An HO-scale shelf layout: The Cascadia Rail Link

[switcher]

The Cascadia Rail Link is a freelance regional railroad straddling the US-Canada border, with trackage in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.

I'm planning a shelf layout along two walls of my 10'4" x 11'9" home office to represent one tiny part of the network. I'm primarily interested in switching operations, and I like to change things, so I'm using Kato HO Unitrack and not fastening anything down. The track will sit atop a layer of 1/4" cork underlayment for sound deadening, and to smooth out the joints between adjacent melamine shelves. I may incorporate some movable structures for the industries, but I'm not planning anything in the way of scenery.

The curve in the corner is made of three 24"r. 22.5″ sections with two 34"r. 10″ sections for easements, for a total of 87.5″, so the mainline and siding approach the wall at a 2.5″ angle on the east shelf to add a bit of visual interest.

The industrial district trackage is subject to change. I'd like to add a crossing so two spurs can cross and add more visual interest, but Kato only makes a 90″ crossing. I don't have a 3D printer yet, but I'd like to 3D print a Unitrack-compatible piece of ballast to adapt an Atlas code 83 crossing for this purpose.

I'm only planning to have one locomotive, an MP15 switcher. At the moment it's wearing Union Pacific livery, but I hope to change that eventually.

 

[Don Z1029]

The Cascadia Rail Link is a freelance regional railroad straddling the US-Canada border, with trackage in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.

I'm planning a shelf layout along two walls of my 10'4" x 11'9" home office to represent one tiny part of the network. I'm primarily interested in switching operations, and I like to change things, so I'm using Kato HO Unitrack and not fastening anything down. The track will sit atop a layer of 1/4" cork underlayment for sound deadening, and to smooth out the joints between adjacent melamine shelves. I may incorporate some movable structures for the industries, but I'm not planning anything in the way of scenery.

The curve in the corner is made of three 24"r. 22.5″ sections with two 34"r. 10″ sections for easements, for a total of 87.5″, so the mainline and siding approach the wall at a 2.5″ angle on the east shelf to add a bit of visual interest.

The industrial district trackage is subject to change. I'd like to add a crossing so two spurs can cross and add more visual interest, but Kato only makes a 90″ crossing. I don't have a 3D printer yet, but I'd like to 3D print a Unitrack-compatible piece of ballast to adapt an Atlas code 83 crossing for this purpose.

I'm only planning to have one locomotive, an MP15 switcher. At the moment it's wearing Union Pacific livery, but I hope to change that eventually.

Food for thought: Melamine shelving will sag under its own weight. You will need to have a lot of shelf supports to prevent it from sagging, and you could also attach a stiffener to the front edge to help prevent sagging.

Regards,
Don Z.

 

[switcher]

Food for thought: Melamine shelving will sag under its own weight. You will need to have a lot of shelf supports to prevent it from sagging, and you could also attach a stiffener to the front edge to help prevent sagging.

The office already has shelf brackets spaced every 16". I may upgrade to plywood, plywood + frame, or plywood + foam (to carve out a stream) at some point. I was only starting with the melamine shelves because I already have dozens and dozens of them left over from back when I owned a hobby shop (the previous owner of the shop had installed a slatwall system).

 

[Colbert]

A lot of very good ideas here:

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