My brain train seems to have suffered a major derailment. Im laying out my track. Mainline is basically an oval. 2 branch lines. first is simply a smaller oval within the mainline Second branch turns out, from 1st branchline. goes up and around a mountaian connects back into the first branchline with the turnout downstream of the mountain entrance turnout... So the question is... does that make it a reverse loop?
Ok a very rough sketck of new layout. 3 different elevations. blue= ground level. Red is 3" higher than ground green is 4.5" from ground. the loops will be on aand tunneled through a mountain. upper level above lil switching yard an elevated staion. I might add a run around there. Most of the red section from the beginning of the upper left to well into the right side will be elevated above the lil city that will go generally top down to middle. I kind of laid the track out to get an idea of it and to make sure of no reverse loops as well as the ability to run trains in opposite directions... Apologies for the terrible drawing. all grades are a nice easy 2% long climb to height. Lots of cool tunnel and switching action for me lol. Ill add some turnouts for stubs to industry etc. all in all so far im happier with this layout. curves will be 15" radius or greater. Some of the longer rolling stock, my dd40ax, etc. Might look a bit wierd making the 15" radius turns but... itll have to do.
I removed my reversing loop. im at the intimidation stage now. I have my ground level layed out. Second level mostly. its going to be tricky, as I visualize the second level a small-ish mesa... with a high mountain lake, spilling into a river at ground level. the third level.... I may just pull right into a small mining yard with a runaround. I have a z scale starter set. Might use the loco and a gondola going into the mine as static scenery. I guess that area would make the perfect excuse for 2 direction train ops. Lil city with some industry will be at base of mountains. small switching yard at ground level. Passenger train and station will be elevated on 2nd lvl.. plus the "old town." On the wrong side of the tracks... ground level of course... forgot that part. 2nd level mesa, high end homes etc plus roads down to town... For some reason I keep picturing "old west days." car show, bands etc... plus a double headed pair of big boys with passenger cars for tours of the gold mine.... Hmmm... call me kooky
So, in doing that... most of the backside of the layout would be tunneled. ill make it easy on myself and keep the tunnels mostly open on that side for derailments, maintenance etc. Cant see it anyway as you would have to step around the cat tree and step onto the dogs bed. This is in a rv afterall. I think I made a huge mistake to start. the "extended" part of the base... 2" extruded foam.... coated with the foil crap no less... plus .25" panel it's glued to... so as far as making switching dcc. Ill have to get creative. Got it figured out. Cut into th 2" foam... build hidden panel boxes to mount them to. Or... solder extra length to acuating wire... either or... The portion that covers the comp desk... thats the easy part. I only used 1" foam there. Carriage. (the rv manufacturer), did me a huge favor by pre drilling a big hole for wires in the upper corner of the comp desk. I only need to cut wire "races, or channels..." into the bottom of that foam.. easy peasy. Im also contemplating a nice lil siding and turnout for a couple of pushers for the mine. I might go the wreckless side and make that a 3% grade. I know... dang me to h.e. double toothpicks... but... my idea comes from the big lift outside denver to palmer lake. Via bnsf....
Awesome! its actually starting to take shape. im looking for kits to run an elevated train with gantries or supports that will clear a train folowwing the same path for about 3 feet directly below at ground level. Also have room on the third level for a nice little yard and mine. that grade going to the mine is about 3%. So ill stage helpers for that run.. Only thing im stuck on... getting the train back down from that level, without making a reverse loop...
Operate 'point to point'. When you reach lines end, run the power around and couple to the opposite end, then return back to the home terminal.
You mean reverse the train down to the turnout? Another option is to go higher. take the track up another 2. 5 inches. build the lil yard and switching yard and mine there. drop the line down a tunnel and over/under the uphill climb tracks, merge it into another line from there. It woul be goin in the same direction hence no reverse loop
It's passed midnight and my brain is fried... ill post a diagram and ask questions... nvm... no matter what, without a reverse loop train runs backards on the way down. Going to need some serious dcc guru help on this one, as part of the reverse loop is part of the yard...
If it was just passenger power set in the modern era I would put a cab car on the end. And in some areas a loco can be found on either end in freight both used as helper power up the grade and braking power down the grade.
Well... here are my unknowns with dcc... To insulfrog? or electrofrog? I have turtle switchers, with dcc encoders on the way. I also will be using pico turnouts.. plus at least one pico crossover.. My dcc system is the digitrax rf system. I ordered it today along with other goodies. I know there is both a science and fine art to dcc. As far as my transition from level to level.. I think I have that licked now.. I think... My laptop is fried so I have no access to any track builder program, so im doing the trackplanning the old fashioned way... trial n error... I really have to watch track radius as im running some big, oddball locos. such as dd40ax, up big boy, challenger, etc. All of which as the stats say: 15" min track radius. Plus my future hopeful of additions is the u50, gas turbine monster... that is of course if concor or anyone else can get their crap together for far less than 1400 dollars... Anyway... near as I can tell.. I count 8 turnouts... 3 to 4 are curved... 1 4 way crossover, the rest good ol fashioned turnouts... Heh... I know there will be places I want to put insulated joiners, etc... Ill be honest... not really any clubs here in colo. Spgs. That are worth much... nor is there much help... anyone savy with dcc want to take a noob under their wing? Lol! I just need to get the understanding of the whys and wheres... as far as building the initial dcc what to isolate, what not to, and why... Anyway... the top level... Here is my idea....
