FCIN Wrote:Since GEC mentioned it, here is some information about the Hainesport Industrial Railroad http://hainesportrailroad.com/ and a Bing view of that area http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qnx16h8...orm=LMLTCC. If you follow the line down to the southeast and rotate the view, you can see their trackmobile. Funny thing, on their web site, they show a photo of a decidedly foreign 4 wheel locomotive rather than what appears to be a Rail King car mover in the aerial view.

Will say that the original trackage at Mount Holly as shown in the ZTS map, would probably make for a more interesting small operation. Current traffic in the industrial park doesn't look that interesting.

The Hainesport Industrial railroad owns the industrial park, but other shuttling around empty/full cars as needed (such as swapping empty Beer cars with full ones, moving empty trash flats to the loading area, etc.), it doesn't really do anything. The majority of switching is done by the CSAO crews. In fact, until the Track-mobile showed up, CSAO did ALL the switching, the the Hainesport Industrial RR contracting CSAO to switch the industrial park. They've recently acquired a large fleet of dirty, black high-sided gondola with HIRR reporting marks.

As I mentioned above, Mt. Holly is pretty much empty. That said, compressing the essence of the Pemberton Industrial Track into a smaller area could definitely be an interesting operation.

GEC;

Those photos sure give you a nice feel for what the area looks like! Love the way the grass has taken over most of the ROW in the industrial park. Always nice to find someone that can photograph areas that a person many miles away is interested in possibly modeling.

I'd seen photos and mention of the CSAO operations, but nice to have some additional info on how they operate and the mixture of power they use.

Rails coming loose from the ties,
Lots of derailments,
Rolling stock tips side-to-side as they go down the tracks

My layout is starting to remind me of Penn Central

Justinmiller171 Wrote:Rails coming loose from the ties,
Lots of derailments,
Rolling stock tips side-to-side as they go down the tracks

My layout is starting to remind me of Penn Central

LOL! Now all you need is hostility between your management teams, a major snowstorm season, the requirement that you run passenger trains despite losing millions of dollars, etc. etc. etc.

Ralph

So this is an idea I am considering, It is based off one of my earlier designs, I know it looks bad at first with the switchback, but it is long enough where it adds to the operation rather than making it harder. I plan on adding an abandoned industry on the switchback lead.

The layout will use Micro-Engineering track with a 28" radius and #6 Turnouts code 70

Ralph Wrote:

Justinmiller171 Wrote:Rails coming loose from the ties,
Lots of derailments,
Rolling stock tips side-to-side as they go down the tracks

My layout is starting to remind me of Penn Central

LOL! Now all you need is hostility between your management teams, a major snowstorm season, the requirement that you run passenger trains despite losing millions of dollars, etc. etc. etc.

Ralph

Lets not forget investing railroad money in Real Estate risks, and cooking the books to hide the losses!

FCIN Wrote:GEC;

Those photos sure give you a nice feel for what the area looks like! Love the way the grass has taken over most of the ROW in the industrial park. Always nice to find someone that can photograph areas that a person many miles away is interested in possibly modeling.

I'd seen photos and mention of the CSAO operations, but nice to have some additional info on how they operate and the mixture of power they use.

I try to take photos when I can. I'm usually a railfan of oppertunity. If trains happen to be along my path, i keep my camera on hand just in case. If you were truly interested in modeling the line, i'd have no problem taking as many pictures as you need (that i can get).

Justinmiller171 Wrote:So this is an idea I am considering, It is based off one of my earlier designs, I know it looks bad at first with the switchback, but it is long enough where it adds to the operation rather than making it harder. I plan on adding an abandoned industry on the switchback lead.

The layout will use Micro-Engineering track with a 28" radius and #6 Turnouts code 70

Might be able to add more to it. I think that the food processor and inland container are kinda cramped. one of those industries should move to the corner, but thats just my opinion.

Green_Elite_Cab Wrote:Might be able to add more to it. I think that the food processor and inland container are kinda cramped. one of those industries should move to the corner, but thats just my opinion.

Yep, That's what I was thinking.

I'm not really certain on what I want on my layout, I may need to look at some other ISL plans for inspiration.(Hint)

For a setting I am thinking of CSX during the early 1990's, As I was born then I have many fond memories of that era and it would be nice to revisit them :geek:
Another reason is that it wasn't to long after the merger so there would still be lots of equipment from the CSX predecessors on the rails.

Something like this perhaps?[attachment=8127]

FCIN Wrote:Something like this perhaps?[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

That looks pretty good, though I might lengthen the bottom-most section of track after the run around, so to fit two geeps. Not 100% necessary, but then anything will fit.

personally, i might swap the places of the team track and the abandoned siding, so that the trains spread out a bit more, as well as reverse the direction of the switch to take advantage of that run around a little more.

those are just my opinions though. Overall, i like that plan.

More like this?[attachment=8131]Does give you two industries that switch from both directions making better use of the runaround track. I figure that you'd just be using one engine at a time, so didn't lengthen the tail track, but of course you could shorten up the runaround by a foot and add that extra length if you desired.

I'd treat this plan as though it was either a portion of the main line going through a small town or a branch line that terminates at a small town. I'd stage the train at the upper right end of the main line as though it was just coming into town and work the industries as required. Then runaround the train and head back to where ever the train originated.

Wow thanks guys! You two make a good team.

I really like that plan Ed,I prefer Plan 1 as is gives a more "Concrete Canyon" look , I plan on just using a single GP15-1 so the tail track should be fine.

I'm probably not going to start anything for a few months, so I plan on doing things such as weathering freight cars in the mean time.

Justinmiller171 Wrote:I'm probably not going to start anything for a few months, so I plan on doing things such as weathering freight cars in the mean time.

Good idea there Justin! Give yourself plenty of time to just think things over, but yet keep yourself busy doing little projects that will keep your interest peaked. Acquire more cars (and the always present desire to add more engines) as finances permit, weather them or whatever.

No doubt some other ideas will come along and this plan could no doubt be changed here and there. As it is, Inland Container is a bit short on track length and even reducing the curve to 24 inch radius wouldn't add much to that spur. But then again, you might come up with another industry that you like better.

GP15-1 or GP15-T nice choice for motive power - Conrail, CSXT or NS if you're still thinking about that theme. Heck, CR GP15, CSXT GP40/38 and an NS high hood GP38 for variety if you're thinking of Conrail Shared Assets as a theme.

My Versions of FCIN's design, Some industries may look familar :?