Matt, I hate to bring it up, but I was reading a great book: 'Track Planning for realistic operation'. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you read this book. I found TONS of info in it, and found places in my plan that needed *and still need* attention. I got my copy at my local Minot public library. *if Minot has it, your town should, too!* ANYways, I found a few places that are asking for trouble... If you run any cars over 50 scale feet in length, you may have frequent, and recurring derailments. It is due to the " 's' curve" problem. Real railroads have this problem, too. If the train is traversing a curve where the shape is like an S, or something * opposite,facing curves in line with each other, without a straight length of track in between* wild coupler angles will occur, from the equipment not having space to straighten out. S curves will cause the wild coupler angles *accentuated on tight curves with long equipment* to get wild to the point of binding abd derailing. There are 3 such plaaces on your latest plan that may develop this problem. If you never run 60'+ rolling stock, this may not be a problem, but if you want auto racks, and passenger trains on your pike, you may have to modify the plan slightly. It's hard to explain without seeing a pic, tho. So, you should borrow, buy, commandeer *I don't advise the last one* this book, and read it in its entirity. I hope this keeps you from pulling your hair out after you have laid the track! I need to go inspect mine for S-curve problems *again* now, too.
I'm an operations type and I think you could do more with track plan 3. Ibelieve there is away to give you some staging and some more interest in hdfow you will observe the layout. I've been modifing designs for operations for years. If you are interested in some detail ideas that you might be interested in let me know. Don't be fooled by those that will want you to build this at eye level standing. Eye level sitting is much more comfortable and we are all closer to the same height sitting. Maitenece can then be done standing with out stools.
Hello Dan. A warm welcome to the trainboard family I am with you on the eye level sitting down, but I am that sort of age where I need my comfort
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rsn48: I am calling Newbie Corner a forum but it wouldn't be a traditional area, like here, where I can say...Hi Rob, how's it going down under..and he can reply. Instead I see a topic covered then locked, only the comments germaine to the topic are kept; all others are edited out <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> There is a "Best of Trainboard" forum that has locked topics that are of general interest. But at this point it only has one topic. Maybe we need to make more use of "the best of" forum? It's a bit easier to refer someone to 'the best of' rather than 'the newbie corner' - the former suggested the question is 'the best' while the later suggests the question comes from 'newbies only' if you get my drift.
Matt I like version 6 the best so far. As previously noted, you need to be aware of the 3 electrical reverse loops, starting with the RH turnout at the top of the layout, on the inside main, just to the left of the centerline partition. Starting with the curved part of this turnout, the line goes "south" between buldings 16-18, then goes past building 13 and makes a loop back toward the "north" end of the layout, crossing over the 3 bridges over the Taylor River, then curving to the left and rejoining the inside main via the straight leg of the same turnout. Those three routes all lead back to the same turnout from which they originated, completing the reverse polarity loop(s) which must be double insulated from the rest of the layout. There is nothing wrong with reversing loops, but you do need to provide special wiring/insulation and control for these sections. You may want to transfer the plan to a large sheet of "butcher paper" (wide paper) and lay it out full-size with a magic marker. You could then lay it down on the floor and check out your "reach" from all 4 sides. I noticed that most of your buildings are Walthers. I think the catalog listings for each kit gives the "footprint" dimensions for the kit -- how much room each one takes up. You can get a full listing of their kits at this URL: === http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/search === Once there, fill in Category as Structures, Scale as N, and Manufacturer as Walthers and it will bring up a list of all kits 3200-3247. Then click on the listing to display the kit and its "real estate" dimensions. From this you could also move the buildings around to different spots on the layout. You don't have to lay it out full size. You could use a smaller scale. I find it sometimes easiest to lay out a plan in some multiple of 3/4" = 12" -- for us non-metric types that makes 1/16" = 1" (12/16 = 3/4). eNjoy DB
Matt, there is only one reverse loop (Electrically) in the version 6. The 180 degree curve by industry #13 would be the only one you would have to wire and it won't been such a pain when operating either. Still plan three with a little help well give you a more satisfying layout.
Dan Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. The "loop" is, for lack of a better term, a reverse loop with 3 routes contained in it. If you follow the loop to the lower right side of the layout it goes from one track to three parallel sections where it crosses the river, and then it goes back into single track. The makes all 3 parallel sections part of the reverse loop. I'd agree you would probably not have more than one train in this section at the same time, with the possible exception of a train loading at the coal "flood loader" (building 17 on the inside track). eNjoy DB
I love this site!!! Thanks for taking the time looking over my plans. I am working on another concept right now as well. This plan has benchwork that is more "U" shaped and contains single track mainline with long passing sidings. I am going to play around with this idea some more. Dan, I would be very interested in your ideas for track plan 3 and any others. Thanks again all. Hemi, I will look into this book. I thougt about picking it up before....now I will.
DB, The three tracks on the right side would not electrically be part of the reverse loop and would not have to be wired any differently. Matt, why don't you settle on a foot print for the bench work with a little room for flexibility and then a rough idea of what you want it to look like like you have been doing and then get our two cents (or more ) worth. You started off with a urban scene and now seem to be wanting both urban and rural in a scaled down version. With version 3.0 the upper left hand corner could support some staging with the city scene over the top of it. When you think of an urban layout it doesn't have to be flat.
