Tehachapi, BC

[GaryHinshaw]

Ok, time for Kern Junction, v.25.   

Ed's suggestion does fit, and it eliminates the S curve:



However, it has the drawback that BNSF trains cannot enter/leave simultaneously as they can on the prototype, so that's a bit of a disadvantage.

Well, I'm a little sad to see the prototypical Kern Junction track arrangement fall to the wayside...

Me too!!  So I went back to the maps for inspiration and realized that BNSF has a LH crossover between Kern and their yard (near Tulare Ave) and that I could fit something like that in to TBC.  So without further ado here is yet another version, first in overview:



and closer up:



 Comments:
* I bit the bullet and replaced the 4 turnouts of Kern Junction with hand-laid #10s (instead of Pecos), and will scenic and signal the Junction.  This gives a much better flow and eliminates any S curve concerns.

* I added crossovers to each of the dual yard leads: LH on BNSF and RH on UP, both are closer to the prototype arrangement.

* I softened the curvature in the (top-most) BNSF departure yard.  This will make it easier to couple power onto a train.

* All leads can access all main routes and the storage yard, and both sides of the yard support trains entering/leaving simultaneously.

I think we have a winner.  Comments welcome.

[jagged ben]

I think it's awesome. 

You do have a points-to-points S-curve in there but it's very prototypical and I don't believe will cause you problems.

[GaryHinshaw]

...but it's very prototypical...

Cool shot.  I didn't realize the points were quite that close together.

[ednadolski]

You do have a points-to-points S-curve in there but it's very prototypical and I don't believe will cause you problems.

Agreed, the #10 are much kinder and should work fine.  There actually is another S-curve where it says "unfinished staging".  On the drawing it does not seem too severe but if you also wanted to eliminate then you could (a) slide that crossover further to the left by about 6"; or (b) change the upper turnout from LH to RH and slide both turnouts a bit to the right to align with the upper lead.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

or (b) change the upper turnout from LH to RH and slide both turnouts a bit to the right to align with the upper lead.

This was how I had it when I first tried a crossover there, but the lines were too severe, so this rendition is already v.2.  If the S seems to be a problem, I'll move the crossover, but my preliminary tests with the first S you noted were not very troubling, so I suspect this will be fine. 

Lumber, plywood, cork, and most of the track are now in hand.  Let construction begin!

[GaryHinshaw]

At last, construction has resumed!  Bakersfield yard marks Stage 4 (out of 5) in the build-up of Tehachapi BC.  As annotated below, stage 1 was the upper-deck main line; stage 2 was the overflow storage yard; stage 3 was the Vortex; and stage 5 will be the lower-deck mainline, which will mostly cover the storage yard and the Bakersfield yard.  Here is an overview of the new construction taken from the entry door:



Here's a closer-to-eye-level view:



and the Kern Junction area at the far end, still sans roadbed:



I'm very pleased with the space I have for Kern and the overall plan for the yard.

Now that I'm getting a better sense of the space usage, I'm rethinking a few details of the plan, specifically loco storage and a possible branch line.  The sketch below illustrates some of the ideas:



The black tracks are the previous iteration of the design: loco storage for both UP and BNSF was over on the far right, and the main peninsula was just balloon staging.  The red tracks above are another option for loco storage: two 4' tracks for each RR.  This has the same capacity as the previous plan (roughly four 4-unit lash-ups per RR), and it still leaves room for an access hole in the middle of the peninsula. 

The attraction of this plan is the possibility of adding a low-key branch line patterned after the first few miles of the Buttonwillow branch that departs the prototype main off a wye at Kern Junction.   I've long wanted to add one more switching area, and this looks like it could fit the bill, with the added attraction that it would be away from the busy main line.  The first few miles of the branch feature a steel fabricator, some food processing plants, a scrap yard, a bio-fuel dealer, and an 84 lumber yard.  I'd love to find a way to squeeze in 4-5 car spots in this area (heavily compressed, of course, but that's ok as the main goal is to add some ops variety. 

Suggestions and/or sketches welcome!

[Cajonpassfan]

Gary, congrats on your progress, great stuff!
I may have some thoughts, but want to make sure I understand your overall ultimate plan...would you be kind enough to repost the most recent iteration (or point me to the page that has it)? It's kind of challenging wading through eighty some pages...
Otto K.

[ednadolski]

Gary I gotta say, it always knocks my socks off to see these updates on the fine work that you've got going on.  Even after following for all this time I'm still impressed by how you manage to fit so much of the prototype into a modest space.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Ed - you are too kind.  Of course I admire the almost-full-scale approach you are taking too!

Otto, great suggestion to post a fresh overview of the track plan - I'll try to get that done this weekend.  In the meantime, I sketched up a straw-man plan for a Buttonwillow-like branch here:



and mocked it up with a paper template here:





Here are some of the vital stats:

* A single-track lead that leaves the yard at Kern and follows the back wall for 6' (to the left in the sketch).
* 5 spurs ranging from 18" to 24", roughly 3 cars per spur.
* A 46" runaround track (9-10 car capacity) and an 18" tail track.

I haven't tried to operate this plan, but I think I've convinced myself that something like this is workable (and definitely desirable).  That at least lets me finalize the benchwork and move on with construction.   Other suggestions encouraged!

-gfh

P.S. One thing I am looking forward to is installing some permanent storage under the Bakersfield bench.  That will let me tame some of the chaos that has prevailed in the room for too long now.

[Specter3]

Gary,

I like the branch concept and you will be able to switch it by itself if you just want to play for an hour without much prep work.

[James Costello]

It would seem that with a little view divider and a narrow widening to the staging area, you could extend the branch up past the scrap dealer too. A couple of building flats could represent a refrigerated warehouse or something for all those ARMN reefers....

[GaryHinshaw]

Some incremental progress to report.  The Bakersfield bench is now complete and it has been laminated with sheet cork in preparation for track-laying:



This yard will eventually replace the temporary staging yard that sits above it in the photo - but not until the lower deck mainline is in place...  The Tunnel 2 peninsula will sit above this area, at about the same elevation as the temporary yard.  Fascias and other finish work will be installed after track work is in place.

A closer shot of the transition from Kern Junction into the staging area:



The throat of the BNSF yard is taking shape on the right, ditto for the UP yard on the left. 

A closer look at the Kern Junction area, with track and #10 turnout templates resting in place:



Can't wait to see a BNSF manifest snaking through the Junction as it pulls into Bakersfield. 

[robert3985]

Maybe I've said this before, but I REALLY enjoy watching the evolution of your layout, plus your execution is what I strive for too...troubleshoot the track plan in the computer first (CAD is a game-changer IMO!), then use cabinet-grade carpentry for your benchwork...excellent...

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[jagged ben]

This is gonna be cool.

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Bob.  Someday I will strive to reach the level of scenery modelling you have attained. And I know I've said this before, but the feedback I get on this Board has made the layout so much better than it might have been.  Thank you all.

Now, if only track-laying were as simple as printing:



-gfh

[This is my first attempt to post photos from Google photos.  The 7-line URL notwithstanding, it seems to work fine. I'm curious to know if others can see it.]

added: I reposted this after figuring out the "right" way to post images from Google photos.  Please ignore the lengthy discussion that follows.   -gfh