HO Layout Design 10 x 14 want your inputs please

[dehusman]

On the real railroad there is no way a train would ever run from Taylor yard to Smithville. Waco to Smithville, yes. Eureka (Houston) to Smithville, yes. Taylor to Smithville, no.There was no physical connection to permit going from Taylor yard to Smithville (without a bunch of backing out and sawing around).

Taylor yard and Smithville yards never interacted. It was like they were on two different railroads, primarily because they WERE on two different railroads.

If you want to do the MP, go Taylor to San Antonio.

If you want to do the MKT, go Smithville to Eureka or to Waco. Smithville was where the MKT line from San Antonio met the line from KC to Houston.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

The map answers the questions re Smithville LCRA Yard. The photos of buildings around Smithville look good and will ad a sence of place for those who have been there.
Keep Chugging along
Peter

[Tom Bryant_MR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

On the real railroad there is no way a train would ever run from Taylor yard to Smithville. Waco to Smithville, yes. Eureka (Houston) to Smithville, yes. Taylor to Smithville, no.There was no physical connection to permit going from Taylor yard to Smithville (without a bunch of backing out and sawing around).

Taylor yard and Smithville yards never interacted. It was like they were on two different railroads, primarily because they WERE on two different railroads.

If you want to do the MP, go Taylor to San Antonio.

If you want to do the MKT, go Smithville to Eureka or to Waco. Smithville was where the MKT line from San Antonio met the line from KC to Houston.

Dave H.

Dave, I'm confused by the following links. From these I thought the MKT had at least trackage rights from from N Texas, through Taylor and on through several smaller towns (track almost parallels State Hwy 95) on to Smithville and then on to the Gulf. I thought I saw that the Missouri Pacific came from the east into Taylor, on to Austin and then to San Antonio. Maybe my timing (year of model) is off?

http://www.katyrailroad.org/map.htm
http://www.trainweb.org/mesquitebelt/smithville.html


Regards,

[dehusman]

Draw a cross.

On the top of the cross label Ft Worth/Waco.
On the bottom of the cross label Smithville/Houston.
On the left label San Antonio.
On the right label Valley Jct.

The vertical line is the MKT. The North-South route through Taylor is the mainline of the MKT railroad.
The horizontal line is the MP. The East-West route through Taylor is the mainline from Valley Jct (Ft Worth, Texarkana, Houston) to San Antonio/Laredo.

The point where the lines cross is Taylor. The yard is on the leg to the left of the diamond, on the south side of the MP main. In the northwest quardrant there is a connection track to allow a MP train from Ft Worth to exit the MKT and enter the MP towards San Antonio and vice versa.
The MP had trackage rights across the MKT from Taylor to Waco (or they could operate on the longer route over to Valley Jct and turn North to Waco).

Only MP trains operate on the east-west route. Only MKT trains operate south of the diamond. Both MKT and MP train operate north of the diamond.

In 1980 the MKT ran 2 regular 2nd class freights in each direction through Smithville, No 103, 105 south and No 104, 106 north. They also had a 183/184 schedule that ran to Taylor which actually was a MP train, but they had a schedule to cover it.

Dave H.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman


....
In 1980 the MKT ran 2 regular 2nd class freights in each direction through Smithville, No 103, 105 south and No 104, 106 north. They also had a 183/184 schedule that ran to Taylor which actually was a MP train, but they had a schedule to cover it.

Again, Dave, Thanks [:)]
I think I know where I got confused. On my plan I had Taylor with the right side representing North and the left side listed as South. In that case only MKT would traverse the route I have. Actually, as you've pointed out, trains came into Taylor from all directions. I Google Earth'd all of this path. It works out exactly as you've stated. What I had in mind was for the lower level staging to represent all points outside of both Taylor and Smithville. Therefore I should be able to have MKT traveling both from the South and from the North through Taylor. I will only have MP coming in from lower level staging into Taylor via the North (I've now corrected to indicate this is both North and East) and terminating.

I was able to trace out the route (you can see the railroad) on Google Earth from Taylor to Smithville on east a ways to a junction just east of Smithville and then south to Flatonia which is just slightly west of Valley Jct. From there it follows west to San Antonio - just like you've indicated.




I also got a really good snapshot (don't know when the satellite captured this) of the entry to Taylor yard (east) showing a train coming/leaving [?] from the South,



Again, thanks for taking the time to provide so much valuable info. I really would love to know where you know even the train numbers that traveled this route.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

I reside in Georgetown, TX and I am looking for help with my layout. My email address is [e-mail]. Would love to make contact with anyone in or around Georgetown. John[:)]

[Anonymous]

Would like to see your layout but can't open your webpage i have a similar space available and I am just starting to layout some ideas.
Alex. (ozzieladd)

[dehusman]

The wye leg in the SW quadrant was a 1990's addition post MKT and probably post SP merger. In the 1980's it wasn't there.

Dave H.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

The wye leg in the SW quadrant was a 1990's addition post MKT and probably post SP merger. In the 1980's it wasn't there.

Dave H.

That explains everything!
Thanks

[Tom Bryant_MR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ozzieladd

Would like to see your layout but can't open your webpage i have a similar space available and I am just starting to layout some ideas.
Alex. (ozzieladd)

Could it be the file format? The file on the web is a PDF. You'll need Adobe Acrobat reader. Free at adobe.com