Conrail - Boston Line

[Ian MacMillan]

Dave, very nice! Thanks so much for the adjustments.

John, the locals would come out of staging, a few would work the IT's and the 2 or so others would just continue around the layout into staging again as they serve industries east of CP 96.  The main line trains would all be run thoughs as they make their stops in West Springfield yard. You may every once and a while see the yard switcher pull out onto the bridge with a string of cars.

The only "issue" with the track plan as is, it that the Amtrak Springfield Line and Guilford Rail trains would need to come over the bridge from staging instead of off the wyes at the station. I think the compromise is acceptable though as the bridge is a pretty neat and identifiable feature.

[DKS]

The only "issue" with the track plan as is, it that the Amtrak Springfield Line and Guilford Rail trains would need to come over the bridge from staging instead of off the wyes at the station.

This could be dealt with. The highway overpass can hide a sneak-through line that ducks behind a false backdrop that hides a line running from staging along the wall. Access would be from under the layout. Sketches in a moment...

[Ian MacMillan]

This could be dealt with. The highway overpass can hide a sneak-through line that ducks behind a false backdrop that hides a line running from staging along the wall. Access would be from under the layout. Sketches in a moment...

I hate you more than anything...

[DKS]

Problem solved.



http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/Ian5.gif

[Ian MacMillan]

Nice, very nice!

[conrail98]

Ian, how did/does the Vermonter get into that station? Does it switch push/pull mode there as I assume it heads back out the other part of the wye to get to Amherst or is there another junction east of the station?

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

The Vermonter comes off of the Amtrak Springfield Line, makes its station stop at Springfield Amtrak, and then continues East on the Boston Line until Palmer where it makes its reverse move onto the New England Central. So Push/Pull mode switches in Palmer.  However, there are talks about rerouting the Vermonter back to its original route using the B&M Connecticut line (the north part of the wye on the track plan) using DOT Tiger funds. Work is already underway for this route change in VT with CWR being installed this spring. Trains would come up the Springfield Line, cross over the diamonds of the Boston Line, back down to Springfield Station for the station stop, and then go back out on to the wye, north on the B&M CT Line.

In Palmer


Here is a pretty good map of the crossing at Springfield that I just found.




Dave...also, what are the mainline radii?

[conrail98]

Interesting, I thought Amtrak poo-pood back-up moves like that?

Phil

[DKS]

Dave...also, what are the mainline radii?

Corner curves: 40" & 41.5"
Wye curves (Amtrak side): ~20" & 21.5"

[Ian MacMillan]

Interesting, I thought Amtrak poo-pood back-up moves like that?

Phil

Dunno, they've been doing it that way since as long as I can remember! I guess sometimes lately they have been running P42's on each end, no cab car.

[DKS]

Here is a pretty good map of the crossing at Springfield that I just found.

Interesting. The map you originally posted earlier (http://www.amoskeagnorthern.com/trackchart/Conrail/Albany%20Division/Vol%201%20-%20New%20England/Zone%2074%20-%20Springfield/74-12.pdf) shows a crossover between the two Amtrak lines just before the station, while this map and the satellite views show no crossover. So, I guess you can save some $ and eliminate two left #10s.

Also note that I did not take the diamonds into account in the track part list. You'd need two 90-degree crossings, but no switches as the benchwork isn't wide enough to encompass them--the connecting track would be all dummied in.

[conrail98]

Dunno, they've been doing it that way since as long as I can remember! I guess sometimes lately they have been running P42's on each end, no cab car.

You know, the more I think about it, I think it is more on those trains that don't have the cab car also on it, like long-distance trains,

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

Interesting. The map you originally posted earlier (http://www.amoskeagnorthern.com/trackchart/Conrail/Albany%20Division/Vol%201%20-%20New%20England/Zone%2074%20-%20Springfield/74-12.pdf) shows a crossover between the two Amtrak lines just before the station, while this map and the satellite views show no crossover. So, I guess you can save some $ and eliminate two left #10s.

Well also there are 13 years between those two. The CR ZTS maps were last updated in 1996, and the drawing I just posted is from the CSX era, so the trackage has changed a bit.  I have all the #10's needed, so I'll stick with the plan as drawn, and I think it helps with movement possibilities.

[DKS]

I have all the #10's needed, so I'll stick with the plan as drawn, and I think it helps with movement possibilities.

How many do you have? There are some switches in the Springfield station area that would look better as #10s instead of #7s. The extra #7s can then go into the IT district to cut down on the number of #5s you'd need to buy.

On a different note, I'm not sure if you have any thoughts about the track emerging from under the stairs and headed into staging, but this might be a nice scenic treatment for that stretch of mainline:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r0qj788yqjgd&lvl=19.720735000114356&dir=350.84373377913516&sty=o&where1=Springfield%2C%20MA&q=Springfield%2C%20MA

[Ian MacMillan]

How many do you have? There are some switches in the Springfield station area that would look better as #10s instead of #7s. The extra #7s can go into the IT district to cut down on the number of #5s you need to buy.

On a different note, I'm not sure if you have any thoughts about the track emerging from under the stairs and headed into staging, but this might be a nice scenic treatment for that stretch of mainline:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r0qg6w8yqhs1&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=o&where1=Springfield%2C%20MA&q=springfield%20ma

I was only able to salvage about what was needed. I can always buy more 

I dunno, right now as built it's just a 4" wide shelf.