Mosslanda: Definitely Defiance…
Four years ago a red high hood GP9 led me down a rabbit hole that resulted in a layout design, inspired by the Johns Manville plant in Defiance, Ohio…
Last weekend a sense that I was recreating the stock in N scale without realising went from casual observation to deliberate re-acquaintance. The space vacated by Night Shift offers up a footprint of 55x10cm which just about allows the twin tracks of the prototype.
I like my Mosslanda projects to have an element of challenge - this time, that will be creating a relatively believable section of inlaid track and turnout. I’ve not yet decided quite how I shall do this, but today’s coffee break distraction will begin with some card mock ups on a heavily modified Peco Code 55 turnout. The rest of the composition is relatively straight forward with just a choice on a conventional or ‘Fancy Another Beer’ style unloading shed.
The prototype serves the Johns Manville plant, a manufacturer of fibreglass based insulation, in this facility specifically pipework insulation. Two sidings terminate a short spur from the yard in Defiance, itself a short link away from the CSX interchange, although the ND&W itself continues over a flat crossing. These Google Earth images show the site and its obvious attraction as a shelf layout. Street running and constrained by relatively modern structures and interesting industrial equipment and pipework.
 |
| Johns Manville plant, Defiance OH. Google Earth 2026. |
Operation would be arriving with a car and swapping it out for a second, or swapping in one for two - the only requirement being access to get a Kadee hand uncoupler in from the front and under the layout lid and lighting. Equally, the stage set is ‘generic’ enough to work with my other N scale models - the RioGrande GP30 or the Canadian models - and so acts as a photo backdrop, much in the way that Paxton Road can for my British examples.
 |
| Johns Manville plant, Defiance OH. Google Earth 2026. |
Expect to see more on the project through the Autumn. Whilst I’d love to further explore the Canadian prairies I need to reflect on the disconnect between heart and reality with the very obvious lack of space for any more layouts here - in fact this ‘one in one out’ is likely to be the reality for the short to medium term anyway. Embrace what you have and enjoy the challenges you can find fitting a prototype to the space, and all that entails - as I described in ‘The Marriage of Space and Prototype’ in my first book (Small Layout Design - Handbook). Until next time, more soon…
This is brilliant James, love it!
ReplyDeleteThere is even a prototypically 'open' area from the gate to the shed for you to view from.
For the uncoupling, could you put the kadees into delayed mode offstage on the fiddlestick so you wouldn't need to touch them in the shed - just push them in and then reverse the loco?
55x10cm in N is only 5.5x1.0ft in O scale. Mmmmm...!!
Thank you Ian, that is interesting, not too large at all - certainly worth contemplating.
DeleteIf possible I’d go a little deeper I think, in O. The larger models need a touch more space for us to move around them - whereas in N, they invite us to get up close.
Couplings, possibly. I think I should be able to do it within the space though, I’m not trying magnetic uncoupling, I just couldn’t get it to work reliably in North American N last time.
A subject that is close to home for me. The textures and color of the raw brick, painted brick, metal unloading shed, and pavment will be an intresting challenge. Ian's idea of O scale intresting to think about.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about it all afternoon Joe!
DeleteI've already got the O scale stock (but some freelancing might be necessary eg GE 44 tonner for power), I've got a couple of 5ft boards plus I've got 1 point and enough track.
Lots of 1 or 2 point designs from James and Lance Mindheim have inspired me but this is the first one that has really made be think YES!!
Proper Lance Mindheim territory here James, a great little industrial prototype, lots of interesting structures and details. The space for a layout situation can be frustrating but there's always something out there to model in the space you have as you've stated in your book. The inset track should be a decent challenge and I really like the open end on the left hand side, I've always enjoyed looking along layouts and this would replicate a real view point if you were actually visiting Defiance. I look forward to seeing this layout develop.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Thank you Tom. Hopefully more James Hilton than Lance Mindheim! We’ll see… turnout already completed (see todays blog)!
Delete