Adding a layout to the layout!

Hello,

Some of my recent P.C.C.M.posts have included images of cars spotted at some of my so called "facade industries" which, for the most part, are building flats staged to convey the impression that my layout has more industries than it actually does to increase our virtual ops options. 

A couple of recent examples: a covered grain hopper set out at Agway....

..A PC Hi Cube left at ACME Auto Parts.

In the past I've staged such photos using a small diorama made from a piece of homasote

..with foam board building flats propped up behind it.

I originally had three facade industries but started creating more to generate more rail traffic and add interest to our virtual operations.  Here is an earlier blog post about that.

https://kingsportdivision.blogspot.com/2017/08/more-facade-industries-to-expand.html


Agway on the diorama with foam core sky behind.

Although I liked being able to include photos of additional industries in P.C.C.M.s,  it was cumbersome to set up the diorama on a coffee table and I felt it would be nice to have a more dedicated way of showing car movements at these industries.  A blog post by John B. about the addition of a shelf layout for his existing layout got me thinking. 
 http://modelrrmisc.blogspot.com/2017/08/operating-facade-industry.html

I really didn't have room to add a shelf layout as a peninsula or set one up in another room, but then I looked at the river scene at West Mill and it occurred to me that I could add a shelf layout under the river extension w/o further crowding the layout room!

Here is the initial shelf work under the river.  It extends the same distance into the room as the river scene above it.  Its set low but is a good height for me when I sit in a chair in front of it.

My track plan for the shelf includes a hidden staging track and two spurs on either side. 

I used blue foam core board as an easy removable back drop that allows me to access the staging track and wiring under the layout.   You can see the hole in the backdrop for the hidden staging track.

Test fitting the Agway elevator.  I'll be adding additional background details like the silver silos to the left and the small town buildings to the right to fill out the scenes.  I printed these from Google images and glued them onto foam board.   I realized pretty quickly that it would be nice to have additional room to add scenic features or structures in the foreground so I created drop down shelves on either side of the new layout.  You can see the drop down panel and hinges in front of Agway.

The drop down sections have legs on hinges that when raised and fitted into place stabilize the shelf.

The drop down sections in place on either side, ready to accommodate removable scenic panels. 

Some ground cover and ballast was added to the permanent part of the shelf layout. 

Next step was to make some removable panels to place on these drop down shelves.  Here is one in front of Agway with ground cover and an additional dummy track that suggests more rail action.

Another panel representing my preliminary attempt to create the Kings Port & Western's Williams Yard.

After some building improvements and additional ballast treatments it now looks like this.

This is an evolving project but the intent is to provide a photographic backdrop for the P.C.C.M.s...but I've also got myself a new shelf layout that actually functions as a fun opportunity to do some switching!   I've run wire from West Mill Yard above to power the shelf section.  Locos move smoothly through the track work to pick up and set out cars.  In addition to taking photos of virtual ops on these shelves I also hope to film some video segments of cars being moved.

More to come as this develops!

P.C.C.M. 46H: Transfering the last cars to the KP&W for delivery to Corning.

Hi all!

In this final installment of the Kings Port Division's involvement in P.C.C.M. #46 we're at West Mill Yard and looking at the cut of cars that will be picked up by the KP&W's latest train to Salamanca NY, its farthest western point.  

These include two 38 foot hoppers loaded with coal for Corning Glass' power plant, and a classic white A.P.R.R. #60358 RBL car heading empty to Corning Glass to be loaded with automobile windshields for the  Ford Motor Company.  You may recall seeing this car being pulled from Van Winkle Canning in a previous post. 

The cars are set out for the KP&W's train WYS-3, a run from Williams Yard in Kings Port to Salamanca.   The train makes intermediate stops at Binghamton and Corning.

A couple of hours later the whine of EMD prime movers alerts us that WYS-3 is emerging from the tunnel under GERN near WM tower.

WYS-3's consist is composed of a pair of F7As and an SD9.  The F units have seen some miles and their blue paint is faded compared to the SD9.

Plenty of home road rolling stock is always seen on this train

The train slows as it approaches West Mill Yard and passes by the cars it will pick up.

After coming to a stop, the three unit consist is cut from the train so it can switch tracks and grab the three cars for Corning Glass.

After pulling the cars onto the main, WYS-3's power adds them to its train.   Penn Central Power is seen on the engine tracks at West Mill in the foreground.

After testing the air and getting the green board. the train proceeds toward Corning .

Railfans following this train arrive too late to see the two hoppers get set out on the power plant's track, but they do get to observe A.P.R.R. #60358 being spotted at a loading door.

NYC Hi-Cube #173861, loaded with new beer bottles for Heilemans Brewery  is being pulled.  We'll see that car heading toward Empire City in a future P.C.C.M

THAT concludes the action on the Kings Port Division and the work of the freelanced Kings Port & Western in this virtual op series!

Watch for a continuation of the car movement action on Neal's A.P.R.R.!

http://atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com/ 

Thanks for reading and riding along!

P.C.C.M. 46G: VW-1 picks up cars for the A.P.R.R./ KP&W heads up the Mountan Branch

Hellllllooooo there!   You've all been very patient and attentive readers of these long blog posts!  Here is another one featuring the movement of cars toward Neal's A.P.R.R.,  and a run up the Kings Port & Western Mountain Branch to deliver cars to consignees up there.

We last saw this cut of cars blocked for Penn Central train VW-1 (Selkirk to Weehawken) waiting at West Mill.  Its now being moved to the ready track.

Cars for the A.P.R.R. include B&M RBL #105 loaded with large bags of flour for Freihoefers Bakery, a road weary ex-Pacemaker loaded with new 55 gallon drums for an oil and chemical facility near Rock Ridge Yard...

...a Morton Salt car returning to its home facility, and two KP&W boxcars loaded with Peerless Appliances for Three Amigos Warehouse.

The cut is shoved onto the ready track for easy access by VW-1, expected later this morning.

Its 09:30 and the rumble of GE power is heard emerging from under the GERN tunnel...which makes it sound 3% louder of course!

The two massive U33Cs are cut from the train and pull ahead to change tracks to pick up the cut for Weehawken.

VW-1 leaves its train behind to do the back and forth move required to couple up with the KP&W car next to it. The PRR auto parts car is at the head end of a long cut of cars from Terminal Yard.

The pick-up completed, VW-1 surges ahead toward Weehawken, notching it up as it passes West Mill!

The enormous 86 foot PRR auto parts car marks the beginning of the long block of cars sent from Terminal Yard.   The West Mill cut is ahead of it with B&M #105 bringing up the rear of that cut.

Nothing but green for this priority freight!

The train enters the tunnel on the South side of town and leaves West Mill.

 

Shortly after the sound of  VW-1's massive power and squealing freight car wheels has faded, the West Mill Yard switcher moves the next KP&W transfer to the interchange track.

These three cars are headed for the KP&W's Mountain Branch

Power selected to handle the branch line's tight curves and steep grades will be sister GP9s,  #761 and #742

The pair of first generation Geeps back into the train and pulls it forward in front of Canton Box Co.

A local railfan captures the well maintained units.  The KP&W is budget conscious and keeps its older power in good working condition.

The train, designated Extra #761 leaves PC track and heads for the Mountain Branch.

After 45 minutes of hard labor tackling the grades up the Catskills, Extra #761 reaches Bloomberg and its first stop, Van Winkle Canning.  

An empty Hoschton Railway car is spotted at the loading door...

...while empty PC #360063 and A.P.R.R. #60358 are pulled.  Both cars will be returned to West Mill and the A.P.R.R. car will soon be forwarded empty to Corning Glass Company.

The second stop is Quality Fabrications.   NYC #80755 is loaded with boxes from Canton Box Company.  You DO remember it begin picked up from Canton in a previous post...right?!  Rock Island #35062 is loaded with hardware from American Hardware in Empire City.

The cars are set out.  Extra 761 will perform other jobs in Bloomberg and then return to West Mill with its pick-ups.  We'll follow the A.P.R.R. tomorrow as it gets picked up by a KP&W train heading West toward Salamanca, NY.  That will wrap up the Kings Port Division's lengthy but enjoyable role in this series!

Thanks for reading!