A new beginning inspired from my old Central Midland Layout

Ericsauto · Aug 8, 2022

Hard to believe it is coming up on 7 years since I started this new layout. Procrastination has been a big part of this railroad.

The downtown area just had me in a block! ( no pun intended) Finally, I decided on the way to lay out the city, it makes it look deeper than the way I was going to do it. This is not complete but I think you can get the idea. A lot more scenery and weathering of the streets need to be done. My hopes are to get the brunt of the main scenery done this winter so that starting next year I can start fine details and operations. Tell me what you think. What would you do differently?

OBTC 1909 · Aug 8, 2022

Looking good! I don't know enough to have suggestions but like what you're doing.

BigGRacing · Aug 8, 2022

Hard to make suggestions when it looks great from what I see !

Smudge617 · Aug 8, 2022

Have to agree with Gary, looks great, love the cable car, don't see many on a layout.

Ericsauto · Aug 8, 2022

Thanks guys. I don't know why I have struggled with this scene. Drives me crazy, and has really delayed my progress.

BigGRacing · Aug 9, 2022

I think it just looks a little empty because you are still working on it. Maybe a few more buildings still ?

Smudge617 · Aug 9, 2022

By the time you've put your cars,trucks, pedestrians etc, going to a busy town you have.

Ericsauto · Aug 10, 2022

BigGRacing said:
I think it just looks a little empty because you are still working on it. Maybe a few more buildings still ?

Dang, that means I have to spend more money!

beiland · Aug 10, 2022

Ericsauto said:
View attachment 149813

That photo reminded me that I need to make myself one of those acrylic test cars.

Lynnb · Aug 24, 2022

Looks very very good.

Ericsauto · Jan 13, 2023

Happy New year everyone. Been a bit since I updated and like most of us, got very busy during the Holidays. Hopefully, I can post some updated pictures this weekend as I plan to do some work all day this Sunday. Hope everyone is well. - Eric

Chrιstιaη · Jan 13, 2023

You have build an awesome layout. Congrats.

otiscnj · Jan 23, 2023

Hey Eric, hope this year is better to you and your family than some of the more recent ones.

As to your town's layout, I have the following ideas/suggestions:
The Billiards Lounge needs to be elsewhere, such as a corner, type of building. Maybe put the gazebo in this area, adjacent to the town hall, with some parking for 'downtown & the playground/town park.' After that, I'd relocate the two 'Queen Ann houses, further down the street, from where they are located, or elsewhere. I'm thinking maybe a bar/restaurant/hotel near the 'cable car station.' not to mention a train station in this vacinity, too. The town may have been laid out by a developer, with an eye towards everything being tied together, even if it wasn't all built at the same time-sort of like Vail, CO, or a few other places around.

Nearby the train station could be the cable car station, several places to eat/hang out, while waiting for the train, a hotel, maybe even the town hall, with the police station nearby to the keep the town's people 'orderly.' At the far end of town, where people live, not do business, would be the houses, etc...

Maybe somewhere, you can add a siding or two, for an industry, or two, etc...... off of the 'old main' to the RR Museum/old station, now a stubb ended siding, due to the 'line relocation, a while back.....

Just a few thoughts, hope this helps some.

Carl

Ericsauto · Jan 26, 2023

otiscnj said:
Hey Eric, hope this year is better to you and your family than some of the more recent ones.

As to your town's layout, I have the following ideas/suggestions:
The Billiards Lounge needs to be elsewhere, such as a corner, type of building. Maybe put the gazebo in this area, adjacent to the town hall, with some parking for 'downtown & the playground/town park.' After that, I'd relocate the two 'Queen Ann houses, further down the street, from where they are located, or elsewhere. I'm thinking maybe a bar/restaurant/hotel near the 'cable car station.' not to mention a train station in this vacinity, too. The town may have been laid out by a developer, with an eye towards everything being tied together, even if it wasn't all built at the same time-sort of like Vail, CO, or a few other places around.

Nearby the train station could be the cable car station, several places to eat/hang out, while waiting for the train, a hotel, maybe even the town hall, with the police station nearby to the keep the town's people 'orderly.' At the far end of town, where people live, not do business, would be the houses, etc...

Maybe somewhere, you can add a siding or two, for an industry, or two, etc...... off of the 'old main' to the RR Museum/old station, now a stubb ended siding, due to the 'line relocation, a while back.....

Just a few thoughts, hope this helps some.

Carl

Wow thanks, Carl, some good ideas. I have already decided to put a dead-end siding by the train museum.

BigGRacing · Jan 26, 2023

Ericsauto said:
Some risers and cork road bed installed

Eric, it goes way back, but can you remember if that is the 4" riser pack that is about 12 feet long?

Ericsauto · Jan 26, 2023

BigGRacing said:
Eric, it goes way back, but can you remember if that is the 4" riser pack that is about 12 feet long?

Yes I believe it was and I highly recommend using them. Very accurate and easy. Ive tried to do it myself on other layouts it it was never as nice as this.

Ericsauto · Jan 26, 2023

otiscnj said:
Hey Eric, hope this year is better to you and your family than some of the more recent ones.

As to your town's layout, I have the following ideas/suggestions:
The Billiards Lounge needs to be elsewhere, such as a corner, type of building. Maybe put the gazebo in this area, adjacent to the town hall, with some parking for 'downtown & the playground/town park.' After that, I'd relocate the two 'Queen Ann houses, further down the street, from where they are located, or elsewhere. I'm thinking maybe a bar/restaurant/hotel near the 'cable car station.' not to mention a train station in this vacinity, too. The town may have been laid out by a developer, with an eye towards everything being tied together, even if it wasn't all built at the same time-sort of like Vail, CO, or a few other places around.

Nearby the train station could be the cable car station, several places to eat/hang out, while waiting for the train, a hotel, maybe even the town hall, with the police station nearby to the keep the town's people 'orderly.' At the far end of town, where people live, not do business, would be the houses, etc...

Maybe somewhere, you can add a siding or two, for an industry, or two, etc...... off of the 'old main' to the RR Museum/old station, now a stubb ended siding, due to the 'line relocation, a while back.....

Just a few thoughts, hope this helps some.

Carl

Carl I want to say you are my hero. I made some adjustments from your recommendations ( Not all) and it looks so much better. I moved my Burning IRS / Town hall building by the gazebo. I also move some buildings around. ( Bar and Bank.) I put a train station on the other side of the tracks at the edge of the layout. Not sure if I like it on the curve so I ran my passenger set by it. Not too bad. Here are some pictures, let me know what you think. Sorry for not cleaning it up a bit, I've been drilling for lights.