Loco1999: Elevating the spurs about 3/4 " to one inch would help with future scenery. What would also help with scenery is placing the Unitrack on one inch foam strips. This would raise your track level above the benchwork. All the track would start on the one inch foam strips and your spurs could be raised another 3/4" -1" by adding the appropriate riser on top of the one inch foam. By doing this you've already created space for scenery and perceptions in elevation changes. You now have scenick possibilities below the track level. I used this effect on the JJJ&E.. Stay cool and run steam....
Thanks Bob. I will try the spurs uphill, just tacked down and see how it flows. I will definitely put foam risers under the whole mainline. I really like the look that you got with that. Thanks, Loco1999
GG: The only spur Loco1999 can do that with is the "U" shaped spur. The other spurs can rise about 1/2" or so. Perhaps they can be shaped slightly differently to extend each spurs length. By raising all track on one inch foam , you can exagerate the detail of your scenery by cutting into the existing foam that covers the bench top. If the foam base is two inches, you can cut into that base about 1 1/4 inches for more depth to your scenery. That gives you 2 1/4" inches which translates into about 30 feet or so of actual depth in real terms. Stay cool and run steam....
Ok, now I see it. Hmm, Numbering the spurs from left to right: 1 - 5 Looks like maybe loco could elevate 1 and 5. Keep 2 levele and depress 3 and 4 or some variation on that. This especially so if the siding is lengthened. Cutting away the foam he could put that lake in quite depression.
Good points... I am waiting on a track order. Then I will adjust the spurs as much as I can to get a good fit. GG: I was actually raising the terrain by 1/2" as the colors get darker. This will be much easier to lay out when I get the extra track and some new WS risers that are > 2%. Thanks, Loco1999
Ok, forget the grades. Here is what I have as of now. I can't draw the rest of the mainlines. I have not purchased the program. Please give feedback on the spurs for switching? Any suggestions??? I also have a 15 degree crossing that I can use. Thanks, Loco1999
Loco1999: You need more room on the first siding on the left. How are you going to move more than one car from siding two into siding one and out? Stay cool and run steam......
I like it as is. If you wanted Numbering the turnouts on the siding from left to right 1, 2 and 3 Move turnout 2 to the spur of turnout 3. Move turnout 1 to where turnout 2 was This will: Allow greater length of the spur off of turnout 1, (making it a little easier to more cars to the switch back spur), but shorten the spur off of turnout 2 which may be undesirable to you. You might have a large industry planned for that spur.
Old pic for reference... If a tough call. (How about spurs 1,2,3,4 L to R) Right now I can have a loco pull 2 cars in spur 1 and have room to back over that TO or just park 4 or 5 cars there and block the switchback. (17" or 24" without switchback.) I made spur 2 a little longer, it will hold 4 or 5 cars depending on size. (24") So if I load spur 2 and then park on spur 1 I can park a 8 to 10 car train there. I took the curve out of spur 3. Now it holds 5 or 6 cars. (28") I left spur 4 alone. It holds 4 or 5 cars. (24") So if I park on spurs 3 and 4 I can park a 8 to 10 car train there. Now if I can get 2 more 8 to 10 car trains in the staging area I will run that for a while. These numbers are for my modern equipment. When I run the steam/early diesel equipment the car numbers will increase with all the 40'ers. I will add interchanges on the outer mainline on the right side. I plan on this being the industrial module in a larger railroad. I see another module for a town and reversing loop. I see another module for a yard. Maybe as it grows I can stop starting over..... Well that is what's going on for now. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks, Loco1999
I like it a lot! I'd go with that as is. The only thing I would add for mega switching operations, is a connection (counting as you mentioned) from spur 2 (at first track break from the top) to spur 3 (at second track break from the top) - that way you could push and pull rolling stock around all day long.
I think that if you work it right you will be able to get lots of storage out back behind the tunnel portals. The switching looks great. Another thing is that it resembles your previous plan with some nice aditions. Doing an industrial area seems much more interesting than parking trains in a yard. Lots more action with your trains running out of storage and onto the mains. I look forward to pictures of the new creation.
Thanks again. I have made some changes to the spurs and easements. Live track plan as of now. What do you think? Ideas or suggestions? Thanks, Loco1999
Loco1999: I like this trackplan the best. It will give you the best of both worlds. Lengthen the two track siding without any cars by one section of track. Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, extending the track would interfer with the dividor. I was wondering if it is possible to run a turnout off of the left hand end and around the back to create another staging track. There may not be room.
Thanks guys. Good points. It will all come down to the divider. I just have to get off my but and add it. I'll cut some wood today if I get some time. Then I will know If this plan can fly. If not, I will rework it and raise the main in the back, add bridges, and elevated three track mini yard or something. Thanks, Loco1999
You might want to use a corrugated cardboard divider for testing. /and I might want to use my spell checker more. [ 14. December 2004, 22:24: Message edited by: Grey Gryphin ]
