Cleveland & Eastern (N)

[Mike H.]

Hey folks,

I'd like to share my freelanced home layout - the Cleveland & Eastern RR - with you.
It is built as a walk in layout and covers 25 sqm room.

More vita :

Point-to-Point with mainline run and two short branch lines.

Sectional built on plywood-boxes for easy transport (just in case) and sectional disassembly - I did this a couple of times in the past, to optimize layout.
DCC with manually thrown switches.

Placed somewhere in the North-East, woven landscape with loads of green trees (once I am finished) will be the appeal.

Concerning motive power and rolling stock, I settled somewhere in the later 70ies / early 80ies.

I will try to post as soon I have new stuff to report but you can always find my blog via https://canderr.nscaleworks.com

[Mike H.]

Layout overview Part 1 – The Mainline

Here are a couple of photos to show the current state of the Cleveland & Eastern.

We follow the Mainline Eastbound from Westend Staging “Cleveland” to East-End Staging “Harrisburg”
In both Staging areas I work with storage cassettes built from angled alloy strips.



West-End Staging. Trains and cars are stored inside the staging cassetes
Exiting the West-End Staging leads us to Greenhill Jct. It is currently work in progress, and we will later exit a tunnel prior to the junction switch, which will be DCC controlled and governed by CPLs.




We move further to Elizabeth Oaks, where some local switching can be performed.

Industries in this spot are :
East Grain Mill
Dan’s Oil
Craftman Tools

Dan’s Oil and Craftman Tools are sharing the same spur, which is a switchback from the local teamtrack behind the depot.

Elizabeth Oaks also has a yard, that acts as the main distribution yard on the layout, and a small engine service facility.








As we leave Elizabeth Oaks, we pass Franklin Road and approach a single industry Mid-East Furniture, which is a relief-building with three car spots






The Elizabeth Oaks section was on public display during the 6th US Modelrailroad Convention, Rodgau Germany in 2017. Youtuber BD-Train captured the overall scene in a short video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhBdRkLoVgg

[dave1905]

Very nice looking layout. I grew up in the SE Pennsylvania area in the 1970's. You have captured good look for the era and locale.

[Karl]

I love how you've captured the color pallet of reality. It looks fantastic!

[Warren K]

Hi Mike. That is a nice looking layout. Can I ask where you got your grade crossing signals on Franklin Rd. and do they work?

Warren

[Mike H.]

Thank you Warren. The signals are from NJ International. They are working. See : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhBdRkLoVgg&t=8s

[Paul S.]

Outstanding modeling, Mike.

[Mike H.]

More to come guys...

Here we go with :

Layout overview Part 2 – The Mainline

This is the second part of the layout tour.

We continue heading East, after we passed Mid-East Furniture we ride across a yet to be named river and into a 180 degree curve which is hidden under the North-End of the Coal Run Branch.






Leaving the tunnel we approach Bend Junction, where the Coal Branch starts off the Mainline. As Greenhill Jct. it will later be DCC controlled and CPL governed.



Bend Jct. is also the start of the Yard-Limits of Sarverville, the second large operation point on the layout.
It will incorporate a Depot, a two-track stub-end yard, a Warehouse and a little Log-Wood Company.

Sarverville will also be the interchange point for un-/loaded coal hoppers for Coal-Branch





Leaving Sarverville we approach East-End Staging and the end of the Mainline.
Staging is located on the backside of Sarverville and reached after a yet temporary 180 degree turn.

This part of the layout is currently work in progress.

[Michael Whiteman]

What a great looking layout Mike. I love the way you have arranges the trees to create individual scenes. Thank you for taking the time to share this with all of us.

[Mike H.]

There is still more ...

Layout overview Part 3 – The Branches

This is the third part of the layout tour, where we a covering the two branch lines.

The Greenhill Branch

The Greenhill Branch starts off west from Elizabeth Oaks at Greenhill Jct. and leads to Red-Rock.
Red-Rock incorporates currently a Depot, Coal-Loader and a Trackside Transfer for Boxcars.
There is also a generic interchange track to the “World” where two cars can be spotted or picked-up.

I plan on adding a Ammonium-Unloading spot and will rearrange the Coal Loader to a different location.
Red-Rock has undergone some mayor layout changes after I alteed the Layout entrance. The Coal-Loader part was previously around a curve, now it is a straight section.







After leaving Red-Rock we turn 180 degres to the Backside of Red-Rock and reach Spot.

This is a single industry location, incorporatin Gravel Inc., a medium-sized quarry. It also marks the End of the line. I can add a staging cassette to drive trains from or to the open World.




The Coal-Branch

The Coal-Branch starts off on the West side of Sarverville from Bend Jct. and climbs in a one-turn loop back over itself with a 2% incline. It ends in a location named Wharton which is the connection point of two Coal-Loader.

[Jaz avalley]

Very nice, like the way you model the rock and leave the rest for greenery

[Mike H.]

I conclude the introduction of my layout with some overview shots:

The entrance, we have Spot on the left and Sarverville on the right side. West-End Staging is also on the left side at my photo position.




Walking into the left part of the aisle and looking back we have the East-End of Elizabeth Oaks Yard on the left. Wharton / Coal-Branch in the distance and the Yard Entrance to Sarverville on the right.



And the final photo taken from the end of the aisle where we have Elizabeth Oaks on the left and Red-Rock on the right. Greenhill Jct. is behind me.

[Jaz avalley]

Very classy looks like a museum display, and if what I see so far is anything to go by it will be worthy of one too,the quality of the trees is super, and I like the tunnel in the rock face, the plain blue background will work from all angles. I like the photographed backscene but they have a habit of being at the wrong angle,you won’t have this issue,and you have avoided the low relief on the left which means that also can be photographed on full range and not limiting shots.
We’ll set up in my opinion and the track and scenic colour is all good too, very nice.

[Eric - Housatonic RR]

That is a beautiful layout. I like industries that look like they need rail service and your scenic areas are top notch.

[Steve H AC&Y]

Large trees. Large industries. Good looking scenic color selection. Very natural landforms. Well done Mike!

[Allen]

Of all the photos I've seen of your layout Mike, I never once knew or got the feeling that your layout had canopies or valances.
It just adds to an already fine layout.
Nicely done!

[Guest]

Thanks for sharing! Nice looking layout.

Joe

[Mike H.]

Thank you Gentlemen for your kind words.

I will update this thread on occassion, if there is more to report.

[Allen]

Thanks Mike!