Advice/criticisms on Track Plan?

[mike23]

Hello All,

I have been out of the hobby for several years and am getting back into things. I am starting with a 2 by 8 HO scale layout that I want be fun to operate on its own while also being a starting point for future expansion.

I would like to model the ATSF as it operated in the Phoenix area during the 80s-90s. Following this I have prepared this plan to model part of Grand Avenue where the ATSF tracks run alongside the road before reaching Mobest Yard to the south.

I want to run this section as a switching operation in the short term. I tried to follow the prototype track as much as I could while compressing it to fit my space. I thik 4 industries will be enough without crowding the layout too much. The main track travels across the layout on top. The spur above would be a team track. The bottom industries, left to right, are a gas facility, lumber company, and a milling company(which was actually not on ATSF track but I have materials which would fit it well ) I think that in its current form this would be pretty easy to expand in both directions as space/time/skill allows.

I would like to hear what you guys think. Any tips to improve operability or maximize the use of space would be appreciated!

[Colorado Ray]

Looks like one of the more practical plans we've seen lately. Two comment though:

1) The left run around doesn't look long enough for both an engine and a car.  I'd move the team track and siding switches to the right (up tight to the gas industry siding).

2) Can you flip top to bottom or rotate 180 degrees to put the main line in the front?  As is, it looks like you would be reaching over your industries to couple and uncouple cars.

All in all, you have a lot of nice space to build out your industries. 

Ray

 

[mike23]

Thanks for the input Ray;

Okay, so I updated the team track. I think with this arrangement that the passing side will still be large enough too. The left side of the runaround should be a bit better now. 

As for number 2, I would be able to operate the layout from the top on the image, like it was rotated 180 degrees. 

[BNSF UP and others modeler]

Methinks you could squeeze a small town scene or a couple more sidings on the bottom half of the picture, where the sort of semi circle track is.

[PED]

Since you do not have any track beyond your 2x8, how do you plan to handle traffic to/from your industries?

[bogp40]

I like your 2nd plan. My only suggestion would be to move the mainline in enough to add one or two additional sidings  (top of shown plan). Give some added switching puzzle for a bit more to do for operations.

You shifted the turnout for team track I would still place another crossover to the main. You need to do switchback to return to the main heading say eastbound to the right.

[rrinker]

 Thing is, he says he is duplicating a prototype, so throwing in more sidings just to make a switching puzzle is probably not compatible with his goals. What appears deceptively simple can get pretty complex if any of those sidings have specific spots, and there is a not yet fully empty (or fully loaded) car at one of the spots blocking a deeper spot - so that car has to be moved out of the way and then put back. Some days, it may be dead simple, other days, not so much.

I do agree that a drop leaf extension on one end or the other might make things a bit more interesting. However, the 'day' can start with the train having just arrived in town, sitting on the main, so you 'stage' it by assembling a train on the main via 0-5-0, and then go to work.

                                    --Randy

 

[mike23]

Thanks for the input guys. I think adding some sort of portable staging is a good idea to give my trains somewhere to go off layout (and a purpose for their movements on layout), especially since it may be a while until I can make a permanent expansion. Perhaps a 1-2 track fiddle yard?

[mike23]

Here is the updated plan with small off-layout place for me to move trains to. I figure that I could make it attachable to either end depending on where I wanted the trains to go for that session. 

[bearman]

BNSF UP and others modeler

Methinks you could squeeze a small town scene or a couple more sidings on the bottom half of the picture, where the sort of semi circle track is.

 

The OP is attempting to model a prototype, which prototype is less than a mile from my house in the middle of Phoenix Arizona.  While I can appreciate your comment, that part of the city is chock full of industrial facilites, warehouses, and maybe a few run down residences.

 

[BNSF UP and others modeler]

Stupid me. Not paying attention. Could he use some modeler's liscense to make the industries a bit smaller than the prototype and squeeze something in?

[Lngstrt]

I too live in the Phoenix area. I lived over on the west side in the time period the OP is modeling. It was always neat to drive up Grand Ave past long trains. God forbid you have to travel east-west when one was wending its way along. A long train could block two or three major intersections. So, my advice ..... have plenty of scale cars and trucks to park on the cross streets when your train blocks the Grand Ave intersections!!