Hello,
I have found a layout that interests me and would like to pursue building it but have a few questions I hope someone could answer for me.
The layout in question is the Mount Royal Division of the Baltimore and Ohio RR.
My questions concern how some of the tracks connect up. So here goes:
I assume the the 3 tracks highlighted by a red arrow on the bottom connect to the 3 tracks marked with an A at the top of the photo? The 2 tracks marked B with a green arrow are connected to each other through a tunnel? I have a hard time with the vision of this curve in the tunnel. There appear to be 2 orphaned tracks in the photo not going anywhere marked with an orange arrow and a yellow arrow.
Would very much appreciate someone maybe having a look at the layout plan and maybe explaining this to me.
Thank you in advance,
Mark
Mark,
I cannot see you picture.
There is a sticky thread in "General Discussion" that gives instructions for posting pictures in the forums.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi,
Capture by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Luck, Ed
The entire plan is here
https://mrr.trains.com/-/media/import/files/pdf/d/e/2/mrr-a0310_a_plan1.pdf
The plan does not make sense as drawn to me either for exactly the points you raise. Nor do I see how they can call it a 3% grade, when it looks like the elevation changes 5" over about 60" of run.
Maybe there are only 2 of 3 A tracks connect. The center track leading to the blind and hidden trackage, why? I cannot imagine.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Not sure of your question.
There are 3 tracks at both A locations.
The two B (or not to B) tracks join the other B tracks below Perkins Produce.
That other track that loops around to the right below the Perkins B tracks looks like it is only connected at one end. Maybe it is supposed to represent an interchange. Maybe the article describing the layout gives an explanation.
Track plan is from the March 2010 issue. In the article the author talks about running a train to the mine at the right of Parker. He goes on to say that "Summit is also a junction with the New York Central". So I would guess that is what that isolated track that runs into the tunnel is supposed to be, unless someone can find another NYC junction on the track plan.
That is not a very good design trackplan. Just look at the access to the track, and you'll be ducking under the benchwork a lot and/or using drop down bridge. Hard to beleive it was even published by ModelRailroader.
Find another plan that you have better access to the track.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyThat is not a very good design trackplan.
I guess the guy who built it thought it was pretty good.
MotleyHard to beleive it was even published by ModelRailroader.
Must have come with the published article.
Hi Mark W,
I see at least a couple of major challenges:
1. I see five turnouts that are buried under overhanging scenery. Even if your track is perfect and your rolling stock is perfect, Murphy's Law still states that you will have derailments on the hidden turnouts! Most of those turnouts are more than 4' from the fascia so getting to them is going to be a real pain, and re-railing a locomotive will be very difficult because I doubt that you will be able to see the tracks given how close the subroadbed above them will be.
2. The pinch point in the aisle between the peninsula and the drop-down section appears to be about 15" max. That is too narrow for most adults. Even if you are that skinny, any trackside details or trains in that area are going to get knocked.
3. The reach in distances are extreme in several places.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hi markW
The tracks marked A join each other the tracks marked B do the same.
No idea why the hidden dead end.
The big problem with the set up is geting at those tracks and the points (switches) being inside a tunnel and I can't see a way of getting at them when "Murphy" comes out to play and he will.
You need six inches of clearance to get an adult hand in there to retrive derailed trains they seem too far in with no proper outside acsess.
The points would be better outside the tunnels.
What a wall down the middle of the layout that is a bad idea when you have to tunnel through the house wall to build a layout.
Those isles look all wrong with pinch points that even a smaller sized adult like me would be battling to get through.
This would have been better with a drawing of the hidden tracks as a seperate drawing that shows how they relate to each other and the visable part.
Iether the drawing or the original design and build has some serious issuies that need to be rectified before you build the layout.
Which is a shame as a layout idea I like it, but the practical issuies bother me a lot. As drawn I would not build it, without fixing the problems.
regards John
It looks like the clearance with the drop down raised is barely 12". Even lowered, the corner to the end of the blob MIGHT get to 15", and someone's going to catch on that edge.
Those two hidden tracks that happen to be near the two A markings causing the confusion - OK, I get hidden staging out on a mine branch, Tony Koester did something similar on the AM. But those two tracks form a mostly hidden switchback, with the shorter one - the one that ends by the top A connection, being the one that heads down the branch to the other mine and then on to the connection over by the yard at the bottom. Assuming it's drawn accurately, that is. You could stuff a longer train in the other siding, but have to do it in pieces since the top tail is too short.
In a larger room, using 30" radius curves instead of the 20" on this plan, it might be a lot more workable.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.