Catandsouth
Registered
Something very odd is happening and I'm having difficulty with this site since the computer was repaired today; don't seem to be getting automatic updated posts.
Making a New Start
- Thread starter C&S
- Start date
Don Gilham
Model railways, Photography, anything lazy
Me neither Giles - and had a bit of difficulty connecting at all a couple of hours ago.
Catandsouth
Registered
After some thoughts about a small shelf-style layout (see post 502) I've modified the C&S's history a little...........
Following the arrival of a standard gauge connection at Bonneyville and the subsequent abandonment of the steamboat services along the Cattewater River in 1914 the inhabitants of Bryants Landing, a small town on the west bank of the river, started a ferry to connect with the railroad at Cattewater. Eventually a car-float operation started up to bring freight cars across from the C&S. On the far side there was about half a mile of track with spurs serving several local firms. The short run was ideal for old #1, which was still wood-fired but had never been provided with a bunker or tender, and here it played out its last days. When maintenace was necessary #4, the other wood-fired engine, was substituted, as this saved having to ship coal across the river - there being plenty of wood available locally. The little line fell victim to the crash of '29 and lasted only until the early 1930s, but does provide the excuse for a layout representing the ferry slip and a line serving the town's industries. Here's a rough sketch of the track plan.
In model terms it is a slightly disguised Inglenook design, with the car float taking thr place of a fiddle yard. There are six car spots plus a little extra track where cars can be left during switching moves, but the fact that one industry is on the "main line" will complicate matters slightly. The locomotive is always at the landward end of the cars being switched, and the kick-back spur behind the depot must therefore be accessed by chain-shunting - both inwards and out. This also means the locomotive does not pass the oil depot.
Following the arrival of a standard gauge connection at Bonneyville and the subsequent abandonment of the steamboat services along the Cattewater River in 1914 the inhabitants of Bryants Landing, a small town on the west bank of the river, started a ferry to connect with the railroad at Cattewater. Eventually a car-float operation started up to bring freight cars across from the C&S. On the far side there was about half a mile of track with spurs serving several local firms. The short run was ideal for old #1, which was still wood-fired but had never been provided with a bunker or tender, and here it played out its last days. When maintenace was necessary #4, the other wood-fired engine, was substituted, as this saved having to ship coal across the river - there being plenty of wood available locally. The little line fell victim to the crash of '29 and lasted only until the early 1930s, but does provide the excuse for a layout representing the ferry slip and a line serving the town's industries. Here's a rough sketch of the track plan.
In model terms it is a slightly disguised Inglenook design, with the car float taking thr place of a fiddle yard. There are six car spots plus a little extra track where cars can be left during switching moves, but the fact that one industry is on the "main line" will complicate matters slightly. The locomotive is always at the landward end of the cars being switched, and the kick-back spur behind the depot must therefore be accessed by chain-shunting - both inwards and out. This also means the locomotive does not pass the oil depot.
It's been pointed out to me that one could make a run-round loop at Bryants Landing by extending the Mill track to meet the main line. I may well do this, and will have a full-sized planning session once the present layout is lifted next week. I think it may require a little more baseboard width, as the tracks run more parallel to the edges and there's a little less room for the low relief factories. With loading points on the loop the line is becoming more than a little like the Edgmore & Manetta.
I made up the train orders tonight for the "last day of service" operating session tomorrow. Quite an intersting exercise as a little freight was coming inwards, but I was also trying to get as many outgoing loads to Bonneyville as were on offer. Most traffic on the Southvale line will be coming out towards Hogwood or Cattewater so as to get the empty cars away to Bonneyville, supposedly for sale or scrapping.
It turned out that three train do not need to run - the afternoon return hop from Cattewater to Clydes Creek, and the return of the empty log cars from the sawmill to the logging camps. After the Last Train there will be the usual run the following day to clear the last of the rolling stock off the line, then track-lifting begins on Wednesday.
It turned out that three train do not need to run - the afternoon return hop from Cattewater to Clydes Creek, and the return of the empty log cars from the sawmill to the logging camps. After the Last Train there will be the usual run the following day to clear the last of the rolling stock off the line, then track-lifting begins on Wednesday.
Catandsouth
Registered
Well, the day finally rolled around when the ol' C&S was going to close down.
They had a little freight to move
but although some trains looked long, it was only because they were taking all the empty cars down to Bonneyville for disposal. Still, there was the odd load coming up from the junction for the last time
The rumour had gone round that Mr Lucius Beebe himself was coming to take some pictures of the line
In the afternoon the Mail came down from Clydes Creek with a sign on the lokey saying "Farewell to the C&S"
For once they had some urgent freight in the yard at Cattewater and she went away with a couple of reefers as head-end cars.
Mr Beebe never showed up, but we did get some young guy with a name like a sort of bird. He had a lot of fancy photo-flash gear and by the time the last train slipped out of Cattewater he sure needed it as it was getting quite dark.
It was sad to see the little line go, but it had got real run down and a couple of cars came off the tracks in the yard at Cattewater. Some people said it was the train crew doing it on purpose, but I know it was never that; just that money's been tight for a long time and track maintenance has suffered. Still it won't be long before they start tearing up the tracks, in fact I hear they are going to start as soon as next week.
They had a little freight to move
but although some trains looked long, it was only because they were taking all the empty cars down to Bonneyville for disposal. Still, there was the odd load coming up from the junction for the last time
The rumour had gone round that Mr Lucius Beebe himself was coming to take some pictures of the line
In the afternoon the Mail came down from Clydes Creek with a sign on the lokey saying "Farewell to the C&S"
For once they had some urgent freight in the yard at Cattewater and she went away with a couple of reefers as head-end cars.
Mr Beebe never showed up, but we did get some young guy with a name like a sort of bird. He had a lot of fancy photo-flash gear and by the time the last train slipped out of Cattewater he sure needed it as it was getting quite dark.
It was sad to see the little line go, but it had got real run down and a couple of cars came off the tracks in the yard at Cattewater. Some people said it was the train crew doing it on purpose, but I know it was never that; just that money's been tight for a long time and track maintenance has suffered. Still it won't be long before they start tearing up the tracks, in fact I hear they are going to start as soon as next week.
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Following your tale of your line being wound up gave me the same feeling of reading and looking at photos of the little Rio Grande 268 2-8-0 winding up things at Gunnison, taking the empty box cars away and actually carrying the rails that were being ripped up behind her during the last days of that branch line.
Very sad Giles but I know that you will be applying your excellent skills to creating a new layout very soon!
Very sad Giles but I know that you will be applying your excellent skills to creating a new layout very soon!
Catandsouth
Registered
Had a chance to measure the space where Bryants Landing might go. As I hoped it is 12ft by 4ft, with the longer side able to be up to 26ins wide if necessary. I think I shall definitely add another turnout to join the mill track to the main line by the factory; it should provide room for another car on the baord, but also add slightly to the switching complications. Must try a dry run once the present layout's track has been lifted.
stevedenver
Registered
giles i have loved watching your work
as said, very atmospheric-unique, and love the compacted aspect
and most of all, intriguing
but thinking of the bright side
should you decide to build an On30 layout, there will be wonderful things available -far more than g scale
and great selection of porters , shays, climaxs, and the new railbus etc
and of course there is a wealth of o scale detail parts, as well as buildings etc
i think if i were not so deeply invested in n scale as well as LGB, this might well be my direction of choice
after years of g scale, the idea of simply being able to find a lot of different things, and which i can still easily see without reading glasses, sounds amazing
hope you are able to do both- i like your modified shelf design
all the best to you
as said, very atmospheric-unique, and love the compacted aspect
and most of all, intriguing
but thinking of the bright side
should you decide to build an On30 layout, there will be wonderful things available -far more than g scale
and great selection of porters , shays, climaxs, and the new railbus etc
and of course there is a wealth of o scale detail parts, as well as buildings etc
i think if i were not so deeply invested in n scale as well as LGB, this might well be my direction of choice
after years of g scale, the idea of simply being able to find a lot of different things, and which i can still easily see without reading glasses, sounds amazing
hope you are able to do both- i like your modified shelf design
all the best to you
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Giles, having done some logging 0n3 and HOn3 scale dioramas in a past life (god, can it really be 40 years ago?), I can only reaffirm what Steve says...you will love it..... but if you do go down that route do keep us updated!
vsmith
G Scale indoors, O Tinplate, Micro Layouts
Giles, hold onto at least 4 engines for the new layout, 2 for ops and 2 as spares (eventual parts donors). I'm so sad to see another greta indoor layout going away but glad that another will take its place.
Funny you chose a water landing as part of your new layout, I'm also considering extending my layout across the back of the garage to a waterside wharf. I means finally forcing me to give my layout a backstory and an actual operational reason to exist. It would be modeled on the first railroad here in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles and San Pedro with went from the Port (swamp) to the City (dusty pueblo) although I'm likely to make my "waterfront" a navigable portion of the lower Colorado River. Have a plan drawn up, suppose I should post it on my layout thread.
Funny you chose a water landing as part of your new layout, I'm also considering extending my layout across the back of the garage to a waterside wharf. I means finally forcing me to give my layout a backstory and an actual operational reason to exist. It would be modeled on the first railroad here in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles and San Pedro with went from the Port (swamp) to the City (dusty pueblo) although I'm likely to make my "waterfront" a navigable portion of the lower Colorado River. Have a plan drawn up, suppose I should post it on my layout thread.
Funny you should say that. I was reckoning on 1 (ops) plus 1 (stand-by) but can't make up my mind about which is which. Think I'll probably hold onto #1, 4 and 8 for now, at least.vsmith said:
Meanwhile, looking forward to seeing your extension (and developments on stage 1) as they come.
Not the sort of shot you get to see every day, but I thought it might be interesting to salute the passing of the railroad, starting with a shot of Cattewater yard.
Moving on up the hill (shame I didn't clip those power cables)
and a little further on . Looks like nature will soon take over again.
Moving on up the hill (shame I didn't clip those power cables)
and a little further on . Looks like nature will soon take over again.
Thanks, guys. Shame I only discovered that good photographic viewpoint in the cutting when there were no trains running.
Spent some time yesterday laying out the proposed new layout on the site of Hogwood depot, as it is about the same size. It looks like it will fit the space available, so in due time there may well be a "Making a Fresh Start" thread on here.
Spent some time yesterday laying out the proposed new layout on the site of Hogwood depot, as it is about the same size. It looks like it will fit the space available, so in due time there may well be a "Making a Fresh Start" thread on here.