The Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry.

[Larry C]

Kyle even though the different elevations look good, better to make the changes now instead of having to rip everything apart again.

[Philip]

  Pleasing to my eyes!

[kyle creel]

Howdy fellas.....         .....been awhile............

Thanx to everybody that follows along by having a little 'look-see'; and Thanx to Mike, thanx to Larry C*., and thanx to Phillip...........all the comments and suggestions are absolutely appreciated and wanted.....it's how I get a lot of inspiration and direction........    

Guess what this is........        


Time's up   ........if you guessed .....Kyles' 4 x 8 On30 version of the great John Allens' Gorre & Dahpetid ....you would be 100% correct.......why? you ask (or maybe you don't)   would such a thing be of any importance          ok,ok, here's the scoop..........    

After re-reading my copy of "Model Railroading with John Allen"....I got the same old pang of longing        ...to get back to the reason I'm in On30 to begin with   ...

In 2012 I decided I'd heard and read  "You can't do the G&D in 4 x 8 in On30....the clearances will kill the project and the grades would have to approach 6%!!!".....to which I thought to myself...."REALLY ??  " "BULLSHIT"                 ..."I'll do it and show 'em"   ....so I did.....it turned out to be a little more daunting than I'd figured, but I did it and I had 18" radius, 4% grades and a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN !!!         ....

Then the 'bug' bit me!...     "I have to move forward into uncharted terrritory", ..."I'll EXPAND !!!"      ......and so I did...over and over again till I'd built 3 Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry's.....each in a new location and with more expansion......I was a real "ROBBER BARON"             ....

Then I got tired of that series of 4 X 8 G&D builds, and started on all the different plans and versions of the Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry. ya'll have witnessed.....       all the while not realizing that I was getting FURTHER and FURTHER  from my original quest and inspiration...         ....

I'd gotten so caught up in the 'imaginary world' of this 'really cool railroad', that I totally forgot that the G & D is supposed to be a VERY small short line between Grizzly and Dilapidated, passing through Po-Dunk Jct. on the way....   ...no more no less....     ....

So the other day as I was getting ready to begin laying track on the current project.....it hit me...       ....this isn't going to work out, because it's NOT the G&D Ry. Co...not the one I want....     .....Kinda like the time you realized that the girl you've told yourself "is absolutely it".....AIN'T !!!! and now you better get yourself out before you sink further.... ...so that's what I did........   ....

I've re-drawn the old plan and made the modifications I wished I'd made back in 2012; and added a little 'spice'...an interchange with the D&RGW at Grizzly.....14"TT instead of 16"; my scratch built sector plate for turning locomotives in Dilapidated, 17" radius curves, 4% grades, a way to fold up the railroad against the wall when not in use, and NO FUTURE EXPANSION !!!!!   ...that's the secret I missed ....it's a rinky-dink short line and it ain't goin' any place else...       ....

I discussed this with Patrice, Gage, and Mark....all said that I should probably get started on it ....The actual space it takes up is less than the current layout, that's a biggie...I asked Gage if he'd noticed that I've not 'run any trains' in a couple of years ?...he said yes, but he "figured that I'd run some - some day" .....SOME DAY...     .....that was it.....

So the packing up of all the RR locos, and rolling stock begins this weekend, and all the bldgs. and scenery will be packed up next week....           .....the track (which ironically) isn't glued or soldered will be packed up, and lastly the Woodland Scenics 4% incline / decline sets will be packed....     ....the backdrop will remain in its' current location and configuration, the new G&D will be at 48" height, and I just can't wait......       ....I feel as if a great weight has been lifted; and the curtain blocking my creative inspirations has been YANKED DOWN !!!!       .....I feel cool.....     ....

Here's how it 'fits' in the room,..the 2 chairs and table along with the short (29" tall) 4 drawer chest are under the layout when it's in use....     ....the drawing shows the footprint of the RR versus the furniture in the room......          


This is it folded out/down'............


All for now, .....ya'll stay tuned.....and thanx again for all the support and encouragement......see ya....        

KYLE CREEL
G&D Ry. Co. 

[Larry C]

Kyle nice you realized your dream now before you went any further; hope this one works out for you.

[Jerry]

Kyle I wish you all the luck in the world that you  get this dream finished.

Jerry

[Michael Hohn]

Ya know, I never tried that line when I wanted to end a relationship:  "Girl, you're like a model railroad . . . "

[kyle creel]

Thanx Larry C*., thanx Jerry, thanx Michael, and thanx to the 140 folks that took a quick 'peep' at the G&D Ry. Co.      

OK...here's the next update,..   ...in order to keep the RR small, and have as minimal footprint in the room as possible, I'm downsizing the project from 4 x 8..... to 3ft.-4in. x 6ft.-2in'...   .....this is actually smaller than John Allens' first Gorre & Daphetid which was 3ft.7in x 6ft.8in.       .....how ya gonna do that       ........?

I'm gonna use 15-1/2 inch radius curves 4% grades, and only run short 3 car max trains, only use the structures that look right (size and location), and keep the "RINKY-DINK" rule in my noggin...           ....

My largest locomotive is and will be my 2-6-0 which runs well (it's very 'broken in') on 15" radius curves and always has, I've even had my 2-8-0 OF and my BLI 2-8-0 on 15-16 inch curves and been satisfied .....   ......I probably won't run the 2-8-0's much though, and I plan on acquiring a couple of Bachmann 4-4-0 American OF locomotives... at any rate all my rolling stock and locos will be fine.....

Here's the best part         ....I'm going to build it in a reverse image of the Gorre & Daphetid, and I'm calling it (if I can get away with it             ).....The DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.                   ...I love it.........

Here's the floor plan/footprint of the new incarnation........

This is my first (4x8) G&D Ry. Co. from 2012

Here's a 'reverse image'.......still 4x8....

Now here's what I'm gonna build......in 3'4in. x 6'2in. ON30......  


BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE.....                 ........
Because of its' size, this RR will not have to be 'folded up, taken down, 'stashed away' or have any other "this thing's in the way" issues...       ......AND....   ....(the plot thickens)................

This short line connects Dorre to Gaphetid via Po-Dunk Jct., and it's reason for existing is the transportation of ore and its' byproducts from the "I Me Mine" which produces a VERY RARE ORE called ALL-a-MYTH-ium...which is chocked full of the mineral "BS"...                 .... when it's 'processed' you get a liquid of two 'grades'... regular..75-80% BS and the premium 100% BS                                  ....I DO love it       ........go figure.....This fine extract is purified further (off layout) into an 'ODORIZING GAS' and added to natural gas pipelines for leak detection                

The ore is mined and removed in Gaphetid using v-dump cars then dumped into ore cars, and hauled down to Phartz & Schmelling in Po-Dunk Jct. where the BS is extracted.       ....it's now a liquid    .. either 75-80% BS (black tankers)  or 100%BS(silver tankers)          .....and hauled back to Gaphetid to Windbreaker Distribution Co. which sells and ships the liquid to purifiers to be rendered into a pungent gas for leak detection .......anybody smell a fart??....           .......once sold, the tankers are hauled down to Dorre to be shipped out via the D&RGW interchange trackage......   ...

"That's my story YOUR HONOUR and I'm stickin' to it".........            
I'm already having so much fun I can't wait to begin dismantling the current project and starting on the new DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.

All for now ...keep those cards n' letters coming, and thanx again ever so much for stoppin' by or takin' a quick look....         ........see ya..........          

KYLE CREEL
DORRE & GAPHETDI Ry. Co.

[Larry C]

Kyle I have to say you change layouts like some people change their drawers; not a criticism merely an observation. I do think the smaller layout will not only save room in the room but will be much more manageable building wise. Looking forward to the new D&G. By the way the layout from 2012 was great looking.
Good luck!!

[Michael Hohn]

Kyle,

I like the depth of scene this layout will give you. 

My only concern is what appears to be a curved turnout in a tunnel. Is it needed?

My first "serious" HO layout was about 3.5 by 5.5' in size, a so-called lapped oval. 

Mike

[kyle creel]

Thanx Larry C*., thanx Michael, and thanx so much to the folks that stopped by for a quick glance..it's appreciated....

I really enjoyed the 2012 layout Larry C*., I got all weird inside when I found the pictures, and even more so when Gage showed me how to reverse the image so I could see what the current build could resemble...   ....the footprint in the room is gonna be great, and the way I'm designing this (actually it's John Allens') with no option for 'to be continued'...   ..it'll keep the layout this size....     ....and I'm getting all the 'kinks worked out' also before "foam flies everywhere"....         ......

Thanx Michael, very astute observation...   I'd been going to go ahead and settle on the fact that at 3 feet four inches width - that was how it would have to be...I had complete access to the end panel for throwing the turnout, but  I missed having the '3rd track' there in DORRE.....     so after reading your comment I decided to go with the way Mr. J. W. Allen designed his; and widen my layout a 'smidge' to 3 feet six inches, (his was 3 feet 7 inches) but keep the length at 6 feet 2 inches (his was 6 feet 8 inches).....   ...this affects the overall footprint in the room (which will remain paramount) very little and gives me what I knew all along I wanted and needed, in order for there to be few if any 'do-overs' or "I should've done that" .....I'm determined to have the layout I know I'm capable of building; and if I work these things out now ...the process will go more smoothly....       and the end result will be what I wanted...   in the first place.....     ....

As ya'll will notice by the updated track plan below,..the above mentioned changes have been incorporated, and I've also made the 'cataclysmic' decision to ditch the trestle.             ....I don't plan on and don't want to have to 'find a way' for the water runoff under said trestle to be 'routed through' Dorre, and I don't have room and don't want a 'Taylor Lake'....     .....so instead I'm having a spring flowing out from an upper level rock formation above and slightly to the left of the TT, and it flows down and  'back' under the tracks and into the backdrop where there's already a waterfall present to 'join up with'....           ...this will mean installing a short 6-8 inch bridge about 3-4 inches tall (I have 5 inches clearance above the hidden tracks) and the rest of the way will be a sort of 'high - line' feature the rest of the way into Gaphetid..     ...I also will have a 'spring fed water tank' at the short bridge 'cause ya ain't gonna make it' to Gaphetid without 'topping off the tender'.....             ....

I haven't labeled anything on the track plan but I'll have that done tomorrow (Sunday) after I have breakfast with my best friend Mark,  and before I begin packing up the locomotives and rolling stock...       , I'll post it for ya'lls 'enjoyment'...         .....

That's all for now ....thanx again for all the comments, ideas, observations and such, it really is inspirational and needed, otherwise I screw up ....             .....see ya....      

KYLE CREEL
DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.

Here 'tis'......ignore the 'faint track lines' that I couldn't get completely errased ...   ..

 

[Larry C]

Kyle looks good so let the flying foam begin!!!

[kyle creel]

Thanx Larry C*., ...   Amen brutha....the "order of operations" is as follows:

1. Pack up all locomotives, rolling stock, bldgs., scenery and scenery materials.....  
2. Clean out and organize the garage, so I can do all of the inital foam cutting and shaping out there.  
3. Remove (it ain't glued down) and pack up all track and roadbed, then dismantle the existing benchwork.
4. Thorough room cleaning, and finish the bottom portion of the backdrop to blend into the new RR height.      
5. Install blinds on the 2 unblocked (no backdrop) windows by the bed.    
6. Begin the FUN PART      .....          

Ok - here's the track plan with the towns of Dorre, Gaphetid, Po-Dunk Jct., and some of the other features labeled.......hope it looks ok, I'm surprized at how much this plan (the basic twice around design) seems a lot different (to me) from the original...   ...I feel like I'm already 'waist deep' in something I've (evidently) been looking forward too for a long time, but couldn't quite 'put my finger' on what it was or would be.....              


Thanx again for all the comments, and suggestions; they are the fuel for the engine.....       ....ya'll stick around, more to come..............see ya........        

KYLE CREEL
DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.