The next step

[packers#1]

So I have this thread floating on a couple different forums but haven't gotten many bites. With the current layout down to scenery, I'm ready to start planning my next layout. Even with college fast approaching (2 years) I'm not as worried because I may go to the local college for a year or two to do my undergrad stuff and save money. And worst comes to worst the layout gets cut up and stuck in an A/C storage unit or something. Recently I scored a bunch of back issues of magazines and in one issue of N Scale Magazine I came across a fellow's small N scale CNW layout with two levels, an interchange, and switching. So that got me thinking, and after poking around on the rrpicturearchives.net site, I've figured that I can include both NS and my CSRY into a layout and still have some fun and sorta replicate some local NS action. So combining all of this, I've come up with this layout plan. From the suggestions on other sites, I've come up with the bottom plan. I don't really like it, as it went way too far from the original, but I would like to keep the two back tracks and at least one pop-up hole. The benchwork is kind of in flux, as are grades and basically everything.
The theme is a Norfolk Southern mainline layout with an interchange with a shortline taken over by the CSRY Regional Development division (something likely to have been developed in the late 2000's, no?)
For both plans, the walls are at top and to the left. also at left is a doorway which restricts that benchwork to three feet; everything else can be lengthened or shortened if needed. one box=1 foot
For the first plan:
trackage: code 55 Atlas
minimum radius: 15" mainline (NS), 10" for the CSRY (industrial and branch mainly)
power: 4 and 6 axle for the NS; 4 axle switchers for the CSRY
Grades: the NS will have a decently stead .5% downgrade from the town to staging in the back. The branch will follow this grade as well. The CSRY line will ahev a short 2% grade from the switch for the branch to staging to the right
Also, I'll hopefully be wiring this for blocks, however, I'd rather get the design figured out first before worrying about wiring.

On the bottom plan, the minimum radius has been changed to 12.5" and there is no grade for the CSRY branch.

Like I said, the bottom is an adpatation of the top with some suggestions etc thrown in. I'd prefer to keep as close to the top plan as I can.

[Guilford Guy]

Have you calculated how much the track will cost? I had big plans to include a papermill but that was scrapped when the amount of C55 switches I needed was out of my budget. You may consider cutting down on the number of tracks because it will allow funds to be used towards scenery and buildings, necessities that can carry a high price.

[packers#1]

I might make the staging sector plate then. I've always wanted to try that and it makes the most sense. And yes, track cost is a killer; any spurs that can be combined will be. Anyone else see any problems with the plan?

[DKS]

Sectional or flex?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Personally, I like the bottom one. But then again, I'm building a layout of nothing.

[packers#1]

Sectional or flex?

both. The turns that have to be a predefined radius will be sectional; everything else will be flew hopefully. I'll use the sectional for that because I can lay a flex turn worth crap, and it eliminated the problem with flex kinks in the turns, which is what killed my 2x8; well one part at least.
I myself like the idea of the bottom one, but i'd flip the top one a bit. I'm also going to draw up a modular version, which would let me save more of the layout whenever I move out

[DKS]

You may want to practice laying flex, because this is what you can do with it.
 


I took the "best" of both plans and smoothed out the curves. Minimum mainline radius is 15"; the branchline is down to 11". You have the option of using the crossing on the interchange track for no grades, or eliminating the crossing and going for grades. Assuming the end of the layout to the right is open (not against a wall), you don't need any access openings anywhere. If you add a backdrop to hide the staging yard, though, it will have to be removable for access to those tracks.

My recommendation would be to go with grades, and lower the staging yard behind scenery/buildings, with the backdrop against the wall. It would add a lot more visual interest. The layout could be built in a sectional fashion without too much difficulty so that it can be dismantled and moved if necessary.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

You could also split the difference on the grades: have the main layout at +1, say, the three-track staging at 0, and then the blue interchange would only have to rise 1/2"-1".

[DKS]

You could also split the difference on the grades: have the main layout at +1, say, the three-track staging at 0, and then the blue interchange would only have to rise 1/2"-1".

Yes, I agree completely. Here are some recommended elevations:



The red lines show possible locations for benchwork joints.

Now, it you absolutely, positively must have sectional track, you can get close to the flow of flex, but in order to break the overly-rigid look of sectional, it requires at few small pieces of flex, which I've marked on the plan below. Note that all of the straight or nearly straight track, such as the sidings, is flex.



Also note some changes to this version; it's moved a little closer in spirit to example #2 that you provided.

[packers#1]

Thanks David! I actually don't have that much of a problem with flex, except on the end curves, which I'd use sectional to make sure they were perfect etc...
I've thought over building this etc, and to ease construction of benchwork and save money at the same time i could go with plenty of rectangular modules...one for each side of the branch and then two for the town...I'll draw that up after church though

[DKS]

I actually don't have that much of a problem with flex, except on the end curves, which I'd use sectional to make sure they were perfect etc...

That's good to know, because it can really help make for smooth, natural arcs; plus, it can help save money. I mixed some more flex back into the plan to smooth things out around the passing siding and industrial tracks. I also colored the flex red, and the sectional track blue.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

I also colored the flex red, and the sectional track blue.

Very cool!
You should paint the track just like David's drawing, keeping the ground white.
THE USA LINES 

[packers#1]

David, I'm really liking that plan. I wonder about swapping the orientation of the CSRY. Unfortuantely, i'm on the computer that doesn't have any trackplanning software, and since i have no idea when I can get on the other, I'll have to offer up a basic MS Paint sketch to explain my idea.
OK, this took me about a minute so it looks like crap, but the main idea is to keep the access hole to the left and have the main CSRY branch curl inside of there behind the backdrop for staging. then the interchange etc is in the middle. i'd really like to include a switchback in the back. the industry to the far right would be a rock crusher or something, while there would be an LP gas plant, warehouse, and scrap yard on the swithcback (the scrap yard at the tail, LP at the front). However, to save switches, the far right could instead have a feed/seed/fertilizer warehouse and then a lumber yard that both share the same spur. The branch to the right would have a cement plant at the end, while I'm not sure about the industry on the left side of the backdrop; maybe a kaolin clay tipple or w/e like we have locally here?
black is the NS and benchwork, red is CSRY, blue is backdrop. Once again, sorry it's so crappy...I'll try to get somethin done in RTS if the other comp ever opens up!

[packers#1]

ok, so here's what I cam up with. The rock Crusher could be on the spur on the branchline 
sorry for the crappyish image. photobucket was on the fritz so I uploaded to facebook

[Guilford Guy]

I'd flip the way the runaround is arranged so that NS trains can pass each other should you want to arrange a meet there. It also gives a bit more trackage for the CSRY locomotive(s) to run around trains on.