Sorry, I've never put a power plant on a layout. But a power plant when coupled with a coal mine offers the opportunity for a classic loads in - empties out configuration. This is done by connecting the two with a length of hidden double track. Loads leave the mine and arrive at the power plant. Then an identical but empty train leaves the power plant to return to the mine. If any of you have done this I'd like to see a photo or trackplan.
One of the classic examples of this was the one they did on the old MR Clinchfield layout. I believe they had a helix in-between the two plants too. They still sell the book for it. I think JH's Ohio Southern layouts have always had a similar operation too. I always thought it would be cool to have actual loads that get filled in and dumped out, but you would probably have to dump the cars one by one at the generator to do that... But that's a prototypical way they do it at a lot of plants though, and that would definitely keep a guy busy on a layout. I vaguely recall somebody did do this in an MR article once, but it might have been taconite, not coal. Dave D. Los Angeles, CA -Rail Radio Online-Home of the "TrainTenna" RR Monitoring Antenna- http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline ------------------------------------------------- -The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List- http://eje.railfan.net ------------------------------------------------- -The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page- http://eje.railfan.net/adn
This power plant is on an Ntrak corner module belonging to Northwest Ntrak of Palatine IL. In front of the building there is a siding that holds several cars. Unfortunately, this is the best shot I have of that module. I can try to get more shots on Saturday. We are celebrating our Club's 10th anniversay with a banquet and Op session. Dave [ 22. April 2003, 23:37: Message edited by: nycfan ]
