BNSF Whitehead Sub - Still Working on Track Plan

For those who have been following with me HERE through the track planning stage you know that I am constantly changing this thing.

Many have said to me that if it were theirs they would include more switching or make some changes that would make the switching more interesting. Well, I feel the same way as these people.

I definitely DO want continuous running, but my plan is to sort of to set a train or two out doing continuous running and then me and maybe one other person try to work between them running some switching operations and such while the big mainline trains roll through the countryside.

I have made some changes below using Paint that I think improve on the switching on the layout. As always, I'm open to opinions.

And, Rick, I'm showing to have the "surround" staging hidden behind a backdrop, but I'm still contemplating your suggestion on putting the staging on a lower deck.

Anway...that's enough chit chat. Pardon the crude sketch....



[ 10. December 2003, 21:01: Message edited by: Hoss ]

 

I should note that although changes will obviously have to be made, I still intend for the scenery to do something along THESE lines.

 

Just eliminate that single line of track and you'll have it. That way your trains are coming from and going to, "somewhere".

 

Now there's a thought that nobody here has mentioned yet. Interesting thought. That would mean ripping out the foam subroadbed I've already put down for the mainline in that area, but still. That would open up some more room for scenery too.

Still though....I kind of like the look of that single main going over the "summit".

Hmmmm.....

 

Hoss,

You are all over the place with this one! Anyway, I like the concept you're developing, and I think very soon you will iron out what is important to you and it will come together. Kinda late in the game, but here's my two cents:
1. I like the scene you are doing on the bottom of the layout depicting that BNSF calendar photo. I think that will go a long way in making your layout look good. So, if my vote counts, keep that part.
2. Try to limit your tracks running off the layout. You already have the main line entering and exiting via tunnels. I would have just one other line leaving the layout and maybe use it as a "dual role" where it functions as a diverging BNSF division on one hand, a UP interchange on another hand, and maybe a second BNSF connection or other railroad at some other time. Have it form a true "diamond" interchange where the track runs to the front edge of the layout. Gives you a little more operational flexibility when you have to wait for the interchange road or crossing division to clear the crossing. (even if it won't actually be blocking it.)

Anyway, you are well on your way, so just keep going back to what you truly want to accomplish with your layout and it will fall into place I'm sure.

 

Doug, I think I'm getting closer. As I said before, I've said all along that I wanted to have continous running, but the more and more I think about it the more I want lots of switching. I'm trying to come up with something that will allow for some of both...and I think I'm getting there.

1. I like that scene too...and I intend to keep it.

2. My hesitance on having a "diamond" interchange is simply because I'm not sure if Peco makes a crossing in Code 55. If they do, and if I can find them, I can probably fit a diamond in somewhere.

 

I saw a Peco code 55 double slip yesterday, which was sexy as hell, and frightfully expensive...not quite what you want, I know, but it looked so good I wanted it anyway.....

Layout is looking good Hoss... You gonna have to actually start making it soon if your not careful!

 

Hehehe....buying a double slip you don't need just because it looks cool is one thing....calling it sexy is downright frightening!!

Then again, I'm sure there are those who buy a double slip and build their railroad around it.

Now....I actually have started building it. The benchwork is done and the foam subroadbed (including WS foam risers) is put in for the mainline...which is why I hesitate to make any changes to the mainline at this point. I'm scared to do anything on the industrial areas until I have them finalized, but I do plan to proceed in putting down cork roadbed for the mainline as soon as I get the chance to work on it again. Maybe tonight....

I really need to take some pictures...

 

What's happening here?

 

Hehehe....you don't want to know.

Well, after all of the trouble I recently went through tearing down my old garage layout, designing a new track plan to come inside the house, building the new benchwork and starting on the subroadbed...I decided to take it back to the garage.

For those of you who may remember the other layout, I just never could seem to get everything I wanted into the space I had and I never could settle on a track plan that I liked.

The track plan below is a new one that I've come up with that I hope to begin construction on this week (took the week off for Christmas and New Year's).

Most of the vital information is shown on the drawing, so I won't give any more details unless you have questions.

I left plenty of room for scenery, and I currently have seven industry tracks (some of which have not yet been assigned an industry). I will have a large grain elevator and a flood loader for coal. You should be able to find those pretty easy. I will probably have a power plant and a lumber yard somewhere and the rest are still up for grabs.

This will be a combination of both city and rural areas, with the city area being primarily around the "north" end of the yard and yard lead tracks.

Okay...I've said enough. Have at it.

See below or go HERE for the full size version.



What do y'all think??

 

And...just in case someone thinks that I'm not seriously considering dismantling the benchwork I already built and starting over...here's my progress so far on the new benchwork.











[ 02. January 2004, 03:29: Message edited by: Hoss ]

 

AND...just to make things even more confusing, here is the recently revised drawing showing the branch line which will go to a helix and down to a large hidden staging yard.

Now...this is probably very confusing to anyone looking at it besides me simply because you don't know the elevations of each track. I at least tried to attempt to show what track goes under what through the use of the software, but there is no simple way for me to explain the elevations in words. When I get time I'll go label them on the track plan and maybe that will make things a little more clear. Until then, have fun trying to figure it out (and $20 to the person who does!!!)

FULL SIZE PICTURE



Now...after all that...I'm sure SOMEONE out there is thinking, "This guy is nuts!!". Well, maybe I am.

 

Okay, here it is again but with the track elevations (in red).

FULL SIZE VERSION

Small Version:

 

I liked your original plan, save for the upper branch. This plan resembles a spaghetti bowl. Way too much track for me.

 

Well that figures.

I'll admit that it does kind of have a spaghetti bowl look to it when you see it in plan view...especially down at the bottom where the helix and the mainline and the other tracks are.

However, with what I envision for scenery I think it will APPEAR to have much less track than what is actually shown. I just never could settle on a track plan I liked on the other benchwork. I wanted to do so much more than I could fit in that space.

Maybe if I get some time today I'll do some work in Paint that will help to show the scenery I have in mind a little better.

Sorry you don't like it, but for ME it is much more interesting operationally...and I think I can use various sorts of scenery to make it look like less track than it actually is.

 

See if this helps you out any with the spaghetti bowl effect.

Just a possible scenery scenario I worked up today. It's a bit crude, but it does help to give a better idea of what I intend for the layout to look like.

Also keep in mind that what you are seeing is a very small scale. The layout has overal dimensions of 9'x17', so what appear to be a spaghetti bowl in that little picture will be spread out considerably when it's on the layout.

 

Shane,

Well I as much as I liked your other layout that you were planning I like this one better. How soon till you start laying down some track??

 

Thanks Bill. I hope to get some plywood on the benchwork this weekend. As soon as I get that done I'll draw the trackplan out on it and then from there start doing the cookie cutter thing to get my grades. After that I'll put all of the cork down and then comes the track. HOPEFULLY I'll have the first piece of track laid this weekend, but that might be a little bit optimistic.