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Like the preceding Portside layouts, these model a railway that serves piers and ships. One set of spurs also serves portside industries such as propeller works. On pikes like this, expect to handle both freight and fuel. A large part of operations will involve fuel for ships as coal hoppers or tank cars, and empties waiting for pickup by a mainline hauler. Refrigerated cars will be bringing food for ships' crew on their long voyages, and gondolas and flats will bring other supplies for the ship. The job is not only moving freight, but bringing in the logistics of shipping.
This railway is fine for small locomotives like the MTH Dockside, Lionel / Williams 44 tonner and the smaller Lionel switchers. You could also do well with the original Marx (pre-1976) S3 and 70-tonner locomotives and the K-line S2.Larger MP15 and SW types would work, but not as well as smaller locomotives.
The problem with O27 track is that a straight is 8 3/4" to 8 7/8" long, while most freights range from 9 inches and up. You would do best to use smaller O27 type freights such as the K-Line Deluxe and Train 19 types, original Marx, Industrial Rail freights, MTH Rugged Rails and shorter O27 cars by Lionel. Ore cars do well here. Develop your consists with an eye to keeping the size manageable.
This 4' by 10' layout uses O27 track. The right loop has a small yard with facilities for the railway, the left loop serves portside industries. The lower sidings are interface with a mainline railroad. |
A slight change in trackwork. |
Here we expand to 6' by 10', and that means more extensive trackwork.with a reverse loop. |
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