I''ve been considering adding an active logging interchange to my existing 20 X 15 layout. To carry this effect to the fullest will require a 3%-4% grade to access a planned two track stagging yard under the existing benchwork which is 56 off the floor. I intend to suspend said stagging yard from the existing benchwork and gradually work the grade to the visible portion of the layout, due to the nature of planned operations, no more the 6 cars per track, not much length is involved, even in S scale, four feet by one foot should suffice even with the required runaround siding . Contrary to existing practices, I intend to use our version of Uni-Track and turnouts in code 125 for bullet proof operations in the yard, code 125 flex will be employed for all other trackage. Possibly, I may decide to have this yard slide out for access as I have a phobia when it comes to hidden turnouts!
I intend to address access issues by minimizing the amount of hidden trackage, I have great expanses of citrus groves and large packing houses, it should be possible to use these as view blocks. True, some major benchwork revisions are required but I designed some latitude into the orginal design that should make retrofitting a not so daunting task.
Comments and suggestions welcomed before I break out the sketch pad and tape measure.
Dave
Any chance of going up instead of down? Several logging railroads has severe grades that used a cable to haul cars up the grade for loading and return to the main.
Not sure if you have the room for it or not but I think it may have been a few issues back of MR where a guy had I guess for lack of a better term an elevator for his track. Instead of having a helix his had a section of track if memory serves me correctly held about 5 or 6 cars plus loco and caboose that traveled vertically up a track to the next level. I hope my lame description paints a clear enough picture. This way you only have one section of track that moves up & down instead of having to deal with extreme grades and hidden turnouts
My planned elevator (a 56 inch length of steel stud, part of an empties-in/loads-out scheme at my top-of-the-grade colliery) only ocupies a total footprint about the size of a landscape-timber railroad tie cut to 60 inch length. John Armstrong called this style of elevator a Dehydrated Canal Lock.
Another idea, to eliminate turnouts in the hidden staging, is to build the hidden yard on a sector plate and physically move the entire yard to align the rail ends. I recall seeing something similar on a large scale mini-railroad within the last few months, but can't recall which magazine it was in.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)