Need ideas for feature to separate tracks

Hm.  A row of tall trees?  Or, a masonite "view block" with sky and building flats?  Then you could have a different, complementary scene on the Yard side.

I agree with TED S, build a low hill and stab some trees in it, of course another smaller hill and some trees close by would help make the first hill look more natural.   Alternately you could put up a narrowed warehouse aligned with the yard tracks - which plausibly could be a company storehouse or an on-line customer.

Fort Pitt Hi-Railers, Tom's modules.    

Lou- since you have the tunnel on the corner you could build a hill with a road up to the top and create another small scene up there. I like the idea of a narrow building with two different faces on each side too. Lot's of options.

Bob

Here’s an idea from the forum.

Ice house facility

Lou,  since the area you want to scenic is only 5 inches wide and you only want a view block that is 5-6 inches tall,  I would go with a row of trees.  Place them a close together as possible,  put in some bare trees also so it doesn't look like a park. Also add underbrush in the way of bushes and weeds.  Make the area as thick as a hedgerow. 

Bill

It looks like you could also reasonably fit some rail service buildings in that area which would block the view.  Would likely be something you have to scratchbuild.  Here is a prototype from Boston with parallel tracks, showing how you could break up the rails so it doesn't just look like cars lined up.  You can get fuel tank and sanding tower kits and scratch build some of the smaller buildings.

Not sure what your budget it. TRAINWORX  makes a couple of great looking building flats that fit your required space. One being the Rock Island freight house featuring a great looking smoke stack feature. Others make them also or you can simply kitbash kits. These fit your depth requirements of 5 inches. I would put these  up against your yard tracks. I would then use either Korber or OGR on the other side and make them follow the exact same lines as the Trainworx ones. Seeing it’s on the mainline side. I would keep them simple and make them look like a warehouse or perhaps the backside of apartments complete with fire escapes.

 I think I’d go a little taller than your 6 inches if doing buildings if you go this route.

Mike CT posted:

Fort Pitt Hi-Railers, Tom's modules.    

This is close to the idea I had in my head, sans road. I'd build a retaining wall on the main line side and have the hill slope towards the yard a bit. Kind of like an earth pile shoved to the side to level off the yard. Put some trees on top and it might look pretty convincing. 

I should have noted I wasn't looking to do a building in the area but something more natural I guess you'd say. I feel like my layout is missing some of that element. Thanks for the building suggestions though. I think if I had more room I would go that route. 

rattler21 posted:

This kit is 14 x 9.  Split one side and your building would be 28 x 4 1/2 with the false foam board side towards the switch yard.  Add a few windows and signs to the 'good' side and your 9" tall screen ought to accomplish what you want it to do.  Put the untouched side in the 'things box'.

If not long enough, other buildings such as the Brooks Hill Dairy kit could be modified as above or use its four sides as a flat.

John in Lansing, ILL

I actually have had that kit for a few years. I've combined it with a Lionel ice station to improve the ice station's looks.

Lou:

How about small yard office, maintenance sheds, series of vertical storage tanks etc. just a bit taller than the trains on the yard track. Something like below but scaled down

Delete the dock and scale down width to make an office

build half of below making it a sloped roof building

Ended up buying some pink foam and making a ridge to separate the yard from the main lines. Used some scrap wood to make a retaining wall as well. Came out pretty decently.

A suitably sized freight/loading station or platform should also work well.

Richie C. posted:

A suitably sized freight/loading station or platform should also work well.

Too late. It's now a hill .

rattler21 posted:

Lou,  The hill and retaining wall look good. Would a few signs or a billboard on or along the wall fit your motif?  Or a full size billboard to the right of the wall?  One promoting railroad safety or one of the named passenger trains?  John in Lansing, ILL

I'm actually in the process of building another hill and retaining wall on the other side of the yard. That one parallels a highway. I was actually planning on doing exactly what you suggested on top of that hill, putting some advertising billboards on top of that hill, facing the highway.  

I like the idea of putting up a thin view block between the areas as someone suggested with a masonite panel.     I would offset it to the yard side and put a bunch of backdrop buildings on the yard side representing the rears of buildings that might face a yard.   

Then on the other side where the Mainline is I would put in a lot of shrubbery and brush and skinny trees to create a rural look.     If the backdrop is offset toward the yard side, this leaves more room for scenery on the main line side.

Unfortunately this idea makes more sense if you got up 10-12 inches  or more rather than 5-6.    If you want to stick with the lower height, the wall of trees may be the best idea.

How about a elevator or two..  or a hill or two...

I filled mine with a produce loading dock, an oil storage tank and a small electric power station.