Southern Railway's Slate Fork Branch (N)

[Paul S.]

Scenery work on the Slate Fork:

West portal of Dismal Tunnel

East portal of Dismal Tunnel

[Allen]

Looks good Paul.
Coming along nicely.

[Russ C]

As Allen said, looks good!!

[Paul S.]

One of the challenges I encountered with the Slate Fork, due to a commitment for maintaining reasonable aisle widths, was sector-plate staging consisting of just two tracks. This situation runs afoul of Tony Koester's rule of 2n+1* when planning for stub-end staging (minimum of three tracks). The two staging tracks had become storage tracks, and this was interfering with operations.

I solved the issue by purchasing two pre-built shelves, painting them black, and installing them underneath the layout within easy reach of the staging yard.

The walls need a good wipe down with a damp cloth, I see.

*Twice what you think you (2N) plus one more.

[Russ C]

Good Idea Paul, although the open ends concerns me (unintended roll aways coming to grief).Could you make those shelfs into movable cassettes? Possibly to butt up to the fiddle yard tracks, in effect removable sections of the fiddle yard?

[Paul S.]

Good Idea Paul, although the open ends concerns me (unintended roll aways coming to grief).Could you make those shelfs into movable cassettes? Possibly to butt up to the fiddle yard tracks, in effect removable sections of the fiddle yard?

I've become a little wary of removeable cassettes for N scale, Russ. One jostle and at best those light little cars have derailed. An errant jerk and they are flying everywhere. I think cassettes work better in larger scales where more mass is an advantage.

So far no issues with rollaways or attempted rollaways, fingers crossed.

[john_plsn]

I like the easy to reach shelves for off layout staging where tracks are not available. I don't care to be the one working the "Hole or Mole", but it solves a problem without modification on the viewable layout. This could be used to exchange empty for loaded cars at industries.

[Paul S.]

Something long-missing from the Slate Fork has been station signs. So I finally sid something about it: call it a "Dollar Project," if you recall the old MR feature.

Simple to make: design in Excel, some stripwood and tie stain for posts.

I followed Southern standards as best I could, referring to a standards plan from 1948. I also made a sign for Koester.

The sign for Slate Fork is a bit wonky, and I'm thinking I"ll redo it.

[Russ C]

They look good Paul. They follow SRR colour?
You could do one or two as non standard as leftovers from Slaty Fork RR days.

[Allen]

So I finally sid something about it: call it a "Dollar Project

This must be a typo? I can't see Sid having anything to do with this.....

[Russ C]

Poor Sid, a grossly misunderstood person.
Most people can't see Sid....

[Allen]

"Most people can't see Sid...."
Which is probably for the best? 😂

[Paul S.]

Hahahahahahaha!🤣🤣🤣