REDMOND LAYOUT
Design:
Design:
As I sat in my "Train Room" with my small section of Redmond resting against the wall I thought " I need a backdrop." I then made a trip to the big box hardware store and purchased a sheet of Masonite and had the nice people there cut it in half for me. I then hung the Masonite on the wall, filled in the holes and began to paint it a nice sky blue. As I sat back to admire my work I realized that since I had built the backdrop I should just build a layout to go with it! Being as I already had plans to build my Free-Mo I first thought I would just set up shelves to rest my Free-Mo modules on. I quickly realized that due to the limited space I was not going to be able to make the minimum radius using the Free-Mo standards. I then decided that I could incorporate a section of Redmond Free-Mo instead of the whole thing into my new layout. The section I picked was a straight 6 foot section mostly because it was the easiest to build and I will be able to interchange any 6 foot section into my shelf layout. So now I will have a Free-Shelf-Mo to take pictures on and switch some industries.
Concept:
Well being as I can't just have a shelf layout with no "reason" to exist I came up with this plausible idea. As the Oregon Trunk built its line south from Wishram they realized that they were going to miss the town of Prineville. Needless to say the city of Prineville was not to thrilled about loosing the prospect of having a railroad some to their town. They offered to meet the Oregon Trunk half way and assist in building the line to connect them to rest of the network. The Oregon Trunk declined but offered to build an interchange north of Redmond if they wanted too. The City decided that if they were going to build a railroad they wanted it to at least connect to another town. They then negotiated with the Oregon Trunk to make their interchange into Redmond directly and also have rights to serve all customers in Redmond. The Oregon Trunk got a good chuckle out of this and signed the agreement.
Operations:
This small shelf will keep two Operators busy for between 30 minutes and one hour. Trains will consist of between 8 and 15 cars that will need to be switched out at the 7 different spots. Although not overly difficult this layout will provide enough of a challenge to get you to plan your moves ahead of time.
I plan on keeping the paperwork simple with switch lists and declaring all track yard limits so there will be no need for a dispatcher. This will also allow me to change cars out as I feel and not have to make car cards or other paperwork. Progress:
Being as I have a busy work schedule and family life my free time is limited. I have decided that this project is a priority as it is necessary so I can get my room organized, sounds legitimate right? So keep checking back and seeing if I have done anything!!
Here is the track plan....
Here are some photos of my Progress to date. I will continue to post pictures as time allows...
Here are some photos of my Progress to date. I will continue to post pictures as time allows...
The backdrop in place and the first coat of sky painted.
I have laid tape out on the floor to show as to where the payout will be and to give a feel for how the room will feel.
The first piece of Benchwork is in place!!!
Progress from 5/15/2010 First piece of benchwork ready for cork...
Center line draw ready to apply glue and secure the cork
Cork in place...
Progress 5/17/2010
I was able to get the cork sanded down making sure it was all flat in anticipation of laying down some track. I then painted the top of the benchwork and the cork to give me a base coat to work from.
5/23/2010
The tie gang arrived and placed all the ties and plates. The rail gang is scheduled to start this week so we will see how things go. As you can see the switches arrived and have been placed but all need to finished.
For those of you who are interested I am using CVMW tie strips turnounts from Walthers and some old BK Enterprises that I am having to heavily modify to make DCC friendly.
5/27/2010
All good layouts need some staging! This shelf will serve as both my staging yard and a track to test cars that I am working on. It will have two tracks that will run the full length and another track that will run half the length of the shelf.
6/6/2010
Progress continues!!!I found this old picture of some SP&S MOW cars sitting next too a set of new ties. Looks like they were in the process of building a new siding =0
6/19/2010 I have been working on rebuilding and fine tuning some switches.
These are BKE turnouts I am making DCC Friendly and adding Proto87 frogs
I also am adding ties from CVMW to make them more realistic.
I have also been modifying some walthers switches with updated throw bars and new frogs from Proto87
Here is one installed with the throw bars new frog and wired up!!
A few overview shots...
7/10/2010 I have finished all three switches less the final details and they are all either in or roughed in. I have also completed almost all of the long run around and will need to wire up everything next. In an effort to motivate myself I got out some rolling stock and took some pictures. Here they are:
7/13/2010
Some pictures of the completed track work in Redmond
7/14/2010
I am waiting for some parts to arrive to complete staging so I decided to get out some buildings and mock up the scene.
7/27/2010
I have made a little progress on the layout including getting one of my staging tracks placed. I have been waiting on a switch which finally arrived yesterday and I should be able to get my staging yard done this week.
In other news I did some draings of my Ponderosa Moulding Company which I plan on scratchbuilding.
8/01/2010
STAGING IS DONE
Its not much but it is done and has been tested completly. I am really happy to have this section done and I am looking forward to tackeling the rest of the benchwork. I have started some structures and even have some scenery ideas going.
8/31/2010 More Benchwork
I was able to get the subroadbed down for the M/L and strarted laying cork...I decided that I need to add and additional support so will be holding off until that gets done. I will also add the subbed for the auxillary track when I the nail gun back out.
September 6th 2010
With the completion of benchwork and the addition of cork it was time to take a few photos of the layout.
Here are two more showing my progress and I look to add some paint and start laying ties by weeks end.
September 11th 2010
With the addition of a crossover this module will be much more versatile and really increase operations.
Septeber 18th 2010
There is nothing like a backdrop to really make a layout look like it going somewhere...
September 19 2010
No rest for the wicked....
September 20th 2010
I changed my clouds a little...
September 25th 2010
I have been laying track, wirining, and modifying switches.
December 3rd 2010
A little scenery...just a little
More completed scenery, I still have to work on the trees but I am getting there...I think.
December 12th 2010
Well I made a few changes...you can compare the old with the new.
Decemeber 16th 2010
Some more trees
After looking over my room I decided to change of plans and expand the layout, I also decided to model the SP&S in Bend using specific LDE's.
CONCEPT:
I will modeling the Bend which is the last station on the SP&S 5th subdivision aka the Oregon trunk. I will be modeling the area around the depot and an industrial lead that serves a number of sawmills. This will allow me to have a variety of power and rolling stock featured on the layout and fits into my overall plan of modeling the Oregon Trunk.
LAYOUT:
The layout will be housed in a 12' x 13' room and will be a shelf type layout. The shelf will range from 14" up to 29" which will allow me to have my workbench and other associated equipment be housed under the layout. I have also had a provision for a continuous run utilizing a drop in section. I will be using code 83 track and switches from Micro Engineering. The control system will be a Digitrax Super Chief with radio and I will have a few UP5's around the edge of the layout. The layout will be built from 3/4" plywood which I will cut it to the appropriate size as needed. I will be using masonite for the backdrop and also for the fascia. I plan on lighting the room with fluorescent lighting and will be making some sort of valance, but I will get back to you on how I will be doing that.
OPERATION:
This layout will focus on the duties of the Bend switcher. The job will serve the number of industries around the Bend depot. There are a variety of industries which include an oil distributor, LCL warehouse, and a few sawmills. I will use a RS-3 switcher to perform the required switching in the area. I will also have the option to have a continuous loop so I can break in motive power and just let trains run.
LDE:
I am very fortunate to have the GN NP archives now available online. I was able to pull the plats from Bend and use them to design my layout in a realistic manner. Of course there is some selective compression, omissions and additions as I do not have an infinite amount of space to work with.
Station Area
Sawmill Area
This section of the layout will feature a variety of businesses that are between Division and First street in bend. They include Suburban propane, Shell Oil, Bend Oil, Bend Redi-Mix, Miller Lumber and a yet to be determined warehouse.
This area of the layout will feature the Brooks Willamette particle board plant. The main structure will be a semi-relief building while the support buildings will be either relief or painted on the backdrop. I have also added a woodchip loader to this area of the layout as I like them and it will add some visual interest to the scene.
The mill complex will extend along one side of the wall which is the one that features the three sisters in the background. This area will feature the large mill complex which will be modeled using relief structures and also some additional painting on the backdrop. I will also be modeling the scale house used to weigh cars after they were loaded.
February 24th 2011
A brief overview of the room to which the layout will be placed.
February 27th 2011
The first piece of new benchwork is in place....YEAH!!!
March 6th 2011
More photos of more progress
March 13th 2011
More back drop construction
April 22nd
I have finally finished hanging up the rest of the hardboard and mudding it. I have now moved on the painting clouds and mountains and such.
My attempt at painting Pilot Butte
April 24th
Some more subroadbed in place
May 6th 2011
Subroadbed has been completed, I have moved on to the cork roadbed. I am a ways away from laying track but I am getting closer.
June 30th 2011
I have started on a new building which will occupy the space between the main and the track heading to the mills. I have decided I need some type of auto repair place for the vehicles I seem to keep collecting. I have decided to model Bend Motor and Transmission. Although there is no prototype for this specific building I will be using bits and pieces of a variety of different shops I have seen in Oregon. If I ever find some pictures of the area from 1960's I may remodel the area, but for now I am happy with my decision.
June 13th
Work progresses in the Brooks Scanlon area of the layout. The mainline is complete and now I need to put in the spur.
June 15th
I added the spur track for the Brooks Scanlon facility
THE END....
