Layout Goals - 2016

Folks -
As we start a new year, for those with layouts, what goals are you setting in your role as superintendent?

Admittedly, I've always modeled at a glacial pace. However, I'll list my modest goals for starters:

• Run a formal Operating Session in "Olathe" by end of the first quarter, with 3 total sessions by end of year.
• Finish two outstanding rolling stock projects.
• Complete basic ground cover scenery - have completed approximately 75% thus far.
• Finish adding telegraph line poles to SL-SF Northern Division.
• Begin construction on Wallingford Grain Co and Champlin Oil Depot in Olathe.
• Fix the "dead spot" that keeps reoccurring at the crossover just "north" of MP 21.

I'll look forward to seeing the 2016 goals of others.

Best Regards,

 

Bill, not sure what's included on your full list of "givens and druthers" for a layout, but I'll advocate for the River Division.

The Chaffee Sub between Chaffee and Turrell, AR is a good choice if you want a water level route with not much in the way of tree modeling and ample opportunity for interchange traffic via MoP and SSW; north toward Jefferson County on the St. Louis Sub is good if you want a minimal-grade route but with scenic bluffs and trees with undergrowth as a "west" side backdrop.

Best Regards,

 

You two have some good solid goals. I'm more hit and miss with my efforts and I'm pretty sure I have Adult Attention Deficit disorder.
1) I need to add a 3' extension at Brownwood to allow for more operational opportunities ( this might become a diorama of 1915 Cape Girardeau riverfront including the old depot).
2) I need to build many more scratchbuilt structures for all four of my towns.
3) I need to finish scenery chores to get the rest of the pink foam board covered up.
4) I need to finish adding the valance and fascia to the layout.
It'll be interesting to see how much of this gets accomplished this year.

 

Good thread Chris.

Although I have collected various pieces of G, HO, N, and Z scale items, I have no model railroading activities going on (for several reasons).

In early December my wife offered me a shelf in a bookcase for use as a small Z Scale layout. I was excited at first as I have two Frisco locomotives, two boxcars, and six hoppers in Z Scale. (We need a caboose!)

To my surprise, the shelf was slightly too small for the minimum radius, as demonstrated here:



The square represents the space I have available, which demonstrates the problem.

So, I have talked her into an HO around-the-ceiling layout. This will involve a double track (Kato Unitrack) around the perimeter of a room. My goal for 2016 is to get it going. It shouldn't be that hard but the way my luck goes.... we'll see what can get started. If a train moves in my house in 2016 it will be a major victory.

The future is an N scale 4 X 16 layout but probably not a lot to happen this year.

Charlie

 

Hhhmmm, well I dont really know about this year.. There may be big changes in store for me and Vicki. I would like to get my hands on a grade chart for the QA&P, but I cant say if there ever was one made. Thinking of asking my employer if there was such a thing. After building this MRR monstrosity, I am not so sure it is at all what I want.
Been studying older Arial photos, and can report that the QA&P back in the day is a modelers dream. A railroad that was 113 miles. Had at one time 3 different interlockings/crossings at grade with the FW&D/CB&Q/BN in seven miles. Had much more bridge traffic than it could generate between the outer mile posts of it's own physical plant. Which is major kudos to the marketing agents and allows many modeling liberties, but will necessitate a great down sizing of the current operation, and my letting go of many pieces of rolling stock and locomotives... I have many of those under the bed boxes of stuff that hasn't seen the light of day for years. When I built this I had an idea, but no direction. The QA&P depot begs to be modeled, if not 3D but however it can be done, there were many other structures that beg to be modeled as well.
Yea, I dont know, there may be some major changes taking place out this way.

 

Two major goals for me are:
One; to get the ceiling grid and lighting installed.
Second; get a good portion (if not all) of benchwork and track installed in the north end of the layout.

 

My "layout goals" for 2016 are a bit different ..... to make continued progress resulting in the elimination of the vast plethora of backlog unfinished kits, modifications, scratch builds, painting jobs, decal jobs, and tune up projects I have sitting on the shelves around here, plus to build a few untouched, but very neat, kits that have been sitting here for years. I made terrific progress on this personal goal in 2015, and want to continue to the end of it in 2016!

Ken

 

Doug, I don't know how "married" you are to Knoxville, but I know we would like to have another great Frisco aficionado join us in the KC area. We have layout builders ready and willing to make things happen here, myself included.

 

Keith, maybe someone in the KC group has a large enough Econoline van with a small trailer to have a road trip east. I think I once made the trip between here and Knoxville in 12 hours years ago, and that included stops in at least 6 locations for coffee along the way.

I forget what issue, but an old back issue of Model Railroad Planning had a John Armstrong layout plan. An early version of the plan had two side-by-side helices. Later revisions removed them both, so in fine Armstrongian fashion, he named the location "Nolix."

Doug, however it pans out, I look forward to seeing/hearing any further layout planning and progress thoughts you have. I've gotten a lot out of your previous work both on this site and in the newsletters.

Best Regards,