Todd mentioned I have got a good handle on the initial yard area of the layout. Here is his original plan. As you can see, he planned on some hidden staging, a small yard, and kind of a spaghetti bowl of trackage. Also, there is no option for continuous running. All routes eventually dead-end. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the routing just seemed a little odd to me. Here is what I have come up with to date. This shows the yard area (which will be Duluth) and the connection to the mainline. The trackage is a little complex but very interesting operationally. A wye and a turntable allow turning of all size locomotives as well as a decent-sized steam facility. The style is "out-and-back" with an option for continuous running. This works well with Todd's layout concept. For more background on Todd's layout and what he is planning on, see this thread. [ 25. April 2003, 00:07: Message edited by: Harron ]
Well After visiting the Train show today,i couldnt help but be a little fired up.So, ive got my demo of the area that required it completed and in the morning will bring everything back up to spec.If that goes smoothly i should be able to get The yard section gridded out and draw in the track plan to determine where my sheetcork should be and my roadbed material for approaches etc.I Plan on an entire day on this and hopefully can be back to the point where i was with much improved yard area thanks to Corey. I did manage to get a few good deals at the show today.1 guy had a booth and was selling all his N collection and switching to HO.I managed to pick up a couple brand new kits reasonable Cornerstone -Clarksville Depot and Merchants Row2 Along with a Full case of Midwest cork roadbed for 1/2 price .Kind of nice considering i just ripped a half case out and tossed it!!He also Threw in a GN stock car.The Hobby shop afterwards had a sale on the MRC Tech4 220 and seing as i only had 1 Tech unit(a 1370) I couldnt pass it up.all in all it was a pretty good day to be in N scale!!!
Progress has been made,I have all Demo done and the yard area and entire rear wall section have Brand spankin new 1/4" Birch plywood installed on top.I even ran some extra towards the workbench to have my approach for the RIP track ( an extension of the class 1 main.)Also i did a mockup at Backdrop warehouse and am waiting for a reply as to availability and Pricing For easy backdrops in 4 differant scenes.It so happens they have 2 Duluth scenes.Both are port grain elevator scenes taken from the vantage point of the BNSF (old Northern Pacific) Classification yard.I guess sometimes getting lucky cant hurt. I also touched up the blue sky backdrop just in case i cant get the scenes i want .Anyway,I have plenty to keep me busy for awhile,but i'm sure itchin to see what Corey has in store for the next section
Last night I had a visit From Dan Raitz.You may have seen a BN custum Paint of his in MR July issue.He moved up here recently from San diego Ca area where he managed Reeds hobby shop.We spent a couple hours looking over his plans and My plans (he loved the yard design Corey) Due to a remodelling process at his new home, he has graciously offered to work with me on my layout.In return i'll help him with his Sn3 when he gets ready.He will be Freelancing a northwestern Minnesota road while I in turn will be freelancing north central Minnesota.(i see some interchange possibilities here) Progress Report-I have Completed my Control Panel box and need only Mount it and Come up with a plan for my switches LED's before drilling.Its a hinged affair with built on shelves to hold 2 cabs.It will Be the main Panel and will operate all TO's for the yard area.Another smaller panel will be built for TO operation and Spec affects lighting etc for the remainder of the layout.I have determined that under the table switch machines will be required and am looking into these. New Aquisitions-Kato RS2 in GN livery MT 40' boxcar GN MT 40' Stock car GN MT 40' Box car CNW MT Cupola Caboose GN Microscale Decal starter set. While the Golden spike ceremony isnt here yet, Its being Forged!!
Well, the second segment is In.And Corey has outdone himself Once again.This second segment is the Ore Mine penninsula with Mine, classification yard,Branch leading off layout to other mines.(this may be extended to include either a drop leaf staging area,or an under table staging area if the numbers can be made to work.) It also Includes a small whistle stop area.Perhaps a little industry can be worked in here.Any Comments on Operations potential,industry suggestions,improvements etc.The more the merrier.
Well, the second segment is In.And Corey has outdone himself Once again.This second segment is the Ore Mine penninsula with Mine, classification yard,Branch leading off layout to other mines.(this may be extended to include either a drop leaf staging area,or an under table staging area if the numbers can be made to work.) It also Includes a small whistle stop area.Perhaps a little industry can be worked in here.Any Comments on Operations potential,industry suggestions,improvements etc.The more the merrier.
Well now, that didnt work.lets try again. OK the name of the file was spelt incorrect [ 18. May 2003, 22:23: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Looks like you corrected the spelling for the word "album." But there appears to be a space between and www. There should not be. Nor a space at the other end. This may be why it's not showing. Try checking using the "Preview Post" after you change these. If not working correctly, just use the "BACK" button in your browser. Hope you can get this up for all to see! You have me curious! Boxcab E50
Hey Tileguy, Looks like it's really coming together nicely! You definitly have your work cut out for ya!
Thank you Colonel,I'll get it figured out one of these days. Ive got the Main yard rough in work done so now i can seperate the track into sub assemblies and do my soldering,drill for my feeders and my under table switching linkages.I am waiting on an Atlas turntable which is on its way.I have a Walthers unit but think the atlas will suit me better.Besides i have an extra atlas Motorized unit for a spare.The main yard trackwork was a definite handful.and i learned a little bit.Some things are very similar to ho,tlerances are much less.I am in no hurry though and i know that this segment is critical. Question, Do most people cut or remove the little stubs that you screw the switchmachines into before laying?And if so,is there a prefered method?They certainly do nothing for a realistic look. [ 19. May 2003, 05:43: Message edited by: Tileguy ]
Progress Report: Main Yard area is Done. I completed my Turntable by using an Atlas table Connected to a walthers Pit turntable.I ended up with a great looking Pit turntable with the indexing capabilities of the Atlas.It also is going to give me opportunity to deaden the Sound of the Atlas Coffee grinder mechanism.The TT works great but it is noisy.This combination is the best of both worlds and the only Save for the Walthers unit. I havent heard from corey now for about a month(since school ended) I hope to get together with him before to long to complete the Trackplan for the Main section of the layout.I cant really Start on the East section till grades and approaches are firmed up.In the meantime,I think i will try to learn how to use RTS.Perhaps i can save him a little time.
Heh, I've actually been out of school since January, out on co-op. Back to school in August. I have been really busy with work (training my replacement) and just switched ISPs. I'll be getting back to you shortly Todd, just been REAL busy lately.
Hey Corey, good to hear from you.I figured you were busy,everyone seems to get that happening in the summer.Dont feel pressured ok.When you get a breather and you can enjoy is soon enough.ive got things i can do for awhile yet,and thats if i get time.ive got all these lil ground throws to install&weather + countless other things.Enjoy your summer OK!! Its just good to hear from you.by the way,that turntable combination is really the ticket.Ive got a website that explains the process if anyone is interested.
I haven't commented as I don't remember what scale this layout is. The back wall in the original plan looks "scary" to me in terms of access. I understand the idea is to get a longer mainline and there are a couple of ways that can be done depending on scale. Also Tile guy, the arrangement you have with the other fellow is my favourite way to work on a layout - "I help you, you help me." Not only do you get more ideas, more hands, and more done, but often it turns into a good social.
Hi Rick, The scale is N and i agree the back wall looks scary .I have a roof line that comes in at this point to complicate matters a little.I am considering 2 pop ups,but will wait on locating them until all trackplanning has been completed.I may need to adjust some trackage at that point, but perhaps not.sometimes worrying first causes inaction so i think i'll plan ,do, and cross these bridges (or deal with these challenges) as they rear thier heads.Corey has done a really outstanding job on developing a very nice plan for me.the center section is going to have a couple challenges because i would like to A- incorporate some grade between the main yard and the ore penninsula B-develop a town area and steel mill/cement plant combination as was located in Duluth MN circa 1960(much compressed to be sure) C-Transition from this City/industry area into the Wooded lake studded region of northern Mn All these things combine ed with the small area in which i have to work are enough challenges to make even Corey sringe.(scared H*** outa me Any thoughts Rick?All ideas and suggestions will be considered And while i am not a complete amateur,i havent quite made novice yet so i can certainly use all the help i can get.Ive got extra soldering guns too just in case you wanted to ahhhh stop by!!
Man,learning this cad stuff when youve never lused one before is tricky.give me another coupla years and i might be able to figure everything out.No,i'm not giving up,just frustrated with myself. New aquisitions GN -U boat A couple tank cars 7 ore cars 10 turnouts a brownhoist crane car lumber flats and Steel Gondola's(aurora postage stamp stuff) picked up 28 cars very reasonable. And a GN color pictorial book 1945-to merger. So,Rick,still wondering if you had any thoughts or comments based on the plan above.
I have spent a little time sketching out ideas for the center section of this layout.i have considered ricks suggestion of access to the back section of the layout.One of the ideas i have in mind is to bring my backdrop forward some at the rightcorner of the center section and angle it to come out even further as it headstowards the ore penninsula.By doing this i can cut out a hidden access section behind the backdrop.In this section i can utilize a staing area and make it a through yard section.By bringing the backdrop forward i can reach all area's for maintenance, and by cutting out an access hole i can maintain the through staging area.I also have include an industrial lead withrunaround and several sidings and a reversing section.These ideas seem to take care of several concerns while enhancing the operation potential and allowing several large industries(perhaps sprawling is a better word.)I am also considering an additional interchange track running into the whistle stop area of the ore penninula although this may be a bit much. Any thoughts?I have tried to explain the idea's and if you look at the plans on the previous page, perhaps it will make sense.
You might want to consider a cheap tv camera in the hidden area, if the backdrop is high enough. That way you can monitor what is going on in the area... they are radically coming down in price now. Look to see if you can find "wired" ones on sale, as the trend is towards wireless and for your area, it really doesn't matter.
