sailormatlac Wrote:.....The next picture shot from the passenger train in Charlevoix ....

A beautiful scenery and prototype.

faraway Wrote:

sailormatlac Wrote:.....The next picture shot from the passenger train in Charlevoix ....

A beautiful scenery and prototype.

Until it reach the paper mill in Clermont, the track find its way in this landscape for about 60 miles. Passenger rail service (thrice per day) as been restored. There is talk to resume interurban service over the next years if government funds are available (OK, let's be realistic, we are in Canada so it will probably take dozen of studies, surveys and we will all be dead by then!) But at least, there's local political will which didn't exist about 5 years ago. I can't read the future, but the fact this rural area is turning into a generic North American suburbia will probably make it possible in a decade or two. You can't stop "progress" as they say! But this beautiful landscape means this track COST a lot to maintain every year. No wonder QRL&PCo was never crazy enough to build it when they surveyed the location. It ended up being a electoral gimmick for a local deputy (Forget) who built the original paper mill (which is our layout end-of-line).

The actual location is a small cove near Cap Brûlé (Burnt Cape) (I guess there was a fire there during French colonization time). The small cove is known as l'Anse de la Montée du Lac - a very long and unpoetic name I would tentatively translate as Lake Uphill's Cove... hock: This area is infamously known for the first criminal plane crash in Canada when a civilian DC-3 was bombed in 1949 killing 23 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Guay http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoit...EN&id=4482 The plane is still decaying in the woods.

There is many such capes and coves along the track and mony have very small sidings nested againts the cliffs and river. Nearby, a old 40ft OSB boxcar converted as a tool shed. No paint is remaining, everything was stripped by salty breeze. In this area, St. Lawrence river turns in a real estuary. It's almost the sea with salty waters. Most small cape like the one on the picture have a small lighthouse or range lights and shacks. I'll probably add one too.

Matt

sailormatlac Wrote:

Painkiller Wrote:Man those GMD-1.s look good.... Got to get some..

Not only look good but they run extremely well. It's now the favorite engine on the layout.

Matt

My mind has said for a long time now that those GMD.s are THE perfect power for my available space and smaller consists, yet I haven't got around ti get some. But I am to get at least a pair this fall. If I am not wrong, Wasn't Rapido to do some matched vans for those things? By the way this is one of my favorite threads here as the layout is very nicely done.

Painkiller Wrote:My mind has said for a long time now that those GMD.s are THE perfect power for my available space and smaller consists, yet I haven't got around ti get some. But I am to get at least a pair this fall. If I am not wrong, Wasn't Rapido to do some matched vans for those things? By the way this is one of my favorite threads here as the layout is very nicely done.

Those locomotives are really nice to operate. If I had to only keep one loco, I would keep the GMD1. They will do the PSC van in N scale, but alas not in HO...

I'm actually building the woodchip unloading structure out of cardboard. Structure is almost done and I started adding decorative trusses and beams.

Matt

Here's the updated track plan with peninsula and Dominion Textile recent modifications. Domtex's warehouse was enlarged to serve three 50ft boxcars instead of two according to a suggestion by Jérôme.



I also updated Donohue unloading area to reflect our actual operation practices. So far, the warehouse and woodchip unloader are built. Another warehouse and a dilapited shed are to be built as soon as possible.

Matt

Some progress on structures.



To complete Donohue's scene as soon as possible, I started building the missing industrial structures. The first one is the woodchip unloader, a very generic and simple steel structure.



I built it using thick cardboark and corrugated cardboard. Buildings with large openings like this one are always a challenge because they lack strong internal bracing and can warp easily. It happened, but I have a way to fight back when I'll put the structure on the layout.



Since the building is wide open, I decided to add some structural members to give it some details. Trusses are made out of cardboard while the vertical columns are Rix highway overpass steel girder cut in half. They will be painted baby blue like the prototype in Clermont.



I also started to weather the structure. I think Krylon camouflage beige is an excellent base to represent concrete. Plain grey doesn't do the job. And you can lighten the beige with various washes if you think it's too dark.





The hardest part will be to scratchuilt the intricate steel structure outside the building. It is fairly complex with staircase. I'll probably take some artistic license on this one! It's the steel overhead structure located right to the unloading building on this prototype picture taken in May 2014.



Matt

The steel warehouse adjacent to the woodchip unloader is now in building phase. The structure was built with cardboard and Walthers modular sloped roof kits. I followed the prototype as much as I could but I had to reduce the depth from half. However, the lenght and details are correct.





It was a easy building to put together, only requiring about 4 hours. I only need to paint the it and it will be ready to put on the layout.





Matt

Hi Matt,

Very nice scratchbuilt structures in progress. The are looking great. They are a great inspiration for my layout as always.

Cheers,Chris

You're coming along fantastically!

I browswed through this thread and noticed that on this later addition there is a sense of where the trains are running through areas that are a bit isolated in the landscape. besides here there is only other layout I have seen that has included this successfully and that is Mike Confallones Allagash RY. I live in parts of Sweden where there is long distances and a lot of woods, so I enjoy this type of scenery and railfanning, though over here on the Inland line the trains are few. And the structures for this part is dead on, as many sawmills have been rebuilt and expanded so the modern Pikestuff styled buildings are every where albeit in larger scale. One of the problems that are usual in having a rural scene is keep the distances and keeping it looking like that the track and the trains are not dominating everything and the surroundings are looking like been done in less scale. This layout is underway to become something very special. Keep it up!

Painkiller Wrote:I browswed through this thread and noticed that on this later addition there is a sense of where the trains are running through areas that are a bit isolated in the landscape. besides here there is only other layout I have seen that has included this successfully and that is Mike Confallones Allagash RY. I live in parts of Sweden where there is long distances and a lot of woods, so I enjoy this type of scenery and railfanning, though over here on the Inland line the trains are few. And the structures for this part is dead on, as many sawmills have been rebuilt and expanded so the modern Pikestuff styled buildings are every where albeit in larger scale. One of the problems that are usual in having a rural scene is keep the distances and keeping it looking like that the track and the trains are not dominating everything and the surroundings are looking like been done in less scale. This layout is underway to become something very special. Keep it up!

Thank you very much. Feels awkward to be compared to the Allagash. I must admit when I saw Mike Confalone's work, it was very familiar to what I experienced when a kid. I wanted to do this kind of layout since I started in this hobby as a kid. But when all the magazine are filled with 3-4 tracks mainline, hundreds of steam locomotives and a myriad of industries, going for something more relaxed feels liek you are doing things wrong.

Local trains, lowly settled areas, sawmill and paper mill, that's what I knew as a kid. That was normal for me. What wasn't normal was large yards and things like that. In fact, most freight-oriented railray lines in the world are in this category.

Getting the right balance is truly hard... you only achieve it when you work with the real benchwork. I'm constantly fighting against myself to stop adding tracks, but it's the only way to achieve the right look.

Matt

I am settling in to more branch line format myself, as the trains are kept shorter and the operational is more relaxed. besides after moving out to almost middle of nowhere 19 years ago has done its part. Many of us do try to cramp loads of operation to a small space and I get a feeling that the trains which are the only thing on a layout has not been compressed to area to fit. Still in a man made landscape you can get away with it, like an urban switching layout, but still that innocent looking engine becomes a monster once you couple up a few cars to it. I am still in the planning phase of my layout, though I guess I am to do the benchwork to it soon and start laying track. I wish that I had a little more space to add some distance and run a rural layout, but I guess I will have to settle on a urban switching layout to keep the interest in the longer run. I guess the layout like yours have added some breading space which is important rather having a 3 unit lash up with a handful cars running through the yard one town while it is already entering next which is supposed to be miles away.

Still on a branch line or an industrial switching, you can add a few things to make sure that the operation takes it time, like opening gates, local restrictions on operation through the town etc. that keeps things interesting. And on the limited space I have, that is the way I am to go. The idea in the room I have is a rather simple. On a narrow shelf, a four track yard with a run around, which also serves as staging and on the opposite side on deeper shelf a switching area. One day I will make it run around loop so I can when mood strikes just sit back and watch the trains just run and be a rail fan. One of the cool thing about forums like this is you get to see not just layouts but different concepts and get new ideas. So keep it up and have fun!

Matt

Incroyable again! Excellent tutorial and progress pics. Your structure are extremely well done.
Cardboard no less! I wish I could do the same

I like your layout track plan. Nicely done. Yes the algue et tall grass along the shore of the St-Laurent will
be a very nice touch.

I agree with others: Your layout/scenery/attention to details/general feel etc. does remind me of Mike Confalone and Tom Jonson layout. To a certain degree Pierre Dion as well. An artist amongst artist for sure. Always a pleasure to see what you are doing.

I completely agree with your observation on [various] magazine: Unless you have a LARGE layout, extremely busy with a GROTESQUE amount of Loco and cars, you are not doing it right. I personally believe in simplicity, however I had to resist the urge, many times, to build the layout BIGGER with MORE tracks etc. When I look at it, and I am following the prototype right of way, I think I have too much tracks and too many loco! Getting the right balance is tough indeed!

Encore une fois: merveilleux travaille

Syl

@Painkiller: There's all kind of model railroaders out there. We share a common passion, but our interests are different, so I can't say: "that kind of approach is best". However, I can say that when you want to stress the realistic aspect of scene composition, moderation is your best ally. Everybody that understand that can move forward into the next level. And less track, means less compromises and headache trying to find out impossible answers.

I'm always amazed how switching a layout at a normal, relaxed pace, takes up time, even with a small 5 car trains. Traveling many longer scenes is fun, but working for a long time a very nice small scene is as fun to me. That where small urban setting are interesting. And in fact, when going "urban", I think one should refrain to use too much compression. As you said, trains stay "full scale". In fact, I just have to think about Trevor Marshall's Port Rowan layout in S scale. He's doing transition era with the smallest footprint possible, less turnouts than you have fingers, run 3-4 car trains and still get a tremendous amount of operation out of a derelict rural branchline.

On Hedley-Junction, we can run trains as long as 20 cars without looking too much out of place, but to be honest, 5-12 cars looks far better. I only have two regrets and if I had more space, I would have modelled Montmorency Falls 4-span plate girder bridge next to Dominion Textile http://jonathansworldlyimages.com/wp-con...2-5605.jpg.
...and my hometown sawmill (I built the structure back in my early high school days and would love to use it). But I don't have that place and, frankly, it wouldn't add that much meaningful operation.

@Thanks Syl! Locomotives are every model railroaders' pitfall! Normally, I would only need 5 locomotives to run the entire layout, even 4 would be enough (a pair of CN captive road switchers and 2 industrial switchers). If I ever get my hands on a pair of M420, that will fit the bill. In fact, the real problem was when the layout shifted from mid-70s to mid-80s. The first era was dominated by Wet Noodle old Alco and GP9s while the 80s are mainly zebra stripes and comfort cab locomotives (GP40, M420). I ended up with many locomotives that fit for one era but hardly the other. I'm fudging a lot by keeping many wet noodle engines in service when they were in fact getting repainted, that's why I keep the fuzzy "early 1980s" era to gloss over that "issue".

That said, we entered the last track laying phase yesterday. We ripped off all remaining Atlas Code 100 track and started to implement new Peco Code 83 tracks. The returning loop is now part of history after more than a year of debate, if not two! It was no longer useful to operate the layout, so it met its demise.



Gluing tracks with white glue (PVA) was a wise move and made removing the old track and ballast a piece of cake. I soaked the track with water with a spray bottle and started to pull the track less than 5 minutes later. Removing the ballast was as easy and the cork roadbed is now as smooth as when installed many years ago. I remember gluing tracks with building grade glue (PL300) few years ago. What a mess...

Jérôme started the rebuilding phase by replacing track in behind the furnace. Only two lengths of flextracks, but what a pain to install them in a less than 4 inches wide and 5 feet long space! Unfortunately, we won’t be able to use Peco curved turnout to build Clermont’s siding. At least, partially. Instead, we will have to rely on Shinohara curved turnouts . Not my favourite brand, but we have very little choice left since we decided to keep the peninsula dreaded 24 inches radius for many reason. Oh, well… I feel this is gonna be a challenge... and we thought relaying the peninsula would take maybe one evening! The only other option would be to get a custom built turnout.

I also started to fit my newly-built structures for Donohue. Sidings had to be relocated to fit the new buildings. I also replaced the right hand turnout on the runaround with a left handed one to free more space for structures. All in all, I much prefer the new track arrangement. Funny how slightly realigning a few tracks can change the perception of an area. At least, now we have a better vision of what Donohue will look.





Speaking about having too much locomotives. We also tested a few locos that never ran on the layout and were kept in their boxes.

First one was Atlas new S-2 in Canadian Pacific scheme. The new improved version is awesome, the sound is excellently Alco-ish and details are very fine. This one is going to be bashed into Donohue’s switcher. So, no it's not a frivolous acquisition.

The other locomotive is a sound-equipped Atlas C424 in wet noodle scheme. It is an excellent performer, but plagued with serious pick up issues. That will have to be address because the model is almost "useless". Once again, the sound decoder by LokSound performs quite well. This loco will be part of the motive power pool that pulls extra cement trains and won't visit Clermont.

Next challenge? Complete Donohue structures, mainly the woodchip unloader by bashing lots of bits and parts. I'm still scratching my head, good thing I took hundreds of pictures about the mill.

Also, Louis-Marie recently travelled on Murray Bay Sub and came to the conclusion he wants to redo his rock faces on the peninsula. We both agree this has the potential to be the most breathtaking part of the layout.

Matt

We layed track in Clermont yesterday using the new Shinohara 24"/20" radius curved turnout which end up to be a 24"/16.5" radius turnout in reality. Another reason why I don't have a lot of fondness toward Walthers. What's the point in not labelling products correctly? You'll see the west side of the siding is quite sharp. It's gonna be a restricted area to some material. I'm seriously thinking to commission a custom turnout with a 24"/21" radius to make this spot looks better and run better. But for the moment, it should do the work for a while. If you have recommandation about people building custom turnouts à la FastTrack, let me now.



The new siding can hold eleven 50ft cars which is one more than previously thought. Since we still use a few 40ft boxcars here and there, it means a 10 car trains with a caboose and 2 locos can be spotted there without problem. Exactly what we wanted.



The siding is installed on N scale cork to make it lower than the main track, like the prototype. For some reasons, it doesn't show well on camera. The new team track is lower and nailed directly on the benchwork.



The east curve toward the bridge is very broad and should work well to switch car. On the other hand, the west side is quite sharp at 24" and 22" radius. That a compromise I have to live with. Space is at premium and rebuilding the benchwork wouldn't have giving enough benefits to be worth doing. Anyway, this area will be "hidden" by the rock cut through the steep Cap-Brûlé cliff.



We tentatively spotted the old rotting boxcar at Clermont's west end. It's not definitive, but it gives a good idea. If we keep this setting, a speeder shed will be added.



Clermont's team track is also longer than first designed. Instead of 3 feet, it is now 5 feet long, which is far better. We will be able to store some MoW rolling stock while spotting cars.



Generally speaking, I'm quite satisfied with the scene. It looks broader than though and there's a good visual separation between scenes because of the severe S-curve. Scenery will be minimalist with one or two houses on the hill, a street and a dirt parking lot along the team track.

Matt