I'm into a bit of track planning mode now as I have cleaned out that colossal mess you see in the above photos, mostly completed the framing and electrical, and I'm planning the first phase of the bench work which will be the Welcox yard. Before bench work can be planned though I need to have an idea of where the tracks will go.
I'd like to discuss two ideas I have for the design of the yard. Pictured below is a drawing that shows the track layout of the yard I'm modelling and I have the room to make a pretty fair representation of it, compressed of course. Some tracks will need to be eliminated and obviously shortened to make it fit. I'm also fully aware that turnouts don't layout on plywood like they do in the diagram below. I'll print out a whole pile of templates and play with them to help see what really fits.
From what I understand the two central 4 track yards, stacked one above the other and labeled A and B, were the arrival and departure yards.
Below that are a scale track and I think two caboose service tracks.
To the left of the yard are 3 RIP tracks and 3 locomotive service tracks:
and to the left of that is the C yard which stored cars staged to be loaded on the ferry.
Here are my two designs:
One
Benefits:
-more faithful to the prototype
-longer yard tracks
-can include the C yard if I choose
Negatives:
-having the C yard on the opposite wall will make the aisle congested for two operators
-not much of a lead into the yard from the helix
-the back drop will need to be an industrial / water front which I feel is harder to segue into and hide edges
Two
Benefits:
-No track on opposite wall to add congestion - two operators can work side by side
-long lead along wall allows operator to see the train for a while before having to leave the room-i can put a grade there equal to the helix to test trains before committing. It's down hill once entering the helix but they have to get back up and almost trains originate and terminate in this yard.
-maybe put a passing siding at the back to make operations better
-back drop is rising landscape to a tree line with a city-scape behind it
Negatives:
-Likely no C yard which is less prototypical
-main line behind the yard is not prototypical
-I don't like the look of that massive balloon track at the left required to get trains out and back the other direction.
-adding that test grade will add a turn to the helix
-I don't think the ferry slip looks very plausible there on the right but at least the operator there won't be in the way of anyone else.
Now that I've written down some negatives and positives of each I'm leaning toward option two as being better for operations.
I'm not sure if it matters for this discussion but track will be Micro Engineering C40 flex with hand laid #6 turnouts using Fasttracks fixtures. The minimum mainline radius is intended to be 18" but may wind up 16" in a few spots.
Thanks for any input and discussion.
Craig
