Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

I think the second bend in the class tracks may be just a bit OTT. Might be worth comparing the track capacities with and without the S curve to see if it makes any significant difference.

As I just posted, I agree.  Back to the track plan!

[Chris1274]

You were talking about modelling a cement plant to generate some covered hopper traffic. Here's a small one in Acworth, GA that might give you some ideas:



Here's a video of it being switched out by CSX:

[davefoxx]

I'm really liking how Hamlet Yard is coming together.  I wish the class tracks were longer, but I have to remember that I don't have to build the entire train on one class track.  Since I increased the number of tracks to five, it could be two tracks for northbound and two tracks for southbound, with a spare for overflow, RIP, or access to the locomotive facility.  It also means that the yard lead doesn't have to be a mile long.  Too much?



Thanks for the input, guys!
DFF

[davefoxx]

Chris,

That's a neat cement plant.  I need to look to see if that was a commodity shipped on the A&R.  I know that a lot of grain cars went in there.  It also makes sense that a lot of sand came out of there.  This is the sandhills of North Carolina, by the way.

The video was cool.  Nice B40-8!  It's good to see four-axle locomotives at work.  I did kinda feel sorry for the vehicular traffic caught during the switching, though.

DFF

[Chris333]

Atlas posted preproduction C55 turnouts on Facebook, so maybe the wait won't be that long:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/atlastrains/photos/a.10153151383575110.1073741937.129250295109/10153151383620110/?type=1&theater

[davefoxx]

Oh, that's great news!  I'm curious as to the price, as well as the availability, considering a ton of modelers will be all over these.  I have a feeling that places like MBK will put a limit on how many one can order.  At this point, though, I would be ecstatic getting Raeford (out-and-back ops pleasure on the A&R) and the SBD mainline (for roundy-round fun) laid down.  The yard could come later.

DFF

[Rich_S]

Dave,  I like that version of Hamlet, maybe I'm different, (hey quite in the back of the room) but to me it just looks more like a yard    As an option, you can flex regular turnouts by removing the web between the ties. Disclaimer, I've never tried this in "N" scale, but I did make a few curved turnouts back when I was in HO using standard #10 turnouts.  Be careful when bending the turnout, work slowly. Then I just cut off the trail tracks to fit. Just an idea, it worked OK for HO, but no guarantees for N 

[davefoxx]

Thanks, Rich, I like the "look" of the classification tracks much more, too.  I had the same feeling you had when looking at that last version of the track plan.

I have bent an Atlas wye turnout to change the radius of one of the legs, but I don't think I'll try bending a standard turnout this much.  It will be much easier to just build the turnouts from scratch.  I used a Fast Tracks #10 curved turnout with 16" and 14" radii in the track plan, so I should be able to print a template from Fast Tracks' website.  Since I have a little experience building turnouts, I just need to go to the next level and do it without the jig.

On a positive note, I purchased a 36" x 80" HCD and a 2" x 4' x 8' sheet of foam today.  Unfortunately, the store did not have the banquet table legs in stock.  I may try another home center this week or look online.  I also may consider mounting one end of the new door to the wall, if I can come up with a rock solid method to hang the other end of the new door from the existing HCD.  I think I would prefer legs, so I can separate the two easily for portability.  We'll see.

One real advantage that I'm looking forward to with the addition of the second door is that installing it at a right angle should help stabilize the first HCD.  Banquet table legs can allow the HCD table to be shaky end-to-end.  Nothing is worse than an appearance by Hurricane Aly (my two-year-old daughter) in the train room and her grabbing on to the table legs.  However, if a new door is added perpendicularly, whether screwed to a wall at one end or with legs mounted ninety degrees to the other table's legs, it should make the layout a little more stable.

DFF

[jpec]

Dave,

Is the connection between the yards only operated when you want a continuous run?
Jeff

[davefoxx]

Jeff,

I admit that I'm sort of a roundy-round guy, but I'm trying to set up the layout to allow what limited knowledge I have of ops.  The SBD will be northbounds (clockwise) and southbounds (counter-clockwise), so that connection will be used.  Truthfully, in the real world, the order is Hamlet-Aberdeen-Southern Pines, heading northbound towards Raleigh.  Using one's imagination, a train heading northbound (clockwise) out of Southern Pines will be heading to Raleigh (rather than actually returning to Hamlet).  Trains coming into Hamlet clockwise (actually from Southern Pines) would be imagined to be trains coming in from the south and west.

The real fun will be transferring cars between the SBD and the A&R.  The A&R is set up as a point-to-point, giving me fun in operating a short line's local, while the SBD racks up the miles on a Class 1 racetrack.  The Southern and L&S interchanges will allow me to bring in some different freight cars.

I realize the connection between Hamlet and Aberdeen is short, but this is not a large layout.  I have no problems with SBD trains running a lap or two to make up some miles before stopping in Aberdeen.

DFF

[sizemore]

Just catching up.... Not to throw a wrench in the works, but I think you need a wye in there somewhere to turn a locomotive. You already have a great location on the deck just north of Southern Pines, as well as north of Aberdeen. Just thinking that will be an essential need for operations in the future.

Humbly Submitted,
The S.

[davefoxx]

The S.,

I have no plans for a wye.  This layout is set in the 1983-86 era, so there's no steam locomotives to turn.  My fleet of diesels don't need to be turned.  If it really comes down to wanting something to run the other direction, I'll 0-5-0 it.

I know on the plan it looks like there is a great place for a wye near Southern Pines, but that would require destruction of this scene to add the third leg of a wye.



That would call for a new cut (foam and the fascia), possibly modification and/or destruction of the trestle, and significant crowding of the scene.  No can do.  Plus, that roundy-round connection under the trestle will get downgraded to a faux interchange, or possibly modeled as an abandoned branch.

Thanks,
DFF

[seusscaboose]

The S.,

I have no plans for a wye.  This layout is set in the 1983-86 era, so there's no steam locomotives to turn.  My fleet of diesels don't need to be turned.  If it really comes down to wanting something to run the other direction, I'll 0-5-0 it.

I know on the plan it looks like there is a great place for a wye near Southern Pines, but that would require destruction of this scene to add the third leg of a wye.



That would call for a new cut (foam and the fascia), possibly modification and/or destruction of the trestle, and significant crowding of the scene.  No can do.  Plus, that roundy-round connection under the trestle will get downgraded to a faux interchange, or possibly modeled as an abandoned branch.

Thanks,
DFF

plus you would ruin all that beautiful Kudzu

[jpec]

He could transplant it and send it to you, Boss...

Jeff

[davefoxx]

Door #2 is built.  I still need to notch its corner, so I can slide it in between the wall and the existing layout.  Without even trying to level the table, I'm within a quarter inch of the correct height to mate with the existing HCD.  All eight legs have adjustable feet, so leveling the tables won't be a huge issue when that time comes.



DFF