Layout Room Cleanup

 Well its fall and time to head back to the layout room and continue the hands on railroad modeling experience. 

As you have been checking out my construction blog posts its very obvious by the pictures that im not a neat freak. I'm pretty messy in fact and I cant tell you the number of times I've shifted construction material etc back and forth in the basement as I progress around the walls. 

When last i spoke of construction back in June, the north (left) side of the layout had been completed ... stud wall, backdrop, valence, upper and lower deck l-girders and module renovation and construction. I got a number of storage shelves and cabinets installed and painted, and have started sorting, organizing and more importantly throwing scrap material out that I cant use or I dont need anymore. 

As you can see its gotten a whole lot cleaner - and just in time to start right of way construction! 

I also did some electrical work as well, finishing the installation of outlets around the perimeter and getting all the new lighting wired to the circuit breaker. This then allowed me to finish drywalling the ceiling in zone 1 (also known as the workshop and crew lounge.) Using this area as the final costruction zone (cutting and assembly etc) will keep the rest of the layout alot cleaner and better organized.

Layout Details - Construction Overview

Layout Details. Layout details identifies the specifics xxx. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) track planning and 6) construction. Construction consists of four subsets:

a. Human Factors. This basically answers what you want your layout room to be able to do when you are finished.

b. Lighting and Electrical. This section identifies the general and layout specific needs in terms of lighting and electrical.

c. Room Preparation. This identifies the deconstruction and construction to be done's (TBD) that need to be done.

d. Benchwork. Finally! When everything else is done, this section identifies what type of benchwork needs to be constructed.

 

Human Factor. Here are the areas for consideration. 

• Access to Utilities. Access to set tub, washer and dryer connections. Access to electrical panel, basement drains, and water meter. Access to furnace and water heater. Here were my utility locations. 

• Crew Lounge. A crew lounge was a luxury I wanted, even though I am a lone wolf modeler. I anticipate recruiting a crew and opening the layout to tours at some point of  time. Combining the Crew Lounge and the Utilities area made alot of sense!
  
• Good Storage. I wanted a lot of general storage under the layout.
• 
  
• Large Aisles. I'm NOT a fan of small aisles. Been there done that. I like large open areas to work and move through.
• Clean area. Drywall ceiling, painted walls, and indoor outdoor carpeting.
  

Lighting and Electrical

 

• Good Lighting. The original basement had 4 100 watt light bulbs. I wanted 4 total general  lighting zones in the basement, and and an outlet for each of my layout lighting zones. I needed to add nine light switches to control all the lighting zones.
•  
• Improved Electrical. There were only two wall outlets in the original basement configuration. I wanted at least two outlet boxes on each wall. I added 6 circuit breakers to my circuit breaker box in anticipation of layout lighting and power needs. 

Room Preparation. 

Deconstruction of the layout space. This is what I had when I went downstairs to the future layout room: Layout Room (Before)

Constructing the layout space.  There is a theory of construction. Of course I didn't follow the construction concepts below for a variety of reasons, including stupidity. If you want to see what not to do read my construction articles beginning here Room Preparation.

• Empty the space. Working around storage piles, etc is counter-productive time wise.
• Start at the top and work your way down. This means install all the electrical and lighting in the ceiling, add whatever cable or plumbing requirements, etc.
• Drywall the ceiling. I found based on my existing basement height, and my desire for valences, that a drop ceiling would not be ideal. All major plumbing raceways are open to repair - the raceways are covered with luan plywood for ascetics. 
• Work from the outside of the space to the inside.  Fill all cracks in the wall as required. Paint the concrete walls with waterproofing paint.
• Build interior stud walls (outside walls first, then interior walls).
  
• Add electrical and cable wall outlets as required.
• Drywall as desired.
• Carpet the floor.
  

Benchwork

 

WWSL vers.3.0 is salvaged from vers 2.0. I will be using a stud wall, L-Girder frame work and panel type benchwork. See 3.0 Construction for specific details

Station 1 - Brady (BJ)

Location.

 
Brady is (was) a farming community, formerly a logging town, four miles northeast of Montesano in southeast Grays Harbor County on the Satsop River. In 1917, the name Brady was given by Northern Pacific Railroad Company in honor of Emily Brady, from whom a right-of-way had been acquired. Earlier names were Woods (Wood’s) Crossing and Juno (not to be confused with Juno in Whitman County, Wash.

History.

Brady was home to the Schafer Brothers Logging Company. They had a 8 track logging yard located north of the NP main line, a main line that ran north into the timber, an automated crossing of the NP main, and a spur that ran south to a two track log dump adjacent to the Chehelis river where log rafts were constructed and then floated down to sawmills in Hoquiam/Aberdeen Wash.

The Northern Pacific employee timetables listed a 75 car siding at Montesano, Washington, located downtown at the depot. They also list a 10 car commercial spur at Brady for interchange with the Shaefer Logging Company, however the plat map of Brady does not show it clearly.







The alternate history expands this location from a commercial siding and controlled crossing to a junction. The junction consists of the NP main line, the WWSL main line and a NP controlled crossing of the NP main line. A separate track would act as an interchange lead track to a multi-track interchange yard. 

Operations. 

By convention and law, a railroad wanting to cross over another railroad at grade would be responsible for operating the junction and paying the annual operating costs, (maintenance and personnel costs). Originally the NP had an automated crossing at Brady. With additional traffic over the crossing based on the alternative history, a junction tower would be established at Brady Junction to control the junction. That tower and its corresponding equipment would be built and maintained by the WWSL.

Design Considerations.

This module opens up alot of opportunities in its design. It is a real place, it serves as the main interaction point with the outside world (in particular the Northern Pacific Railway), and it is the one point that actually has signalling!

I have decided to attempt to render the NP portion of the module as best as possible. This means I should if possible include:

1. Olympic Highway (selectively compressed) behind treeline.
2. NP boundary fence - 4 strand wire 
3. NP Main Line with non-operational Semaphore Signals. The NP main line would be non-operational, it can be used as a photo-staging location for freight locomotives and rolling stock. 

For the WWSL portion I want to include a (one way) operational junction per prototype practices. His would include: 

1. WWSL Main Line with operational Dwarf Signals that crosses the NP main line.
2. An interchange track at Brady Junction that connects with the NP Main Line headed east.
3. A interchange yard. This is the holding area that collects all interchange traffic between the NP and the WWSL and can be used as a storage yard for unassigned empty cars. The yard consists of 6 visible stub-ended tracks and two transversers. Each track is four feet long and can hold 6 cars.
4. A coach yard.

Track Plan

(place holder)


Roadway.
 

• NP right of way. I know in my heart that the NP roadway was relaxed standards at best in the mid 1950's. However I think I will portray the NP right of way as well maintained branch line track. I will give an example of Class 1 roadway to operators and visitors that will show the difference between Class 1 and Class 3 track.
• WWSL right of way - second class standard (built in 1935)
• Interchange yard - third class (dirt)
• Passing Track - second class standard

Cantenary/Signaling

• (C) Cantenary on main line, interchange yard lead and wired coach storage track.
• (S) NP Main Line with Semaphore Signals
• (S) WWSL Main Line at junction with Dwarf Signals.
• (S) WWSL Dispatcher will act as the WWSL Towerman for purposes of signaling. Signal system will be activated through DCC accessory decoder.

Scenery. 

 

Topographical maps of the Brady area show a wide range of moderate hills north of the Northern Pacific main track. I googled Brady Washington and found that the area was mostly flat with distant hills in the background. I will be paint the background so it looks something like this:




 

If you have never traveled the Tacoma - Centralia WA area you wouldn't know that Mount Ranier (an extinct volcano) is such as visible landmark for a large number of miles. When in the service at Fort Lewis I  lived in the Bachelor Officers Quarters), I had a 'get out of bed morning view' of the Mount Ranier. Mount Ranier can be seen from the Montesano area and I will use this picture as a painting guide for the east end of the interchange yard backdrop.

Locomotives. The NP motive power at Hoquium in 1955 was a GP7.  I am not sure the specific number stationed there but some research will allow me to model the locomotive for layout photography purposes.

Rolling Stock. The NP used cabooses at the end of their locals. I have identified two cabooses stationed at Hoquium - 1522 and 1663, each a different type, so I will model both for layout photography purposes

Structures.

 

Structures located at this station will include:

• Junction tower
• Junction signalling equipment
• MOW sheds
• Coach yard service facilities
• Car inspection facilities

 

PRINT REFERENCES

Montesano area topographic 1940

Northern Pacific Employee Timetable and Special Instructions

 

Brady Plat map

Layout Design - 6 - Station Maps

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Station Maps.

Prototye railroads use a variety of  maps to identify right of way information: track diagrams, rail and ballast information, drainage, superelevation and grade line, bridge and building, and signal and communications information. If you're fortunate to have chosen a prototype whose historical society has such maps then you are in luck. Here is my interpretatio of railroad information maps.

Engineering Maps. There are multiple examples of engineering maps. Here is one that focuses on survey information of the right of way, the track diagram includes tangent and curvature information and bridge and building information. 

One of the things i found interesting was the surveying data. Railroad engineering maps  apparently do  use civilian surveying datapoints. The route distances are calibrated on official drawings and blueprints using “stations.” These 'stations' (not to be confused with railroad timetable stations) were measured in feet and were measured from a marker placed somewhere conveniently along the line, not always at a division point. Stations are 100 feet in length. Fractions of a station are denoted by the number of feet appended with a plus sign. Thus 320+45 would be 320 stations plus 45 feet or 3245 feet, which is 0.615 mile.My youngest son found this interesting, as he is a surveyor and he uses GPS data sets on a daily basis.

Mileage Maps.  Here is another type of engineeering map. This map focuses on (from top to bottom) track curvature, grade, track diagram, bridge and signal locations and type. If youre modeling a specific prototype location, this information is invaluable.

This mileage map displays similar information in a different format. The explanations legends are a great tool for modelers interested in the multiple types of buildings, bridge and rail used in prototype operations. I'm going to use this bridge and rail info for right of way information within this blog

There are other references to railroad activities . Here is an example of a Sanborne Insurance map that shows an industrial layout. 

 

 Here is an example of a cantenary engineering diagram. This will be of interest to me as one subdivision of the WWSL will be under wire. 

You're also in luck if youre modeling the early 1900's. Back between 1910 and 1925, the US government required a valuation process for all railroads. Maps were created to document the track alignments, notes were taken on structures, cuts, fills, and bridges, and photos were taken of many structures and bridges. An amazing amount of these historical materials are available to researchers in the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

The WWSL

The WWSL will use what I call a Station Map to consolidate railroad information. The station map of each major location will identify basic historical, operation, right of way, scenery and building elements.  As the layout progresses, the station map will be upgraded with a track diagram and right of engineering information that will meet the standards for the NMRA AP program. The section map may have one or more subsections included in the location. 

 

References

Southern Pacific Right of way and Structural Drawings

Southern Pacific Engineering Drawings

Layout Design - 5 - Vignettes

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Vignettes.

A vignette is a scene or a descriptive sketch. It might focus on a single moment or an image, or it may give a particularly distinct impression of a character or setting. A vignette is a snapshot or a glimpse. As a reader, you may get a distinct and rich impression, but you’re limited in terms of what you see or experience.

I have identified several scenic vignettes that I wish to incorporate in the WWSL. These scenes include:

1. A slough - wetlands area
   
2. A tunnel 
3. A bridge crossing a stream
4. A bridge crossing a river
5. A main line weaving its way through a canyon.
   

 I also have identified people oriented vignettes. These activities fall into the following categories:

1. Car movement
2. Locomotive and caboose servicing
   
3. Car inspection, repair and rebuilding
4. Track maintenance
   

Layout Design - 4 - Layout Design Elements

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Layout Design Elements.

  

Tony Koester in the Model Railoroad Planning Magazine 1995 introduced the the concept of Layout Design Elements -  a design technique of identifying a "signature" scenic element of a prototype or prototype scene and building that element in order to capture the feeling of the prototype. Tony developed a Kalmbach Publishing Company book called 'Realistic Model Railroad Building Blocks' in 2005 to further develop this topic.

Primarily focused on the prototype modeler attempting to selectively compress a real railroads main line into a realistic railroad model layout, Tony further suggested that the modeler 'design his layout as a series of connected elements that are visually and operationally recognizable as models of actual places.' The modeler would identify their modeling interests (see Mike Shafers Shafer's Layout Design Guidelines and use maps, track diagrams, photos, etc., to develop the elements to be modeled. 

Since then many railroad modelers have used this technique to design and build their prototype railroad layouts. Daid Barrows in the Model Railroad Planning 1999 and other articles, used layout design elements in his 'Dominos' layout design techniques. 

The WWSL

Connected elements. I found that in designing my layout that developing the layout concept allowed me to make distinctions between the myriad elements of the prototype (e.g., a yard, a station, a junction) i found in my research with the functional layout requirements that might be necessary for a satisfying layout (such as staging, crossovers, runarounds, et al). I collected a set of layout design elements - from a scenic and operational standpoint – prototype towns, engine terminals yards, junctions, industries or scenes that could be compressed and workable for my layout.  

Those layout design elements were classified by right of way, yard, engine service facilities, industrial track layout, and scenic vignettes that were of interest to me.

The WWSL requires the following layout design elements: 

Right of Way

• Main track. A track, other than an auxili­ary track, extending through yards and be­tween stations, upon which trains are operated by timetable or train order, or both, or the use of which is governed by block signals.
• Siding *. A track auxiliary to the main track for meeting or passing trains. The timetable will indicate stations at which sidings are located.
• Junction. A point where two or more railroads are joined.
• Interchange. The location where railroads transfer freight cars from other companies over their lines. 
• Crossing *. A crossing is an intersection where one track crosses another track. It may be located at a junction, but not necessarily so.
  
• Simple Overhead Wire *.  A system of overhead wires used to supply electricity to a locomotive which is equipped with a pantograph. The uninsulated wire is attached by clamps to closely spaced crosswires supported by poles. Easily confused with catenary systems which use at least two overhead wires.

Yards

• Arrival / Departure yard (or track). This is a location in a yard where railcars are dropped off by an arriving train or picked up by departing trains  
• Classification yard *. This is where the railcars are sorted for further movement to other destinations.
  
• Scale Track * .
  

Engine service facility *

• Steam
• Electric
• Diesel 
• Turntable *
• Service Pit Track *
  

Industries

• Log reload
  
• Coal mine
• Sand and gravel plant
• Sawmill
• Logging camp
• Paper mill
• Industrial siding *
• Power plant (Coal Dump Track * and Ash Pit *)
  

Vignettes

• Scenic canyon
• Wide stream 
• Wide river
  

The astericks (*) are layout design elements required for NMRA Achievent Award  (Civil Engineer).

I will be addressing the layout design elements process in follow-on blog posts as they appear on the layout.