The Southview Lines is a fictional feeder line to the Norfolk Southern. The line is based in the Southeastern U.S. and currently consists of over 300 miles of rail. The Southview Lines was formed when many other railroad companies were being merged or bought out to form the big class 1 railroads of today. Many miles of rail were slated to be abandoned in this process. A few very enthuiastic local business owners who had companies located on these rail lines, came together to set up and form The Southview Lines. The SVL would continue to serve their businesses and provide a link to the outside world by means of rail traffic. They struck up a deal to closely associate themselves with the Norfolk Southern who was just formed as a merger between Norfolk Western and the Southern Railway. The deal included the use of many of Norfolk Southern's locomotives and rail cars. The Southview Lines do own some of their own locomotives and cars that were purchased from other railroads. The engines are scheduled to be painted in the Southview Lines colors and design as soon as the management can come up with a suitable paint scheme. The railroad nows serves many industries along the line including grain storage facilities, oil refineries, and even an intermodal facility which is owned by the NS. To learn more about this railroad and how I built it in N-scale, please click here: <a href="http://www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski>The Southview Lines</a> Mike Drzycimski Arlington, TX
What area is the SVL located in? I'm from Central Illinois and would like to get some soil sampels from the San Antonio-Corpus Christi area. "Hill Country" dirt will do, I'd like to get my turf to look more like the real stuff color wise. Want to swap some dirt? If you do, make sure yours is "FIRE ANT FREE", I hate those little *******S! When I lived in Baton Rouge, I got stung-up real bad my second day there. I'm a Snow-Bird and I didn't know laying out in the yard wasn't a great idea. ------------------ BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!
Brent, he is in Arlington, between Ft.Worth and Dallas, its all fire ants around here. We just draw down on them with our trusty 44 and blow them away! ------------------ Watash
Yeah! But I use a shotgun instead. You can hit more of them at one time! ------------------ Mike Drzycimski Arlington, TX The Southview Lines www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski
Mike, I was thinking of that 12 radius you said was tight. Somewhere I saw a photo with a note about a rail line that dug a ramp down under, curved around and came back up to the surface again. It was because the town fathers would not condem some building under emmenent domain, or something. If it isn't too late, maybe that is a way to enlarge that trackage. Go under the two outside curves make a bigger loop and come back up to the surface track. N scale, and you have 2" of foam. Tunnel at an angle through both sides. carve out from underside with hot wire for the curve. Mount rail on another foam, then mount this foam up to the bottom of the table. Aligning pins can match both ends for you. ?? ------------------ Watash
Might not be feasible because wooden support pieces criss-cross under the foam. Anyway, I was planning on that part of the layout being industrial. The sharp curve will go around a building and disappear beneath an overhead bridge of some sort (pedestrian?). So, I am satisfied with the radius so far. One thing that I am still doing battle with is where the curved tracks at each end go over the fold-up joint. I have installed a piece of masonite to span the gap and laid the track on that. I remove these bridge pieces each time I fold up the layout. The problem is, they are on a curve and the rail wants to kink at the joiners on each side of the masonite bridge. I've tried a few different things to try and help the kinking but I am still not satisfied. I know this will cause trouble down the road. Does anybody have any ideas that will work in N scale? Remember, the track is laid on foam! ------------------ Mike Drzycimski Arlington, TX The Southview Lines www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski
Mike, I'll call you with some ideas. Maybe we can get together, get on my big computer, and come up with a workable fix. You can have a full scale plotted design too. ------------------ Watash
Mike, I'm sorry, I had to miss the Train Show at General Dynamics Rec. Center Sat. & Sun. Did you go? If so, tell us about it! What was there? Did they let you in to see their layout? ------------------ Watash
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash: Mike, I'm sorry, I had to miss the Train Show at General Dynamics Rec. Center Sat. & Sun. Did you go? If so, tell us about it! What was there? Did they let you in to see their layout? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You didn't miss it yet!! It's this weekend (Oct. 14 - 15). I plan on being there on Sunday. A little info on the show: 18th Annual Railroad Show Lockheed Martin Recreation Area 3400 Bryant Irvin Road Fort Worth, TX Sat. Oct. 14th 10-5pm Sun. Oct. 15th 11-5pm ------------------ Mike Drzycimski Arlington, TX The Southview Lines www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski
