Conrail in New England

[Ian MacMillan]

I'm liking 3a! The things I would change would be possibly making one leg of the diamond track into the buildings abandoned...I love abandoned track. The other thing would to possibly put one of the crossovers on the right side of the station complex to make station moves easier but the closeness to the curve gives me concern of derailing.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, enough talking, lets see some construction. Pics or GTFO... lol.

[DKS]

One idea might be to put some distance between the crossovers on the mainline (left end near the highway underpass), so they could be used as a runaround when switching.  Perhaps one set could be moved to the other end of the station trackage.

IThe other thing would to possibly put one of the crossovers on the right side of the station complex to make station moves easier but the closeness to the curve gives me concern of derailing.

I actually had it that way in an earlier draft. I dropped it because it was so close to the curves, and I thought it might be awkward. I could still do some more tweaking, I suppose.

[Ian MacMillan]

I actually had it that way in an earlier draft. I dropped it because it was so close to the curves, and I thought it might be awkward. I could still do some more tweaking, I suppose.

I'm still thinking it would be awkward...make movements easier yes...but could lead to long car tracking issues.

Ok, enough talking, lets see some construction. Pics or GTFO... lol.

No I need time to change my mind lol!

[DKS]

I'm still thinking it would be awkward...make movements easier yes...but could lead to long car tracking issues.

Assuming it's used just for runaround moves (engine, no cars), it should be OK. But I have no idea what moves you might have in mind. All the same, here's food for thought--
 


http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/ian_door3b.gif

[wazzou]

Is the building w/large parking lot below the crossing and above the passenger sheds the depot? 
It looks as though there is room to snug that down toward the sheds a little and pull that track down so that the TO's and crossing are below the roadway

[Ian MacMillan]

Assuming it's used just for runaround moves (engine, no cars), it should be OK. But I have no idea what moves you might have in mind. All the same, here's food for thought--
 


http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/ian_door3b.gif

I was thinking moving Amtrak trains from one side of the station to the other so the tracks are not set as to being outbound or inbound. The crossover on the right would allow them to serve any track as needed. With both on the left is fine but it would require a reverse move, which may not be bad as it adds operational interest.

[Smike]

So you want Amtrak ops and fright ops? Maybe have a Amtrak loop on a second level?

Pretty much how the scene is near 30th St station in Phila (well in that case the freight runs above the Amtrak ops..) but pretty easy to model both in tight space.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=289946&nseq=326

That elevated section of the CSX sub in phila is so long that when I was little (ok way little) when we drove along it, my dad told me it was the start of a bridge that crossed the ocean...

[S Class]

Assuming it's used just for runaround moves (engine, no cars), it should be OK. But I have no idea what moves you might have in mind. All the same, here's food for thought--
 


http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/ian_door3b.gif

Just on that plan in the top right hand side entering the staging yard wouldn't it be better to have the main tracks go straight though the middle and have the turnouts set to diverge into the two mini ladders so the two closest to the back drop are storage?
(if that makes sense to anyone other than myself) it just looks like an S curve waiting to happen with the U shape of the curved track sending the main down along the backdrop, plus I am under the impression having the turnouts closer to the back would make them more accessible and easier to set up/wire (that is of course assuming Ian can get around the back).

just a thought

So you want Amtrak ops and fright ops? Maybe have a Amtrak loop on a second level?

Pretty much how the scene is near 30th St station in Phila (well in that case the freight runs above the Amtrak ops..) but pretty easy to model both in tight space.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=289946&nseq=326

That bridge and the set up of those eastern/rustbelt cities are so Boss it's not funny.

[DKS]

Just on that plan in the top right hand side entering the staging yard wouldn't it be better to have the main tracks go straight though the middle and have the turnouts set to diverge into the two mini ladders so the two closest to the back drop are storage?

The reason for the odd-looking leads into the staging yards is so that all of the storage tracks are all the same length. Reversing the ladders results in the classic "pyramid" yard shape. If the length is of no concern, then the ladders can be flipped around to make them straight, no problem.
 


http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/images/ian_door3c.gif

[Ian MacMillan]

So you want Amtrak ops and fright ops? Maybe have a Amtrak loop on a second level?

Pretty much how the scene is near 30th St station in Phila (well in that case the freight runs above the Amtrak ops..) but pretty easy to model both in tight space.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=289946&nseq=326

That elevated section of the CSX sub in phila is so long that when I was little (ok way little) when we drove along it, my dad told me it was the start of a bridge that crossed the ocean...

Hell no, that would be way too much for this scene.

[DKS]

Hell no, that would be way too much for this scene.

Agreed. It's already a bit busy for a single level; multiple levels would be too much.

[Ian MacMillan]

Agreed. It's already a bit busy for a single level; multiple levels would be too much.

That and its not typical of New England railroading.

[DKS]

I was poking around MA in Bing maps looking for possible locales that might provide a good setting for the layout, and I think a likely spot might be Lowell. The station is unusual--it's got a parking garage straddling the tracks. Check it out:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r35fhm91qdcg&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=b&where1=Lowell%2C%20MA&q=lowell%20ma&FORM=LMLTCC

Plus it has loads of industries that could serve as inspiration.

[Ian MacMillan]

I was poking around MA in Bing maps looking for possible locales that might provide a good setting for the layout, and I think a likely spot might be Lowell. The station is unusual--it's got a parking garage straddling the tracks. Check it out:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r35fhm91qdcg&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=b&where1=Lowell%2C%20MA&q=lowell%20ma&FORM=LMLTCC

Plus it has loads of industries that could serve as inspiration.

Yeah lowell is pretty cool, but I think the trackplan kinda looks more like Lawrence, MA in the 70's....aside that the station was on a  curve.