this represents a majority of the SP&S line where the track is at varied levels next to the highway.
Pasco yard, Pasco Wa.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
so I've finished it for the most part, what are your guy's thoughts? Ulrich when I get to the 1:1 layout I will move the track so that it's an even distance from the edge on all sides. there will also be panels for throttles and switches/block controls. I will use flex track in some of the awkward parts, there is a run around in the pasco yard, as well as a caboose track. On the vancouver side there's a two track area for a loco house, the small 3 track yard will be loco/coach storage. the area above it will be a lumber industry where flats and boxes will be loaded. there's a passing track that should be long enough for for a train to pass a stopped train at the station which will be on the outer track.
might work perfectly!
agreed brian he's a great modeler!
yeah,a 2% maybe though the trackage along the columbia didn't get too crazy. I'm trying to keep the grade subtle so it looks like the train is rounding the bend on elevated track. might have to go .5 to 1.5%.
I'd do a double mainline but unfortunately the SP&S line is 90% single track main with the other 10 being passing sidings. so I'll have one passing siding.
oh, no it wasn't you. of most of the posts your's carry a decent amount of weight when I read them(you've shown me that Japanese N scale layout you have done, 10 times more than what I can do.) I think I started it like that so people could get a feel for the ultimate goal of the layout. I do have some questions though.
I'd like to do a small grade on the right side of the layout, what would you recommend I use?
Gary, I did not mean to shy you away. I just think it is more effective to ask specific questions and collect the respective answers than opening up a thread in a blog-like manner...
I can do that, I was trying to get some of the stuff scoped out to see what I can and can't do.
That's what I tried to do in the beginning of the thread and people bit my head off about it, that's why I got so stubborn and bullheaded about it. I've given up on support here, 2 pages worth of this thread was why I should switch to DCC even though I said no. I understand it was to help me in the long run but, I said no multiple times and it persisted.
at this point I'm flying solo I know I am.
Gary,
just a few remarks to the "plan" you show.
First, the track is way too close to the edges of the table. Better to leave 2" from the center of the track.
Second, what can one say about your plan? All we see is a stretch of mainline and something resembling a yard.
Instead of playing with XtrkCad, why not take a piece of paper and a pencil and prepare a rough sketch of what you are aiming at. This will help us to understand your layout idea and you will be able to enlist much better support here.
Ok so I've worked on the plan in XtrackCAD. I've got a 6 track stub ended yard, made up of 4.25" straights 5 #7 RH turnouts, 1 LH #7 turnout.
The yard will be lead into by a turnout from the secondary track that runs parallel to the main. locomotives will go to the top track(track #1) and will await their caboose, I'm wondering if I'd be able to place a small turntable that will allow me to reverse locomotives or if I should have the track disappear into a locomotive shed that leads to the vancouver side where locomotives can approach from the other side. at the moment a turntable is looking like a very viable option. I believe I could use the atlas one that I have because it's big enough to hold an N scale Alco FA/FB set. I was also examining a peco table and I could have a couple tracks lined up that would be long enough to hold three units or one big steamer(GS-4).
sorry if the picture is terrible but it seemed to be the only way to upload it.
Hey guys, I think I'm going to remove the Tunrtable and roundhouse from the layout plan. I think I'll put some street running or something along those lines in there.
Roster update: SP&S Alco FA1/FB1 #867 & 214
a table layout is the best I'm going to be able to get for the time being, If I was older had a much better paying job and my own house I would've done a shelf style layout that runs the entirety of the house.
one day.... one day I will....
Why not to build a modular or sectional layout?
the legs are getting replaced soon.
My Opinion,Only.
I find it hard to believe,that ''Luck'',had anything to do with the collapse,of your layout..
You don't build a house,on a iffy foundation..
Good Luck To You,,,,learn to take your time,,the results,will be beneficial to you..
Cheers,
Frank
paul, I'd rather build the roster with the limited funds I do have. It's been 2 months since I've bought a locomotive and that loco was painted for a shortline in centralia. DCC is in my opinion, at this moment, restricted me, is not an economically viable investment in time and money.
To add to my sour luck my layout collapsed, and I'm not running to home depot til tomorrow probably.
Burlington Northern #24 this was part of my reason for being reluctant to switch to DCC because I have lots of locomotives that will need to be bought painted and decaled.
Hi Gary,
reading the above i 've the impression it's not about limited funds only that you don't want to go for DCC.
IMHO you won't need DCC on a smaller layout; for me two trains run by two operators can be very well done with Cab-control-wiring.
In the future you might be able to build your dream layout, maybe with way more engines running at the same time. Bottom line is how to invest your money. Buying another non DCC engine for your fast growing collection? Or go a bit slower on equipment and buy only stuff with DCC decoders and sound.
Paul
Boiler-man Your plan looks and sounds good, however I would use DCC for added simplicity of wiring and ease of operation. Just my thoughts.
Your plan looks and sounds good, however I would use DCC for added simplicity of wiring and ease of operation.
Just my thoughts.
for the sake of my sanity I should say this here to: DCC is not a viable investment time or money at the moment.
Thanks Alex, I plan on doing an update tomorrow or monday.
I'm watching this with interest!
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
Working on the Vancouver side right now, A yard is not looking to be a plausible option so I'll try some industries or a town scene.
modified the track plan again, winging it at the moment the top most track is going somewhere and will have a switch for locos to reverse onto the turntable, I will try to place a coach shed or diesel shed somewhere(it could also go onto the pasco side) there might be a stub end yard on this side.
There may be a left hand turnout facing the opposite direction placed at the end of the right hand turnout not sure yet.
kevinrr Burlington Northern #24I know 3-4 of my locos will need to be milled out in order to have DCC installs, I know my AC4400CW, SD70MAC, upcoming F3AB set, and some other locomotives are DCC ready? a couple of them I'd like sound in my BNSF locos atleast because I plan on getting more of them. Milled out to have DCC, or milled out to have DCC w/sound? I don't know much but from what I've seen it looks like the milling is to make room for speakers.
Burlington Northern #24I know 3-4 of my locos will need to be milled out in order to have DCC installs, I know my AC4400CW, SD70MAC, upcoming F3AB set, and some other locomotives are DCC ready? a couple of them I'd like sound in my BNSF locos atleast because I plan on getting more of them.
Milled out to have DCC, or milled out to have DCC w/sound?
I don't know much but from what I've seen it looks like the milling is to make room for speakers.
Schuylkill and SusquehannaNCE makes its own line of decoders, but I don't know if they make any "drop in" decoders for N scale.
Yes, they do.
In fact, their decoders for Atlas locos are dropped in at the factory.
it's still one heck of a layout though, he can pull off the job of a train dispatcher with such ease. It's an amazing wonder that deserves to grace the pages of Model railroader in my opinion.
BrianinBuffaloI think Broadway Lion is a master at DC.
His trains cannot run backwards and cannot change speeds relative to one another. That does not seem the best choice for a general purpose layout, although it is fine for the monks very specific needs.
There are many more flexible ways to wire for DC, as described in the books Gary has already.
Good luck.
BrianinBuffalo Gary; Sounds good to me. I would have no idea how to do straight DC (other than one loop of track) so I am of little help when it comes to that. I think Broadway Lion is a master at DC. He would be a good one to get direction from. He has many good ideas on how to do things cheaply that look great. Brian
Gary;
Sounds good to me. I would have no idea how to do straight DC (other than one loop of track) so I am of little help when it comes to that.
I think Broadway Lion is a master at DC. He would be a good one to get direction from. He has many good ideas on how to do things cheaply that look great.
Brian
ehhhh, I'm having second thoughts about switching to DCC. I think my layout will be built for single train operation with the ability to support switching in the yard, and alternating trains on the main. 2 people minimum, 3 people max. but It'll probably just be me running alone 95% of the time so It'll be fine.