General Discussion (Model Railroader)

In the July 1974 MR (page 45) Robert Wegner wrote an article on a layout called "The Double Crossing RR" layout. Has anyone ever built it, or know of anyone who has. I am thinking of doing so but would like some input as to problems of track layout, elevations, etc.
Larry

Larry,

I have never heard of the 'Double X'. Could you describe it further for me(us)?

I remember a plan in the Atlas guide to track plans using sectional track which included three at grade crossings. I thought that plan was interesting. Have you seen it?

One subject I have wanted to include in a model is the grade crossing between the C&O (now CSX) and the RF&P (now CSX) at Doswell, Virginia. At grade crossings offer great opportunities for scenery, signalization and operations.

Good Luck - Ed

The layout is 12' x 12' multi-layer. one arm is a sea port (the Lowest),another is mining (the highest),another is logging and the last is a terminal.
If you would like a pic of it send me your e-mail address and I'll send one along with the article
Larry

Larry,
I looked up the article, and it does seem like a fascinating plan. The bench width is fatter than what you normally see these days, and having all the track in the middle under the terrain allows access from below without the need for liftout scenery.

The central intersection of the the benchwork cross is key to the design. It's a wide expanse of scenery only that visually separates the four destination points of the layout, and allows grades to make each point progressively higher.

I talked with Bob Wegner who drew the plan as a "what if" project, and he was somewhat stunned that someone was interested in the 27-year-old design. If we can find or duplicate the artwork, we'll put the plan up on the website for everyone to see. Let us know your progress.

Tom Chmielewski
Associate Editor, Trains.com

I modified the main line to lessen the grade and now it is approx. 110' long or 9600 feet in HO scale.

I also went dredging through the back issues and examined this plan last night. I'm not really sure Mr. Wegner ever expected anyone to build the plan - it is more of a concept exercise. There are two main problems with it, I think. Firstly, it is very space inefficient. It would need a room at least 16 feet square to house it. Secondly, while it provides a very long mainline run, much of the track is hidden and there is going to have to be a lot of walking to get from where it disappears to where it is next hitting a switching area. A somewhat similar concept to this appeared in RMC many years ago using a three-lobed or trefoil style of layout. I can't remember whose that was.

Well, looks like this one is going to revisited again! Don't know if Larry is still around or not but I am looking for a picture of this layout.

Anyone out there willing to share a pic of this layout.

I have not been able to uncover a back issue of the MRR July 1974 for sale in the USA.

 

TL

Blazeafar:

I have not been able to uncover a back issue of the MRR July 1974 for sale in the USA.

You didn't look very far, it would seem. Kalmbach will happily sell you a copy of any article from an out of print MR.

Railpub also sells back issues of many magazines and appears to have this one in stock. So you're in luck. As I recall the original design though, very impractical.

Hey Cuyama, thanks for the info, I did find that Railpub has a copy of the magazine after I posted here.
I have been away from model RR for some time and don't know all the internet sites and where to find things so quickly.  

How does one go about purchasing a copy of a pacific article from Kalmbach? I can't locate that info on there site.

TL

A somewhat similar concept to this appeared in RMC many years ago using a three-lobed or trefoil style of layout. I can't remember whose that was.

The "Layout Doctor," the late Bill Schopp. 

Blazeafar:

How does one go about purchasing a copy of a pacific article from Kalmbach? I can't locate that info on there site.

Call Kalmbach Customer Service
1-800-533-6644
Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time
Outside the U.S. and Canada 262-796-8776 Ext. 421

In my experience, the copies they send are of good quality, but black-and-white. So for a track plan, buying the complete back issue from railpub might be a better choice.

 

I dropped their customer service dept a message and we will see what they say.

Thanks;
TL