BCVRR - Layout Redesign / Critique

So what do you do when you stop having fun doing what you are doing?

I started doing scenery on my layout and began hitting stumbling blocks. It is going to be difficult to obtain modern buildings for my downtown section of the layout. I found some at a very high cost; however I’m not willing to pay that much. Next obstacle is my scenery is getting in the way of operating trains. Reaching over scenery is causing the scenery to be destroyed. I may be clumsy and I’m sure there is poor design involved.

I also want intermodal traffic as part of my layout. I also want more yard tracks and more industries that put a demand on yard operations.

My answer to this question has been a resounding redesign the layout and that is exactly what I have done. Now I’m happy and having fun again!:tb-biggrin:

Here is my track plan and alternate for critique and a little more background information.

Walk in N scale layout using DCC. Focus on switching operations with a big city background appearance. Double track design will allow running / switching many trains at the same time. Industries include intermodal traffic, feed mill, LPG, multiple equipment parts manufacturers / distributors and team track. Yard will include engine service terminal, service track and car shop.

Jerry

 

I'm really liking both of these plans, Jerry. These look like what I've been contemplating for a similar space, but better! What is your minimum mainline radius? Around 15"?

David

 

Rick,

I intend to use the #2 track plan for starters and build on the scenery details. This layout will be patterned mostly after the Chicago land area. Instead of an underpass I am looking at a bridge to reach other parts of the city. I am going to add some low lying hills in the closet portion of the layout as a view block to hide the loop and add interest. The modern cityscape back drop will definitely be much less expensive than actual buildings and will leave more room for the trains.

I wanted an everything layout and realize that requires more real estate than I have at this time.:tb-sad: It has forced me to narrow my focus on what I want most from a layout. I see this as part of the learning curve.

Attached is an updated plan addressing the road issue.

Thanks you for your ideas, they are more helpful than you know.

Jerry

 

David,

These initial plans are using a 15" minimum radius. I would have preferred a 19" outer mainline minimum radius; however that created trade offs I was not willing to accept. I may be able to make a few adjustments in highly visible areas and compensate for the change in less visible areas. Since the layout will primarily be operating freight trains it is less of a concern.:tb-cool:

Thanks,

Jerry

 

LAYOUT

I like them both. Couple of things. In the upper left corner you need access from the yard escape ladder track back to the inner track. this is for the switcher to be able to run around stuff on the ladder track. It will be hard as that is where the curves begin but there may be some other ideas out there. The crossovers on the track behind the industries on the right side need to be in the gaps between buildings so you do not have to reach over a building if you have any industries. When you talk of expensive city buildings I am not sure which you are talking about. Post some pics of the 1:1 example of what you want to model and maybe we can help with product examples.

Since you have the loop in the closet there you have a balloon that is capable of holding a helix. Ever thought of a helix down to lower level staging?

HTH

Have fun. It's your RR!

 

The Light Bulb Finally Came On

Thanks for your thoughts Ryan. I have too many issues with the present layout to overcome (buildings being only one of them) and new interests I wish to add to the redesign. In short out with the old and in with the new. I will address your concerns and others as I develop this plan. At the moment I was hit with a solution to both Rick's idea and David's inquire on minimum radius mainline curves. I have come to realize that a folded loop design will resolve many issues and improve the appearance at the cost of using grades on the layout. It appears that grades will be at or below 1 1/2%.

Adding a grade to the mainline tracks in front of the yard down to the four industries in front of the layout and another grade up around the intermodal traffic yard will allow trucks / cars to pass under the mainline at the four industries in front of the layout. This will allow me to increase my minimum mainline radius curve to 19" and will also create less of a race track appearance to the layout.

Check out the track plan and tell me what you think. Note: dashed track represents track that is hidden or below another object.

Jerry

 

I would question the placement of the crossovers I have circled in red on this drawing. They don't really provide easy access to the yard ladder from the outside route. I would consider moving the crossovers circled in green in the direction indicated and remove the others. The rest of the plan looks good to me.

 

help

Here is a great basic yard design primer

Yard Design

Otherwise it looks good.

 

Ryan,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply, work on the horse ranch is unpredictable.

Excellent point on making sure I can access the switches behind the industry buildings.:thumbs_up:

As far as a yard ladder run around I have a rule when operating that say don't leave anything standing on the yard ladder. This has worked well for me.

Overall dissatisfaction with the up and running layout design and a desire to narrow my focus to industry switching / intermodal traffic has led me to scratch modeling a city. I would like to concentrate on my primary focus and hopefully do better at modeling it. Thankfully everything is screwed or bolted together and will not be that difficult to revamp.:tb-smile:

I did consider a helix and under layout staging; however the thought raised more construction problems than it did operating solutions. I instead opted for open staging using the extra yard tracks. I realize trains should go and come from somewhere rather than from the yard. During an op session I will have a set of boxes to hold car cards for the made up trains coming and going.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

In making the change to a folded loop design I later saw issues with the placement of many single crossovers and have made some changes as reflected in the attached track plan.

Here is a review of the seven mainline single crossovers.

1 and 2 - These two crossovers you have circled in red are the crossovers to the arrival / departure track of the yard. Keep in mind the yard lead uses the inside main; which during op sessions will only be used for access to industry switching. I designed a double mainline for some continuous running of trains in two directions.

3 - The right hand single crossover as you exit the yard (closet loop / declining grade) allows for a train on the inside main to move over to the outside main. Useful for passing a train working the industries on the front lower level sidings.

4 - The left hand single crossover prior to the front lower level industries (closet loop / declining grade) allows a train on the outside main to move to the inside main for the purpose of working the industries.

5 - The next single crossover (left hand) is located on the inclining grade and uses a right hand switch coming out of the curve technique to avoid an "S" curve that would derail rolling stock. Useful for passing a train working the industries on the upper level sidings.

6 - The left hand single crossover allows a train leaving the yard to move to the outside main in case a switcher is in the pocket (between the two single crossovers) or if a switcher has a drag of cars out on the line. It also allows a train on the outside main heading to the yard to move to the inside main for direct access to the yard ladder.

7 - The right hand single crossover allows a train on the outside main to move to the inside main. Useful for passing a train working the industries on the upper level sidings. It also allows a train on the inside main coming from the upper level industries to move to the outside main and pass a switcher.

I hope this makes sense and provides some insight to my logic.:tb-rolleyes:

Thanks,

Jerry

 

See my prior post on the descriptions and review of the seven mainline single crossovers as they are on the revised attached track plan. I think you will agree that this yard design follows most of the guidelines and complies with the concepts explained by John Armstrong in his book entitled Track Planning for Realistic Operation and by Andy Sperandeo in his book entitled Freight Yards.:tb-wink:

Thanks,

Jerry

 

Hi Jerry,

I like the first option. I think your crossovers are right on.

Take Care,
Greg

 

Thanks Greg. You may have noticed that I flipped the lower level industry sidings around in order to give trains running in both directions during ops the ability to work in some switching.

The floor plan provides for up to five operator stations. The double ended diamond yard allows for switching cars from both ends of the yard during op sessions with a dedicated yard lead at each end and plenty of elbow room for the operators. The upper and lower level industry sidings provide ample room for two operators to handle switching duties. Over by the door permits another operator to carry out intermodal switching.

Once I am satisfied the track plan is solid it will be time to bounce some ideas around concerning the scenery aspects of the layout. I still need to work out specifics concerning the industries on the layout and that is subject to change except for intermodal, which is a keeper.

Check back as I try to develop a complete track and scenery plan for the new layout.

Jerry

 

Track Plan Revisions

Since this is a modern era railroad I had to research what industries are being rail served in current times. This led me to realize that large industries tend to dominate this category. For this reason I am modeling only five industries along with a sub division yard. These five industries however require a significant amount of rail cars in order to operate.

The list of industries is as follows:

1. Intermodal Traffic Yard
2. ADM Flour Mill
3. Detergent Soap Manufacturer
4. Lithium Battery Manufacturer
5. Chocolate Manufacturer

In all cases raw goods are brought in by rail and finished goods are shipped by truck / container and rail.

Revisions to the track and scenery plan are as follows:

1. Changes in sidings, buildings, access roads and parking lots to support the five industries mentioned above.
2. A scenery view block (removable for access) in the closet area (west end of the layout).
3. Addition to trackage in the closet area.

Attached is the revised track plan with scenery additions.

Jerry

 

Scenic Possibilities

Focus on the layout design turned to scenic improvements. The yard side of the layout needed broken up and what better way than to include a natural extension of the creek.

I was able to open up the east end of the yard by relocating the engine service terminal to the west end of the yard. The addition of two feeder creeks and a slight change in the track plan reduced the race track look and added a much needed scenic break between the yard and industries. I believe the engine service terminal makes better use of the closet area.

Any additional thought are welcome.

Jerry

 

Thanks Rick for the encouraging words. Scenery design has proven to be my weak point when developing a desirable layout plan. I see it as a challenge and will not let it deter me from reaching my goals, no matter how many times I have to rebuild the layout.:tb-wacky:

Jerry