Trains.com

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!

My Track plan is comming 2gether... finaly!

792 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 121 posts
My Track plan is comming 2gether... finaly!
Posted by ghonz711 on Friday, August 26, 2005 5:01 PM
I have decided on a basic track plan to fit in my very limited space. I have decided to build a point to point layout with a continuous run circle in the middle that doubles as a leg of a reversing wey. It includes up front a three track station with a two track coach yard as well as a three track frieght yard. After reading the article on passenger station opperation in the September 2005 issue of Model Railroader, I was hooked on passenger train opperation, however, you need a few local frieghts to add a little more excitment to the mix. i think this layout isd flawless interms of what i want to see in my modelrailroad except for one problem. I bought this Walthers 90 foot turntable and really want to have an engine terminal on the layout. Modeling in HO scale makes it a little difficult, but i was wondering if you guys could help me. Unfourtunately, i still don't know how to post pictures directly onto the forum, so check my website at http://www.freewebs.com/ghonzish/index.htm Thanks a lot guys

- Matt

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: CANADA
  • 2,292 posts
Posted by ereimer on Friday, August 26, 2005 5:28 PM
at first glance i think you have 2 possible places to put the turntable

1) at the left side of the layout . might want to rework the yard a bit since there'd be no easy way to get from the 'south' end of the yard to the turntable

2) on the tail of the wye . not sure it's a 'logical' place for a turntable though . and you might want to remove one of the legs so it's no longer a wye since wouldn't be needed anymore
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 121 posts
Posted by ghonz711 on Friday, August 26, 2005 9:37 PM
ereimer

Thanks a lot. I actually was going to have a double crossing at the end of the yard for easier switching, but the one leg of the wye is actually an interchange. Thanks a lot for your comments though... i really appreciate them. [;)] to see my recent layout changes, go to http://www.freewebs.com/ghonzish/index.htm

- Matt

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Sweden
  • 2,082 posts
Posted by electrolove on Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:29 AM
ghonz711:

I saw a layout in a Model Railroader magazine that managed to put 2 levels in a very limited space. What about that idea? It will nearly double your available space. If you want I can look in that issue to see how they solved it.
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 121 posts
Posted by ghonz711 on Saturday, August 27, 2005 1:07 PM
QUOTE: electrolove Posted: Today, 03:29:39
ghonz711:

I saw a layout in a Model Railroader magazine that managed to put 2 levels in a very limited space. What about that idea? It will nearly double your available space. If you want I can look in that issue to see how they solved it.


Ya i own that issue of MRR and i ran it by my parents and the first thing they said was NO! I tend to run a little bit too far when it comes to new ideas for my layout...lol

- Matt

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Sweden
  • 2,082 posts
Posted by electrolove on Saturday, August 27, 2005 1:27 PM
ghonz711:

Hehe, parents...

Same thing here, I asked my wife, can I build a railroad in the livingroom, around the walls. That resulted in no sex for 3 weeks. Just joking... [:D]
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 121 posts
Posted by ghonz711 on Monday, August 29, 2005 9:25 AM
[:D][:D]I have finally found a spot to put my turntable! Right now, the freewebs server is down [V]so i can't post the pic, but here is a basic overview. On the frieght yard, (north 3 tracks) i havea gotten rid of the switchback and extended a track from the ladder farther north. this is the new switchback. on the other leg, the turntable is placed were the old switchback tail was before. I have also found room for a three stall roundhouse so my track plan is complete. I have also added on mor industry just north of the yard to provide a little mor switching and a possible extension track. Thanks alot for all your help guys and i think i will start construction soo. I will post pics as soon as i can.[:D][:D]

P.S did that make any sense?[;)]

- Matt

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, August 29, 2005 12:27 PM
Ghonz711, I have looked at our plan, and it looks basically fine. You have a 'wye' to the right of your big upper left double loop, and then a spur that extends to cross over your main at extreme right. Is this really useful, particularly since you now have the table? If you want to turn the whole train, then by all means, but must you cross the main?

Have you measured the 'shanks' of all of your potential 's'-curves? The shanks should be at least one long car-length in length, or you might have frustrating derailments.

Finally, I hope you intend to at least partially scenic your nice yard so that it has the 'look"? You could add tufts of long-grass, boxes, wagons, trucks, lanes, etc.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 121 posts
Posted by ghonz711 on Monday, August 29, 2005 1:53 PM
QUOTE: selector Posted: Today, 12:27:12
Ghonz711, I have looked at our plan, and it looks basically fine. You have a 'wye' to the right of your big upper left double loop, and then a spur that extends to cross over your main at extreme right. Is this really useful, particularly since you now have the table? If you want to turn the whole train, then by all means, but must you cross the main?

Have you measured the 'shanks' of all of your potential 's'-curves? The shanks should be at least one long car-length in length, or you might have frustrating derailments.

Finally, I hope you intend to at least partially scenic your nice yard so that it has the 'look"? You could add tufts of long-grass, boxes, wagons, trucks, lanes, etc.


selector

My wye actually started out as a simple track that left the main line and became the interchange, but then i noticed that i could turn entire trains using the interchange if i turrned teh loop into a wye. I also thought it would be interesting to opperate a wye interchange with inbound and outbound trains at frequent intervals. I am sorry for my lack of detail on my layout plan, but the interchange track extends off of the table below the dubble track main line.

All of my "shanks" are fine and the one "s" curve in my engine terminal will be modified on the real track.

My layout is very simple but as i go along my layout will have details added to them. Yes my yard will be somewhat sceniced. The southern three tracks are also part of a main station, so there will be visual interest in the yard.

[:D][:D][:D][^]Thank you very much for your great help and ideas![^][:D][:D][:D]

- Matt

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!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!