{"id":333,"date":"2013-02-06T17:35:52","date_gmt":"2013-02-06T22:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com\/?p=333"},"modified":"2017-07-03T12:54:40","modified_gmt":"2017-07-03T16:54:40","slug":"car-floats-and-ferries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/car-floats-and-ferries\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Floats and Ferries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Car floats and Ferries present unique visual and operating interest in model railroads. I am always captivated by any design where a port or water-railroad interface happens.\u00a0A ferry or float operation brings the added interest of a built in fiddle yard. Between operating sessions just replacing the cars changes the whole scenario.<\/p>\n

I recently came across an image of the Chief Wawantam at Mackinaw Michigan. The\u00a0Chief Wawantam served the\u00a0straights of Mackinaw from\u00a01911 to 1984. Three railroads (Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic,\u00a0Pennsylvania\u00a0and New York Central) kept the\u00a0Chief Wawantam busy during those years. The image shows a very busy dock area servicing both passenger traffic and freight onto the\u00a0Chief Wawantam.<\/p>\n

\"SS<\/a>
SS Chief Wawatam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To model the whole scene would take a lot of space. The dock was over 1200 feet long which equates to over 14 feet in HO scale. Instead I decided to design a small layout with a small car float operation that included a dock. Model Rail Radio<\/a> was also having a contest for small layout designs so I used\u00a0their\u00a060 x 18 inch\u00a0dimensions as the maximum size.<\/p>\n

After several tries I came up with a couple plausible plans. The first has the dock out front and the car float coming in from the right. this works if you have access to the RH side of the layout to change out the cars. Of course if you had that room you probably would have built a larger shelf layout. I also did not like the shape of the dock and felt the operations did not make\u00a0sense\u00a0since cars came in on the float only to be moved to a dock.<\/p>\n

\"Plan<\/a>
Plan #1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my second plan I placed the float in the front. The sidings were placed along the rear RH edge. The layout creates some interesting switching\u00a0dilemmas\u00a0 Cars must be spotted in the correct locations with only minimum space to do it.<\/p>\n

\"Plan<\/a>
Plan #2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The plan has been submitted to\u00a0Model Rail Radio<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0their\u00a0small layout design contest. The host, Tom, tells me I can submit as many plans as I want. I think he will be hearing from me again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Car floats and Ferries present unique visual and operating interest in model railroads. I am always captivated by any design where a port or water-railroad…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[48,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prototype-railroads","category-articles-on-small-layouts","wpcat-48-id","wpcat-2-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4e6yk-5n","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1417,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/the-boat-yard\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":0},"title":"The Boat Yard","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"October 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This week I started a new Free-mo module set called the Boat Yard. The design was a few years in the making. I was inspired by the Norfolk Southern (ex Norfolk & Western, ex Wabash) carfloat operation across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor Ontario. A Brief History It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Modular Layouts"","block_context":{"text":"Modular Layouts","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/modules\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/boatyard_72dpi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/boatyard_72dpi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/boatyard_72dpi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/boatyard_72dpi.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/boatyard_72dpi.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":726,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/prototype-30-gauge-railways-kauai-plantation-railroads-modelrailroad-narrowgauge\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":1},"title":"Prototype 30″ Gauge Railways – Kauai Plantation Railroads #modelrailroad #narrowgauge","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"August 27, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many people model narrow gauge in On30 and HOn30. Most of these are stand-ins for 36\" or 24\" gauge railways. I thought it would be interesting to look at some prototype 30\" lines that could be subjects for On30 and HOn30 modeling. This month we will start with the sugar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prototype Railroads"","block_context":{"text":"Prototype Railroads","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/prototype-railroads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/NarrowLocoWheels_small.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":548,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/civil-war-era-railroad-equipment\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":2},"title":"Civil War Era Railroad Equipment","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"May 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"As part of building the Mound City 1862 layout, I have had to learn about Civil War era railroad equipment. It is clear that railroading in the early days was tough and full of hazards. I will be showing the partially completed layout at the Small Layout Design Meet on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout How To Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"IC Passenger Cars in Cairo During the War","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/ic_passengercars.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2469,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/expressway-for-industry-detroit-toledo-shore-line\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":3},"title":"Expressway for Industry – Detroit & Toledo Shore Line","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"March 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The corridor between Toledo and Detroit contains several rail lines. The area was a who\u2019s who of Northeastern railroad giants. Within the corridor existed the small but highly efficient short line, the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line (reporting mark DTS). The line lasted until 1981 when it was absorbed into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prototype Railroads"","block_context":{"text":"Prototype Railroads","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/prototype-railroads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1960_DTL_LongYard.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1960_DTL_LongYard.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1960_DTL_LongYard.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/1960_DTL_LongYard.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2013,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/roundup-time-how-green-is-your-railroad\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":4},"title":"Roundup Time! – How Green is Your Railroad?","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"June 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"While doing research on older prototype railroad scenes from the 1970s and before, it is hard not to notice how green many of the old photos look and how overgrown some of the tracks appear to be. Since about 1980 there has been regular use of the herbicide Roundup\u00ae. This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prototype Railroads"","block_context":{"text":"Prototype Railroads","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/prototype-railroads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AdrianBlissfieldHighWeeds.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AdrianBlissfieldHighWeeds.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AdrianBlissfieldHighWeeds.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AdrianBlissfieldHighWeeds.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AdrianBlissfieldHighWeeds.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":832,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/small-layout-ideas-the-terminal-railroad\/","url_meta":{"origin":333,"position":5},"title":"Small Layout Ideas – The Terminal Railroad","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many larger cities at one time had a terminal railroad. These short lines were usually owned by one or more major railways. These terminal railways were very busy enterprises with many short runs, short trains and much switching to be done. A terminal railway had to service its customers (who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout Design Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout Design Ideas","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/small-layout-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Detroit Terminal RR","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":681,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions\/681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}