, I travelled by car between Michigan and Florida almost every year. It was always nice to make the trip and watch thimgs change as you travel south.

It would be great to capture on your railroad!

Keep us posted on the progress!

Scot

 

I shall keep you all in on my progress.
Thanks Watash on the que in of a FL member, and the Real Lines tip from Chris M., and Yankinoz on the mag tip (got it, now has ink rub off prints all over it). The change in the ground type is one of the reasons I decided this. Plus, Not many seem to go for the flat seaside. To me it's the same as the rolling seas of the Plains up in the Northwest, just wetter . Most of all it's Home.
my UP ever notice where the sky changes color? Finally... Best wishes to all on your respective layouts.