PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF MY 1/48 SCALE RAILROAD



A CLEARER PICTURE

Last time I mentioned that I placed temporary track down on the layout, simply to judge how all elements will fit together.  The overall picture is coming into sharper focus and I'm happy with what I see!

That being said, allow me give you a tour of the New Castle Industrial Railroad :-)


We are standing near the right end of the layout at what is known as New Castle Junction (the eastern limit of NCIR ownership).  The track running diagonal across the layout is the Conrail (now CSXT) main.  The boxcars are on the CSXT/NCIR interchange track.  The track in the foreground is the former Conrail New Castle Secondary main, now used by the NCIR as a storage track.  There used to be a diamond crossing here, but it was removed when Conrail abandoned the New Castle Secondary east of the crossing.  I  plan to model the abandoned, overgrown ROW.  The CSXT main will be well maintained code 148 rail on a nice bed of ballast.  In contrast, the NCIR's track will be lighter weight.  There will be a rusted signal standing guard at the former diamond, along with the foundation remains of a tower.  Long ago, many trains must have passed through here every day!























Above is an aerial view of the junction.  Note that the interchange track does not actually connect to the CSXT main.  Rather, it climbs upgrade to join the main somewhere in the "off-stage" distance.

















We are now looking due west down the New Castle Industrial.  The CSXT main is in the foreground.  Left to right we see (1) the old Conrail main, now used for car storage; (2) the NCIR/CSXT interchange track; and (3) Packaging Corporation of America's warehouse and dock track (where the cars are spotted in the upper right of the photo.












Looking east.  Left to right: PCA's dock track (which will be on a higher grade); interchange track and old main.  Cars are drilled into spot order using the interchange and old main.  Overflow cars waiting to be spotted are stored on the old main.



Picture an outdoor dock here, between the RBOX and the backdrop.  Then picture a large warehouse where the cars in the background are spotted.  The dock is where empty boxcars from the warehouse are reloaded with scrap cardboard.  Tank cars of caustic soda are also unloaded here.





Loads on the old main waiting to be spotted.  A conductor spends a lot of time here, shifting out cars requested by PCA on a given day's switch list.  In the distance is NCIR's RS-11, tied down awaiting the next day's switching chores.



 
























Above is an overall view of the layout.  I'm excited!  I think the O Scale New Castle Industrial will offer good operation and a variety of neat scenic elements in 18 lineal feet. 



















We'll conclude by looking at the left end of the train room.  A long switching lead (staging track) will wrap around the far wall and over my cabinets.  The track will be on a narrow wooden shelf.  If I ever expand, I'll widen a portion of this shelf and add a chemical plant in the left corner, served by another trailing point switch.  However, I'm getting way ahead of myself here:-)

And just for fun...




I recently found this photo from August 2007, when we first looked at the house with our Realtor.  This was the previous owner's workshop and storage room, which is now my railroad room.  These last two photos were taken from roughly the same spot.  Boy, the previous owners had a lot of stuff!

Thanks for taking the tour!!

Jack

12 comments:

  1. That is a nicely weathered RBOX car! If it wasn't for the background, I'd swear it was the real item.

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  2. What Ken said! Really incredible. Jack, do you think O scale allows you to attain more realistic weathering that HO would?

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  3. Jack;
    This just gets better all the time! Very realistic treatment of your connection with CSXT. I've seen numerous similar arrangements on prototype short line operations where track used to cross the what is now the connecting line. Placing an old out of service signal at the former crossing site is a nice touch.
    Ed

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  4. Thanks guys!

    Byran: I modeled in HO before, and I really think that nothing tops O scale for detail! The larger size of equipment lets you capture elements of the prototype not possible with smaller scales. And O is just a great scale for modeling up-close switching operations where you feel like the conductor on the ground shifting cars...

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  5. Love the weathering on the cars. Do you follow the work shown on modeltrainsweathered.com?

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  6. Do you follow the work shown on modeltrainsweathered.com?

    I do...and wow...those folks have some great talent & ability!

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  7. Hi jack really like the layout and it`s simplicity,as there`s a lot of scope for some nice details.
    Also are you still going ahead with converting the layout to P48?,i only ask as i have`nt seen a mention of this,apart from on the yahoo P48 group.
    regards Brian.

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  8. Thanks Brian!

    Yes, I still plan on laying the track to P48. Still tweaking a few minor things with the temporary track...almost have it exactly where I want it. Hopefully I'll be laying track by the first of the year. Until then I'm trying to read as much as I can get my hands on about handlaying track and switches!!

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  9. It might seem a bit daunting hand laying track,but in this scale there`s nothing to it!.
    You might want to take a look a Mike Culham`s articles,(building a small o scale layout)in o scale trains. He use`s right o way components for his track,(1:48 instead of P48)with a good description and pictures,as he progresess.All the articles are free to download via their site, thats provided you have`nt already seen them?.I look forward to see your layout progress.
    regards Brian.

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  10. Yes, Mike Culham's articles are great! Also looking forward to Mike Cougill's upcoming track book. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Jack

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  11. Like wise, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family,from this side of the pond!
    Brian

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