12-22-2010, 05:40 PM
Been experimenting some with placing a warehouse type structure on the front edge of the layout. I made a simple mock up by taking 6 Athearn boxes that cars came in (each 10 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide X 2 inches deep) and placed them together in two rows on edge, making a simulated structure that is 217.5 feet long - 29 feet deep and 25 feet high. Since many modern warehouse type structures are in the range of 25-35 feet high I figure this is a good approximation.
With my bench work height of 50 inches, I can easily look over the top - read the numbers on the car ends and easily uncouple the cars with the simple uncoupling tool I use. Even though you can't see the cars behind the mock up structure, it does give a nice effect when you look down the track and can see cars spotted at industries on both sides of the track. An effect that I want to be able to duplicate if practical.
I do like the idea of perhaps having at least one structure with a detailed interior and open freight doors and actually be able to see the cars spotted on the track through a semi-transparent wall, provided it isn't too obvious that the wall is semi-transparent. However, even if the only way you can see the cars would be through open warehouse doors and/or some windows and by looking over the top of the structure to couple/uncouple as I've been experimenting with - I'm really thinking that this is workable. It would certainly duplicate the way that many industrial spurs are laid out.
As for a structure with cars spotted inside the building - not sure that would work well at all without having to pull everything and re-spot them after switching them outside the structure. But even that could be doable if necessary.
Will play around with this some more to see how it feels over time.
With my bench work height of 50 inches, I can easily look over the top - read the numbers on the car ends and easily uncouple the cars with the simple uncoupling tool I use. Even though you can't see the cars behind the mock up structure, it does give a nice effect when you look down the track and can see cars spotted at industries on both sides of the track. An effect that I want to be able to duplicate if practical.
I do like the idea of perhaps having at least one structure with a detailed interior and open freight doors and actually be able to see the cars spotted on the track through a semi-transparent wall, provided it isn't too obvious that the wall is semi-transparent. However, even if the only way you can see the cars would be through open warehouse doors and/or some windows and by looking over the top of the structure to couple/uncouple as I've been experimenting with - I'm really thinking that this is workable. It would certainly duplicate the way that many industrial spurs are laid out.
As for a structure with cars spotted inside the building - not sure that would work well at all without having to pull everything and re-spot them after switching them outside the structure. But even that could be doable if necessary.
Will play around with this some more to see how it feels over time.
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"