Single main vs Double main ?

mtntrainman Jan 8, 2019

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....gotcha Jim....thnxs. Hadnt even thought of trains going in opposing directions. I enjoy just watching trains run...which is what THERR was designed for from the start.o_O Being a loner myself (most of the time) I am seeing the light now. I will pow wow with the better half today and get her take on my plan.

    The biggest thing is getting that ugly elevated track gone in my opinion. It was THE Wife's idea from the start. She wanted some bridges ! (Good thing for me she doesnt read this forum!...lol) I wanted track running behind and through scenery breaks....like buildings and trees.

    If I survive the pow wow I will post an update ;):whistle:
     
  2. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    It's easier to not use a track than to put a new one in after the layout is complete. :)
     
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  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I appreciate all the suggestions and insight. I think THE Wife and I have this finally figured out !!

    First off a few points of clarification:

    All kidding aside....my wife and I have a great relationship. We have for 35 years. She is not the heartless monster I kiddingly make her out to be. She is easy to talk with and bounce ideas back and forth with.

    She loves the model trains as much as I do and she even bought the Kato E5 herself to run her Excursion train :) We do run trains together often.

    [​IMG]


    With that being said...we sat down at the dining room table today with 2 cups of coffee and discussed the new plan in detail. To my surprise she was more then interested in the new plan. Surprised because the elevated section was her idea almost 7 years ago when her and I first built THERR RV together.

    She was there gutting out the RV with me from the begining and was there through the whole original layout build ! :)

    To sum things up...although technically THERR is my layout...we came to a new agreement on the layout redesign and its a win win !! The 'Improved THERR' will still be a double main. It will just have a new track configuration on her side of the layout which she likes. We call it 'her side' because she bought the WS 'Town in a box' to build 'Jeans Valley' ;)

    She agrees its time for a change and even gave some suggestions I hadnt thought of. She is willing to give the new configuration a go :) We just have to wait until summer so we arent out there freezing our behinds off during the 'renovation'...LOL !:ROFLMAO:

    Yup folks...she's a keeper :love:
     
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  4. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    A keeper???? Heck, does she have a sister??? :D
     
  5. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Why Yes...yes she does :notworthy:
     
  6. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    I have to say I know what you were going through. I could not decide until I decided to go ATSF from Winslow to Barstow, with a lot of help from my departed friend Verne Niner. ATSF was double track the whole way so it was a natural way to go. I am not sure I would ever have just a single track layout after running on the double track. Not only was it double track, there were several sidings and industrial interchanges too
     
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  7. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    Good call George! (y)

    -Mike
     
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  8. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks David...

    It all started making more sense after reading Jim Reisings explaination.

    Seeimgs as I like to just watch them run and like having trains running in opposing directions...a single main started making less sense. The only place I really have 'operations' going is when I am switching in the yard and it is/was staying double tracked :) The 2 industries I do service are off the siding that slashes thru the far end of the layout. It will just need a couple of new turnouts...now that I am taking out the 'over/under' out there.


    Redid the trackplan and it all looks doable. So dble mains is the way I'll stay. (y)



     
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  9. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Well George my friend, that is what we are all here for. And remember, you have my phone number so never hesitate to call if you want to talk about trains, layouts etc., after working hours that is. I am still very impressed with what you did inside the RV, just way too cool! I just wish my wife has even a slight interest in trains. But you can not have it all as they say.....

    By the way, how is the PRR Trainmaster running these days?
     
  10. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanxs David.

    THERR was/is a labor of love. No way do I have that much room for a layout inside the house. :)

    Yuppers...still got your #. Was gonna call ya awhile back. Dont remember why now...lol.

    To be honest...the PRR Trainmaster is still the best running locomotive on the layout ! You have a magic touch when it comes to N Scale trains my friend (y)(y)(y)
     
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  11. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Indeed, the layouts are a labor of love. That is why I had to build mine the way I did!
     
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  12. dualgauge

    dualgauge TrainBoard Member

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    Do you have room to separate the double track to look like single track by hiding the tracks from each other. Would still have double track with single track scenery.
     
  13. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Does she have three sister's? Maybe even four? Heck just how many sister's does she have? Enough for all of us :)
     
  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Only one sister. BUT...you forgot to ask the most important question.................

    the answer to it being.........

    Yes...she is already married !!!

    :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  15. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes and no.

    There is room...if i started all over. However,,,I am NOt tearing everything out. all scenery, buldings and the like are staying put. The original plan was to just tear out one of the main lines and leave everything the same. Leaving the double main and just tearing out the elevated sections will be a challenge in itself. Redesigning the area where the 'over/under' is now without tearing up the things in that area that are important is gonna be,,,well tricky. :whistle::censored:
     
  16. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh, my gosh. Someone just got tired of his layout. OH NO, quoting Mr. Bill.:eek:

    Married! The good ones are already taken. Sheeezzz!! :cautious::sick: :coffee::LOL:

    Double track has it's advantages as it can work well as an entertainment layout. You can run your trains forever until you get bored and fall asleep. Single mains keep you on your toes. You need to schedule any train meets, have working run through sidings and keep your trains short enough to fit into the sidings. Although, a train that doesn't fit and fouls the switch can be a unique puzzle to figure out. You can get the trains past each other but someone is going to have to break the train up and double it.

    Working on John Acosta's layout has always been a challenge. He has switching puzzles to figure out, run around tracks and even a turntable or three to turn the steam locomotives around. You have to love that kind of layout to enjoy it and I'm one of those who does.

    What I discovered, the purest toy train operator was frustrated by it. To much work! I just want to run trains. If you find yourself in that mode then keep the layout as is. Ready to move on and want some challenges from your layout? Then make the changes. Watch out for the one reversing loop. Easy to solve with DCC.

    For me no flat landers railroad is ever going to satisfy me. No sir!!! Not at all.:notworthy::rolleyes:o_O

    Whatever, you do it's all about how you define FUN!
     
  17. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    "....Watch out for the one reversing loop."

    Yup...on the semi final trackplan we removed the turno:whistle:.....errrr switch at the bottom center off the #2 main. (y) The station track will just go up and connect to the #2 main up top. :sneaky:
     

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