Planning a layout for my son

[Dave V]

Paul,

Awesome shots!  Do you have any of the asphalt facility?  I may want to add that to one of the two sidings.

[160pennsy]

Paul,

Awesome shots!  Do you have any of the asphalt facility?  I may want to add that to one of the two sidings.

Dave,

Don't have any photos of the asphalt transfer facility yet, as I'm working off the MR article drawings (they happen to be n-scale) for now. Plan on taking some as I get closer to the paint phase. The address is on the corner of Hunter St. and N. Salem St. if you want a birds eye view via Google maps. I can forward the article in pdf if you want it?

[Dave V]

The PDF would be awesome, but no hurry.  It'll be at least January before we're all settled in and done with the usual holiday craziness.  With a plan going forward, however, I can focus my Christmas gifts for Jacob.

[davefoxx]

The PDF would be awesome, but no hurry.  It'll be at least January before we're all settled in and done with the usual holiday craziness.  With a plan going forward, however, I can focus my Christmas gifts for Jacob.

Wouldn't the missis like a Kah-toe Unitrak #4 turnout for Christmas?   ;D

[DKS]

I'll talk to Jacob when he gets home from school.  I'm actually at home with the movers as they pack up the house (again).  He's actually pretty astute when it comes to observing real railroad practice.  He may prefer the single crossovers.  I'm going to present him both options without mentioning my preferences.

Jacob enjoys switching...  He's actually "operated" the Juniata Division more than I have.

The next decision is whether to go DCC.  I'm inclined to just because running two trains in DCC is so much easier to wire than multiple block operation, unless I go super-simple, i.e., the outer track would be one block all the inner trackage another, each with its own cab.  prefer DCC as the option, but also want to be affordable.

Ah! I was wrong after all! So much the better. I'd have thought DCC was a foregone conclusion, but I'd certainly recommend it.

[DKS]

OK, so just because I can't resist a track planning challenge, I took a crack at this with the rules of 1) conventional crossovers, and 2) #6 TOs only, if possible.

It's a bit rough around the edges, but it is in fact possible:

[Dave V]

Dave, that's great...  but kinda ugly.  I'll suck up the extra cost, I think.

[davefoxx]

Yeah, I'd at least go with #4s at the crossovers, if not everywhere.  Or, is it possible to cut a #6 to close the track centerlines?  Obviously, this would be much easier with standard track, and I surmise that the integral roadbed might make this difficult.

DFF

[DKS]

Dave, that's great...  but kinda ugly.

Totally agree. It really was more of an exercise. Here's probably what you'll want to do: this one has just the four #4s you need for the crossovers; the rest are all 6s.

[davefoxx]

Me likey.

By the way, Dave, are you going to invest in the D&S locomotives Atlas produced?

[Dave V]

@DKS, if you have a way to spit out the inventory of parts there, that'd be sweet!

@DaveF, that's up to Jacob! ;D

[93cram]

Dave,

Couldn't resist to post a trackplan for a temporary layout that will be set up for my kids (7 and 10) and I to play during season holidays.
As the name implies, it's based on Kato unitrack (hopefully, it must be crossing the Atlantic as I'm typing this  ;D) and uses #4 switches only.
I'd have rather to go with #6, but the length of our dinning room table (outlined in black) was the limiting factor.




The layout features a double track main with two depots, both having trailing sidings with industries/interchange.
Connection to the outside of the world is made through an ....inside yard (no room enough outside).
The plan is to let two consists run, exchange traffic and switch their respective sidings.

The layout will be set up on a WS grass mat, and kits from Walthers will be built along a modeling initiation
session in the days before Christmas 

[DKS]

@DKS, if you have a way to spit out the inventory of parts there, that'd be sweet!

20000, N Kato Unitrack 20000. Straight 9 3/4".   6
20010, N Kato Unitrack 20010. Straight 7 5/16".   3
20020, N Kato Unitrack 20020. Straight 4 7/8".   6
20030, N Kato Unitrack 20030. Straight 2 17/32".   3
20048, N Kato Unitrack 20048. Buffer/Bumper Type C, 2".   3
20100, N Kato Unitrack 20100. Curve radius 9 13/16", angle 45º   3
20101, N Kato Unitrack 20101. Curve radius 9 13/16", angle 15º   4
20110, N Kato Unitrack 20110. Curve radius 11 3/32", angle 45º   8
20120, N Kato Unitrack 20120. Curve radius 12 13/32", angle 45º   8
20160, N Kato Unitrack 20160. Curve radius 18 15/16", angle 15º   1
20202, N Kato Unitrack 20202. Left turnout 7 5/16". (remote)   1
20203, N Kato Unitrack 20203. Right turnout 7 5/16". (remote)   4
20220, N Kato Unitrack 20220. Left turnout 4 31/32". (remote)   2
20221, N Kato Unitrack 20221. Right turnout 4 31/32". (remote)   2
20651, N Kato Unitrack 20651. Road crossing 4 7/8".   2

[Dave V]

Perfect!  You da man!  I was surprised the #6s still work on the inside passing siding, but there they are!

I'm just wondering about the S curve there with the right #6 switch on the inside track leading to a 9 3/4" left turn and then right into a 9 3/4" right turn.  Jacob has an SD50; wonder if that will work.

[DKS]

This look a little more SD50-friendly?



20000, N Kato Unitrack 20000. Straight 9 3/4".   7
20010, N Kato Unitrack 20010. Straight 7 5/16".   3
20020, N Kato Unitrack 20020. Straight 4 7/8".   6
20030, N Kato Unitrack 20030. Straight 2 17/32".   3
20048, N Kato Unitrack 20048. Buffer/Bumper Type C, 2".   3
20100, N Kato Unitrack 20100. Curve radius 9 13/16", angle 45º   3
20101, N Kato Unitrack 20101. Curve radius 9 13/16", angle 15º   4
20110, N Kato Unitrack 20110. Curve radius 11 3/32", angle 45º   8
20120, N Kato Unitrack 20120. Curve radius 12 13/32", angle 45º   8
20160, N Kato Unitrack 20160. Curve radius 18 15/16", angle 15º   1
20202, N Kato Unitrack 20202. Left turnout 7 5/16". (remote)   1
20203, N Kato Unitrack 20203. Right turnout 7 5/16". (remote)   4
20220, N Kato Unitrack 20220. Left turnout 4 31/32". (remote)   2
20221, N Kato Unitrack 20221. Right turnout 4 31/32". (remote)   2
20651, N Kato Unitrack 20651. Road crossing 4 7/8".   2