Man - I could look all day at pictures like that! Beautiful - looks extremely fun to run.

And there is some pretty hefty track work there, that's for sure - that crossing diamond is a work of art !

Smile,
Stein

Thanks for all the positive response, guys.......

Stein, actually, the crossing diamonds are the achillies heel, if there is one, of the layout. I used Atlas products (should have handlaid them), and there is someserious finetuning I need to do to them for the track here to run reliably before operation begin. Yes, I might have forgotten to mention, this is all still being worked on. Al the track (well, most of it) runs and is wired, but we are not opp'ing yet. Much work to be done on the carfleet still, too before we can even get that far.

OK, some more photos before I have to go back to work..........

Here is one of what I am trying to capture on my layout, at least one end of it -


This next one gives a better idea of how the float bridges will be situated. the drawing is to scale -


This is the model that will be built of it. This is my friend Elliott Janofsky's model, it was featured in a past issue of the NMRA newsletter Scale Rails -


Here is another view of the main yard. there will be one more pier in this yard (behind the photographer) -

Next is the end of the Edgewater Branch. The real branch was just a long industrial branch that was built along the Morris Canal in the early 1900's in Jersey City. It crossed the PRR at grade, but did not interchange with it. Thus, I had a reason for ANOTHER diamond crossing, and a place to park my PRR switcher -

This next one is the Grand Street LCL Freight Station. This is built on it's own dedicated penninsula that I built for it. It will kepp one person busy all session, and can hold 25 cars when full. I wrote an article for the OpSIG Dispatcher's Office about how I plan to operate it last year -


And last but not least is the West Yard. This was a small support yard located just inland from the main yard. It fed the Edgewater Branch and Grand Street yard. This first prototype picture is actually what inspired me to include it into the layout. It connected to the mainline and main yard by a wye. The image looks compass north towards the Holland Tunnel. The highway is the NJ Turnpike. Today, this is an empty lot -


And here is my model of it, looking the opposite direction (south) -


All for now, have to finish up the days work.

RAH

great gob , I'm a CNJ guy my self. can't wait to see more of the big little r.r. in miniature.

This is shaping up to be a real nice looking layout! Lots of tracks and structures, just what I like Keep up the great work

You guys might be interested in <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hofEaOGLtQs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hofEaOGLtQs</a><!-- m -->
Enjoy
More info here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nyhrr.com/">http://www.nyhrr.com/</a><!-- m --> and there are a whole load of Youtube clips
also worth googling David Ramos+NYHRR

Obviously you have put a lot of great thought into the layout, this is going to be really interesting to watch it come to life, don't be shy with the pictures.

Thanks everybody, I am glad you guys are interested in seeing what I have done. To resepond specifically to Lynn, yes, there was a lot of thought put into the layout, maybe not in the construction (though maybe there should have been!), but definitely into the operations and the realization/rationalization of prototype-to-model planning. That is the main reason why the layout is not "pretty"....I am more concerned about getting the operations and the trackage to be as close to the real thing as I can. To me, it's not about the scenery (not that there is much "pretty" scenery to see in 1950's Jersey City!)
Which brings me to the next question for everybody....Would you prefer to see some early construction photos, or more "as it is now" photos? I will post whatever the masses find more interesting/instructive here.
For now, how about this? -


RAH

HOLY!!! How awesome is this?!? I love your truss bridge. Anymore photos of it? I am building one myself based on plans used by the Baltimore and Ohio RR. Although, I still have a long way to go. I like your use of cardboard mock-ups for your buildings, I plan on doing the same myself.

Great stuff!


P.S. As for the photos. Construction, as is, work in progress...I think I can safely speak on behalf of all the members here and say that we pretty much love them all. The more the merrier. LOL!!!

CAR_FLOATER Wrote:Would you prefer to see some early construction photos, or more "as it is now" photos? I will post whatever the masses find more interesting/instructive here.

tetters Wrote:As for the photos. Construction, as is, work in progress...I think I can safely speak on behalf of all the members here and say that we pretty much love them all. The more the merrier. LOL!!!

With a site full of hobbyist, go for it. Any layout photo or progression helps others for ideas or inspiration

Great layout in the works...show us its birth....and future progress...

Hi Tetters, thanks. That Howe truss flaot bridge was built by my friend Dave Ramos for his layout, it is, as Dave would tell you, a very crude mock up, but a beautiful stand in none the less. He and I have actually taken delivery of a much nicer float bridge, still not as detailed as a "perfect" model would be, but neat none the less. Here's two photos of a scale "contest" model by Tom Grffiths from the 2009 NMRA National -


And one of two float bridges that will grace my layout, sans the fancy details -


So in the mean time, here's some construction photos.....The first is of the main yard a peiers, before paint, tracks and any pier sheds were added. AS you can see, i use pink insulation foam exclusively as a track base, not plywood or Homasote -


Here is one of the Edewater Branch, this branch is a good 20 foot run from one end to the other, and will have about seven industries located along it -


And here is one of the end of my CNJ branch. This will be the US Gypsum plant. AS you can see, I have used walls from a few Walthers kits to mock up the plant so I can get an ideas of how the building will sit ,and how the tracks will run -


As always, more later,

RAH

" To me, it's not about the scenery (not that there is much "pretty" scenery to see in 1950's Jersey City!) "

It may not have been "pretty" but I'll bet is was interesting.
I like the use of full size mockups for your pier buildings, and I'll also bet there is a lot of interesting detail that could go into those!, as finished models.

I like pics of the finished product, but I also like pics of it under construction for ideas I might be able to "borrow" for my own layout! One of the things that I really enjoy about model railroading as opposed to rc car racing, is that we don't have closely guarded "speed secrets" or "modeling secrets" if you will. I really like your buildings. I'm presuming that they are mock ups, but they look like they could really be made into nice models just by covering them with thin cardboard sheet and adding details.

CAR_FLOATER Wrote:Hi Tetters, thanks. That Howe truss flaot bridge was built by my friend Dave Ramos for his layout, it is, as Dave would tell you, a very crude mock up, but a beautiful stand in none the less. He and I have actually taken delivery of a much nicer float bridge, still not as detailed as a "perfect" model would be, but neat none the less. Here's two photos of a scale "contest" model by Tom Grffiths from the 2009 NMRA National -


And one of two float bridges that will grace my layout, sans the fancy details -

I know that Howe Truss Bridge.... I have a copy of the original drawings that were drafted by Tom. However, I have been asked not to start passing them around by the provider. :?

The second bridge is a mock up being used on Tim Warris' CNJ Bronx Terminal. Definately not a glamorous as the one built by Mr. Giffiths, however still very nice and it does the job for Tim in the interm. I got to look at the entire layout close up at the Toronto X-Mas Train Show recently. Absolutely stunning trackwork.

That said, you layout is coming along great. Are those PVC pipes used for the leg supports at the ends of the penninsulas?

Tetters -

Yes, Tom is a great model builder, and his float bridge is an exacting model. Much too detailed for my use (not tomention I do not have the skill, time or patience!), and Tim's model will fill my needs just fine - Functional, yet beautiful, too.

And correct you are about the legs. they are PVC. I had plenty lying around, and I wanted to use something to support my pier ends that was not wood, and could take a kick and not damage anything or send cars careening off the layout. I used drain fittings to provide a flat and wider footing than just the diameter of the pipe. They have worked out well, and have used them in three places on the layout.

RAH