hi MC,
Stein has designed a very neat version of the MCB, but my feeling is to step back and think good about the scenes you want in.
You have been very specific about Thurmond, and we had some talk about a logging scene. I don't know anything about Thurmond, but you could come up with a drawing or map of the tracks in town; if you still want Thurmond in of course. It has not to be to scale as long as the functions are clear. The southern part of the pike could also be used for some nice switchbacks into a logging camp. But these are your decisions or wishes.
TMHO coalmining area's are rather urban and don't go well together with logging operations; so choices have to be made; but it's your layout and it's your choice.
Paul
Paulus JasYou have been very specific about Thurmond, and we had some talk about a logging scene. I don't know anything about Thurmond, but you could come up with a drawing or map of the tracks in town; if you still want Thurmond in of course. It has not to be to scale as long as the functions are clear.
Library of congress, HABS/HAER collection:Yard: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.wv0301 (4 drawings, 30 pics, 79 data pages)Coaling station: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.wv0321 (2 drawings, 3 pics)Engine House: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.wv0303 (2 drawings, 10 pics)Depot: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.wv0302 (16 drawings, 6 pics)Description of Thurmond:http://www.coalheritage.org/page.aspx?id=31
Main characteristic of Thurmond: very long and narrow, located on a flood plain along the New River Gorge.
Not necessarily a great place to model proto-typically in the room available, especially not in H0 scale, and with pre-built benchwork - room is not big enough for the long and narrow peninsulas necessary to model a bigger part of the New River Gorge in a good way.
Example of H0 scale layout plan featuring Thurmond yard ca 1940: http://members.tripod.com/appalachian_railroad/tp_conewriver.html
Good luck on coming up with a more prototypical track plan of Thurmond for that room.
Grin,Stein
MC has indicated up-thread that there's family history in Thurmond, so it sounds like an important sentimental druther. Nothing wrong with that - I'd model my hometown prototypically too, if it were more interesting Since his grandfather worked at the coaling tower, maybe the focus could be on the servicing facilities (or wherever the tower was), with the rest of it suggested off-board. Note that I haven't devoted too much brain time to this thread, so I may be off base. But it might be away to make some part of Thurmond happen for MC...
hi,
looking at the pictures Stein provided, I couln't resist; such a nice depot with a spur to a bridge.
But you'll still have to conceil the mainline east of the depot. The mainline has #6 switches, the branch over the bridge #4's.
Paul,
Thanks, I like it.The crossings across the main lines add some extra chalIenges that I never considered.
I am not so sure about the crossings. I took it from Allan McCLelland's Muddlety Creek, but as on Stein's plan you can have the branch diverging from the main. On the picture Stein provided there are three tracks in front of the depot and a four track yard is connected to the track on the bridge; with curved switches.
hi C&O
I found another Thurmond design. In 102 realistic railroads: the Loup creek branch, plan 41 on page 40.
I understand you have started the built, can you share which design you are doing?
I have considered this plan before but am not sure about the double layer and the helix. It also has 18" radious that will not work with my K-4's. It also looks like a point to point operation with no way to get the trains to go around the room.
No I haven't started anything yet, am still trying to get things worked out to see what will fit in the space I have available. I like to lay out the track to see what will work. So far I haven't had much success.
With your experience do you think this plan could be adapted to fit the space I have available?
Thanks for the help.
Hi C&O,
of course it can, but a double deck with a helix sounds complicated. And I do not see any advantages in comparison with the Muddlety Creek.
If I were you I would start with Stein's big oval and one of the plans for Thurmond. I don't like hidden track so I would build a second bridge over New River or let the main go over the first bridge. But that's up to you. Sometimes you just have to take a decision and go for it.
A second decision to be taken concerns the branch. With a simple switch from the main or with the double crossings as on Allen McClellands design. Allen used scratchbuilt curved crossings, I used standard Atlas (30 degr) crossings.
With the big oval and Thurmond in, you can start running and start doing scenery on the right and top side of your pike. And believe me, when Cuyama presented you the MCB, he knew very well what he was doing.
Thanks for the kick in the butt..I hope to be ready to put some track down this weekend. I have been spending way too much time trying to make sure I have room for everything and really miss not having a layout.
MC
hi MC
Your pike was still on my mind. Because I do not like hidden tracks behind a backdrop, I was stiil thinking about a way to leave that part out.
Just forgetting about the C&O main and reserving the big oval( or loop or lap) for the Loup (Wolf) Creek Branch (LCB) solved my problems. Without the 102 Realistic Track Plans I would never had got the idea of modeling part of the LCB. To get all the staging needed I ended up with a six track yard, rather big but since the C&O main is out you can run short(er) LCB trains; see the schematic.
The Thurmond classification yards are in staging (or not modeled if you prefer); Junction functions as an interchange between both branches. I added a cassette, so you can get fresh cars on your layout and the "old cars" from it.
The awesome Thurmond depot is still in, but only recieves a boxcar or two a day.
My thoughts only, keep smiling and have fun starting the builtPaul
Not sure I understand. What plan are you looking at in the 102 track plan?
C & O SteamPaul, Not sure I understand. What plan are you looking at in the 102 track plan? MC
Most likely the one he referred to about five or six messages further back in this thread:
Paulus JasI found another Thurmond design. In 102 realistic railroads: the Loup creek branch, plan 41 on page 40.
Smile, Stein
Thanks