The What's New pages at www.wvrr.ca have been updated. The pictures aren't that great this time 'cause we're going through that "ugly" phase of construction. But sooner or later there'll be some real scenery. Enjoy.
Well, the layout isn't REAL high. It's in three levels, 40 inches, 48 inches and 54 nches. The lowest level is at Grande Prairie and that area is in the workshop/library/coffee and beer lounge area so I wanted to keep it low enough to enjoy sitting down. The largest part of the layout, Winter Valley, Pearson, Hudsons Mills and Grizley Junction are at a height that offers a more or less "straight on" view. It's a big scale so I wanted to emphasize the eye level, prototype feel of being down at the station. The track climbs up to 54 inches at Colder on the far wall. This is "in the mountains" anyway and trains really have to work to get there. Operators are actually looking up at the mines just as in real life. This level also affords a nice unobstructed view of trains running behind Winter Valley. Non-railroading guests kind'a like that. Apart from that, there is a lot more storage space under the layout and this ol' guy finds it a lot easier to climb under the layout.
I got along with a LOT less space when I started in G scale. In fact, the Interior Division was in my former N scale trainroom. About 16 by 12. This offered enough room for continous running using 2 foot radius curves, a small yard, a passing siding and three or four industreal spurs. Small steam engines and four axel diesels worked great. When I wanted to run larger stuff I went outside. It'll take a few years to finish the landscaping at this house but I'll have a train out there some day. Love the natural light. Heck! I know people who started modeling large scale trains on the fireplace in the living room. Ya' got'ta wan'na!
Thanks Paul It was designed by myself and "built" by my daughters company. The original concept was for it to be much like the CN homepage and it was at the start. CN has changed a bit since then. Cheers
Dave glad to see you over here as well. Just miss your nice and colorful logo at the bottom. There's no G activity over here compared to mls have fun Sandro
Wonder why that is. 'course MLS pulled in a crowd from LSOL so they got off to a great start. I keep up to date on the Trainboard at this forum as well as the CN forum. Check it every week or so just looking for activity. Some of the guys from MLS show up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanModelTrains/ as well and it's oriented towards Canadian issues. Local shows, Hobby Craft products, things like that. Cheers
Dave, got a question fer ya... You said your layout is in 3 levels. Whats the grade as per Inches to feet?
You'll have to check my math on this but..... The two highly visable grades (Colder - Winter Valley and Colder - Hudsons) are about 4 inches in 20 feet (1.6%) and so they are operationally and visually "not there". The serious grade, from Grande Prairie into the Pearson/Grizzly Jct yard, will be hidden by scenery for the most part but it is 11 inches in 25 feet (3.6%). That's a small visual problem but any large scale train can handle that climb with no problems. There will be some photos of this issue on an upcoming web site update. Cheers Dave
Im thinking about doing an outdoor layout We have this area at my house that we never use so why not? lol.
Well in a couple of weeks I will start on my new modular layout in 1:29. A small industrial area (the setting I like most ) the size will be 30'x 2'8''. I will post pics from the moment I start. I have also to continue my industrial HO layout , or my wive will give me comments such as" you always start several things at the same time, but never finishes it......." [ 14. March 2003, 21:17: Message edited by: Rappannahock Terminal ]
Great! You can build a real fine switching layout with that kind of space. And you might only need one small engine - and lots of buildings.
