NP01 Is it just me? Or others think the same way? The layouts in July MRR are beautiful. The photos show really awesome works of modeling. Whether it's the hand laid Code 70 rail on sanded sticks from the yard, or the beautiful downtown and golden hills, or the original ideas on the plexiglass sub roadbed. But, I did not quite get the operating plan for the layouts. On the first one, the interchange could be reversed for better operation. On the second, there could be a run around at Valley Junction and Lake View. Perhaps a town at Lake View and an industry at the big round would add to the operational interest. Both designers used industry tracks that have switchbacks. Maybe it's just me. Maybe there is something I don't understand, and I think different people prioritize differently. It's their road!! They are pretty good looking though! NP. Edit: Added "spoiler alert" ... thank you for suggesting
Is it just me? Or others think the same way? The layouts in July MRR are beautiful. The photos show really awesome works of modeling. Whether it's the hand laid Code 70 rail on sanded sticks from the yard, or the beautiful downtown and golden hills, or the original ideas on the plexiglass sub roadbed.
But, I did not quite get the operating plan for the layouts. On the first one, the interchange could be reversed for better operation. On the second, there could be a run around at Valley Junction and Lake View. Perhaps a town at Lake View and an industry at the big round would add to the operational interest. Both designers used industry tracks that have switchbacks.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe there is something I don't understand, and I think different people prioritize differently. It's their road!!
They are pretty good looking though!
NP.
Edit: Added "spoiler alert" ... thank you for suggesting
I think the C&O interchange connects to the rest of the layout awkwardly. 'Working' the interchange would require blocking the tunnel and a staging track. The same issue would come up if you wanted to work the staging. So unless one of the yards doesn't see much traffic, the tunnel entrance will become a bottleneck.
A couple other comments: It seems unrealistic to have a yard lead go into a tunnel. Also, I like the idea of 'scenic tracks' to fit more train in the same space (connecting them to the switches would make them shorter) but again, idk if it is realistic to have them in. It looks like only the C&O would use them since they would be connected on the C&O side right?
big daydreamer It seems unrealistic to have a yard lead go into a tunnel.
It would be simply because of the diesel fumes or smoke from a steam engine..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
jmbjmb And I've tried to include ops thoughts in every layout I've built over the years from the time I first read Chubb's "Brakeman on the Yellow Extra" in MR years ago. But it hasn't been my sole goal, and the limitations of time, money, and space often create compromises that seem to annoy serious operators.
Great article that..
As far as space..While I know Industrial Switching Layouts(ISL for short) isn't everybody's cup of tea I do manage to operate my 1' x10' ISL as prototypically as possible.
BTW.. I been annoying "serious operators" for years since the majority feels you need a Godzilla size basement layout with all the needed trimmings for realistic operation.
They seem to forget a lot of real railroading takes place in industrialized areas..
jmbjmb
If one is doing operations! then they are partaking of everything model Railroading has to offer!
Size does NOT make any difference!
I have run on a small bed room N Scale layout and spent 3 hours just switching the main yard!
I have run on layouts in excess of 2900 sq ft and had fun too - but the problem with the larger layouts is the operations! seem to geared more towards Thru Trains instead of Local Switching!
I much prefer to do Local Switching or work the Yards
as I am much less excited about running Thru trains!
And (there I did not scream just for you - if the others leave because of the all Caps then there will be less arguments) !
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Interesting discussion. Sounds like there are two kinds of operators in this group. I definitely belong to the "light operations" side and one thing that helped is when I started making a time table. That drove me to add a Freight track to a terminus station, relocate a run around and change the arrangement in the yard a little bit.
I find going back and forth between operations-track work-electrical-software keeps me from being bored and therefore also keeps me from buying new engines ... Save money!