B&M Micro Layout (HO)

[YankeeRon]

I am building a 12" by 48" micro based (very loosely) on a piece of the Saugus Branch of the B&M that was close to my childhood home. Here is an initial shot taken a few months ago. I will post some updated photos soon. The corrugated building is an old Campbell Kit, Ayers Chairs. The siding with the switcher will have a coal and oil dealer.

[Paul S.]

That looks really interesting, Ron. I'm looking forward to seeing more. I like micro layouts.

I really like the effect you achieved with the Suydam kit.

[BillyJoeBob]

I like the details on the dock and inside the doors. The trash sprinkled about is just right - the scene looks lived-in. You might try using Micro Engineering Company Rail Weathering Solution to blend the rail into the roadbed details. BJB

[YankeeRon]

Thanks. I am trying to get a decent shot of the coal tower I made. Watch this spot. Kit was Campbell, not Suydam by the way.

[Allen]

Ron,
Thanks for posting your work.
Looking forward to seeing more of it.

[YankeeRon]

The status of the B&M Denver Street Sidings as of a few days ago. The Grumpy Toad Fuel Company is slowly coming together. The office building and the coal tower are my own design. The fuel tank and pump house are from an old Stewart kit. The 3 story building is Campbell's "Carstans Flop House" turned into a small grocery store with the owners' apartments above. It's placement is temporary.

[Paul S.]

The basic track plan appears to be an "Inglenook" you've adapted for your purpose, Ron. Is there an attachable staging extension at the far end?

[YankeeRon]

I am planing a transverse or some kind of fiddle yard on the right. I just haven’t got around to it yet.

[Paul S.]

I am planing a transverse or some kind of fiddle yard on the right. I just haven’t got around to it yet.

Here ya are:

[YankeeRon]

Here ya are:

Just what I need 😂

[YankeeRon]

Now that I finally have a round TUIT, I was able to build a fiddle yard.

[Allen]

Cool Ron, now how does that work?
I'll assume you just slide the staging back and forth to align for each track?

[Paul S.]

👍👍👍👍 🤣🤣

[YankeeRon]

The fiddle yard is strictly a manual operation. It would be way too complicated to have it slide. A giant hand comes in and moves the cars as necessary. Not truly realistic, but allowed for micro layouts. It is a “fiddle” yard!

[Allen]

Gotcha Ron! As long as it works, that's the main thing.

[Paul S.]

The fiddle yard is strictly a manual operation. It would be way too complicated to have it slide. A giant hand comes in and moves the cars as necessary. Not truly realistic, but allowed for micro layouts. It is a “fiddle” yard!

Yep, my off-scene track is part staging, part fiddle, too, Ron. Whatever gets the job done, eh?

[Russ C]

I haven't got to the fiddle yard / staging part yet but I have been giving it some thought. One idea is a piece of polished acrylic or similar material. Just slide the cars around and onto the end of track, something with a rerailer in it.
Another thought was a sector plate with 3 or 4 tracks, the ends curved to align with the entry track.
But there's one person who uses removable 'sections', lifts them out to turn trains around.

That's something that'd scare me because I know, sooner or later, I'll drop one of them

[YankeeRon]

That is a nice setup, but like yourself, I think I would be dropping trains all the time😖