This all began with the purchase of some TYCO operating hopper cars and the unloader bridge. I had been wanting to add something to our little industrial branch that would incorporate some old bridges I had been saving, and here's what I came up with.
This is the original end of track area before work began. Gondolas are delivered here having come from the industrial spur "downtown". No facility to handle hopper cars though.
I added a 10"x 48" piece of 3/4"plywood screwed to the bottom edge of my 1"x 3" framework. I added the pier blocks which I cut out on a table saw, And screwed them into place after adjusting the spacing to fit the bridges and dumper section. The 3/4" blocks were cut to the proper height to allow for the cork roadbed thickness. That's a TYCO 630 flying past in the background on the main.
The bridge approach was installed level with the existing tablework and a new switch was installed for the siding. I added insulated joiners to both the original siding leg and the new coal dump section, in order to allow selective power routing through an atlas relay in parallel with the switch machine.
The second bridge allows run out space for the empties as they come off the dumper.
Gotta hand it to the crew! They did all that was expected of them!( Nuthin'!,these bums did nuthin'!)
These are cheap Atlas figures that I painted years ago. Everything I have nearly is from "years ago", have you noticed that? The unpainted "Zombie Apocalypse" guy is there to illustrate the difference a little paint can make. These days I paint them on a TV tray while watching NYPD Blue reruns on Audience.
The retaining wall was covered with doll house embossed brick sheet from Hobby Lobby. Even though the "bricks"are oversize, I used it because it was what I could find with the limited spare time I have available. The ground cover is old Life Like landscape paper. This is the in progress view
I also covered the piers in brick sheet and cut the pier caps out of cardboard. My scenery is very simple. I plan on adding an end loader and a truck or two ,plus a lot of clutter, around the area. I've installed light poles along the bridges since these pictures were taken also.
A few details have been added at this point. this area will become very "busy" like the rest of our layout. We do this on purpose to keep the eye moving and make the small space we have seem larger
Next on the agenda is the loader facility, Shown here mocked into place. The plan is to put a funnel in the roof to pour the "coal" into to load the hoppers. This is located in the branch line track halfway between the coal dump and the interchange.I'm using small black beads from Hobby Lobby (thanks, Shaygetz). problem is they won't come out of the hoppers! I'm going to try PAM cooking spray and see if it helps.
There are 2 switchers here now, one for the gondolas and one for the hopper cars.
With the power routing relay you just throw the switch and either train will run depending on the siding selected. that keeps it simple for the little guy. And me.
Thanks for looking!
This is the original end of track area before work began. Gondolas are delivered here having come from the industrial spur "downtown". No facility to handle hopper cars though.
I added a 10"x 48" piece of 3/4"plywood screwed to the bottom edge of my 1"x 3" framework. I added the pier blocks which I cut out on a table saw, And screwed them into place after adjusting the spacing to fit the bridges and dumper section. The 3/4" blocks were cut to the proper height to allow for the cork roadbed thickness. That's a TYCO 630 flying past in the background on the main.
The bridge approach was installed level with the existing tablework and a new switch was installed for the siding. I added insulated joiners to both the original siding leg and the new coal dump section, in order to allow selective power routing through an atlas relay in parallel with the switch machine.
The second bridge allows run out space for the empties as they come off the dumper.
Gotta hand it to the crew! They did all that was expected of them!( Nuthin'!,these bums did nuthin'!)
These are cheap Atlas figures that I painted years ago. Everything I have nearly is from "years ago", have you noticed that? The unpainted "Zombie Apocalypse" guy is there to illustrate the difference a little paint can make. These days I paint them on a TV tray while watching NYPD Blue reruns on Audience.
The retaining wall was covered with doll house embossed brick sheet from Hobby Lobby. Even though the "bricks"are oversize, I used it because it was what I could find with the limited spare time I have available. The ground cover is old Life Like landscape paper. This is the in progress view
I also covered the piers in brick sheet and cut the pier caps out of cardboard. My scenery is very simple. I plan on adding an end loader and a truck or two ,plus a lot of clutter, around the area. I've installed light poles along the bridges since these pictures were taken also.
A few details have been added at this point. this area will become very "busy" like the rest of our layout. We do this on purpose to keep the eye moving and make the small space we have seem larger
Next on the agenda is the loader facility, Shown here mocked into place. The plan is to put a funnel in the roof to pour the "coal" into to load the hoppers. This is located in the branch line track halfway between the coal dump and the interchange.I'm using small black beads from Hobby Lobby (thanks, Shaygetz). problem is they won't come out of the hoppers! I'm going to try PAM cooking spray and see if it helps.
There are 2 switchers here now, one for the gondolas and one for the hopper cars.
With the power routing relay you just throw the switch and either train will run depending on the siding selected. that keeps it simple for the little guy. And me.
Thanks for looking!