After about a year of searching,planning,I finally settled on a Plan(minus track plan) I decided to go with my already established "Modern Era"type switching layout.I was going to model CSX and the Mid-west area of the US,then i was searching more areas of the West via Google maps,and found an area of California just west of Yorba Linda,and areas of Los Angeles.I've always dreamed of living in California and since that will probably never happen,I can at least pretend to be there(LOL)Since the layout will be freelanced i will be taking different areas from each region to model.I am pleasantly surprised to see how many areas have 2 to 4 rail served industry's within a city block.The layout will be mostly Industrial,with some urban areas(houses),so their will be alot of streets,concrete parking lots,bridges(highway),street running.

I decided to go with "Full-size" buildings,which will all have to be scratch built,alot of mesh fencing,etc.Buidings will consist mostly of manurfacturing companys(I have plenty of Boxcars),and Corn syrup manufacturer,Injection molding company,CA Road commision(recieves sewer pipes,steel,etc.

The layout will be 40' long by 24"wide,and connected to the 40' span will be 6 -4'x8ft tables which i will plan on having 2 industries per 4x8 table.The 40' x 2ft will consist of the single track main line which will "spur off" to the 6 tables.Also in that 40' i will incorporate a small transfer facility.I didn't want to go with building flats for structures,cause i really don't like the look(IMHO)I will be modeling Union Pacific and will be adding 2 UP GP60's (Loksound selectt sound decoders Proto 2000 units)for my switching power.I decided to go with UP because of the location,and UP won't be changing there paint-scheme anytime soon.

I attached somes pics of my progress of the Basement with all the lighting,etc.I decided to go with 4ft 2-light T12 lights(40watt).The styrofoam ceiling tiles i found on Ebay,they are 16" x 16" 1/2 inch pieces.They come 32 in a box for $10.00.Since my ceiling joists are 16" on center,i'd figure this would be a much cheaper alternative than a drop ceiling.My ceiling is 10ft,and my layout height will be 52 inchs(I'm 5'7"),so hopefully that will be high enough and still maintain a good "reach".I will be adding a 2' backdrop along the wall which will consist of a retaning wall.

I attached pics of somes areas of LA and Yorba Linda that show various industries along the track spurs.I noticed alot of structures are tall multi-level structures with a smaller footprint.That makes sense since California's real estate is very expensive,which is a advantage that helps me as far as having limited space.

I decided to go with Atlas code 83 track and #6 switches(505,506),switch's most all of my rolling stock is 60' boxcars and tankcars,hoppers.No grain hoppers on this layout.I haven't decided on turnout switches yet,but will probably be "manual",don't want to get into a bunch of wiring(eeek!)I will have animated crossings though.

...and the rest of the pics

The room, the prototype photos and the intended story are looking good

That last pic of the Corn-syrup plant looks just exactly as though someone has parked a set of Boley HO scale tank trucks in there!

faraway Wrote:The room, the prototype photos and the intended story are looking good

Actually Reinhard,I credit you and a few others on the forum for the insperation for the idea of choosing this area(LAJ,etc). It's the best area of the US that i could find that incorporated all that i wanted to do in the amount of realestate that i have to work with.

shortliner Wrote:That last pic of the Corn-syrup plant looks just exactly as though someone has parked a set of Boley HO scale tank trucks in there!

That's too funny(LOL),I was thinking the same thing,luckily i have a bunch of those Boley trucks.

BTW Walthers bought the whole Boley line of trucks and is marketing them as Walthers line now.Hopefully in the near future we will see some different variations of these trucks

Don't neglect the recent line of Trucks n Stuff, which Walthers and others also have. Trucks n Stuff has a lot of very current 18-wheeler prototypes, as well as UPS.

TG, great start. I like your idea of the mainline along the 40 foot wall and the industry spurs going out on peninsulas. Will make for a very nice expanded ISL. Looking forward to progress.

jwb Wrote:Don't neglect the recent line of Trucks n Stuff, which Walthers and others also have. Trucks n Stuff has a lot of very current 18-wheeler prototypes, as well as UPS.

Actually most of my tractor trailers and semi's have been purchased already.I purchased a bunch of Athearns 53' Duraplate trailers.I have noticed alot of trailers in California are Owner/operator(no logo's),and plan on using these for most of my fleet,plus the detail on these trailers is awesome.My Semi trucks are mostly modern Norscott Kenworths and Promotex Mack & Kenworth trucks in a wide variety of colors...yes even yellow. I have yet to find a inexpensive Dry bulk trailer for my transfer yard...oh well,i'm sure someday there will be one avaliable in HO