The Raspberry Branch ISL (MEC in Quebec)

[sailormatlac]

In another thread, I discussed how I was suffering a blank sheet syndrome when trying to design a layout at home. http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=46&t=6456

I had to rethink some of my preconceived thoughts after my attention went back to Maine Central's Raspberry Branch north to Beecher Falls in Province of Quebec. I knew the place but never thought of it from an operation standpoint.

In fact, I followed guidelines I give myself when working on the club layout (type of prototype operation, train lenght, etc...). So far, I found out I never seriously applied them to myself, probably missing the point.

I identified things that mattered to me and made me enjoy operating a layout for hours.

-small sized local freight trains (between 10 to 14 cars)
-realisticly sized industries
-long stretch of track that give you the feeling the train is travelling (I mean you can watch a train run slowly, passing a crossing)
-variety in operation orders
-a real scene inspiring me

To be honest, I preselected Cookshire before all that, looking over Quebec international border for bridge lines between Canada and New England. This place had what I was looking for:

-interchange work
-small freight and mixed trains (rarely over 14 cars according to picture)
-lots of operation potential
-a railway line I could connect directly to my hometown (Quebec City)
-a visually interesting scene that could be modelled feet by feet without compromise
-interchange with railways I love: CPR, CNR, QCR and most New England railroads

Givens:

-a basement with about 12' x 20' free wall space
-3 hollow core doors for a combined length of 19' x 24 inches large and lots of shelf brackets
-lots of CPR steam and diesel locomotives that can't find their way on our club layout (mostly CNR)
-lots of New England rolling stock from the 50s and 60s

The track plan

The first thing I did was to draw in XtrackCAD a exact replica at scale of Cookshire trackage. Then I eliminated unwanted portions and selected a 20' long area that could fit my future benchwork. Luck was on my side because the area between the crossing at left and the end of J.R. Westgate was a perfect fit. I slightly tilted the tracks around the station to make room for the large flour mill.

I made a version with a complex interchange/fiddle yard. But wasn't satisfied, too much complex and costly in term of turnouts. Those thing should be designed and modified when starting operation.

CPR is red, MEC is blue



Except the tracks curving near the staging area, the plan is a perfect scale rendition of Cookshire. The track plan is a mix between early 1925 when MEC abandonned service and more recent trackage during CPR tenure. My idea is not to reproduce an era, but the operation potential and typical scenery of the place. I left out the roundhouse area and only suggested the sawmill siding as a hidden area.

I think the track plan is rather simple, but hide a lot of movement. Most car types will find their way during normal course of operation.

I have not set any delay to realize this. I must, first and all, clean up this part of the basement and build up shelves to relocate some stuff and make room for a future layout.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Question: any recommandation on a relevant book about Maine Central covering their canadian operation? Also, I know many railroads had track detailled track plans of certain locations. Is there some information of that kind for Maine Central?

I need to dig further because the more I check the few maps I have, the more I think the interchange was located in from of the station.

If you look on this picture, the middle track, suspected to be the interchange, seems to curve to the right toward the main line. But if you look in the background, there's a boxcar. This boxcar position doesn't fit with the left side track and can't be on the main line... in fact, this boxcar is located far front the small curve toward the main... Just as if it connected with the MEC mainline far away. Other this, the middle track curve, but not the one at left. It's as if this track never meets the CPR mainline. At some point, the insurance maps could be wrong and the interchange could be the left track. It would make sense because the middle one would act as a passing siding for the station and no need for a costly and useless crossing.



This is pure speculation based on the insurance maps and right of ways. Topographical survey from 1921 (before MEC quit) exist, but details are sketchy at best. But they don't go against my guess. Any second thought?

Matt

***EDIT***

According to the picture, I've seen a turnout from the left track and two from the middle track. The insurance maps is thus "exact". I think the following track plan is quite near from reality and simple enough to be believeable and easy to switch for both company without having to run over the others property. It would also explain why the middle siding was joining the main very, very far from the other siding. Making room for a entire MEC train to run around the interchange without running on CPR main line... Makes operating the layout much more interesting and give a purpose to the main line...



I'll redraw everything tomorrow, but yet, this little diagram give a good idea of the layout to be.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

After a good night of sleep (I think!), I modified and simplified the track plan. In fact, it looks closer to the prototype operation scheme. The interchange is back on the layout, where most operation should happen (what’s the point of building a layout if you play in the fiddle yard!). There's enough room to handle realistically sized mixed-freight trains (10 to 14 cars) without clogging the place.



I’m quite satisfied with this version. Building it at scale will enable me to use large turnouts which cost almost the same than smaller radius ones. Old pictures show the MEC mainline was significantly built lower than CPR track. That kind of small relief will be interesting to model.

I just need to gather more information on the industries and find picture of the freight shed, the chemical plant (before it burn down) and the flour mill (which nowadays is a feed mill).

Next step, I'll build shelves, anyway, I need it even if I don't build a layout.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Talked with a friend from Megantic who's a real fanatic of CPR International of Maine in the area. To his knowledge, my hypothesis about the interchange in front of the station is correct. He also confirmed the interchange at the MEC enginehosue for log cars.

Unfortunately, he told me the feed mill isn't rail-served since last year. MMA and the mill aren't on good terms it seems. Quite a lost, this was the first client since 1887, lasted 125 years, not bad at all!

Looks like I booked myself a railfan trip in the area in the upcoming weeks. Good thing the canadian winter is what it used to be at all nowadays. Less snow to hide feature. I'm quite interesting in the feed mill and other industries. If I like the place, I'll seriously think about doing full scale in HO.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Well, I completed a "final" draft of Cookshire track plan.

Total shelf lenght is 22' by 24" wide. Except Standard Chemical siding which is a combination of CPR & MEC sidings in something more ergonomic, everything is located as it should be. All turnouts are #8 & curved #7, smallest radius in the fiddle yard is 32" (most range between 42" and 80"). I have some engine at home that can't run on the club layout and would like to see them some action. Combined mainline lenght is 64 feet, not bad for a shelf!.

I quickly tried to figure out traffic and car types. So far, so good. Almost everything find it's way on this layout. The layout may seem to be very long for nothing, but in fact, a lot of car movement will be involved because of interchange. There's also room to operate two trains at once and also include mock up through traffic just for fun.

Anyway, I like the idea to model the entire scene. I'm looking for a very late fall (no more leaves in the tree) or early spring look with dead grass and vegetation.



I'll take pictures of the basement tomorrow.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

A few picture of the basement.

Two overall shot of the area to be reclaimed. Don't underestimate 22' long! That's very, very, very long for a single rural town! Trains litterally look lost in scenery... Maybe I'm little megalomaniac on this one. Anyway, I need the shelves for storage too, so the layout final length will be decided later (easily, 6 feet could be cut). One thing is sure, I MUST resist the temptation to fill everything in tracks and industries. I already suspect switching a 12 cars train with those lengthy sidings at real speed will take over a hour.



End of layout should be located just before the right window:


This place to be the staging area / benchwork. Lots of PVC pipes, some that will probably be used to make grain silos.



As you can see, walls are made of a very irregural stone masonry, I decided to fix 2 x 6 on the floor beams. Here's a mock up of the shelf:



Now I'm facing THE question. The best height for a layout. I'm only 5'-5" tall. I have two options: at 54", I have a realistic level eye look. But it makes switching a real pain. Option two is armpit level, less realistic, but much more pratical. Also, I have a very long bench that I could use as a step when switching. We used it when we built the first iteration of Hedley-Junction. It was a practical compromise. I'll see...

The shelf above the layout will extend a few inches to locate lighting and a pole for a curtain to protect the layout when not in use.

Operation wise: Since there's 4 destinations (2 MEC, 2 CPR), it means there's at least 4 trains running on this layout. Alternating each of them at each session would bring a lot of variety. Also, it's possible for two people to operate two trains at the same time. In fact, the layout plan is nothing more than two overlapped basic ISL.

Matt

[BR60103]

Matt: My layout is armpit level (for me) and that's too high. I can't reach across for anything without knocking over trees or buildings or cars on the near tracks. If I'm working, I get out some steps or stools, but an informal reach (stalled train, derail) is a problem. About 6" lower would be great. My width is 24" to 30".
My height comes because of the IKEA shelving I use as a base.
My wife likes the height because it's at her eye level.

[ratled]

Matt I vote for "Option two is armpit level". This will still leave you a good eye view but be able to reach in the back. I wouldn't underestimate being able to reach for things like building, operating and maintenance.

Steve

[sailormatlac]

Thanks guy! It's what I thought. Eye level is a nice thing, but you can achieve it by lowering yourself.

I've mockuped a shelf in my office just now. Looks like 51" is the maximum confortable height for a 24" width layout. Not exactly at eye leve, but still eye enough to not feel like a bird. In fact, I think 50' would be perfect to make sure my shirt doesn't knock down everything.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Great! I continued to search in Quebec Archives (BANQ) and found lots of picture of Cookshire station and all industries in the town. Better, I found the Hereford Railway (Maine Central) construction plan from 1887-1889 at Cookshire Junction. Don't know if very precise, but that could answer my questions about the interchange and how some industries were served. The passenger station itself is a HUGE station. At least 100 ft long for a small rural station. Honestly, Maine Central & CPR were optimistic when they built there!

So far so good, most buildings are quite interesting to model and will make funny scratchbuilding projects.

I also got my hand on a MEC GP7 in red livery for switching purpose. I'm already well equipped in vintage CPR.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Mounted two more uprights tonight. I'm surprised that I succeed in putting everything level!



I also made a quick mockup out of a door, a piece of foam and some track. Layout height is at 50" which is clearly to high for me. At best, layout height should be somewhere between 47 and 48 inches high. That's the same height as the club layout (47"). I find it a little low visually, but with tracks at 20" from the layout edge, that's high enough for me.



Matt

[sailormatlac]

I updated the track plan.



I decided to simplify the staging yard and give CPR the remaining industries since Maine Central already controlled the Shur-Gain feeds mill and Standard Chemicals. I also dropped Westgate sawmill. Modelling it would have been meaningless and operation-wise, not very interesting. I'll simulate pulpwood going interchange from MEC to CPR instead.

I also made some room in case I would like to scenic the staging yard (which is just 2 switching leads) with Wallace Silversmiths and the Imperial Oil dealer. Everything there is still to scale. Imperial Oil is REALLY small! I find strange that Wallace & Imperial shared a siding. I've often seen oil dealers on map, but habitually, they have their own siding. Is it an exception or a widespread practice of the time?

I also followed Tyson's tip to jazz a little bit the tracks. The layout is very long, so I put some large gentle curves to add visual interest, make more room for structures and also use this as a device to hide the staging area behind the feed mill.

I also found the building behind the station was American House Hotel. A nice structure to capture the feeling of a station district and that will populate the main street.

QUESTION: Track level: Old pictures show that MEC main line was a few feet lower than CPR. I suspect it was going down from the station. I'm trying to figure out if the visual appeal of that is enough. I mean, the mainline will be used when switching. It would be really bad to see cars rolling while operating the layout. I could also start to drop the mainline from CPR tank car only. That would leave about 60 inches level when switching Standard Chemical. What do you think? The drop wouldn't be more than 1/2" for 8 feet long.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Went to Quebec National Archives today. Checked the original track plans from 1887 for Hereford Railway (leased to Maine Central). The most impressive hand drawn plan I've seen in term of size: Imagine a 34 feet long single sheet by 4' high. All in perfect condition. An equivalent, but only 1 feet high shown the track elevation from Dudswell Jct to USA borderline.

They had many documents, but at this point, I must accept the fact it will be hard to see an actual drawing showing the interchange in front of the station. No such thing existed in 1887. Looks like interchange was originally done near the roundhouse, as previously explained. However, since not document exist between 1887 and 1928 that could show the track arrangement north to the station, it remains shrouded in the darkness. My best bet is to use modeller license and make something interesting. Anyway, I already tweaked reality by keeping MEC active at Cookshire well into the 60s!

Also found out Standard Chemicals was replaced by a woolen mill. The mill also absorbed the Westgate sawmill footprint (no more track near the river (good, I won't have to model this annoying feature). Wallace Silversmiths was also replaced in the late 50s, bya General Plastics plant. Honestly, I'm more than please to get a plastic industry there because of car type and traffic involved.

So time to revised the proposed track plan. I'll probably get rid of the L shaped benchwork and make only a single straight shelf (easier to make because of basement ceiling structure).

Also found pictures of the feed mill which was/is a real Frankeinstein. Toriginal 1868 flour mill still exist and was expanded with a prarie-style elevator, many sheds and a row of steel bins. A good kitbash in sight.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

I scrapped the staging area and integrated it completely to the layout according to my findings in archives and structural issues. Much more closer to prototype and I save 3 feet long of shelf. That makes a very LONG straight shelf. At this point, I'll see later, with a real mock up, if I can't compress the scene a little bit to fit three 80 inches doors (20' x 2') instead of 27'. It wouldn't hurt saving 7' long of scenery! That would probably means replacing #8 turnouts by #6. No big deal.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

TECHNICAL QUESTION:

I have a few shelf supports that will be separated by 60-67 inches. Should I provide an intermediate support between them? Layout will be made of sliced hollow core doors and joints will probably not overlap the support. Are they strong enough to span such a lenght.

As you have seen the layout is almost flat, made of a slab of 1" foam and won't be heavy per square feet. Still... Don't want unnecessary sagging.

Matt