wyomingrailfan wrote:To add a little something: don't glue Unitrack down because it will stay on it's own
Good idea as I may want to make some changes.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
SpaceMouse wrote: Without changing any functionality (or moves) you can simplify and eliminate a lot of track and gain storage/yard space. Now let's see if I can explain it.
Without changing any functionality (or moves) you can simplify and eliminate a lot of track and gain storage/yard space. Now let's see if I can explain it.
Thanks Chip. I'll play with those ideas.
You have two runarounds on the lower area and you really only need one. If you eliminate the one in the yard, you can extend each of the yard tracks and add a couple more with the same number of turnouts.
To do this though, you need to combine the yard lead and the passing siding as it exists now. Then add the Longmont X to the end of the drill track instead of attaching to the main.
There's no reason why the siding at Boomfield can't extend to the Laurel siding turnouts and make the whole area longer.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Well, I've revised my plan and here is what I'm trying to achieve, and what my limitations are:
1. Continuous running as opposed to point to point. I want the trains to run awhile before getting to their destination.
2. Lot's of industrial switching, thus the sidings at Longmont. Will run a Longmont Turn out of Denver.
3. Through trains from Denver to Laurel and Laurel to Denver.
4. Passing siding at Broomfield.
5. Layout is only accessible from the 15' Longmont side.
6. Don't have the time or money to expand the layout any further but might in the future.
7. I might add a track or two in the Yard area to accommodate loco storage
8. I'm using N scale UniTrack and running BNSF modern era equipment. No steam and no passenger trains, unless I add an excursion train for fun. At my age I kind of want to get things up and running quickly with minimal physical work. UniTrack allows this and allows track layout changes should I find the need to do so. And, if I am able to expand in the future I can easily make changes to allow such expansion to work.
9. As Spacemouse noted, I do have a "reach" problem in both back corners but I'll just have to deal with it. At least there is no uncoupling activity in those areas.
10. Scenery will be minimal at least for awhile until I'm sure the track plan works okay.
11. Presently I will have no room for staging so am thinking of using the Laurel and yard tracks as staging when needed. I could physically add and delete cars as needed to make up needed trains. Is this really a bad idea? I'm not sure how else to do it.
12. Due to using UniTrack and because of space limitations, the layout is a bit geometrical but I don't know how else to accomplish what I'm trying to do.
I would appreciate any additional input and appreciate all previous comments. I know my methods are a bit unconventional but I'm trying to find that compromise that will best suit my situation.
Blue Flamer wrote: jwils1.An easy fix for the short term is to get some plastic vapor barrier and a few lengths of lightweight strapping from the the local Home Depot, Lowes or what ever and tack it up over the layout. Let it hang down the walls to the side and behind the layout so that it goes BELOW the layout and bring it forward a couple of feet in front of the layout. Let it hang down a foot or so at the front like a short curtain. You will be surprised at how much dust and dirt that it keeps off the layout and it will probably cost you $20.00 or less.Go ahead, ask me how I know. (100+ year old house with unfinished basement, fieldstone walls whitewashed and the cement kept falling through). Only difference was that I put it all the way around the layout to the floor with an overlap to get in and out due to all the crap that kept dropping down. It worked like a charm.Blue Flamer.
jwils1.
An easy fix for the short term is to get some plastic vapor barrier and a few lengths of lightweight strapping from the the local Home Depot, Lowes or what ever and tack it up over the layout. Let it hang down the walls to the side and behind the layout so that it goes BELOW the layout and bring it forward a couple of feet in front of the layout. Let it hang down a foot or so at the front like a short curtain. You will be surprised at how much dust and dirt that it keeps off the layout and it will probably cost you $20.00 or less.
Go ahead, ask me how I know. (100+ year old house with unfinished basement, fieldstone walls whitewashed and the cement kept falling through). Only difference was that I put it all the way around the layout to the floor with an overlap to get in and out due to all the crap that kept dropping down. It worked like a charm.
Blue Flamer.
Thanks. That's a great idea, and affordable. I'll see what I can work out.
jwils1 wrote: wm3798 wrote: Looks like you're working in an unfinished concrete basement... I'd suggest finishing the room with some drywall and insulation... It'll make working on/running the layout a whole lot more comfortable, and keep the dust down which is an important factor in having a reliable N scale layout.Lee I agree. I sure would like to finish the area but just can't do it at this time. I do have heat and air conditioning so comfort is not a problem. There is some dust falling from the unfinished ceiling area so if I can that will be the first area to finish. I've been running my HO layout in the same area for a couple of years with no major problems. I run trains a lot so the track stays clean. Some dust shows up on areas like roadways, pond, etc., and require some occasional cleaning but it hasn't been too bad. Thanks for the suggestion.
wm3798 wrote: Looks like you're working in an unfinished concrete basement... I'd suggest finishing the room with some drywall and insulation... It'll make working on/running the layout a whole lot more comfortable, and keep the dust down which is an important factor in having a reliable N scale layout.Lee
Looks like you're working in an unfinished concrete basement... I'd suggest finishing the room with some drywall and insulation... It'll make working on/running the layout a whole lot more comfortable, and keep the dust down which is an important factor in having a reliable N scale layout.
Lee
I agree. I sure would like to finish the area but just can't do it at this time. I do have heat and air conditioning so comfort is not a problem. There is some dust falling from the unfinished ceiling area so if I can that will be the first area to finish. I've been running my HO layout in the same area for a couple of years with no major problems. I run trains a lot so the track stays clean. Some dust shows up on areas like roadways, pond, etc., and require some occasional cleaning but it hasn't been too bad. Thanks for the suggestion.
a drill track is used for switching in a yard so that if you are switching a long cut of cars you will not have to venture out onto your main if you are running a train there while you are switching in the yard. since your yard lead is 3' long you may not need one. you would have to add a switch on the yard lead to extend the lead to the left of the switch coming off the main.
Its a lot easier to sheetrock now than when your layout is done.Sheetrock dust is not good for trains. You need some lights too. Good choice on the Kato unitack, its bulletproof. I have it on my N scale layout.
A little work and money now will make your layout area/room a very nice place to hang out later. I know , I just finished my layout room similar to yours and it is way better than an unfinished room. My room is 7'x20'.
N Scale Diesels......I like 'em
I would suggest adding another siding along the back, and using a hill or some structures to create a view block. That would allow you to use the back as a sort of staging yard. If you can make it 5 or 6 tracks, you can make operating your layout a lot more fun, and also give yourself an excuse to buy more rolling stock!!
OR, move your siding around to one of the return curves. This way, your trains "in waiting" are off to the side, and have to travel around the layout to get to their destination. I would put this on the right hand side behind the yard. Again, if you can expand it to 3 or 4 tracks for staging, you'll add more operating interest.
F'rinstance: Train A, Eastbound, leaves the staging yard, runs along the back side of the layout, around to the front, and drops off a cut of cars to be worked in the yard. If you have a longer siding near the yard, he can hold there while a westbound thru freight pulls out of staging, runs in the opposite direction along the front of the layout, around to the back, then back into staging.
Once the first train is put back together, he has to hold until an eastbound passenger express whizzes by. Once the line is clear, he can move on. Next, you can turn another train loose to run laps while you use your yard switcher to assemble a local freight destined for the industries. Clear the main for the local, then go have fun bumping cars.
Adding a couple of staging tracks makes a huge difference in how you can enjoy your layout. Using DCC will help maximize that enjoyment by putting all the train control in one hand.
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
A drill track is the same as the yard lead. Here is an artilce I wrote about it.
http://www.chipengelmann.com/trains/Beginner/YardLead.html
Here is a revised plan. Will this work better?
Thanks for the previous responses. I have a few comments/questions regarding these:
1. The "unreachable" corners will not be a major problem. There will be no uncoupling in these areas, just occasional track cleaning or fixing a derail and the "unreachable" sections are quite short. I'm 6'-0" tall and with a 38" high layout the reach isn't that bad. I've has some 36" reaches on my HO layout with no problems. For certain situations you can use "pre-built" scenery units that can be set in place.
2. What is a drill track? What is it used for and exactly where should it be located?
3. Also, and while no one commented on this, I'm wondering what you think of the continuous loop as opposed to a point-to-point? I don't want to build it big enough to make a really workable point-to-point since this N scale layout is just giving be a chance to dabble in N just for the fun of it. I like to let the trains run a bit so would just go around a few times before stopping at their appointed destination.
For a turn, I would move the consist to the other end of the train to go back home. I guess this is taking a little modelers license. For through trains to/from Montana and beyond, I could do the same, at least until I can set up some type of staging.
Thanks again and please let me know if I should revise again, or even change completely.
SpaceMouse wrote:Got to File: Print as Bitmap. It will give you a very large .bmp file. Then take it to another program and reduce the size and change it to a .jpg
Got to File: Print as Bitmap. It will give you a very large .bmp file. Then take it to another program and reduce the size and change it to a .jpg
As Bill & Ted would say: "If you are looking for most excellent graphics manipulation"...
IrfanView => http://www.irfanview.com/
...freeware to be enjoyed!
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
See if your Xtracad can export it as an image file. Then you can post the full image.
jwils1 wrote: Thanks for the replys. I see I've got some flaws so need to do some work on it.I used XTrkCad to draw this. I had to scan it to get it on the forum. Does anyone know a way to do it and get better quality?
Thanks for the replys. I see I've got some flaws so need to do some work on it.
I used XTrkCad to draw this. I had to scan it to get it on the forum. Does anyone know a way to do it and get better quality?
The track plan is too small to read your labels, but I can point out two flaws from what I can see.
1) Your track is unreachable in the corners for cleaning, working, or re-railing. Check the picture of a 6'3" man trying to uncouple an HO car at 29" away in Model Railroad Planning 2008 (page 64).
2) Your switch-backs, on the left and lower center, one side or the other are unswitchable. The only possible runaround you have is the passing siding at the top of the drawing. If you don't know what I'm talking about read this article.
What is a Runaround?
Just starting my N scale layout and shown below is my first idea for a track plan.
I'm modeling modern era BNSF based on a portion of the Front Range sub running North out of Denver. I like some continuous running as well as industrial switching. For operations I would run the Longmont Turn from Denver North to Longmont. The siding at Broomfield is for meets with thru trains running North to Montana.
The layout would be 42" x 180" with the center section narrowing to 24" wide. I'm using Kato Unitrack. The minimum radius would be 19" and #4 turnouts (turnouts have a 19" radius). No staging initially but could extend at the right end for future expansion or staging.
I would appreciate any input or suggestions.