A scrapbook of Scrapyard ideas

Lots of thoughts have been buzzing through my brain since I started on the layout concept, and when ideas buzz, they really buzz. Sometimes I can’t stop the ideas from coming, they come at the most inopportune times. For example, there I am in the middle of a 20 mile marathon training run, and an idea pops into my head. Invariably it gets lost. But other times I have a sketch pad or iPad close at hand and can scribble something down that I can develop. Here’s a few pages of thoughts. They’re just thoughts, no idea of layout size has entered my head yet. When I get an idea I like then I’ll measure things out and see what space they fit into.

First idea. More Scrapyard.

This is a first attempt making the scrapyard more important. Two sidings, what is known as a tuning fork arrangement, with cassettes offstage to take individual cars for scrapping or the gondolas full of scrap or flat cars loaded with wheels. The warehouse is still in the background to receive other traffic.

Second idea. All scrapyard.

Idea 2. I got rid of the warehouse at the back and devoted all the action to the scrapyard. Operations on the scrapyard could be quite intense. This is a link to a description of a typical operating session on my first scrapyard layout. Musings of a working gate to access the scrapyard appeared… Working features are always a positive thing on a small layout.

Third idea. Getting somewhere

Idea 3. Now we’re really getting somewhere! Throw in some pictures of inspirational locales and this starts to take shape. The area marked by the red line would make a good start point. A short section of track to lay. Some simple scenic features to develop, and it could all add up to a nice photographic backdrop for models. Those double stacked boxcars for scrapping would make a great scenic feature to hide offstage exits, and might be a use for those cheap 3-Rail boxcars you can buy in Menards. Stacks of wheels, and boxcar ends holding back piles of scrap as seen in St. Cloud, MN are other features I’m keen to include.

The section marked by the red line could be started as a single baseboard to try some track laying, switch building, and some new scenic techniques to create a photographic backdrop. 

It’s a good start. I feel that this is actually worth investigating further. I should measure it up and see what area it fits in.

I’ll report back in a few days.