H0 scale Waterfront / Harbor Layout with steam power

[stephanh]

Hi Stephan,

I like you plan. I think it would be fun to operate. So, I'm assuming you'd unload the car float with a switcher and place the cars in the three track yard. Then perhaps another loco would come from that spur heading straight up on the left side of the layout and pull the cars as a train. I imagine the loco running around the cars once the train is one on of those curved tracks on the upper left. Then it could push cars into the various spurs in the upper right and at the Pier. After that work is done it would be easy to run around again and set off the remaining cars in the one spur heading in the opposite direction in the top center part of the layout. Loco returns to float yard. Looks like it would be pretty easy to reverse the operation to pick up cars from industries and set them in the yard for loading onto the float later.

Glad you like it.
I am very happy with the plan so far.
I thought about mirroring the yard to have broader curves in the upper section,
but then I would loose the space on the top left part of the layout, which I plan to put some structures in.

Operating this layout would be much fun I bet.

I plan to use six different engines.

BLI 2-8-0
Life-Like 0-8-0
Life-Like 0-6-0
Atlas S-2
Atlas HH660
Bachmann 44-Tonner

[Rscott417]

Great ideas on the layout Stephan, it's definitely coming together. When you started posting your track plan I thought of this plan that's based on Fulton Terminal in Brooklyn NY. It's a U shape harbor layout slightly bigger than the space you have but could probably be condensed into your foot print. I think you'd be able to save some space for a yard or switching by keeping your harbor area (float and pier) together and give you some other planning options and ideas.

[stephanh]

Great ideas on the layout Stephan, it's definitely coming together. When you started posting your track plan I thought of this plan that's based on Fulton Terminal in Brooklyn NY. It's a U shape harbor layout slightly bigger than the space you have but could probably be condensed into your foot print. I think you'd be able to save some space for a yard or switching by keeping your harbor area (float and pier) together and give you some other planning options and ideas.

Thank you. In one of my earlier drawings, I tried to put the car float and the peer on the same leg.
I distanced myself from that plan-idea, as I did not want to overload the area and wanted to have the two eyecatchers in different parts of the layout. But thank you for the posted plan, I like it too.

Same as everytime: If I only had more space...

[stephanh]

Do you guys think No.8 turnouts are the right choice?
Some of my friends thing they´re too large for an old-fashioned harbor theme.

[Rscott417]

I'm going to say too large, most terminals I've seen crammed tracks into very tight spaces. If you can find "New York harbor railroads in color" vol 1 or 2 they have great pictures of all the harbor railroads which could give you a good idea of what they looked like, they're hard to come by though.

[jerseycentraluk]

Hello Stephan,

I would say that No.8 are too large as well. It looks like your curve radius is about 2ft, so tighter turnouts wouldn't look out of place. As Rscott417 says harbour are the place you can justify tight curves and turnouts, so long as your locos can negotiate the curve you should be ok.

Keep going with the plan though, as what you have so far looks like it will be fun to operate.

Robin

[Rscott417]

I know this site has made it's rounds on this forum but there's numerous track diagrams and pictures that should be helpful to you. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/IndustrialLocos.html">http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/IndustrialLocos.html</a><!-- m -->

[Mike Kieran]

Great ideas on the layout Stephan, it's definitely coming together. When you started posting your track plan I thought of this plan that's based on Fulton Terminal in Brooklyn NY. It's a U shape harbor layout slightly bigger than the space you have but could probably be condensed into your foot print. I think you'd be able to save some space for a yard or switching by keeping your harbor area (float and pier) together and give you some other planning options and ideas.

Thank you. In one of my earlier drawings, I tried to put the car float and the peer on the same leg.
I distanced myself from that plan-idea, as I did not want to overload the area and wanted to have the two eyecatchers in different parts of the layout. But thank you for the posted plan, I like it too.

Same as everytime: If I only had more space...

It's actually not a bad plan. Waterfront on one leg, yard & engine facility on the second leg, and industries on the third leg. The above Lance Mindheim New York Dock Railway track plan actually ran lengthwise between the East River and the Brooklyn-Queens expressway. Most of these vest pocket waterfront railroads weren't really maritime railroads with the exception of the car floats.

On another note, smaller turnouts were more common for steam era since rolling stock was shorter in length. There is a lot of flange squealing on these turnouts and curves due to the tight radii. I used to be amused by how such a small railroad like the New York Dock Railway could make so much noise.

[Rscott417]

Here's a few videos on YouTube of a Fulton Terminal layout. This one is much different than the track plan I posted and more of a walk around layout but should help get the wheels turning.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KKmHvJOPp-Q">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KKmHvJOPp-Q</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01FtKQnfaqE">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=01FtKQnfaqE</a><!-- m -->
The first 3 minutes of this video
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DvehbOQqUFU">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DvehbOQqUFU</a><!-- m -->

[Twist]

Hi there,
so this is the latest version of trackplan I made for Stephan with anyrail.I used mostly #5 and #6 turnouts,the curved turnouts are #7.This is my personal favourite trackplan,but it will be Stephan´s layout so it will be his choice.

You can run some trains around the loop,the second track can be used for staging etc.

So what you think about this.Any ideas are welcome.....

Cheers,Chris