Edit topic

Updated your discussion topic below.

Subject
Enter a subject for your topic. Maximum 150 characters.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
My original plan was for a shelf layout in the back bedroom, 1-1/2 x 8 feet, which eventually grew to 2 x 12. Along the way it was decided that my stepson would be moving in with us so I lost the back bedroom. My wife proposed an alternative - now get this - "Why don't you put it in the living room?" [:)] Everything has a downside, of course, and in this case my space is limited to 2 x 10-1/2 feet. So, I've adjusted my plans and added another. [IMG]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/3373GP4NR/b61eb9c5.jpg[/IMG] http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/3373GP4NR/b61eb9c5.jpg All are based on real industries in Beaver Falls PA in 1961. The PRR branch line is colored green. The top two layouts are modifications of my last large plan, posted earlier. The changes were to fix a too short switching lead as well as lopping off a foot and a half. I had to sacrifice the second and third spur at Valley Clay Products (A), some platform length at the freight yards, and rearrange the Weatherproof Varnish Co. (B) tracks. In the top plan I really pruned the freight yard down to give more room for structures at Valley Clay. I still can fit three 50-footers at each track though. (C) is still Beaver Crane & Excavator but I'm still playing with the structures. The second track allows for coal hoppers to feed the foundry and forge, replacing lost hopper traffic at Valley Clay. By adding some escape tracks to the P&LE interchange tracks at lower right I've created a mega-runaround to use if needed. The Weatherproof Varnish switch lead is two cars plus a switcher, which is as long as I can make it without dropping the varnish plant altogether. Both tracks are set-up to handle two 50-footers each (solvent unloading on left, drum and can shipping on the right). While the first two were taken almost verbatim from a published track plan, the bottom plan has been heavily worked to match actual track configurations on the PRR Marginal Branch (MBr) in Beaver Falls. (The former Marginal Railroad that connected the Pittsburgh, Ft Wayne, & Chicago through Beaver Falls to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie just north of town and served industries in the Walnut Bottom Run valley.) I'm still working on it but I've set out the following: The MBr storage yard at (D), chemical or clay industry at (E), a large steel fabricator with a platform and shipping track at (F), the other chemical or clay plant at (G), a freight station at (H), and the connecting/interchange track with the PRR Main Line at (I). Although the (G) spur is long, my plan is to only have four spots at most. The storage yard, bypass track to allow switching an industry further down a spur without disturbing other spots, crossed spurs, and switching lead/runaround all have prototypes on the MBr. I'm looking for potential problems (like the too short lead you guys found before) plus any ideas for improvements. I do have a concern that the (G) spur is not switchable without interfering with two other industries, so opinions and solutions are welcome. Thanks, Kurt Laughlin
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
E-mail Subscribe
Check the box below if you want to receive e-mail notifications when replies are made to this thread.

Receive notifications

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit topic

Subject

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

E-mail Subscribe

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community