|
|
Post by smr on Sept 2, 2016 21:44:23 GMT -5
   I see a railroad carfloat, nice!! Correct, the eye catcher in front of the layout is a small car float.      Let me see if I can find some better pictures. Best, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 3, 2016 9:43:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 3, 2016 10:18:44 GMT -5
A few words about the barque itself and its accompanying tug boat.  They have been constructed by Peter Nolan. He makes them commercially available: 1) nscaleships.com/n-z-scale-ship-index/260-atsf-car-ferry-dock/He wrote: This is an accurate model, drawn from the plans, of the eight 260′ barges that ferried cars to all of the ATSF’s terminae around SF Bay. Capacity is about 20 cars, with many limitations about length, position, and weight, leading to many fascinating operations possibilities. The cast resin hull has many ventilators, access hatches, cleats, bitts and chocks, most hand applied. The bulwarks have the correct openings on each side and are scale thickness, as port and starboard are not identical. The tall capstans are castings derived from the drawings. The raised pilot house is from two layers of .010″ styrene, allowing great detail.. The three tracks will accept C40 through C80 rail. We used code 40. Easier to view when the dock was still under construction;   Let's move on to the tug boat, which is custom made for Western Pacific. But Peter has a lot of them to offer, so that you can get one in whatever design you want. We tried several, see below.  2) nscaleships.com/n-z-scale-ship-index/large-santa-fe-prr-tugs/After WWII, the US Army sold many of its Large Tugs at a very low price, sometimes as compensation for tugs requisitioned during the war. The two Santa Fe tugs served on many routes around San Francisco Bay from 1947 to 1985, when the ATSF shut down its ferry operations in San Francisco Bay. They were 142 feet long, and about 450 tons. The PRR also purchased four for its Chesapeake Bay marine operations. For pictures click here: The Chessie Tug boat: azlforum.com/post/5642The PRR Tug boat: azlforum.com/post/6697 Enjoy! Best, Sven  |
|
|
|
Post by markm on Sept 3, 2016 16:17:01 GMT -5
Thank you Mark, That is a fantastic suggestion. I already started planning around this idea. Just one track, 5m in length ........... Best, Sven It should be am interesting layout. Since the line is about 100 years old, you can model just about anything SP, modern UP and Amtrak and ACE (commuter service). I'll be looking forward to seeing the results. One additional thought: since you are using such a large plan, you might want to try modeling the salt ponds alone the track. Prior to the 1960s there were a large number of salt ponds/evaporators that produced salt from the brackish bay water. While in the evaporating mode, the ponds would contain water colored from dark blue to a rusty red, mirrored surface. Eventually they would dry out to a light grey salt flat. Mark |
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 3, 2016 16:55:28 GMT -5
Thank you Mark, That is a fantastic suggestion. I already started planning around this idea. Just one track, 5m in length ........... Best, Sven It should be am interesting layout. Since the line is about 100 years old, you can model just about anything SP, modern UP and Amtrak and ACE (commuter service). I'll be looking forward to seeing the results. One additional thought: since you are using such a large plan, you might want to try modeling the salt ponds alone the track. Prior to the 1960s there were a large number of salt ponds/evaporators that produced salt from the brackish bay water. While in the evaporating mode, the ponds would contain water colored from dark blue to a rusty red, mirrored surface. Eventually they would dry out to a light grey salt flat. Mark You are a fantastic source of ideas, Mark, How about doing this layout together? Best, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 4, 2016 7:13:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by cwrr on Sept 4, 2016 11:26:14 GMT -5
Excellent work on the RR tugs and barge and the slip!! I've always wanted to model the Milwaukee Road rail barge between Seattle, Wa. and Port Townsend, Wa! Guess I'll have to get motivated on that!
|
|
|
|
Post by markm on Sept 5, 2016 11:45:43 GMT -5
You are a fantastic source of ideas, Mark, How about doing this layout together? Best, Sven
Sven,
I'm not sure how much I can collaborate, but I can give you some pointers. First of all Drawbridge is on an island:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Drawbridge_California_aerial_photo.jpg
Despite the name, I'm not aware of an actual bridge. The tracks do cross the creeks on low trestles:
scotthaefner.com/photos/images/fullsize/kap/drawbridge02.jpg
farm1.staticflickr.com/98/234495322_057d1a5710_z.jpg
A quick image search will find a number of images of the town proper, both modern and historic, but here's a couple of interesting views.
Looking east into the Diablo range: static.panoramio.com/photos/large/62455183.jpg
A general view of the remains:
atlas-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/assets/04-Drawbridge.jpg www.elivermore.com/photos/ace/ace_drawbridge1.jpg www.davegtravels.com/wp-content/ups/2010/11/21_drawbridge_san_jose_ghost_town.jpg
At one time I actually worked in one of the white buildings in the background.
The track runs through the Don Edwards Nature Preserve. While they don't mention the ghost town, it may give you
a feeling for the lay of the land and the track running through Drawbridge (south-east out of Newark on their map)
www.fws.gov/refuge/Don_Edwards_San_Francisco_Bay/
Here's and aerial image of the area with slat flats and still wet evaporators:
static.panoramio.com/photos/large/83109740.jpg
The unique concrete roadbed in the image in my original post is a visitors' path out to Drawbridge, as the railroad has always been the only way to get there. Beyond the town, the roadbed reverts to typical gravel.
The creeks are generally seasonal, but because the area is so flat, they are generally wet during high tide. They also meander a great deal. Small trees and Tule grows in the bends of the meander. The creek beds as well as the surrounding grasslands are built on a black adobe and will crack when it dries out.
Well, I hope this hasn't bored too many people and I hope it helps,
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 5, 2016 16:14:42 GMT -5
Thank you, Mark, this is perfect food for many thoughts............. I started planning right away, once the first drawing becomes available I will share it with you. In the meanwhile, I am playing around with the background. Here come two shots with some pictures of the Niles Canyon in the back. What do you think?   Best, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by markm on Sept 5, 2016 17:06:28 GMT -5
Well here's a recent image of that hill.  |
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 5, 2016 17:33:33 GMT -5
or would you prefer; i) A small hill and clouds and some blue sky  or ii) only clouds and sky?  or iii) just blue water and blue sky?  Best, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by cwrr on Sept 6, 2016 22:36:09 GMT -5
Well done Sir!! The modeled terrain is almost a perfect match for the 1:1 terrain!!  |
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 8, 2016 8:12:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by markm on Sept 8, 2016 11:38:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by smr on Sept 9, 2016 6:10:40 GMT -5
Sept 9, 2016 1:22:16 GMT -4 markm said: Sven, That steamer is part of the UP heritage fleet, running all over the U.S., although never in that dilapidated condition. At least as far as the western roads, no operating steam engine would be allowed to get so rusted out. It looks like it's been sitting idle for 30+ years like this one: azlforum.com/post/7413Thank you, Mark, Since the rusted out model was photographed in the mid-70 (Chessie system time) your explanation of sitting idle for 20 years could be a good one. Here are some shots of the Challenger in action in the 50ties and some pics of her 20 years later..............     Best, Sven     |
|
I see a railroad carfloat, nice!!
