How I Plan to Use the Available Space

The following diagram will illustrate the general concepts I am talking about. The top of the diagram shows a overview plan of the layout's general concept, while the second, hand sketched diagram, shows a cross-section at line XX. I will now take the time to explain each of the letters.



A – The water Front

This will pretty much include the front 2/3rds of the peninsula areas (I, J, and K). It will contain a small ocean freighter (docked permanently at wharf (I). It will also contain the focal point of operations: two float bridges (J) with removable car floats or barges. The areas labeled K will be large corrugated (or wooden) warehouses.

B – The Docks

The docks are the area containing most of the track works. The area between the two float bridges (J) has what essentially amounts to a four-track yard. The dock area has all the track work that connects the warehouses, the car floats and the yard on the pier with the main line, which is simulated by the staging yard (F)

C – The Warehouses

The immediate background adjacent to the dock will consist of two or perhaps 3 story warehouses. These structures will be partial flats (depth of 1.5 to 2 inches) with a number of shadow box interiors to add interest. You have to figure that probably 6 to 8 feet along the dock’s back wall will be these types of stone or concrete warehouses. Fortunately the map shows that these run at a slight angle along the dockside and step back in a couple of places. This should add additional interest. I think that the use of odd angles to accommodate as much of the key elements in the layout is actually working to my advantage by adding interest to the overall layout.

D – The Run Around and Elevated Track

These tracks serve two purposes. The lower track acts as a “hidden” run around track. I like the idea of shuttling cars from one end of the layout to the other without actually seeing them. However in thinking about it, why hide a train completely. So I thought to allow the trains to become visible at the cross streets (intersections) of which I can create a couple. Furthermore to add interest I thought to add an elevated NY subway train. I am pretty sure NY has them though they probably never ran along the riverfront in Brooklyn. But they would add interest. In addition there is a company that sells laser cut elevated train platforms that are absolutely phenomenal and would add an exciting element of depth and perspective between the buildings, even if we are only talking about 2 to 3 inches. Also the idea is that the el (short for elevated train) runs on it’s own timetable. It just goes back and forth stopping at a couple of stations, of which you’ll be able to see parts. This is mostly the programmer in me talking.

E – Back Drop with Building Flats

The backdrop will be a photo or a painting of the Brooklyn skyline just south of the Brooklyn Bridge circa 1950. This should not be real hard to find since I am sure there are lots of photos out there of the Brooklyn Bridge taken from the Manhattan side. From what I have seen thus far, most of these photos show a smoky and dingy skyline. This will work to my advantage, especially if I decide to paint the backdrop myself. I imagine that by limiting use of color, going with muted sepia grays, I could create a pretty exciting looking city skyline. To add interest and depth I will probably add some building flats just behind the elevated track, especially at the openings between warehouses caused by any cross streets.

F – Staging Yard

What can I say; I’ve got to have a staging yard. A 6-inch shelf, about 4 feet long with 3 to 4 tracks.

G – A Piece of Brooklyn

This will essentially be a small business and residential area. Though, as the red line shows, the trains will move through the back streets to get to the staging yard. I did think about using a drawbridge to connect the main layout with the staging yard, but as far as I could tell there were no drawbridges in Brooklyn. There are plenty of those in Chicago, but I am not modeling the windy City. Bummer thus.

H – The Docks and Warehouses

This is discussed extensively in section B above

I – The Wharf and the Ocean Going Freighter

This will be a key part and focal point of the layout. I expect that there will be tracks along the wharf (I) to add operational interest.

J – The Float Bridges and Car Float (Barges)

This is what got the whole thing started. The car floats (barges) act as cassettes, so I expect to initially build about 4 of them. They won’t be pretty, more like rusty old barges with tracks on them. But the low railings and barge accessories will allow me to add detail and interest. Furthermore the track and wye switch half of which is on the float bridge, with the other half on the barge, will have to be hand laid. I envision the barged to slide on exposed tracks laid in the water to facilitate proper alignment. These tracks/guides will be hidden when the barge is lying against the float bridge. Also adjacent to the barges I will have one of those famous NYD Harbor tugs.

K – The large Wharf Warehouses

These will be large buildings usually found on the piers. I expect they will be made from corrugated materials. I have played around with the idea to run tracks inside, to act as additional hidden staging, but I’ll have to think about that.

And there you have it for today.