Talltim asked for some more pictures and information about my last layout that I referred to in my "All change....new start" thread
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He suggested starting a new thread to share the pictures from the layout that is no more..!

I wanted a layout that was built for operations, not an easy proposition in a space less than 12’x10’.
It was designed as a point to point with 2 branches, but with the option of continuous running. To be honest I hardly ever used the continuous run…



Although initially built as a DC layout, the advent of DCC added extra operational potential to what was a less intensive operation. Rather than each train operating as a way-freight turn, switching the yard and each industry as they passed, trains were set up to pick up and drop off from the yard, allowing the two yard switchers (I had to find somewhere for all those nice locos) to organise the arrivals and departures in the yard and switch the local industries on the main.



Both branches had their own switcher and trains were scheduled to bring freight on and off each branch. The sand branch used predominantly 2-bay covered hoppers and the harbour branch handled nearly every sort of car type.







The car float was scheduled to sail twice a day and would return with the same cars to save extra handling of cars. The loaded cars that left would return empty and vice versa.
This area never got to be completed. So buildings were photocopies of kit parts backed with foamcore board to provide a screen for the staging area behind.



Operation of the float included the use of idler cars to keep the switcher of the float bridge.

I didn’t want to replicate this operation..!


(Picture from Central Railroad of New Jersey Historical Journal - 2002)

Freight car types that did not have online consignees or shippers were loaded with goods to move from offline industries in one staging area to the other.
Using Ship-It to generate traffic, and a timetable of trains the operation kept two operators initially, and later three of us busy every other Tuesday night for the best part of eight years.

Passenger trains were run as well, often to the annoyance of the yard switching crew, when they had blocked the main when a pair of CNJ Budds were due to come through.

I even managed a quick operating session with my best man on the morning of my wedding..!!



I have some other photos. I will post them if i can find where I saved them..!!

I do have some video footage as well, but I need to edit that into something that I can upload as its all HD.

I know.. excuse.. excuses...
I will post that footage as soon as I can.

Your former layout looked beautifully done. I'm looking forward to seeing your next one!
Ralph

Looks like a very nice layout you had there, and it's impressive how much you were able to fit into that room! For me it's very inspirational to see pics like these, as I'm struggling with the track plan for my own layout room about the same size as yours (290cm x 406cm).

I notice you designed the layout with plenty of isle space in front of the yard, while the lower isle is quite narrow. What's your experience with that, did it work OK? The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of having a small peninsula in the middle like you did, but I'm not sure if the isles on both sides will be wide enough. Without the peninsula the room will have plenty of space in the center, but the track plan and layout possibilities may be somewhat limited in comparison.

Svein

Glad you posted, the layout looks as good as the one pic made me think.

Svein Wrote:I notice you designed the layout with plenty of isle space in front of the yard, while the lower isle is quite narrow. What's your experience with that, did it work OK? The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of having a small peninsula in the middle like you did, but I'm not sure if the isles on both sides will be wide enough. Without the peninsula the room will have plenty of space in the center, but the track plan and layout possibilities may be somewhat limited in comparison.

Svein

Hello Svein,

This photo shows the narrowness of the aisle. I think it was less than 2' (maybe 22" ?).



It didnt matter too much when operating with just two of you as one would always be at the yard and the other would be running the train from staging to staging. I did get more awkward with more people, especially on a group open day when there could be around six or seven in the room..!

As you can see the track is mostly away from the edge on either side, so there was no chance of de-rails falling on the floor, or stock being knocked off by an inadvertant arm. The staging on the right hand side was protected by the fascia which I left about an 1.5" above the board level.

The aisle was managable, of course two people couldnt pass each other, you either had to come further into the layout or edge back out onto the landing..!!

It was worth grabbing the extra space to have a peninsula, even at the expense of a little inconvenience. If you are operating it by yourself mostly, that wont matter. The layout certainly wouldnt have lasted so long or given so much operating enjoyment without the penisula.

Here are a few more close ups photos I took just before it was demolished.

It wasn't just CNJ power that appeared...





Unfortunately the the area including the gas station never got finished, but a lot of work went in to trying to make it look a working business..







.. and maybe a little too much detail for some...!!

The scenery around the gas station is very well done. The wide road and the well defined open space make it very realistic I love the transition to the background! You might recreate a similar scenery on the next layout.

Robin,
Whilst reading through this i realized i too had a couple of pics .....that i had forgotten about!.

I can honestly say that Robin`s old layout was fun to operate and very entertaining, even when he did insist on running those pesky passenger trains!.

Here are a couple more pic`s, mainly vignette`s
hope you all like them.






Cheers, Brian.

chuffchuff Wrote:Robin,
Whilst reading through this i realized i too had a couple of pics .....that i had forgotten about!.

I can honestly say that Robin`s old layout was fun to operate and very entertaining, even when he did insist on running those pesky passenger trains!.

Here are a couple more pic`s, mainly vignette`s
hope you all like them.






Cheers, Brian.

Robin,

Very nice layout. I like the detail and the stream looks fantastic. More times than not, some people never give stone work the correct coloring. You seemed to have nailed it.

Larry

jerseycentraluk Wrote:(...) As you can see the track is mostly away from the edge on either side, so there was no chance of de-rails falling on the floor, or stock being knocked off by an inadvertant arm. The staging on the right hand side was protected by the fascia which I left about an 1.5" above the board level.

The aisle was managable, of course two people couldnt pass each other, you either had to come further into the layout or edge back out onto the landing..!!

It was worth grabbing the extra space to have a peninsula, even at the expense of a little inconvenience. If you are operating it by yourself mostly, that wont matter. The layout certainly wouldnt have lasted so long or given so much operating enjoyment without the penisula.

Thanks, Robin. I'm having the exact same thoughts, with mostly solo operation it won't matter that much, but it would be nice to have a couple of other operators visiting occasionally.

I've tested and found that an aisle width of roughly 70cm (28") will allow two people to pass each other, although some may find it a bit to intimately and out of their comfort zone. Well, just another reason not to let strangers into one's train room, or maybe a nice way to get to know them better... Having all the switches and controls recessed into the fascia should also help prevent any snagging in the tightest spots. With 70cm aisles, there's just enough room for 50cm deep shelves around the walls, and also a 50cm wide center peninsula. That should be wide enough to allow some nice scenery alongside the track, so I'll probably go for that.

The pics are peautiful, please keep them coming!

Svein

I did promise some video of the layout. I think the loco was an Atlas SD-35?

Anyway here's my first effort of uploading to YouTube

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I love it! It was a great layout.

faraway Wrote:I love it! It was a great layout.

Reinhard,

Thanks for the compliment.

I hope the new layout will look as good. I have taken considerable inspiration from you Frelance 2012 posts. I just have to move it all up the coast from LA to Seattle.

I enjoyed the cab cam. Thanks for the ride!