End of the Line: My Layout Design Journey with West Harbour Station

[@ZetaRanger79]

I really like how you use elements that interest you to weave something that captures those elements, but isn't necessarily bound to replicating them precisely. It can actually get into what it is about trains that we find fascinating, and how we choose to explore that fascination using our little models. My 'big city' station is in a fictional city, and my current thinking has recently taken a real hard look at the stub-end format. Partially due to space availably, and partially due to the idea of backing passenger trains into the platform just seems kind of cool. One idea that might get the 'go for it' memo is a transfer table at the end of the stub, so locomotives can disconnect, then transfer to a different track and leave by themselves. We'll see. Gotta say, the planning phase is certainly one of the 'fun parts' of the hobby. Some paper, a pencil and a glass of Irish Cream, and there's an afternoon well spent.

[@SouthDown]

Like a documentary, only better. The "end of the line" at 3:38 is fascinating (never mind finding out about a station I had no idea existed, I only ever made it as far as the TH&B one by James St.) and reminds me of the end of the subway line at the Toronto-Mississauga border. Both feel like they could have kept on going.

[@nolan_8024]

Beautiful work. It was great to meet you at the Breslau show.

[@NScaleDystopia]

You as well! Thank you for introducing yourself!

[@coxsj]

I know the area well. Good choice and nice plan. Your plan captures it very well. Cheers, Steven

[@lpclassic60]

I think what really strikes me is that final shot with the three mainlines. The way that each track seems to be a different color is so beautiful, and it would be a nice detail to incorporate.

[@NScaleDystopia]

Just beyond the top of the screen, the leftmost line merges back on to the double mainline. That's the yard lead.

[@GoViaorgohome]

I like that you are putting a lot of thought into the new layout. Can’t wait to see what comes of it

[@NScaleDystopia]

It's getting closer!

[@TheyMakeItLikeThat]

Fantastic Video. I really appreciate the amount of research you do.

[@silversscratchbuiltproduct6277]

Glad to hear that you're moving along and you're enjoying your new planning and slow progress, "NEED MORE ZOMBIES!" keep it up my friend look forward to next report

[@SmithOfGear92]

I think this is a lovely locale for you to reference when modeling that green space on your layout. Knowing your proclivity for using ground foam for overgrowth on your abandoned structure builds, I know you'll knock it out of the park making nature reclaim the area!

[@NScaleDystopia]

I'm thinking Autumn colors!

[@railwayjade]

I like the way things are going with your planning and thought!

[@NScaleTrainsWithChris]

Great idea! West Harbour is supposed to eventually be a through station via switches installed at the east end.

[@trainglen22]

Great idea for a stub end station.

[@timothyjohnston4083]

@0:45 I was going to suggest you look at Quebec City's Palace Station. But it seems you beat me to it ! How great minds think alike ! :) It is a smaller 4-track stub-end station that could be interesting to model.

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Nice to have inspiration when planning things out

[@cpwhiskycreek]

That would be a great idea. Railfanned there several times when I worked in Hamilton

[@chrisscott8934]

I think if you add pacific central station then connect the line that gose to West harbour station you will get more realistic operations on the layout plus it makes it more realistic to use the entire line that you’re going with.

[@johnsvariety]

Great idea.

[@kevinmacneil5636]

Looks like a cool plan. I hope I don't spoil your inspiration, but West Harbour won't be a stub end station for much longer. It will be tied back into the mainline on the eastern side so that trains on the Niagara service no longer need to reverse into or out of the station.

[@NScaleDystopia]

When you take a look at the Google map view, it's clear that it's going to rejoin that mainline... Nothing's been spoiled!

[@railwayjade]

Thats cool, I was wondering during the video that the overpass looks like tracks could go under it.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

You are close to me , hope you had a great visit

[@petert9749]

Sounds good; nothing like trying out a new idea. The track plan is achievable, and you have at least some interesting operation (freight switching). Thinking of your main stub terminal: what kills interest in a lot of stub/stub with a couple of through lines layouts is repetitive action that quickly bores. Head-end shunting helps, if it can be arranged. I copied the head-end activity at our interstate terminal and it freed everything up. With accommodation for about four trains it is possible to sink an estimated hour and a half in one operating sequence. Anyhow; that's just one (loud-mouth) view. What a shame you are returning to straight-jacket commercial turnout geometry. That front/top photo 5:47 of #624 looks interesting. Achieving the haptic effect of the windscreens is a challenge. Some small things are big. Best Wishes.

[@stevecatlin5609]

nice video... the Lake is to the North in Hamilton. the plan was to have a new stadium near this station for the PanAm games, but politics got in the way. You may be interested in the Layout tour in Hamilton sponsored by the HO Model Engineers Society (HOMES) on October 5th. Buy a $5 map from a Hamilton/ Burlington? St. Catharines hobby shop. Some nice N scale layouts too.

[@NScaleDystopia]

I'm definitely going to be attending this

[@stevecatlin5609]

@@NScaleDystopia check out the HOMES club layout as well on Wentworth St. Hope our paths cross!

[@SkysTrains]

what day were you there, looks scarily similar to a daytrip to hamilton i took on the 31st of august

[@NScaleDystopia]

I think it was September 7th!

[@SkysTrains]

@@NScaleDystopia ah okay, i guess different days at the same time, since the Niagara train passed my train as we departed, which you showed briefly in your video.

[@RobertBOUSKILL]

when I was a boy the station at 3:43 of your video was the CNR main station. The front has a stone mural to trains on it as it is now owned by Chinese people who use it as a banquet hall. the tracks used to be under the building and were dead end just as the new tracks are. The trains used to run over the beach strip over the canal but a ship ripped out the bridge years ago. It was a swing bridge before it was replaced with the lift bridge that is there now. Liked your video. I think you have a good plan. Here is a video of my road. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnXLi6eJrthjmdk

[@Greeningdon]

I don't know why they built the West Harbour station as a terminus when there is GO train service to Niagara. From Hamilton, one has to take the bus to Aldershot and then catch a train to Niagara. Makes no sense.

[@NScaleDystopia]

Someone else commented that they will be converting this station from a terminus to a through station...