The upper one is two #6 turnouts, and is not a problem. They have enough separation not to need an adjacent, tapered track piece.
Once you decide on a plan, can't wait to see at least the base and track laid Nice work, and man what a lot of helpful people here!
Absolutely!!! Everybody on this board is fantastic... thanks so much!! I feel like I have a design team!!! I would have never seen those issues and would have been frustrated. Thanks again everyone . And I will do a picture diary of the build it should be lots of fun for my son and I !
Whether you want 2 or 3 classification tracks (or 1 or 2 A/D tracks) is a decision only you can make. Keep in mind that by using both ends of the classification tracks, you effectively double their effectiveness (but not necessarily capacity.) Either yard can be separated visually from the main by changes in elevation, but the larger yard definitely will need a wall to handle the elevation change (not a bad thing, since it would also enhance the visual separation.) On the top half, I noticed a visual/terrain problem with the branch-line tunnel entrance and industry on the left. Notice how the industry track extends further then the nearby branch-line tunnel entrance? That begs the question; "why didn't they just route the branch-line to the right a little, shortening the tunnel?" Tunnels are expensive, and minimizing their length saves money for a 1:1 railroad. You could also push the tunnel entrance back by altering the terrain (tunnel entrances are often at the head of a valley, not at the point of a mountain). Also, if the branch-line is at a higher elevation, it's tunnel entrance would be further back (nearer the scenic divider) than those of the adjacent tracks at lower elevations. You could also borrow the trick you used on the bottom two industries, by crossing their leads, allowing you to move that left industry a little to the right. I would also look at pushing the other tunnel entrances down, away from that upper left industrial spur, for the same reason. On the upper right, I assume the bridges are crossing a river or ravine (cut by a river in the past). If the ravine curves around the end of the coal tipple tracks, and intersects the divider at a right angle, you might experiment with a mirror there, to give the illusion that the ravine continues into the distance, past the divider. You would have to shape the terrain to the right of the river/ravine, such that it blocks the view of a reflection of the tipple tracks. Railroads often followed rivers through terrain, hugging their banks (just out of flood range). I think you're going to have a lot of fun with this railroad. Keep us posted!
Absolutely,, All the tunnel entrances are noted.. I agree with all of what you said.. I will make those changes.. The industry on the top left with probably be a Nitrate or cement industry.. and yes.. you are so observant bigjake..! That is a river from the past.. maybe a creek left. maybe entrance to a larger body of water(still deciding) I may just set the Mountain relief to near the scenic divider.. with the tunnels near them with just a little mountain showing.(more up than out) anyway.. thanks again!
i cant figure how to get the backdrop on the Cad program (SCARM) and the e trees will be more mountain (puff ball trees) and closer to backdrop.. but here are two pics from the SCARM program... View attachment 237500
Another hint for realistic river terrain: the banks on the inside of a river bend are more gently sloped, while the outside bank of the bend is steep. The outer side water is flowing faster (centrifugal force moves more water to the outside, so it has to flow faster or it would back up) and carries more sediment, increasing its erosion, cutting a deep channel against the constraining bank. The water to the inside of the bend is slower, and carries less sediment, reduced erosion, dropping it's reduced sediment load to the bottom, making it shallower. This is why natural rivers in flat country tend to serpentine all over the place, since any disturbance that causes a bend will exaggerate itself over time. A look at the Mississippi River between Arkansas and Mississippi in google maps will show this effect well, and the straightening cuts for river traffic and flood control that have been made, cutting off looping bends. In fact there are places where the river cut through a looping bend itself! While it may appear as if the river moves sediment from the outside of a bend to the inside of the bend, it is actually moving sediment from the outside of upstream bends, and depositing it on the inside of downstream bends.