Hedley Junction - Printable Version

Hedley Junction - Printable Version

+- (https://bigbluetrains.com)
+-- Forum: Branchline (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=45)
+--- Forum: Layouts (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=46)
+--- Thread: Hedley Junction (/showthread.php?tid=5193)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 11-16-2014

Some progress. Track was laid over cork in D'Estimauville and staging. Mainline is nearing completion, should be done by next week. Once again, there was a track shortage and some more have been ordered. At this rate, I think we will be able to run trains again by the end of the month.

Large curves in staging were drawn in XtrackCAD then printed, pinned on the benchwork and track laid over.

[Image: IMG_5727b_zpse7442e96.jpg]

More details on the blog.

[Image: IMG_5746b_zpsc79fa99a.jpg]

Enjoy

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - Twist - 11-17-2014

Hi there,
good morning here in Germany. Nice progress on the layout...Love those weathered engines.....great work.The slabside hoppers are looking great,who made them?I need some for my BCRail carfleet....
Keep up the great work,

Cheers,Chris

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 11-17-2014

Twist Wrote:Hi there,
good morning here in Germany. Nice progress on the layout...Love those weathered engines.....great work.The slabside hoppers are looking great,who made them?I need some for my BCRail carfleet....
Keep up the great work,

Cheers,Chris

Thanks Chris!

The slabside hoppers are ready-to-run models by True Line, a little bit pricey but less than brass and more sturdy than resin kits. I buy them when I find them discounted. They produced many different variations and paint schemes.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - Painkiller - 11-18-2014

Looking good! Lovely Geeps there too! Keep it up!

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 11-23-2014

Painkiller Wrote:Looking good! Lovely Geeps there too! Keep it up!

With the sound, they are really fun to operate.

No picture this week... I forgot my camera! Icon_lol

BUT, there was significant progress. Now, the mainline is fully functional from staging to Clermont. Only Ciment St-Laurent trackage needs to be completed, but the unloading pit for coal and gypsum is built and in place. About 20% of this industry track is laid. Our goal to complete laying track by early December is more than realistic. After this is done, we will have a fun time working on scenery, backdrop, structure, signals, ballast, etc... well, everything we almost never did during the last 7 years and 9 months.

[Image: Hedleyville_61d_zps2f98b573.jpg]

[Image: Hedleyville_61d_zps2f98b573.jpg]

By the way, I had quite a laugh when Jérôme tried to pull a 22-cars long train with only one GMD1. I added weight to many freight cars recently and even made an equate tonnage rating chart that fits the scale locomotives. I think he thought it was just pure theory and fluff until is train just stalled. A second GMD1 was needed to pull the train up to Clermont. The nice thing now is that a train can run fine in the "Quebec City" part of the layout where curves are very broad and gentle, but will struggle when reaching the tortuous path over Murray Bay area, just like the prototype. "Straight to 8" DCC function was extremely nice to give us the right feeling of working iron horses.

Here's the mock up Equated Tonnage Rating chart I build using a 1975 CN timetable. It will probably need tweaking according to real operation session, but it is clear a 10-car per engine is going to be standard operation over Murray Bay.

[Image: EquatedTonnageRatings_zps371953d0.jpg]

[Image: EquatedTonnageRatings_zps371953d0.jpg]

The GE 45-tonner had a little bit problem pulling its mandatory 6 loaded cement hopper, but a little bit more weight over the hood should be enough. I was thinking about adding sound to it, but I'll try to figure out a way to keep it heavier before doing this.

Also, a club member decided to buy a Budd RDC-2. By pure luck, the roadnumber is the same unit that last ran over Murray Bay around 1976.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - BOK - 11-25-2014

Hi Matt;

I like your layout as it makes good us of all available space but does not fill the room with needless trackage.

Btw can you tell me the dimensions, in feet, of the opening for your reverse loop/staging? It looks to be 4-5' long and 2-2 1/2' deep? 22-24" radius
curves? Thanks this illustration of using a closet type opening for a partial loop is good to remember for future layouts.

Barry

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 11-25-2014

BOK Wrote:Hi Matt;

I like your layout as it makes good us of all available space but does not fill the room with needless trackage.

Btw can you tell me the dimensions, in feet, of the opening for your reverse loop/staging? It looks to be 4-5' long and 2-2 1/2' deep? 22-24" radius
curves? Thanks this illustration of using a closet type opening for a partial loop is good to remember for future layouts.

Barry

Barry, Thank for your comments. The very first iteration of this layout was a real mess with lots of peninsula, duck unders and others features. It quickly became inoperable and space was cluttered. It's why we decided to get rid of them, but it was a very long process. Learning to do things with moderation when you are driven by passion isn't a walk in the park! I feel it is really important one can follow a train with minimum obstacle.

The staging area is indeed a closet located under a staircase (split level house). The door opening is exactly 5 feet large. The closet is 6 feet large and 3-1/2 feet deep (+ 4-1/2" for wall thickness). Radius varies from 22" to 24" on inner loop and from 24" to 26" on outer loop.

Loop tracks on visible part have a generous minimum 70" radius and a 244" maximum radius which helps to get a very realistic feeling to the curve. The transition with the sharp closet curves will be hidden under an overpass.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - BOK - 11-26-2014

Thanks, Matt for the information I'll keep it handy when moving to other locations and being able to use it for a balloon track. You certainly appear to be the "ram rod" behind your club working on so many things behind the scenes when other members can't/aren't there and then waiting on agreeable opinions to proceed. You really have a gift for scratch building and yet very realistic track planning and track work evidenced by the gradual curves , easements and really straight tangents.I also like how you managed to include an opportunity for continous operation via the loop to loop for open houses? It's all a joy to witness.

In addition to the fine club layout, I have also been enjoying the progress on your small home layout. The idea of having a small private layout in addition to the club's is a great idea and gives one the feeling of ownership away from the club. Your desire for less is more really makes the case for a branch operation and the inclusion of a runaround track at the end of the branch is more realistic than many of the shove and pull ISLs which are now common on many small layouts. The use of the run around track gives the operator the feeling of "arriving" at the end of the line, switching the industries and then "turning back" to the hidden terminal. Having operated several short lines in the US either as a locomotive engineer/conductor or manager I can verify that more of them use runarounds rather than shove and pull although they do work okay if you have a caboose to handle the safe shove. BTW I see you spotted both a tank car and reefer on the feedmill spur. Is that because there is a bulk oil distributor and a warehouse which ships out potatoes on the spur too? just curious.

Thanks again for the information and have a great Thanksgiving.

Barry

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 11-26-2014

BOK Wrote:Thanks, Matt for the information I'll keep it handy when moving to other locations and being able to use it for a balloon track. You certainly appear to be the "ram rod" behind your club working on so many things behind the scenes when other members can't/aren't there and then waiting on agreeable opinions to proceed. You really have a gift for scratch building and yet very realistic track planning and track work evidenced by the gradual curves , easements and really straight tangents.I also like how you managed to include an opportunity for continous operation via the loop to loop for open houses? It's all a joy to witness.

In addition to the fine club layout, I have also been enjoying the progress on your small home layout. The idea of having a small private layout in addition to the club's is a great idea and gives one the feeling of ownership away from the club. Your desire for less is more really makes the case for a branch operation and the inclusion of a runaround track at the end of the branch is more realistic than many of the shove and pull ISLs which are now common on many small layouts. The use of the run around track gives the operator the feeling of "arriving" at the end of the line, switching the industries and then "turning back" to the hidden terminal. Having operated several short lines in the US either as a locomotive engineer/conductor or manager I can verify that more of them use runarounds rather than shove and pull although they do work okay if you have a caboose to handle the safe shove. BTW I see you spotted both a tank car and reefer on the feedmill spur. Is that because there is a bulk oil distributor and a warehouse which ships out potatoes on the spur too? just curious.

Thanks again for the information and have a great Thanksgiving.

Barry

Thanks for the comments Barry!

Yes, I am the "ram rod" behind this project. Other members would have probably never started anything on their own, but I think they really enjoy the ride. They also provide the need pragmatism to keep me on track. Without them, I would have accomplished nothing. Jérôme is also a real life railroader, so his imput is always precious when thinking about track plan and operation.

On model, straight tracks should always be straight. I've seen too many great layouts ruined with zigzaging tracks. In real life, that's OK, but on a model, it doesn't look right. We have always been careful to lay such tracks along a straight edge.

At first, I wasn't that much interested about continuous running, but I must admit it had its benefits. It's particularly true for staging. You build the consist on the mainline they hide it into the closet before the operating session. Also, it works well as a "wye". In real life, Murray Bay subdivision connect to CN Limoilou yard via a wye. Modelling it would have taken too much space.

My small home layout is now in hiatus. I'm actually in the process of refurbishing my office/train room (including walls, ceiling and floor). It is in storage and I removed the turnouts to built Murray Bay sub. However, the roads and ballasted tracks were kept in place. I'll probably rebuilt is as soon as I can to continue my scenery experiment. The track plan is nothing more than what I consider standard on real railroad. I've browsed hundreds of maps and this particular setting with a feedmill is proverbial. HAving the runaround really add a lot of operation opportunity without enlarging the layout. 6 feet long + a small cassette holding one turnout and you are in business! I think shoving cars is more related to swithing chores handled from a nearby yard. Makes no sense in countryside.

You gave more thoughts about the cars at the feedmill spur than I!!! In fact, the feedmill is indeed an heating oil distributor. Many feedmill handle such business and I'll reuse this pattern in Clermont. The reefer was just for fun! But yes, potatoes would make a lot of sense.

Possibilities with such feedmills are almost limitless. They are always handling secondary business like propane, oil, fertilizers, building supplies, farm implement. That's why I decided to add one on Murray Bay. I won't model the building, the will keep the rail traffic.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - Canadian Atlantic Railway - 11-27-2014

I have been reading the thread over the past couple of days and have to say you and your crew are doing some amazing modeling.

sailormatlac Wrote:1) Abattoir Legrade (meat packing): in business and rail-served until the early 80s. Think about grease tank cars, stock cars and reefers. I already built a mockup and tried twice to build a layout around this industry. I know Louis-Marie is a fan of this particular plant.

Was the "grease" a by-product of the slaughter process or brought in for the operation of the plant?

sailormatlac Wrote:

Nice work on the road Thumbsup

It looks like the typicial Canadian asphalt after a few harsh seasons of snow and salt damage followed by repairs.

sailormatlac Wrote:

Before I found this site I had never considered scratch building a structure. When I look at the price of a kit compared to what you can do with the say amount of money with alternative materials it is a great way to get the layout filled up.

sailormatlac Wrote:I wish Rapido will understand that the next REAL canadian locomotive to produce is none other than M420.

Find a picture of one pulling a passenger train and he would probably build them. I'd be in for 2-3 myself if they ever see the light of day.

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 12-01-2014

Stephen, thanks for you kind comments.

Yes, the "grease" was a by-product. Old pictures shows storage tanks behing the slaughterhouse and tank cars.

You're right, structures kits are getting very pricey nowadays. Kitbashing and scratchbuilding isn't as hard as someone would think and you can get more realistic structures that suits your space without that much efforts. A very rewarding activity.

Quote:Find a picture of one pulling a passenger train and he would probably build them. I'd be in for 2-3 myself if they ever see the light of day.

Now, you just gave me an idea for a Photoshop project!

Well, some update about the layout.

[Image: IMG_5807b_zps77dea142.jpg]

Last Saturday, the layout nailed its last spike (for the moment) without fanfare. The event may seem irrelevant, but it ends a quest for a new layout that lasted well over a year. One year without “real” train movements. One year of trial and error… but that paid off quite a bit when you think about the effort involved in design.

[Image: IMG_5778b_zps1419378f.jpg]

Wiring is still to be completed and peninsula trakage will have to be relaid in code 83 in the future, but at least, the layout is 100% operable with all its customers and industries. Ciment St-Laurent plant is quite impressive with the long yard and sidings. This is truly a emblematic scene and I’m quite proud to say I didn’t use any selective compression on buildings. The longest siding is about 16 feet long!

[Image: IMG_5779b_zps31e5720c.jpg]

Meanwhile, I also started to bash Atlas telegraph poles into typical Murray Bay Subdivision poles. The prototype was quite simplistic, only one cross arm, but there’s more history behind it. These poles started with two cross arms full of insulators, but as telegraph became obsolete, the upper cross arm was removed. By the end, only two insulators remained. They were used to carry two wires controlling grade crossing signals. It may seem an unimportant detail, but when you put it on the layout, it really gives a sense of place. Also, I took care to place them 130ft apart (about 18 inches), just like the prototype.

[Image: IMG_5795b_zpsa6b17955.jpg]

I also put in place the steel electric poles running along the cement plant. Those were put in place in the 50s to replace wooden catenaries. With all these specific poles back in place, hard to not feel you are indeed in Villeneuve.

[Image: IMG_5796b_zpsc3ee24e9.jpg]

We still have a lot of work to complete, but things have settled down and I’m looking forward for the first prototypical operating session during Christmas vacation. Now, I should concentrate on completing the photo backdrop before that time.

[Image: IMG_5788b_zps8e005135.jpg]

We also built the unloading pit for coal and gypsum using 1/8" MDF and window screen. Simple but effective.

[Image: IMG_5789b_zpse697faca.jpg]

And a few scenes, including a GE 45-ton shoving cars under the silos and the cement plant lead track.

[Image: IMG_5793b_zps9e10d596.jpg]

By the way, it has been discussed to connect the scene into the furnace closet holding Villeneuve turnouts with Villeneuve scene. There are many reasons: an overpass will be too intrusive, the closet trackage is already visible from the layout room and we have to see clearly what happens there while switching. A part of the wall will have to go away.

[Image: IMG_5804b_zpsc8487d1d.jpg]

Just like the prototype, the closet scene will be the site of Brique Citadelle. In the past, I already bashed a few structure kits into this brick plant, so I plan reusing part of it. Once again, I’ll have to visit the archives to find pictures of the plant during the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 12-01-2014

BOK Wrote:BTW I see you spotted both a tank car and reefer on the feedmill spur. Is that because there is a bulk oil distributor and a warehouse which ships out potatoes on the spur too? just curious.

Barry, I was looking at topographical survey from the late 50s during lunch today. I came upon Clermont topographic map and found out 4 very large oil tanks were located along the track, just in front of the grain elevator/feedmill. So, yes, it seems this particular coop was a relatively large oil distributor back in the days.

I'm seriously thinking about having this traffic handled at the team track. If we rebuild the peninsula next year, I could even manage to build the feedmill if the scene is large enough to handle it. I would probably reuse the structure and setting seen on my small home layout. The structure itself is inspired by Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré feedmill and elevator which is a nice little building. They also handled oil distribution on the same track in Ste-Anne. Clermont feedmill isn't a very interesting structure. Just a big hardware store with 4 silos and a surge bin. Using Ste-Anne's one as a prototype would use less space and be a good way to incorporate a nice structure from Côte-de-Beaupré area that we couldn't model because of lack of space.

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 12-05-2014

[Image: IMG_5812c_zps3c36af42.jpg]

Just for fun!

Matt

Re: Hedley Junction - Rscott417 - 12-06-2014

Really cool filter on those pictures Matt, I like it.

Re: Hedley Junction - sailormatlac - 02-01-2015

Hi folks!

It's been a while. I thought I would do a lot of model railroading during last Holidays but finally I was full time on home improvement. We started to work again on the layout last week.

Most efforts are now on improving the track and electrical reliability before we move on doing scenery work. It included replacing a problematic pair of S-curves and a #6 turnout:

[Image: IMG_6037b_zpssb9e2nb1.jpg]

Also, we reworked the hole in the wall adjoining the layout and the furnace room. It expands the scene about 4 more feet.

[Image: IMG_5957b_zpsbfeykjui.jpg]

The new scene will represent Brique Citadelle that was located west of the cement plant.

[Image: IMG_6009b_zpsi7iun14q.jpg]

Finally, I started to build a sizeable fleet of roofless boxcars for woodchip service. I use old MDC shell and various TIchy and Accurail parts. So far, I'm building ten of them. Most have distinctive features representing well the fact their were modified by different shops.

Most of them were in use in Eastern Quebec well into the early 1980s.

[Image: IMG_5984b_zpsz2vkkln7.jpg]

Matt