Coal River Branch trackplan

[conrail98]

I took another stab at a version of this. Here is the plan (if you can't get to it let me know): http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uY_S0Lb9uiOQx_LtVLK7ng?authkey=Gv1sRgCMS33fySi-qgmAE&feat=directlink.

Yard - 1 A/D, 3 class, 2 sanding/fueling pad (this would modern in appearance), 1 misc. track
3 Passing Sidings (I considered A/D a passing siding)
4 Industry spots - Quarry/Coal tipple (3 tracks) plus 3 others

I kept continuous running and a train can go around a 1/2 lap or 1 1/2 laps before retuning to staging. I put in helices on each blob end, one was 19" radius, the other 17.5" and had 5 long (could fit two trains per) tracks. Also, the branch could swing back to the main (as I have it) or terminate at the quarry or carry on into the world like Steve has in his plan. If I took that connection away, I'd put in a fourth passing siding. Anyways, I then did a Layout Design Analysis, http://siskiyou-railfan.net/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.32.1 and attached that spreadsheet if anyone is interested (note: I used 50' cars for estimate at 3/foot, 40' would be 4/foot).

Phil

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[asciibaron]

i can't find my copy of the spreadsheet - i forgot where i got it from - where did you get it from?

[conrail98]

There was a thread on the ModelRacilCast show's forums, http://www.modelrailcast.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=413&start=0. You may have to register though, I can't remember,

Phil

[sizemore]

Look, build it already all I hear is waffling  ;D

I am complaining but I offer it in constructive criticism. We keep going in this circle of "this plan suits this railroad", "and that railroad" and "the other". Ya started building something which was, for a large part almost 100% planned out. Outside of the potential move why are we now going to another plan, instead of revisiting the previously mentioned plan and construction? This is turning into a Gov't project where it never gets out of the planning stage because it is always revised and never fulfilling the initial need or desire.

The S.

[asciibaron]

Outside of the potential move why are we now going to another plan, instead of revisiting the previously mentioned plan and construction?

first - i came across this plan and found it to be interesting.  it presented an option i dismissed as being too model railroadie.  with some tweaks, it can become a nice operations oriented line. 

several issues have arose.  limited clearance into the understairs storage is more of a problem than i first thought.  the duck under to get into the layout is problematic for my wife trying to get to the understairs storage for seasonal decorations.  

things i thought would be cool aren't.  and then there's the issue that i only ever see one side of the train.  it's all inside curves, unless i go outside the layout for the 8 feet that is exposed to the family room.

then there is the issue of grades.  a train is always on a step grade - 3% or better.  that limits train length.  

the staging will not work as planned.  i mocked it up and put the subroadbed above at 8" - it was ok, but a PITA to reach the far tracks.  at 6", which eased the grades to 3% it is impossible to make a switching move in staging.

using the plan as a jumping off point, i can still model the L&HR, the branch becomes the Ogdensburg branch to the zinc mine with the town being Franklin.  it solves the problem of needing to terminate road trains - i can put reverse loops at the bottoms of the helii.  can i pull this off - maybe.  does it resolve some of my problems - yes.  no more duck under to get into the layout area, and i can build a removable section for access to the storage area.

[wm3798]

Do this.  You know you are where you are for 2 years.  Build a simple shelf using the modules you've built.  If you want to be tricky, build a lift out across the storage room door.  Make it as permanent as necessary depending on the amount of traffic said door realistically generates.  Figure out some sort of scenic block to mask the 30" return loops at each end (thus eliminating the duck under) so you have a U shaped layout.

Next, layout either:
A.  A folded dogbone that looks like a double track route.
B.  A folded dogbone that looks like two separate lines, or
C.  A point to loop with a yard at one end, a town on the other end.

Finally, run trains around this new design, and build scenery.  Nobody cares what it looks like but you.

The government project analogy is a good one.

Lee

[asciibaron]

Do this.  You know you are where you are for 2 years.  Build a simple shelf using the modules you've built.  If you want to be tricky, build a lift out across the storage room door.  Make it as permanent as necessary depending on the amount of traffic said door realistically generates.  Figure out some sort of scenic block to mask the 30" return loops at each end (thus eliminating the duck under) so you have a U shaped layout.

this is sort of where i am right now, taking inspiration from the Coal River Branch for my line.  i think i can make it work.  i think i can even have a train running by 1 Jan.  shock and awe coming to a forum near you.  maybe.  

i have off tomorrow and will be working from home one day next week... no kids, no wife, just loud techno, a saw, and an idea of a plan.

[Erik W]

i have off tomorrow and will be working from home one day next week... no kids, no wife, just loud techno, a saw, and an idea of a plan.

Cool.  My dad, who is the perennial armchair model railroader, always says, "Planning is half the fun".  As someone who got to a point of "good 'enough" with the planning and jumped into building, I'd have to say from experience, planning is 10% of the fun and building is 90%.  My thought is that progress breeds motivation.

Erik

[asciibaron]

Cool.  My dad, who is the perennial armchair model railroader, always says, "Planning is half the fun".  As someone who got to a point of "good 'enough" with the planning and jumped into building, I'd have to say from experience, planning is 10% of the fun and building is 90%.  My thought is that progress breeds motivation.

my problem is that i have had about a dozen layouts over the years.  i know what i don't want and it seems i can't have want i really want.  that's life, kid.  so i'm stuck in this mode of trying to balance what i want with what i don't want.

5% of fun is design
5% of fun is building
90% is grinning ear to ear while operating the layout

i have layouts that i can operate on to get my "big session" jones on, but i am looking for something that is more than a simple round the walls with some sidings.  staging is key to the success and i have a plan (#1248-23-A).  my biggest problem is i jumped into the current plan and really hadn't sorted out a major issue, the grades.  my new plan takes them into account.

i' have a plan. no really.

[sizemore]

5% of fun is design
5% of fun is building
90% is grinning ear to ear while operating the layout

So by your definition you're:

1% Planned
1.5% Built
0% Operating

 ;D

The S.

[asciibaron]

the problem i am faced with is the small time nature of the L&HR.  a through train crew would run once in each direction - a westbound would drop the train in Bethlehem and then pickup an eastbound - the crew and power made a round trip as one job, typically.

how do i model this type of operation within the confines of my limited space without requiring switching in the hidden yard.  i could buy 2 of each unit and stage the opposing run.  any other ideas?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

how do i model this type of operation within the confines of my limited space

Why not require switching in the (or just outside) the (semi?) hidden yard.

[sizemore]

the problem i am faced with is the small time nature of the L&HR.  a through train crew would run once in each direction - a westbound would drop the train in Bethlehem and then pickup an eastbound - the crew and power made a round trip as one job, typically.

how do i model this type of operation within the confines of my limited space without requiring switching in the hidden yard.  i could buy 2 of each unit and stage the opposing run.  any other ideas?

Easy. Make loop -add switches. Forget a few ingredients. Cook for 20. Add scenery to taste.

The S.

[AlkemScaleModels]

Steve,
Very nice!  This image shows what I was describing the other day, about adding a staging lead on the "right" side of the layout behind the foundry.  Its in the green area - ahich is supposed to represent a hill with trees ti hide the tunnel.

This track plan is very much like one of  WM plans of Thomas that I have in my track planning book. That layout was also made from a single sheet of plywood, though the U shape layout was an expansion, using additional materials.

[davefoxx]

the problem i am faced with is the small time nature of the L&HR.  a through train crew would run once in each direction - a westbound would drop the train in Bethlehem and then pickup an eastbound - the crew and power made a round trip as one job, typically.

how do i model this type of operation within the confines of my limited space without requiring switching in the hidden yard.  i could buy 2 of each unit and stage the opposing run.  any other ideas?

Steve,

Maybe you need to relax your "givens and druthers" a bit.  It seems that your attempts to be as faithful as possible is only causing you much grief and taking so much fun out of it that you're unable to get anything built.  Perhaps you should recognize that this may not be the dream layout and just go on and build something to operate your L&HR equipment, especially if a move from this house is going to occur at some point in the next few years.  You could always build an LDE as a portion of the layout, which could be reused in a future "dream" layout.  No one, I repeat, no one, is going to chastise you for freelancing an L&HR layout.  In fact, you may catch a lot less flack on The Railwire if you just get on with the consturction.

Case in point,  I really like the plan that you've posted on this thread.  I wish I would have seen it a few years ago, because I might have built it (or a similar incarnation) then.  Now that I no longer have room for a layout, I'm building a 2' x 3' layout.  Not one person has cursed me for building a layout that is completely unprototypical.  In fact, I've gotten a few compliments and have been told not to apologize for what it is.  Something is better than nothing.  Don't let the drive for a proto look and operations make this anything less than a hobby for you.  Have fun.

Dave Foxx