Tree Point, Wisconsin

Just to let you know, I've decided on a name for my new module. Tree Point, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, because I wanted to model something in the mid west to have a 'home' for some of my other models. Tree Point is a name that I found sounded good, and sounds like 3 point, the number of switches on my module.

Track was ordered from RD Hobby in Germany, and is shipped so I should receive it soon (ish). This will make a nice winter project, and I hope to have something to show soon.

New track plan for a new module

After some deliberation, and playing with track planning software, I've settled for the following track plan.

It is very simple (and therefore prototypical), but should provide me with some switching fun.
Purely coincidental, the track plan does look a little bit like the Palmetto Spur plan, by Lance Mindheim, but still has enough changes not to be a blatant copy. It measures 18" by 3ft in length.

I haven't fully decided on the industries and their respective locations yet, the only thing that is certain is that there will be a corn syrup facility.

Just in case you're interested, below is the first track plan, which looks 'interesting' but has several short comings, and therefore I decided against it.

And we're off

Strike the iron while it's hot is what they say, so I went and bought 3 pieces of flex track, managed to get hold of a pack of extruded foam board (it's getting harder and harder to find nowadays, not good news I feel), and cut two of them to size of 3ft x 18" , in total giving me 6 feet to play with.
I had initially thought of trying to go for half that, but looking at it, that would just be too small for what I want to do.
I'm trying to make a trackplan for a switching layout, that I can use as a stand alone, but also eventually use at meets and join up with other modules.
While I've been trying to sketch all sorts of configurations, I find that using the actual boards, and move about with track and templates a bit , gives me a much better feel for the size and available space, and works better for my imagination :-)

So here's first evidence that things are moving on.

Corn Syrup industries

The tank cars I reported on last post, are actually dedicated cars for the transport of high fructose corn syrup. This syrup is used in virtually all soft drinks. I found that the contents of one of these cars, is sufficient for 1.000.000 cans of Coca Cola or similar.
I've been doing some research and received a great deal of help from various persons on a variety of railroading forums, I've received articles, links and a lot more. It turns out that these cars and specifically their unloading facilities take up little space, but depending on the grade of syrup, might have different unloading spots along such facilities, but can be on the same track.
Therefore it's an industry that is easily added to a model railroad as it does everything you need for the limited space you have. It takes little space, and lot's of operational potential. Also the facilities are fairly basic in appearance, so not complicated to build either.
So you've guessed it, my 'to build' module will have such an industry on it.

To give you an idea on what these look like, here's an areal picture of one, this particular installation has 3 tracks, one for the unloading, and two to spot full and empty cars , but there are loads of similar examples that have just one track.

The other is a similar, but simpler facility, with two tracks.

My newest purchases

There, I couldn't help it, but I happened to pass a hobbyshop today, and had a look inside, and resistance was futile, I walked out with two tank cars, and a structure kit...

I now have got myself another 'problem'. My Wolter Springs module is now in the UK, and I've got nothing to operate these on, as I found these in a shop in the Netherlands...  (Harlaar modelbouw in Badhoevedorp, about 10K away from Amsterdam Schiphol airport by the way). 

So I am now trawling the internet for inspiration, to build myself a small, portable switching layout, just to have a bit of fun with while I'm over here. Once I've got a track plan I'll let you know, and I will post here from time to time how I get on with it.

A quick video

I shot this short video on Saturday, mainly as a motivation to myself to start working on my home layout in the coming period.
Hope it works the way I intend :-)

Overdue update

Wow I can't believe it is nearly October and I haven't posted in a while. The summer is now over, and the weather has been great for most of it, and even though it's officially Autumn, it still is very mild in general here in the UK. That has largely meant that my layout in the loft room was uncomfortably warm to work on, and the weather enticed us to be outside more and do other things with the family, and going on vacation. I guess it's a pattern that most model railroaders recognise.
I haven't been entirely idle though, the last couple of weeks I managed to make progress on my module boards, to the extend that base scenery is done, and it has been used in a first modular railroad gathering of my local group.
I've located a few problems on it, that I need to improve, mostly allignment issues ( I need to drill out the legs a bit deeper so that the adjustable bolts have a greater range) , and there was a strange electrical problem with it too, about half way into the operating session, so I need to figure out what happened there.

Anyway, here's a picture of it in action:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12783415@N06/9859845944/

and here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12783415@N06/9859864736/

Koos