Maybe it is one of the town bar flies waiting for production to start???

OK Cody want to share any thoughts?

Larry, you're off to a fast start.

I finally found a little time to start designing something.

Earlier I had posted that I bought a cork board.

I then found a sheet on plywood leftover from the bathroom remodel that would work, so I took the cork board back.

Now I need to get some 1 inch blue or pink foam.

I think I've settled on a mining theme.

About 1/3 of the layout will be a mountain with a mine entrance and a tunnel to allow for continuous running.

Besides the foam I also need two switches, switch stands and a coal conveyer like in the picture below.



I know Larry built switches, but I don't have the tools or jigs to do that.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction to getting those items would be greatly appreciated.

Rick,

You should be able to scratch the coal loader no problem, I can send some wheels.

I sent you a PM re switches.

I'm having trouble deciding between On30 and On20, I have some HO gauge track that could be used (with the usual modifications) but have been toying with handlaying again... Some duel gauge has crossed my mind as well. I have a handful of KB Scale Hudson tippers that could be gauged to On20 in a second and an MDC shay that looks like it needs to be bashed into something new...

The board I'm going to use is a 'panel' bought at an art supply store (and was meant to be painted on) and was already once an HOn30 layout which was scrapped in favour of a shelf line (I'll introduce that project someday). The track plan will be a kidney shaped oval with one spur probably. And like I said, some dystopian / post apocalyptic themes will come into play...

An update soon, hopefully with some pix that won't bore you guys to death...

-Cody

OK guys I've decided to join in[^]. I'm going a with 35n2 tunnel railroad. I ordered a lot of scratch building supplies yesterday. Basically it will be a clearing house point to include the following.

1. Battery or overhead powered loco. Will probably use mechanism from Bachmann On30 street car. Haven't decided for sure. I think a rigid overhead using styrene channel would look kind of cool, but it would also get in the way too.

2. Small 14' cars (about 5 actual inches) with two trucks, because that is what the actual Chicago tunnel railway used.

• Hoppers for coal deliveries and removal of construction debris
• Mail cars
• Worker/passenger cars
• flats
• cable cars

3. Coal tipple. Coal loaded top side at street level. Tipple bottom visible on layout.

4. Elevator for cars to be delivered from top side. This will basically be a small one or two car cassette, that I can slide cars into and out of.

5. Lots of pipe and cable runs on ceiling and walls.

6. Signs of dripping water.

7. Pump facility to remove the dripping water cars.

8. Lots of 1/35 scale figures. Ordered these yesterday to get started. I went with this scale, because I like to paint figures.

9. Maintenance area.

10. Tunnels to staging

I have no track plan yet but I'm already working on the cars. If anyone has some suggestions, I'm all[:-bunny]. I would love a track plan, but I don't have the software for it. I'll figure one out later :erm: . It will have to be creative with a spot for the elevator cassette and staging for the tunnels. I'm thinking a horse shoe type arrangement with one leg to staging and the other leg the feed into the facility.

I plan on hand laying the track so I can use some single point switches (already made one) and it works [:-jumprefect].

That's it for now. Hope to have my first car done soon and I'll post a picture.

Bill,

Welcome to the build. The tunnel railroad has always been of interest to me.

"You should be able to scratch the coal loader no problem"

Larry, you're probably right, but my modeling time is scarce and finding a kit would be faster and easier.

I sent you a reply to your PM.

Great start brudda....

Larry is right, Tom.....just an old bar fly acquaintance.... ;-)

I think I'll sit this one out.....

too much on my plate already......

but, I will be lurking.....;-)

I have completed a baggage/flat car for the yet to be named 35n2 tunnel railroad.

This is the version with Bachmann On30 trucks.




This is the version with a crappy HO truck. Its the only one I have. I never done HO. Its not really a fair comparison, but what can you do .




Here is the link to the original car http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch...ieldsTrain.jpg

The scale post is there for reference. I would like your opinions. The On30 truck would be approximately 17+ inches in 1/35 scale. This seems a little high in my opinion, but it looks pretty nice. The HO truck scales out to 13+ inches, which seems pretty reasonable to me. I'm leaning towards the Kadee HO arch bar truck. What do you think, before I order a couple of dozen trucks and waste my money? :erm:

Bill,

Have you looked at the trucks from boulder valley models? They are smaller than the Bachmann trucks and the wheels are a size between the two you are working with.

I don't want to clutter this thread but it catalyzed me to try and get a working layout up and running this Summer. I have a few new layout ideas here: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/t...10&whichpage=2

They're larger than the 2x3 cork board setup but in the same vein and I'd love to hear from people who enjoy this smaller format. Larry thanks for the inspiration.

Larry,

That was what I needed. I just ordered 5 pairs of 18" trucks from Dallas.

Should we post our progress here or would it be better to start a new thread or both?

Bill,

Where you post is up to you. I would at least like to see some progress posted in this thread for each build.