Haven't been here much, but love the new site! I am going in for testing later this month and they have me on more meds that do strange things to me. I have been making a few changes to make the layout more real to what they would have been back then. I had a loop to get from the Sawmill to Log Camp. The problem with that is the reverse loop, don't want one. Even with a DCC system i just don't want the extra headache. I changed it to a switchback to get up and down the mountain. I also added 6 inches to the other end so the wye is laid back better. I have the coal mine and everything looks great...on paper. The track plan has the common track color for ground level, but the switchback is blue. It can go up higher than 4 inches or even more. It allows for more than one trestle, one big and maybe two little ones just to give another use of the woods. I have one picture that shows logs used to make a bridge. Little things to make it even more like the real ones. Ok, Here it comes, Dan
I was getting looked at over in another forum and after much help, I have a slight better plan. Still learning about wood and timber camp along with Coal mines. Here's the latest. Dan At the lower left I am planning to add a foot more to the plan so i have enough room to put the switch backs in. Any other things from you to add or maybe take out?? Have fun, Dan
OleSmokey: I put together this variation that fits in the same 6x7 U-shaped footprint, and is very similar to your recent plans, except the switchbacks have been lenthened and the mainline is now separate from the branchline. The branchline wye and first switchback are on the outside of the main line loop, but all other branchline tracks are inside or pass above the main line loop. It would be easy to construct this layout using risers and cookie cutter benchwork because the tracks have been positioned to minimize how often upper tracks cover lower tracks. Electrically, there are no (traditional, teardrop shaped) reversing loops, per se, but rails above the lower right arm of the wye will need to be double gapped and wired to (at least) a DPDT electrical switch to avoid electrical shorts in the wye. The layout is designed to be viewed and operated from within the U. All turnouts are accessible by less than a 24 inch reach, except the TO from the main to the interchange track at the top right of the track plan (and perhaps the turnouts at the summit in the upper left corner of the plan). The plan offers a main line loop at 0 inches elevation that is separate from the logging branch. Continuous running is available on the main, and cars may be set out from the main to a 4 foot long interchange/siding when running in either direction. There is 1 main line bridge over water (although it would be possible to daylight the main line in the tunnel at the top of the plan and have the water run under a second main line bridge instead of down the mountainside where it would be hiding the main. The branch line consists of a wye at 0 inches elevation for turning engines near the interchange/siding and 3 short yard tracks to facilitate blocking cars before switching the branchline. These 3 tracks could be reconfigured as industries or engine facilities for the branch line. All branch line tracks are independent of the main, and the interchange track may be accessed from the branch line from either end without interfering with a train running on the main. The branch line rises from 0 inches elevation by the wye and the interchange track, through a series of switchbacks, to a runaround track and 4 logging camp tracks at 6.0 inches elevation. The first switchback rises to 1.5 inches at the first switchback; to 3 inches elevation at the 2nd switchback, 4 inches elevation at the 3rd switchback, 5 inches at the 4th, and 6 inches elevation at the summit. Each switchback tail is at least 24 inches long, and is level. There is approximately 2 feet track between each pair of switchback tail tracks, and the branch line rises about 1 inch in every 2 feet (4% grade) between each pair of level tail tracks. Although it might be mechanically possible to construct this layout with a steeper grade and the loco slated for use may be able to pull cars up a steeper grade, I've used the shallower grade for more reliable operation, more horizontal space between tracks for buildings, and greater ease in making realistic hillsides instead of vertical cliffs between tracks. There is room to add additional sidings or industries served by rail on the second, third, and fourth switchbacks. There are 5 switchback bridges over water, and one over the mainline. Although this plan shows the first switchback covered by the mountain, it would be possible to have both the ascending and descending tracks appear from a tunnel portal. This would also make access to the turnout a little easier because it could be reached from above instead of from the side.
Only two questions there, Where did you place the sawmill? Also the coal mine?? Other than that it does seem workable.
Your choice! I'd probably put the coal mine at one end or the other of the run-around at 6 inches elevation and put the saw mill at 4 inches elevation in the open space between the 2nd and 4th switchbacks (in the space where the terrain is at 3 inches in the front and 5 inches at the back)...but you may prefer somewhere else. If you'd rather have some space for the sawmill or industries on the outside of the main, it would be possible to move both the main line loop in the lower left of the plan and the 1st switchback tracks running next to it up about 6 inches and move the 3rd switchback currently at 4 inches elevation in the center of the lower left of the plan about 3 or 4 inches to the left (closer to the summit tracks). This would free up some space at the front of that area of the plan to put in a siding serving a sawmill or industries associated with the town or railroad.
I am gong to have to smoke this one over and see where i want the coal mine and sawmill. The sawmill needs the water for the log dump. So i need to have a pond somewhere to hook up with the creek. I almost wish i could get the coal mine over with the interchange. Don't think i can. You have a interesting plan there. I will be up all night figuring this one thru.Thank You for the ideas. Dan:thumbs_up:
Ok, I did this up on computer to see if it would work. It shows up a bit different as you don't have turnouts on curves with this software. Another thing is that it don't have #4 turnouts. See if this is close, Dan :tb-confused:
