I have been in a bit of a funk on my current layout and realized it lacks the prototype to inspire me to move ahead on it. The SPidge RR was a satisfying design for some operating fun, but I was limited on train length. The sidings were just long enough for 10 car trains, but a three track staging yard could hold layout dominating 20 car trains. I will not remove it until funds are in hand to move ahead on the new plans. Over the last few years Marc (3DTrains) and I have had the chance to visit and operate a few fair sized layouts where the prototype was used to great effect. This gave the builder guidance and inspiration to keep moving ahead on the layout. I like the railroads through Cajon and California's Inland Empire (Riverside /San Bernardino), but its a monster to create in any scale. So Marc suggested the Beaumont Hill from West Colton to Indio in California. At first I was not sure of it, but this would allow me to include many landmarks that I always wanted to include like the Colton diamonds with tower, the mill nearby, the towering elevator in Loma Linda (SB), etc.... So with the given space we settled on the grade from West Colton to Banning. This would allow for helpers on a long grade with limited switching (locals) and be single track so signaling would help manage the traffic. The plan so far. This would be point to point with staging at both ends. West Colton would have staging on the west end to represent LA and staging after Banning would be Indio or Yuma. The peninsula on the left of the plan would have 4 levels, but 2 would be staging and the plan is for 7" of space for access. There would be 15" between the Colton yard and the next deck on top of it so it would be comfortable to run without hitting your head on a valance. While standing in front of Colton you would take your train eastward right and around the end of the peninsula where the diamonds would be. You would then cross the Santa Anna River and run by the towering elevator at Loma Linda along the top of the plan. Then through to Redlands on the right side becoming single track. Your train would continue along the right wall and onto the peninsula in the middle of the layout with Ordway. As the mainline continues around the peninsula you the operator stays inside the layout to whatch your train come back to the wall on the right, where the layout is double decked and passes El Casco and Hinda all the while San Timeteo Canyon Road running alongside. You would cross the creak a couple times go around Big Curve and into Beaumont where you may have to work the poultry plant, wood distributor, and team track. Then over Apex to Banning downgrade to serve the paper supplier and team track. Then your train would drop off the edge of the planet into staging. The main goals are 10' trains with some switching and operating comfort was a top priority. I created the yard, but its just a rough in and Marc drew the top deck with Ordway and Beaumont. The last attachment is the yard Marc created initially that got me considering this seriously. Feedback welcome.
I've been workin' on the railroad... Here's a revision for the upper level, John. I tweaked the curves a bit for maximum climb, but the grade may need to be increased somewhat to gain the 7" separation between upper staging and Beaumont/Banning, which I originally planned for 5" @2.25%. 2.5% would do it, but that's a pretty steep climb for a 10' train.
Joe W. from Showcase Miniatures was just telling me about the Yahoo"Beaumont Hills Group" That might help you with building info. John do you now have the rightaway for the whole garage? Are you going to include the new Colton "flyover"?
Marc made up the first level draft too. Looks quite good in my opinion. Any thoughts, besides my wife only seeing dollar signs? She would be seeing more if Marc didn't hold me back from the "Political Boundaries".
Sorry this response is so late. I do have the right of way for the entire garage, but have elected to reserve some space for storage (hobby and other) cabinets and the washer area. I also needed a safe passageway through to the kitchen door next to the washer from the open garage door. I want the teenage kids and accident prone wife to have a clear shot. I do not wish to include the new flyover, but will date it close to the 70's to early 80's when Universal Milling was still standing and the old SP freight track was utilized as a team track. I plan to include the tower too. My main goals were operator comfort (wide isles) and as little hidden trackage as possible. We'll see how staging comes out.
Take the kids? One is an adult now and is chomping at the bit to be on her own. The high school sophomore actually teased me a bit when she said she missed her smaller room. This may be important as their two rooms are side by side and the smaller room is in the back of the house. This would give me about 36'x11' in the air conditioned house. Maybe I should wait them out?
Well, I have a clean slate for sure now and hope to take full advantage of the space. I do like what Marc has put together, but what can we do to add more creature comfort (operating fun) with the added available space? Total space is 22'5" wide x 20" deep. The only obstacles are the water heater in the lower left, electrical sub panel in the lower right, and the area around the washer/dryer and doors. Any ideas?
Don't get me wrong. I am not looking at a total redesign, but rather I would like to stretch out the current efforts by Marc to allow for easier access to staging and a longer mainline run. Should I pull away from one of the walls? Should I use Colton as staging and a working yard? ?????
i've been lurking as you designed this. the track plan looks good. I especially like how you aren't using a straight line for your layout edges with track at a 90 degree angle; everything is off from the standard straight lines. It should be very appealing to see all your trains running around the small bends too.
Another consideration. This would extend the mainline quite a bit running all the way to Indio. This way I can include the rock plant at Cabazon creating a short fun out of staging and back train. There are actualy two helix', one from the yard down to LA staging and the other from Beaumont to Cabazon to begin the decent down to Indio staging. What you see here is the top level, and the emphasis is on the mainline and switching in and around Colton. I may add something to represent the Riverside branch. The yard may start at 50" or 55" and Beamont would be about 10" higher. The helix would allow the lower level to run about 10" below the upper level on very narrow shelves. I can get away with the narrow shelves as it is mostly desert running, so a good backdrop should help. Helpers galore here with stalled trains, because the SP liked to run 7 locos hoping five would get them there. My program does not allow you to enlarge without distorting so I took some screen shots of each corner. The screen shot with the overall view will distort, but you should be able to enlarge the others to 150% to read the info on the plan. Comments welcome, as there is plenty of time before this is started. :wideeyes:hboy::frustrated:
Here is another footprint to consider. This one is a bit more open and allows for the Colton diamonds and Loma Linda to be spread out a bit and have more linear space. I could build one level or two. One level would have the layout end at Beaumont, but two would include Banning,Cabazon (Rock Plant), and some desert running ending in Indio. Feedback or just plain spit balling welcome. the three bars with yellow print represent a 9' train, three locos apx 18 cars, and a caboose of coarse.
OK, another option is to go up with a level rather than down. In this plan the lower right helix will do double duty by enabling trains from the lower deck to climb from San Timatao Canyon high enough to give some clearance in order to view the lower deck. The helix will also run trains from the West Colton yard all the way up to the upper deck where there will be open staging. This will be a hostler type move so mainline operators will not have to sit and wait in the corner like they did something wrong. Again the focus is on the first level for switching, but there will be some work to do in Beaumont and Banning plus plenty of helper service. I could run trains short power here and there so crews would have to run until they stall their train and have to wait for helpers, just like the SP would do. Redlands would be at the end of the double track out of Loma Linda starting upgrade through the San Timatao canyon with a long siding representing hardhat (El Casco) and all. The helix (unfortunate compromise) will run up a few turns and emerge from the somewhat plush orange groves and horse ranches into the desert area of Beaumont, Apex (summit), and Banning. Then with a little modelers licence, Cabazon with the rock plant (back dated) and desert running to Indio (staging) above West Colton. By the way Marc (3DTrains) suggested moving the left peninsula over a bit and the result was space for a switching area, so the rock plant can now be comfortable switched and people can walk by him/her. What say you?
I straightened the shelf leading into the helix which allowed me to move the corner down. This added a little bit of length to the diamonds scene. I am attempting to use one leg of the diamonds to have an ATSF yard to yard train movement.
Question? Keep the mainline single track with passing sidings to slow the trains a bit, or just go double track for the entire route?
I've also been thinking of going back to this foot print. Why? I want to run helpers and this plan would allow me to cut them off before the helix and have a much longer Beaumont and Banning scene along the garage door. What I do not like is the Colton diamond scene as it should be straight. I can crunch the yard just a tad bit more, but I need to gain much more space for the diamonds scene. This could also allow for an expanded Cabazon cement plant scene over near the washer and dryer. :headspin::sweat:
