Modular NYC subway layout - Times Square Station

Youtube video:

Incredible work Joe.

John

@West Side Joe posted:

Youtube video: https://youtu.be/H4M1gxxII1A

Joe,

Believe it or not, it escaped me that the station could be hooked up to a loop.  In my mind it was always a splendid stand alone diorama.  When the train rolled into the station on the video, I had to ask myself where did it come from?  Well... the title of the thread has included the word "modular" from the start.  Duh!

One of my thoughts has been to just have a 48" x 30" diorama of a New York street scene with an elevated subway and concentrate on just that so I can complete something, but I never do.  Your station set-up proves to me that it can be done.

P.S. - I subscribed to your YouTube channel.

When I planned this layout, I imagined 4 identical modules that could be connected either end to end, or each module forming one side of a 4-sided loop, or a combination of the two, which is what you see in the video: the two completed modules are end to end in the front, and the track then loops around to the back and runs on the two unfinished modules which are also end to end. I really don't have the room to set it up permanently, but this way I can enjoy the big trains and store it in pieces when I'm done.

When you design your diorama, you can make the track run off at each end for future connection to other modules. That encourages you to think about what the next module will look like, but there's no rush, and you still have something to show for your efforts. 😁

This is what the setup in the video looks like with the lights on.

Joe - Excellent layout! The YouTube video was fantastic.

Question = where do you source your figures/people? They are great.

Thanks!

CTA Fan / Terry

@CTA Fan posted:

Question = where do you source your figures/people?

Most of them are Arttista. Then a bunch are from a seller in Belarus on Ebay: do a search on Seller:gordvlad . The rest are Bachmann, MTH/Rail King and Woodland Scenics, all found on Ebay. I search for O scale figures.  The only issue is that some figures are 1:43, some are 1:48. I place similar figures together and away from others that are different scale. I even have a few S scale figures, which work well in seated positions, like on the luncheonette stools.

Although some of the figures are pricey, it's a relatively small splurge, and the figures are essential to this layout.  Since I'm not spending $1,500 or $2,000 on a Lionel Legacy Challenger or the like, I feel it's OK to indulge in a much smaller splurge. 😁

Better video:

@West Side Joe posted:

Better video: https://youtu.be/pOeSShwIMdw

Joe,

With one of the finest most detailed subway layouts on the entire planet why don't you upload at least a 720p video to YouTube?

John

I'm surprised at the low resolution of my old Sony Handy Cam (or maybe it's that the autofocus doesn't work so well in low light). I'll look at cell phone holders that mount on my tripod, to see if using my cell phone camera gets me a sharper pucture.

Thank you for the compliment, BTW. 😊

So this wraps up the construction of the second subway module, Times Square Station. Thank you to everyone who contributed, suggested, commented and liked.

I'm thinking of what the next module will entail. Right now I think I would like to replicate one of the early first-contract IRT stations along the West Side of Manhattan, but with a rendition of my much-loved Viejo San Juan above ground. Sort of a fantasy layout.

Joe it's a great module.  I don't recall the construction of the first module.  Watching the video I thought it would be cool if a mechanism like the Lionel milk car could somehow be put in a subway car to "eject" passenger(s) when the doors open,  and something like the mech for the modern fork lift loader could let passengers "walk" into the sub way cars.

Along those lines, on the next module, I've been thinking of modeling the moving platform extensions ("gap fillers") that are found at the old South Ferry and the 14th Street stations, because the track on my module as envisioned would enter and leave the station on a curve.

Joe,  I've used both stations many times the moving platform extensions would be an incredible build.  Knowing the detail you strive for I would expect operating extensions and am looking forward to following.

The Times Square module is featured in the January 2022 Continental Modeller.

Progress on the third module can be followed here: https://ogrforum.com/...e-meets-old-san-juan

Good afternoon West Side Joe

I have some questions about the Times Square Subway Module you built.. measurements. It is fantastic !

I am building a subway layout with one local and one express station.

May I email you my questions? My email is stevemarks0704@msn.com

Thank you !!!!!

I'd be delighted to discuss subway layouts. 😁

Here's my email address:

super79vert@yahoo.com

The street lights in my first module always bothered me. They didn't look like the "shepherd's crook" NYC lights, and they didn't light up, because I didn't want to be bothered with all the proprietary Woodland Scenics "Just Plug" components. But I hadn't found any ready-made ones, and the ones I had just kept bothering me...

Then Joe Frank's scratch-built lights got me to thinking, maybe I can make some, too. So I modified some existing Woodland Scenics lights with bent brass tubing and clothing snap fasteners, and got the "Just Plug" components. Now I feel better. 🤪 Thank you, Joe.

Looks great! JohnA

Fabulous workmanship Joe,

John

@West Side Joe posted:

The Times Square module is featured in the January 2022 Continental Modeller.

I'm a huge fan of that magazine due to the varied things they print but rarely ever manage to get copies. I'd love to have a copy of this issue for this article!

I didn't know they published articles for layouts that were made by someone outside the UK!

The issue appears to be available here: https://pocketmags.com/contine...ller-magazine/jan-22

Absolutely stunning module, as a veteran of riding the subways you have captured it. About the only criticism I would give is the place with the "Frankfurter" sign should have been a Nedicks *smile*. There was one in the old Times square station by the shuttle if I recall correctly. (really good hot dog, too, with the toasted bun).

@West side Joe, Wow , beautiful workmanship, just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your work with us. I think a subway layout would be very interesting, maybe it’s called Traction, not sure, but I’m going back to the beginning of this thread and start from the Beginning. I do have a Lionel R30 set, it’s a crowd pleaser. Happy Railroading Everyone

@bigkid posted:

Absolutely stunning module, as a veteran of riding the subways you have captured it. About the only criticism I would give is the place with the "Frankfurter" sign should have been a Nedicks *smile*. There was one in the old Times square station by the shuttle if I recall correctly. (really good hot dog, too, with the toasted bun).

That was a unique hot dog bun for sure. More like a folded up slice of thick toast. Hadn't thought about those in ages. 😋

Joe, great work on the street lights.  Your attention to details and the ability to model those details, as demonstrated throughout this post are incredible. 

Hey Joe is the Old San Juan Module going to connect to this module?

Looks REAL to me!

@coach joe posted:

Hey Joe is the Old San Juan Module going to connect to this module?

You betcha.

Turnstile components ready to install.

Edit: Oops. I posted this in the wrong thread. These turnstiles are for the Viejo San Juan station.