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Algonquin Pines On30 narrow gauge

Railway

     

     Welcome to the Algonquin Pines On30 narrow gauge model railroad site.  Below you will find the story on how the layout was put together and at the end there is a written guided tour with photos to follow along.  The layout and this website is still in the construction phase so check back periodically to see new photos and update.

     Thank you for visiting and I hope you find the tour enjoyable and informative.  Maybe you or someone you know will find the information below inspirational.

     Don't hesitate to send comments and thoughts, its how I gauge the success of the railroad and this website so I can continue to make improvements.

Cheers!!

Simon Elbourne

     

Planning the Layout:

 

     The planning of the layout room for me was as important as the track plan itself.  I think I spent more time planning how the room should look and feel then I did on the overall track plan.  I wanted something different from what I was seeing as the typical layout room.  I did not want the typical 2'x3 'grid bench with foam and black fascia and valance, not that there is anything wrong with it, but for me I did not want it to feel as if there was a layout in a room as much as I wanted the room to be part of the layout.

     This is my third layout.  My first was in a small 6'x12' room.  It was a freelanced modern era N scale layout with single continuous loop mainline.  I learned a lot about building model railroads with that layout, most of all I learned that I loved this hobby and needed a lot more space.  After some modification to the basement, I was able to create a 12'x14' space which I ambitiously installed a double deck double main line N scale layout with over 600’ of track and some sixty turnouts.  Again I learned even more about construction, electrical, track work etc….  I started to realize that N scale probably was not the best scale for me, although I liked the amount of things I could squeeze onto the layout, the small sizes started to take a toll.  I already had poor eye sight and as I got older my poor eye sight and fat fingers only amounted to more and more frustration when working on the layout.  It was time to consider a change and after reviewing a number of magazines and you tube videos I found that the On30 would suit my needs well.  On30 offered me the size and detail of O scale but with the track size of HO allowing for more track in what I thought was a small room.  The smaller rolling stock and steam geared engines also had an appeal.  Not so large that I couldn’t imagine a layout plan but not so small that my eye sight and fat fingers could handle.

     The inspiration of the layout came from a few sources, mainly from my love of northern Ontario and specifically the Algonquin Park and Muskoka Haliburton regions of north central Ontario Canada.  I had visited the Algonquin Park logging museum and had ready many a book about the logging operations that took place in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  As this area was my favourite place to be I thought it would be a good starting point.  I always remember hearing Miles Hale MMR say model what you know.  I also came across a number of you tube videos from some Australian narrow gauge modellers and I found the detail these guys had in their logging layouts extraordinary, I wanted that look on my layout.  With these things in mind my imagination began to cook.

     I found very quickly that this hobby was beneficial in so many ways.  Not only did it allow me to be creative, it taught me many new skills from basic electronics, carpentry to model making, scenery work and most of all patience.  The biggest benefit I found was that it allowed me to immerse myself into the hobby and block out all to do with the outside world.  I found it was a great way to de-stress and relax.  My thoughts were on nothing else other than on the railroad.  I always had the same experience when I was in the north whether it was hiking trails in Algonquin park, fishing on a lake or sitting on the porch at the cottage looking out over the lake enjoying the fresh air and peace and quiet.  I felt at that point my mind and soul were at peace and quiet, all was right with the world so to speak. It was for this reason that I wanted my layout and layout room to be as one, it needed to be as close to my northern experience as I could get in a 12'x17' space, it needed to be my retreat from the world when I could not go north. I should mention that I modified the basement once again to get the most space possible with out getting management too upset with me, thanks Hun! Because I knew I wished to have a logging railroad I thought it would be good if the benchwork also emulated the logging feel as well the valance needed to break from the traditional black to something completely different.  I had seen a module set up with a valance made from an old tin roof, so I thought why not cedar shingles. I spent a few weeks planning how the benchwork would best fit into the room and how the benchwork and appearance of the room should look.  I had a general idea of what the track plan would look like and what I might be able to achieve but nothing firm, I was going to allow the creative juices to flow as I began construction of the benchwork.  And so this new adventure of On30 began.

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About the Layout:

     Algonquin Pines is a freelanced On30 narrow gauge model railroad.  The layout is a single level in a room 12' x 17' .  There is approximately 125’ of single main track line running a continuous loop around the layout.  There is a couple of sidings as well as several service tracks to the local industries.  In order to achieve a better sense of distance the main line does exit the layout room through a wall and then re-enter the room in another location.  For me this gives the appearance that the railroad services other locations.  The layout has a small town and engine servicing facility with a three stall roundhouse and turntable as well as a separate engine machine repair shop.  There will be a large sawmill operation as this is the mainstay of the railroad.  There are four bridges and the main logging camp and a number of other structures which we will talk about further on.  There is a small staging area and workbench outside of the layout room.  

Benchwork:

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   The layout benchwork is 2'x 3' construction for the main bracing with 3/4” plywood decking and 1/4” cork on top of the plywood.  Top of the layout deck is approximately 42” off the floor. The railings around the front edge of the layout are approximately 36” off the floor and are made with 1x6 pine with cedar log uprights which add to the logging theme of the railroad, the railings are handy for setting down tools, drinks etc., this helps keep items off the layout, it also is a great place to lean on when looking at the items on the layout. The facia is also 1'x 6' pine.

  Under the benchwork are storage cabinets and bookcases built in with adequate space behind the cabinets to still be able to service electrical needs under the layout.  The upper valance is to conceal LED lighting and is made to give the appearance of an old log cabin roof top with cedar shingles, again this adds the the theme and flavour of the layout room.  

Backdrop:

 

The backdrop is a photo backdrop from Joey Ricard Trackside Scenery(www.tracksidescenics.com). There were six panels each are 30”tall by 8’ long.  I found even with the large size the photo was very crisp and colours were excellent.  I liked the idea of being able to custom build your layout backdrop.  I did entertain the idea of painting my own backdrop but in the end was glad I went this route as I could never replicate the detail and feel that these backdrops give to the entire layout room.  For me it was important to achieve the feel of being in the forest when standing in the layout room.  For that reason the expense was justified.

Track and Turnouts:

 

     When I first thought about track I originally turned to flex track and turnouts but found availability and expense would be a challenge.  I liked the look of handlaid track but having never done it I was intimidated at the process.  At the time, not knowing anyone who had done it who could offer advise, I thought it may not offer me the best experience for this project.  I did however do some research on materials and cost which lead me to find Fast Tracks.  This system simplified the process for me and made it possible to achieve that handlaid look I so much wanted. The track is code 83 rail and wood and copper PC ties.  I used the fast tracks system to also make my own turnouts which are all #5.  I found this system very beneficial as it taught me a great deal about handling track as well as turnout construction and operation as well as troubleshooting.   I found my confidence level increased substantially to the point I would have no problem in building my own turnouts or handling track from scratch in the future.  The Fast Tracks system is definitely something I would recommend.

 

Control:

 

     I use the Digitrax system to control my layout, it was the first system I manage to acquire for my old N scale layout and so it was the first system I used when learning about DCC operation.  I find the Digitrax system to be quite adequate and easy to use so it works well for this application.  I do have an NCE system on my modules which I also find to be very user friendly.  

 

     I have a PS2012 power supply providing power to two DB150 boosters, not that its required, I just had them so I separated the layout into two zones for the boosters.  I have two circuit boards PR42 from Digitrax, one board per booster.   These boards control  four separate power zones each.  I currently use 5 zones on the layout, 3 zones on one PR42 and two zones on the other  with three spares for future. I use an MRC reversing module for my turntable and a Digitrax AR1 for the reversing loop at the lumber camp.

 

     I have 6 UP5 connection points for throttles around the face of the layout as well there are two UR90 infrared receivers which allow me to run the layout wirelessly with the two DT400 handheld throttles if I so choose.

 

     I have a PR3 interface connection which allows me to connect my lap top or computer to the layout and to a programming track for my locomotives.  I use the JMRI programming tool to set and make adjustments to my locomotives.  I am still learning the JMRI software and one day hope to also set up control of my turnouts using either the computer for possible operations or the throttles for basic running of the layout.

 

     I use tortoise machines to control the 27 switches around the layout, these are currently controlled by switch panels located around the front of the layout.  The tortoise machines power the frogs when thrown.  Green and Red LED lights indicate position of the switch.

Electrical:

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  I built a power cabinet which houses all the main power components needed for the layout, all power to the layout comes from this central point.

     House power is bought into the rear of the cabinet and is then split into two circuits.  One circuit  is split again to control the LED lighting above the layout  as well as along the front of the benchwork are conveniently placed receptacles.  I hate always running extension cords to power up a soldering iron or tools when working on the layout, a lesson learned from past layouts.  Its also handy to charge my phone. 

     The second circuit is for the boosters, PR3’s and power supply for all accessories such as lighting in the buildings.

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 All electrical lines are run through a chase way at the front of the layout and then brought to terminating blocks at the front.  Past experience I have learned its easier to troubleshoot and work on electrical components from the comfort of a chair in front of the  layout than on your back with poor lighting underneath the layout.  Wire is colour coded black and white for bus wires, red for track “A” Yellow for track “B” Blue for the frogs etc..  I also number the wires and mark them up on a blueprint drawing.  Hopefully I should rarely if ever need to go under the layout once wired, all troubleshooting can be done from the front access panels.

Lighting:

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     Layout lighting is done with LED’s, some pucks some strips and some rope light.  I have a strand of white rope light which to me looks more yellow than white.  This gives the layout the appearance of an early morning sun rise or late evening sun set.  I also have a strand of blue rope light, which I use for night time runs, I have it on a dimmer so I can change the intensity from a full moon type of evening to a dull no moon type of night.  I have run bright white strip LED’s these are really bright and are perfect for working on the layout or for photo shoots.  For regular running of the layout I usually leave these off. I have LED puck lights positioned about every two feet, these provide the best lighting for the layout and are used most of the time. 

I also have a strip of LED’s running under the shelf around the layout, this I found was needed to light up the storage areas and bookshelf under the layout.

     Most structures will be equipped with interior and exterior lighting as well there will be some light poles located in the roundhouse turntable area as well as around the saw mill and log pond unloading facilities.  Some specialty lighting will be installed for the blacksmith hearth, welding in the service pits in the engine repair shop and possibly even some lighting and thunder effects over by the lumber camp.  I have also considered using some sound effect modules for the saw mill, rapids and water falls.

Locomotives:

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I have an assortment of locomotives, most would say I have too many, but thats up for debate, how many is too many.  If we looked at my railroad with all the locomotives it would be considered the richest railroad around. Again thats why I like freelance, its my railroad and I can do what I wish with it.  I have approximately 20 different locomotives all steam era, half of the locomotives are geared locomotives.  They are all Spectrum Bachmann brand and all but 6 are sound equipped . In the collection there are 6 - Shay,  2- Climax,  2- Heisler, 1 -Forney, which make up the geared group

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  There is 1 - 2-6-6-2,  2 - 4-4-0,  5 - 2-6-0,  1 - 4-6-0, 1- 0-4-0, and 1- 0-4-2 locomotives.

I have the majority of them set up to burn wood, which is a by product of my logging operation and therefore very plentiful as a fuel source.  I may thin out the heard in a few years as the layout progresses to completion.

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Rolling Stock:

 

     Rolling stock currently consists of several box cars, two reefer units, flat car, two gondolas, three side dump ore cars and a dozen logging cars.  All are from the Bachmann lineup.  I do have several car kits that I need to build.  I am looking forward to building the kits as one day I wish to scratch build all my rolling stock for the layout.

 

Structures:

 

     I have currently a number of structures on the layout and plans for a number more.  In the town area I have a large import export warehouse, I think at one time it was suppose to be a creamery, but I use it for incoming and outgoing goods for the town.  There is a general store, a carpentry shop building canoes crates and caskets.  There is a church.  Currently there are three water towers, two small and one large with plans for two more large towers.  There is the ore mining complex, an office ore tipple and shack.  The is a dock at the log pond with an office warehouse and workshop .  There are four bridges spanning the rapids and waterfalls. There is the turntable and three stall roundhouse.  There is also a logging alligator which is an amphibious craft used to transport logs across the lakes to the mills.

 

     Future plans are for the sawmill, an engine repair machinery shop, a wood cutters shack, a park wardens office and post office, a station depot, a hotel, the brewery and mill, the rangers cabin and fire watch tower, the blacksmith shop at the lumber camp, loggers cabins, another depot station and three or four more industries which I am currently undecided of what they will be.

 

     The roundhouse turntable and ore mining facility buildings were all craftsman kits from Kitwood Hill models.  These kits are the best I have ever seen, the quality is second to none and the instructions are the best I have come across.  I have a few Bar Mills kits which I have done some modification to.

All the structures will have interiors and lighting.  The biggest details will be in the saw mill and the engine repair facility, each will be open so as to view the details of the interiors.

 

     I am currently planning the scratch builds of many of the newer buildings, after building a number of craftsman kits I feel I am ready to begin designing and building my own, this is an element of the hobby which I am quickly learning I enjoy.

 

Scenery:

 

     The ground cover I use a variety of woodland scenics ground foam products.  I have used grass seed to simulate pine needles.  The rocks are done with plaster of Paris in rock molds, I have three different styles of mold so I make up a bunch of each style and then break them up into pieces.  The pieces are then placed onto the areas I want rock formation and the gaps are then filled in with sculptamold, once I achieve the shape and look I want then I wash the surface with watered down acrylic, usually burnt umber white grey and beige colours give me the look I need.  The roads are done with sifted dirt.  I picked up a bag of paving stone filled which is like crushed granite, I then sift it into fine dust, fine gravel and stone.  The gravel and stone I use for roads and as fillers around the rock formations.  The dust I have found is a perfect weathering medium.  By using a makeup Brush I will sprinkle and brush the dust on the rock work and even have used on buildings roofs and walls.  The dust will soften the colours and give a somewhat aged look.

 

     Trees and bushes I still need to work on, I am currently using pre-made pine trees that I had from my N scale layout, they are not the right scale height that I am looking for but for now add a little bit of interest as opposed to a barren fully logged landscape.  Most the trees when I make them will be around 12” to 30” in height.  Tree species will be Birch, Pine, and Maple.  I will make bushes using a filter material and ground foam, hopefully they will look alright when complete, and if not I’ll tear them out and start again.

 

     The water is done using enviro-tech epoxy, its not bad but will yellow over time so if you need clear water I would suggest using other products.  I was not too concerned with the yellowing as my water would be a brown yellow colour anyway. I use angel hair to do the rapids and water falls, once the epoxy is painted onto the angel hair it becomes translucent, you can also shape it to get the desired look of water.  I was pleased with the outcome, considering it was my first attempt at this method.  Check out Lex Parker MMR on You Tube, he has a number of videos on water and angel hair water falls.

 

     All the above is a basic insight on how I put the Algonquin Pines layout together.  I find that there are many resources out there to show how to build a model railway, there is no right or wrong way only what works for the individual doing them.  Don’t be afraid to explore and try different methods, when you find what works for you stick with it until you find another method that works a little bit better.  The joy of the hobby is the ability to learn and improve as you go along the journey.  Also like many real railways don’t be afraid to tear things up and change them, as your skills improve you can go back and redo areas of the layout, constantly improving.  Trying new methods and learning new skills is an essential part of Model Railroading, its what keeps the hobby interesting year after year

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