Thank you Rich
Andrew, in spite of all those hardships, you are to be commended for your efforts.
Stay with us and keep us posted on your progress with your layout.
Rich
Alton Junction
They always say introduce your self on a forum,well my name is Andrew im 43 at 16 i had cancer and surgery,i spent the next three years with a personel cychiatrist at 19 i got diagnised with cancer again and started 9mths chemo my best friend was an ex soilder who died shortly after, i lost my best friend and best support i have not been able to have children but have a great step daughter who i love like my own.Later i lost my only brother and at the same time my father got MS and my mother ended up with blood clots in her lungs through out this audeal i have had chronic anxiety and unable to work even though i am a time served engineer.The last time i went out on my own was about 24yrs ago i now strugle to even go to the back door or answer the phone.My whole point is dont bow out from someone who is asking for help in somthing he or she does not understand.
Ive ordered some incliners and added a lift out section so my track can continue round i will take it from there for anyone who is interested.
No need to bow out i am open to any advice i just find it difficult to follow a proto when the buildings i have are as mentioned previously.Scenery yes i can achieve after years of scratch building rc models,but track layout totally different kettle of fish on my part and to try and fit in somthing that has to be both practical realistic and prototypical based on two buildings i purchased is an impossible task for me so like i said no need to bow out all the input i recieve on here is of great appreciation whoever it comes from.
When I make suggestions to newcomers on the forum, it is in an attempt to help them avoid a layout that doesn’t work well and will result in a costly and frustrating rebuild. Model railroading has been around for a long time, and there are references and best practices that can help even a newcomer, if they are willing to take the time to learn.
Often my attempts to help are met with folks finger-wagging at me that making suggestions based on lessons learned and experience is “discouraging” the newcomer.
OK, I’ll bow out of this thread.
To the Original Poster, good luck with your layout.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I was thinking on the right hand side at the start heading on up to the stone plant.I have just removed the foam on the left side leaving just the quarry in the corner and the rest of the plant i felt there was to much on the left side.If it was on the right i thought maybe have a conveyor from the cement plant upto the stone plant.Or possibly even by rail?
Pretty decent sized layout for what you want to do.
Where will you place the cement works complex?
Hi Rich here is a vid of the rock side i will go get the dimensions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwAXLLRS4as&feature=youtu.be
the right hand side is 15ftx2ft 6" The widest point from one side to the other is 6ft as the shed has a step on the left side.The left side is 12ftx2ft 8"
In your various replies, you have mentioned several structures including the stone crushing works, the cement plant complex, a container terminal and an engine house.
From the video, it appears that your layout will be U-shaped with the stone crushing works a nd cement plant complex on one side and the container terminal, yard, and engine house on the other side.
Can you indicate the dimensions of your layout, the placement of the structures and the planned sequence of operations?
I have already purchased the walthers valley cement plant kit which is around 40" long as you probablly know.
OK, you are beginning to pique my interest. This sounds like a very interesting layout.
I see that Faller also makes a cement works, item number 130474. Is that going to be part of your modeling as well?
Yes im modeling in HO and yes the item number is correct.Its the large modern stone plant.
I presume that you are modeling in HO scale based upon that Peco Code 83 crossing that you mentioned early on. Is that correct?
Is the Faller stone works item number 130170?
Thanks for the comments.Yes i removed the video and took up the track.I have completed my faller stone crushing plant and placed it on the bench started cutting foam to suit the structure and already i feel like half of my layout has gone to a quarry side and roads leading upto it never mind a cement works too fit into it as well.I then noticed the stone plant was on a ledge raised up about 2" above the track next to it and thought to my self how the hell would that quarry face be so close to a line i dont believe they would blow up the face and throw 100s of tons of rock to the line below lol.So i am back where i started with a blank bench.
Andy110675 Here is a very quick vid of the progress no sound as i hate talking on camera do you think its practical or is there too much track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FX-Ab4ySd4&feature=youtu.be
Here is a very quick vid of the progress no sound as i hate talking on camera do you think its practical or is there too much track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FX-Ab4ySd4&feature=youtu.be
You mentioned earlier that you planned on being able to take freight from a container terminal and a cement plant on one side of your U-shaped layout and then sort the car in the yard on the other side of the layout which would also include an engine house.
As I recall the track configuration in the layout, I see no reason not to complete it as you have constructed it. Run some trains, assemble and disassemble them, and see how you like conducting such operations.
You may find that a different yard track configuration makes more sense.....or not. Don't worry at this point about the prototype or prototype yard track configurations. That will come later as you gain experience.
I believe that there is a tendency to encourage master model railroad techniques from the outset to someone who is new to model railroading. Don't concern yourself with that. I have been doing this for 14 years now (modeling in HO scale), and I am still trying to figure things out.
When you posted your video, your question was, is there too much track in the area. As I said before in answering your question, you can never have too much track. It is easier later to remove track than it is to add track.
Stick with your plan and don't get discouraged. Keep us posted on your progress.
It would not be a bad thing to read John Armstrong's book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation https://www.amazon.com/Track-Planning-Realistic-Operation-Railroader/dp/0890242275/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1512374610&sr=8-3&keywords=john+armstrong
The tendency for all newbies, is to pack too much track and stuff into too little space. A newbie may want a freight station, a passenger station, a coal mine, a coaling tower, a water tower, a yard a couple industries, a city scene and all on a 4x8 sheet of plywood.
As you learn and mature in the hobby, you realize your trains need a little space to run between all of the above, that you just crammed on the layout.
By the same token, you cannot take a division of your favorite railroad, and just scale it to 1:87. No one has that kind of space.
Take a look at the Atlas 25 track plan vs the one Cuyama suggested
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/266541.aspx
Byron's plan is more...functional. I don't feel I've explained it well.
Look at the pics in this forum. Some are so good, you have to look twice to be sure it's a model. Others look like someone dumped half of a Walthers catalog of buildings on the layout. Even if all the buildings and trackwork were painted and weathered to the same quality, there is just too much there.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I totally understand what you are saying.But isnt it just a case of running locos in a way that you understand and best suits your knowlege which in my case is zero at this point.Surely at my level in the game i can place industrys where i like as with track and points but if this is misleading imformation that i have been given then i am all ears and willing to learn alternative methods.
Andy110675Thanks for that i understand what you are saying,have you taken a look at my vid would you say it looks right.Im not sure what you meant by my collection of flextrack and turnouts but what else could i use.
Without seeing all the interconnections in place, the locations and types of industries, etc., it's not possible for me, at least, to say if it's workable or not.
Not disparaging your use of the components you have, only making the point that it does matter how they are interconnected.
Thanks for that i understand what you are saying,have you taken a look at my vid would you say it looks right.Im not sure what you meant by my collection of flextrack and turnouts but what else could i use.
Andy110675I agree Mel if your not following a proto type then it doesnt really matter how you do it does it.
Respectfully disagree. If you want your collection of flextrack and turnouts to offer interest and fun in operations, the track plan does matter quite a bit. Although many newcomers seem to prefer only their own counsel, there is much to be learned from established references and best practices.
Good luck with your layout.
Thats right i planned on been able to take freight from a container terminal on the opposite side along with a cement plant then sort them out at the yard plus an engine house.I agree Mel if your not following a proto type then it doesnt really matter how you do it does it.
You can never have too much track in my opinion.
On the video, what does that track work represent, a yard?
Looks really nice but from what ive heard you dont really see them on freight lines.Did you watch the video i posted and do you think its too much track in one area.
Andy110675 I dont think im going to use it as my layout is all freight i havnt gone with a proto layout its more somthing i came up with my self.I find it difficult to copy someone elses work.I find it easier to create my own as i understand its function more and its uses if that makes sense.
I dont think im going to use it as my layout is all freight i havnt gone with a proto layout its more somthing i came up with my self.I find it difficult to copy someone elses work.I find it easier to create my own as i understand its function more and its uses if that makes sense.