We have a daughter who pulled two tours in Afghanistan as a gov contractor...she's the one at the state dept. That's where she met her husband who was then an Army medic...now in training to be a neurologist. Hey ole pal, your layout looks a lot like my benchwork! Now - how did you insert this right into the body of your post? That's what i would like to do later today if I can. Doc
aprofitt0002 Replying to Rio Grande: Let me first say one of our children lives in Northern Va in Alexandria. She works at the State Department and her husband is in the Army Medical School at John's Hopkins.
Replying to Rio Grande:
Let me first say one of our children lives in Northern Va in Alexandria. She works at the State Department and her husband is in the Army Medical School at John's Hopkins.
Small world. I alternate between Alexandria and Lorton VA as a gov contractor and my wife, a Brit (who immigrated from England in 2011) works for a couple who are PhD psychologiests at the State Dept.
Now, having said that, I have the graph paper right here on my desk at home along with a scale rule and a compass and will set about the business of completing that sketch plan later today. I also want to say to you and to the others that many of the things you are planning in your bench layout sound good for mine as well. I just hope we can make this a creation by community and i believe we can do that. I'm going to be open to any and all advice and try to incorporate as much of it into the final product as I can. Doc
I'll probably post my drafts for review and comment. I have a pretty good idea what I want to design in to my space but input can be helpful. I didn't fully formalize a track plan from my last 10x18' layout but here is one from the previous 14x25' layout.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Reply to Mike:
One of the good things i have gong for me is that my wife and I ride our bicycles on a local RailTrail (The Dawkins RailTrail named for the Dawkins Timber Company that raped the forests of Eastern Kentucky back in the early 1900's and hauled out the timber on rail cars) so we have become quite familiar with graduations and grades. We have two tunnels on the section of the trail that we ride on and one day...yes, one day...I want to do a second layout marking the journey from the Gun Creek Tunnel to the Tip Top Tunnel...one day i hope to do that. Those Cotswolds took my fancy right now though. Doc
Let me first say one of our children lives in Northern Va in Alexandria. She works at the State Department and her husband is in the Army Medical School at John's Hopkins. Now, having said that, I have the graph paper right here on my desk at home along with a scale rule and a compass and will set about the business of completing that sketch plan later today. I also want to say to you and to the others that many of the things you are planning in your bench layout sound good for mine as well. I just hope we can make this a creation by community and i believe we can do that. I'm going to be open to any and all advice and try to incorporate as much of it into the final product as I can. Doc
Looks like some nice country. I just watched part of his video on West England, and the Cotswolds.
As you read your track planning and layout building books, you'll understand how you can make your trackbed make slight elevation changes, to help accommodate the terrain you want your trains to run through, and still have good operations without steep grades.
Railroad construction engineers take the easiest route, like following rivers and valleys.
Mike.
My You Tube
I will re-sketch my bench plan on graph paper for greater accuracy and will take a picture of it and upload thre pic to Imgur...that's about the only way i know to do it.
That is what I would recommend. You have to draw a plan to scale to have a realistic track plan. That generally requires you use graph paper with a scale rule and compass (old school) or some sort of software to allow you to do it on a computer.
I usually use 11x17 graph paper (you can buy it at Staples) and draw in the room walls/boundaries along with doors, support poles, etc. to scale so that you can fit the whole thing on one sheet (ideally) and to scale.
I've got one draft of a track plan with all the major features drawn in for my 15 x 33 1/2 foot main layout area. The first "option" allows me minimum 32" radius with an sort of e shaped track configuration but narrow pinch points (24") and narrow benchwork on one side. In the plan, the main and hidden storage yards run along the bottom wall, over and up along the left wall and up around to the right, then back down to the left above the yard and turns back over and around the the top. The bottom tale of the e on the right side goes up and to the right for a helix and turn back loop. (I'll post picktures when I get a chance)
I am planning on drawing up an "option 2" track plan to use the full width of the 15 foot wide space but will require a liftout bridge at the bottom of the basement stairs to enter the basement, but that will allow wider walkways and benchwork.
I used to have the ability to scan to PDF's at work but I may just take a photo and upload to imgur to display the track plan drafts.
The name of the guy on the video about the Cotswolds is "Rick Steve's" and the show is Rick Steve's Europe. This edition is Rick Steve's England: The Cotswolds...this is what i hope to replicate in my model. Doc
Reply to Cololrado Ray's post:
Wahoo! Another BB fan! I want to ask you what you think of this year's team but nobody else would want to listen to such important stuff so I'd better keep things "on track" so to speak (pun intended!). Doc
Ha! For some reason that struck me as funny...sort of like a mule looking at a new gate sort of funny. Doc
In answer to Steve's post:
Yes, later today, I will re-sketch my bench plan on graph paper for greater accuracy and will take a picture of it and upload thre pic to Imgur...that's about the only way i know to do it. I have to respond to some student emails and do some planning on a presentation I'm to make at the college this morning, but I should get to it before noon. Thanks, Doc
aprofitt0002 By the way, Steve ole pal...I saw your "Hook 'em Horns" logo and I've got only one thing to say being part of the Big Blue Nation, "Go Cats!" Doc
By the way, Steve ole pal...I saw your "Hook 'em Horns" logo and I've got only one thing to say being part of the Big Blue Nation, "Go Cats!" Doc
Ditto that. UK class of '73 here. Adolph Rupp was still coaching until my senior year.
Well this ought to be interesting.
OP's post on his benchwork
"Here are some images of my progress on the benchwork for my English countryside layout marking a trip from Stowe to Wells in the Cotswolds (see Rick Steves' Youtube video on the Cotswolds). I have only one piece of underlayment to add to complete the underlay for the layout. I will then add a 1" layer of extruded foam board and then begin construction of the topographical features including the villages of Stowe and Wells and, in the middle a 13th century castle. My layout is 30' around the exterior perimeter built against two walls with a walk around in the middle. Any and all suggestions, help, advice, comments, criticisms, etc are greatly appreciated. Regards, Dochttps://imgur.com/jYKAgSyhttps://imgur.com/8t9yQBZhttps://imgur.com/WD3GSZa "
Since he is modeling the "English countryside" books on English modeling may be more usefull than books on US model railroads. Here are some
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010KN811G/?coliid=I11OJQ8MM318WC&colid=14INWJ8I0OWDS&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0K6NBS/?coliid=IMJFI8HOX1P6&colid=14INWJ8I0OWDS&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/Model-Railway-Design-Manual-Freezer/dp/1852605383/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520926099&sr=1-1&keywords=model+railway+design#customerReviews
https://www.amazon.com/Railway-Modelling-Realistic-Iain-Rice/dp/1844253597/ref=sr_1_95?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520926536&sr=1-95&keywords=model+railway+design
There are others available from Amazon
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Doc could you post an accurate drawing of what benchwork you have built?
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Thanks Steven...if the Armstrong book helps me to better understand the criteria for a workable railroad, that is exactly what I need it to do and I look forward to reading it and learning! I went to HobbyTown a couple of weeks ago when we were in Lexington and bought 3 - 4 plan books...One of them is Model Railroaders "101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders ($17.99) and I don't remember the others right now, but there was not a single plan that seemed to fit my circumstances here with the amount of space and the max configuration I have in the basement so what I'm hoping to do - if you all want to give me some help on this - is to let you know what i would like to do and a basic sketch of the plan I have in my head and then open things up for a "plan by community." I can graph out on graph paper my sketch/plan and I guess then take a picture of it and then upload it to Imgur and list the download information and go from there. If there is a more economical way of doing that, i'm open to it.
As far as the British layouts, I am looking at several of those on Youtube as well as the prototype rail line serving the Cotswolds. Luckily, there are several full length videos of this rail line running through the English countryside. I watched Steve __________ (forgot his last name) video on the Cotswolds and have a pretty good idea of the topography which resembles the topo in central Kentucky to a great extenct so I do have a plan in my head. I also realize that, since there aren't an over-supply accessories (houses, churches, etc) of the sort of stone archetecture in the villages of the Cotswolds, I'm going to have to do a lot of kit bashing for sure which I don't mind since hopefully I've got a few good years left before becoming totally feeble and I'd just as soon spend it on this railroading than anything else I can think of so...
As far as the 4 methods of turning a train/loco, that's what I had come to understand so I'll have to fabricate one of the first 3 since I don't want the hands method. Now, brother, that's a long post but I don't have anything better to do than read the book I'm currently reading by a philosopher/theologian friend of mine, Jerry Walls, entitled "The Logic of Hell" ... well, that and eat supper! Doc
Doc, a few more pointers, nothing wrong with submitting a plan for our criticism but when we tell you the flaws don't get discouraged.
Now the Armstrong book does not have track plans in it it's to help you understand the criteria for a workable railroad, if you want track plans you have some options, 1 MR has a track plan database for subscribers of the magazine, you could also buy one of the MANY track plan books Kalmbach has put out, also there's "special issues" by MR/Kalmbach they are good too, I have at least two dozen of the books and special issues full of track plans, one thing you will be hard pressed to find a track plan that suits your desires AND fits your benchwork you have, also I don't think you'll find an OO scale British layout in the books I mentioned, that said you might find some inspiration in them but I hate to tell you you will 99 out of 100 not find a "stock" plan that fits perfectly.
Far as turning locos you have 4 choices, 1 turntable, 2 wye, 3 loop, 4 hands.
OK, I've got that book coming and it should be here this week. I'll take a look through it and see if there is any "stock" plan that seems custom made for the bench I've got (been working in the basement today and there's just no more room to expand my existing bench). If not, we may just make a plan. In the mean time, I'm going to do a lot of reading and see if I can become more familiar with railroading and model railroading in particular. Thanks for all the help. I sure appreciate it. Doc
NOthing wrong with creating a plan for your benchwork and asking for comments.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Turntables are not that terribly difficult, but like most activites, I am of the measure twice and cut once mentality when it comes to my layout, and I still foul up.
Bearman, let me ask you...what would be wrong with me creating my own track design to fit the existing benchwork and then submitting it to all of you on this forum for critique and suggestions. Would that be out of the question? I think I could provide a basic idea of what I want to do and I'm sure the people on this forum could give me the benefit of your wisdom. Let me know. Doc
There is kind of a 'zeroth law' here, concerning benchwork and scenery. On a real railroad the track would be graded into or on the 'scenery', but to approximate this on a model would involve far more time and cost, and probably not provide trackwork that reliably stays in the precise alignment needed for reasonably frustration-free railroading. So it is better to provide all the trackwork on bare risers with all the appropriate feeders, control lines, lift outs and duckunder provision, etc. and then "pretend" with the scenery to fit.
Note that you can approximate the terrain and some of the features, if you want, before starting with the track construction -- it's just easier to do a proper job if you can take the terrain out again to do the carpentry and such.
My HO turntable along with four locomotive storage tracks takes up an area of about 20" X 12" so a turntable leading into a yard is probably doable in athe 36" penninsula. However, and again it depends on the size of your locomotives and rolling stock, you still my end up having a tight radius coming out of the yard and onto the mainline down that 24" wide part of the benchwork.
Yes, I was just looking at some turn around possibilites and looked at a wye that seemed not to take up too much space and alson the switching yard (I believe that is the correct term) that does exactly what you are talking about. Actually, the switching yard seemed more in line with a 36" wide bench area. Doc
aprofitt0002One of the things I have to research is the different ways of turning trains/locomotives around other than loops and wyes. Doc
Just a locomotive, use a turntable, You could also use a run around track. It's a siding along side the main, that allows you to uncouple the locomotive, use the siding to run around the train, and couple back up to the other end.
I'm going to end up with a nice layout...I just have to be patient and keep things moving in the right direction. Doc
You will have to do some research on OO, I have absolutlely no idea about it. My layout is an around the walls folded dogbone walk-in U with a 55 +/- sq ft footprint of the layout itself. This does not include the area inside the U. In my opinion, a worthy layout is what you want to do and what is fun for you. For example, there is one member of my club who is perfectly happy with a 2 X 12 switching layout. You already have some idea of what you want, it is just a matter of doing some research to make sure your idea is doable, but yu also have to be prepared to make compromises.
One of the things I have to research is the different ways of turning trains/locomotives around other than loops and wyes. Doc