New Layout: The CSX Dixie Line

CSXDixieLine Jul 28, 2008

  1. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Oo, where do you get the template for that paper house? I could use a few of those stand-ins for my layout until I'm actually ready to buy the real deals.


    And just because I'm that bored...
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Jamie, It's amazing what a good backdrop can do for you - both photographically and motivationally!
     
  3. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, looks like it's gonna turn out really nice, the photo backdrop going to add so much! :)

    and Mark, you crack me up! :D

    -Mike
     
  4. denny99

    denny99 TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, those are great mock-ups! I believe you'll be planning a lot your backdrop, and end up with some great ones.

    And Mark: I think one day, in the future - if it could ever happen given the distance - you, Mike and I should go out for a beer... :)
     
  5. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    HA! I didn't even notice Dorothy & friends until I went back and looked at your photoshop of my photoshop :) I have had several inquiries as to posting my template, so I'll convert it to a PDF when I am at the office tomorrow. Anyone know how/where I can post a PDF where anyone can downlaod it? Jamie
     
  6. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, if you wanna send it to me, I can host it on my site, it's up to you. :)

    -Mike
     
  7. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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  8. Lowrider_33

    Lowrider_33 TrainBoard Member

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    Nice work Jamie!!!

    Ben
     
  9. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    I put down some spare sheets of 3/4" blue foam to experiment with some track arrangements. I will be using Masonite spline roadbed to support my track, so the blue foam is really a sandbox used to finalize track positions. These two pics show the temporary track placement from the helix to the south end of the Emerson passing siding, the southern most visible section of the layout.

    A single 1/8" Masonite spline held in place with finishing nails pushed into the foam was used to locate the track center line:

    [​IMG]

    The Atlas code 55 track is held temporarily in place using craft T-pins:

    [​IMG]

    The track locations will soon be transferred from the foam to the benchwork so the spline raodbed can be constructed.
    Jamie
     
  10. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie, great to see some track on your layout :) I probably missed it, but what are you going to use on top of your spline?

    -Mike
     
  11. denny99

    denny99 TrainBoard Member

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    Good job Jamie, it feels great when things finally start to take shape, isn't it? :)
     
  12. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    I was originally planning to lay the track directly on the splines, but since I want to vary track heights by mannline, siding and spur*, I'll probably use cork roadbed for the mainline and sidings and lay the spurs directly on the spline sub-roadbed. I may use HO-scale cork or double N-scale cork for the mainlines; I guess I'll need to do a mockup to see what looks right. Sound plausable?

    *spur = any industry track

    Oh yeah! I even brushed the cobwebs off of the Digitrax booster and alligator clipped some feeders to the track so I could run trains on the temporary tracks through Emerson. The kids had a blast seeing how this wierd looking thing is finally going to work and running some trains. I told them just wait when you can run them farther than 8 feet!

    Jamie
     
  13. NSseeker

    NSseeker TrainBoard Member

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    Great job on all this progress. I hope that when I get to working on my layout again(I have a layout up and running, but not a lot of time to work on it.), it will go as smoothly as what you've been able to do.

    That's a great start to your helix. I remember that you were planning to elongate it with short straight sections to increase run and lower grade. Was there a major development that got you to change your plan on that?

    Again, great job....
     
  14. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Thanks for the compliment! As for the helix, I wenty back to my circular design when I saw videos of two other helixes with the same dimensions. The trains ran up and down without any trouble. I have the space available in case I do decide to go back to the oval. Jamie
     
  15. Cleggie

    Cleggie TrainBoard Member

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    [/quote]

    Oh yeah! I even brushed the cobwebs off of the Digitrax booster and alligator clipped some feeders to the track so I could run trains on the temporary tracks through Emerson. The kids had a blast seeing how this wierd looking thing is finally going to work and running some trains. I told them just wait when you can run them farther than 8 feet!

    Jamie[/quote]


    Ahh... yes, getting to the exciting bit, laying track and running trains. I love to hear the clitter clatter of little wheels. Ok, I know that you have a lot more work to do before you have an opperational main line but it does help to get the juices flowing and raise the motivational level. You do great work, I am impressed.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
     
  16. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Ken, Thanks for the kind words...I am planning a serious roadbed party this weekend. May be trains on the near horizon...

    I continued laying out track, moving to the north end of the Emerson passing siding. There is a short spur here (named Emerson House Track) where cars get setout from southbound trains that have been alerted by the defect detector in Cartersville. The following view looks south from the town of Emerson towards the US 41 overpass. The mainline is to the left, the passing siding in the middle and the house track to the right:

    [​IMG]

    Looking north from the same spot you can see the turnout for the north end of the Emerson siding:

    [​IMG]

    Here is a look at the latest lower level track plan including the updated track layout in Emerson:

    [​IMG]

    Jamie
     
  17. jsoflo

    jsoflo TrainBoard Member

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    Jamie,
    looking good and love the trackplan, now move faster, I'm excited to see this thing come alive!!:tb-biggrin:
    mybest,
    Jan
     
  18. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

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    Right now I only can work a little bit on weekends since work is crazy. I just got put on emergency project #3 which has a 3/2/2009 deadline. I got pulled off of emergency project #1 that had a 1/1/2009 deadline--the reason that deadline was missed is because I got pulled off of that project in December to work on emergency project #2. Nothing like being a software developer! But--very thankful for employment. Hoping for a roadbed party this weekend. Jamie
     
  19. justTRAINcRaZy

    justTRAINcRaZy TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, what software is the track plan is done with?

    KB
     
  20. DaveWonders

    DaveWonders TrainBoard Member

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    Kevin - check out this thread by Jamie in the Layout Design section of the forum.

    But the short answer would be XTrkCad.
     

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