PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[MichaelWinicki]

Wow!

That is nice Dave!

[Dave V]

Very nice!  But...  This has the current JD interfering with the door, no?

[davefoxx]

DKS,

Well played, DKS.  I like your idea to extend the length of the original HCD by 18".  This is exactly what I plan to do with the Seaboard Central, except my extension will only be 12-15" deep and will be incorporated by cutting an approximate 21-24" x 36" chunk out of the second HCD to fit around the end of the original HCD.  Dr. Vollmer has more room for his layout than I do.  I really like the brief four-track mainline.  Very PRR.

Perhaps he should keep at least one of the tracks through that tunnel for a stand-alone layout that could still be taken to shows.

DFF

[Dave V]

One thing I will have to get over is this idea that the original JD can stand alone.  That's part of my problem!  Once I get over that, anything's possible!

I see needing a 12' x 11' space to make this work with walk around (even with staging shoved in the corner).  I don't have the clearance in the room for the JD to stick out like that off the 18" door even if I redo the door to swing out into the hall.

[Dave V]

What if the 18" door came off the bridge scene?  Have the track curve into the 18" part coming off the bridge and then have the Lewistown tunnel end running straight toward the 18" piece?

[DKS]

Very nice!  But...  This has the current JD interfering with the door, no?

No. It more or less straddles the space between the two doors.

I see needing a 12' x 11' space to make this work with walk around (even with staging shoved in the corner).  I don't have the clearance in the room for the JD to stick out like that off the 18" door even if I redo the door to swing out into the hall.

With the 18-inch HCD against the wall, you have a 28" aisle at the end of the current JD. Not an ideal aisle, to be sure, but adequate, I should think.

What if the 18" door came off the bridge scene?  Have the track curve into the 18" part coming off the bridge and then have the Lewistown tunnel end running straight toward the 18" piece?

Could do, but then the bridge section would have to be a cut-down 18-inch HCD; otherwise it becomes too wide to fit in the space with aisles at each end.

EDIT: I've updated the plan with marks indicating the doors and (what I'm assuming is a) window. Hit refresh to see them:

[MichaelT]

One thing I will have to get over is this idea that the original JD can stand alone.  That's part of my problem!  Once I get over that, anything's possible!

I see needing a 12' x 11' space to make this work with walk around (even with staging shoved in the corner).  I don't have the clearance in the room for the JD to stick out like that off the 18" door even if I redo the door to swing out into the hall.

That's easy; frame the wall and put in a pocket door. No swinging involved then.

[Dave V]

Got it...  Although the entry door is wider than 18" and I'd have to check clearances.

Regarding the bridge scene...  I would then suggest butting the other 36" door by the short end to the long side of the 18".  Kinda like what you have now, only with the JD tunnel against the wall and the other side longer.  If it's going against the wall anyway, I don't need aisleway around the base of the other door.

I'm at work so I can't really sketch out what I mean too well and post it.  I could iPhone pic it and email it.

[packers#1]

DFF's plan was what I was thinking in my post, but danggggg DKS, that is hot!

[Dave V]

I sent an email with a variation, but now that you show the doors, I think I like this plan more and more.

Minimizing how much track is on each joint is a good thing.

[DKS]

I sent an email with a variation...

This will be very tight with the main entrance door. If you go with it, you may need to flip the door to open into the hallway.

[DKS]

Minimizing how much track is on each joint is a good thing.

[Dave V]

Ah, yeah...  Kinda like it better but I really lose some staging.  I guess if I did Unitrack back there and had all concentric circles I could have four joints in staging.

I will have to make a vertical tunnel hatch to do this plan.

I think I would cover up the tunnel portal as Pennsy didn't have any unused portals on the Middle Division.  Pittsburgh Division, yes...but not really on the Middle.

Now to choose another Middle Division town.  I've already built JC Blair, so maybe Huntingdon?

I think the second to last variation might just be the ticket, assuming I can handle that many track joints.

Thoughts from the herd?

[DKS]

I'm kind of partial to the first one, mostly because it orients the original JD so that it doesn't lose prominence, and it works better with the room doors. But... it is of course up to you.

[Dave V]

I would prefer to keep as much of the layout toward the walls as possible, but when I get home I can take measurements and get a sense of how they fit.

EDIT:  With the latter orientation I can shove the staging against the wall.