Missouri Pacific: Central Division: Hoxie Subdivision: Jacksonville branch

[MichaelWinicki]

I like both plans that David did.

I'd consider an interchange or two in order to give a lot more flexibility to what cars could be actively switched to and from the layout.

[MichaelT]

The JAX branchline didn't have an interchange since it was owned and operated by the MP. I'm thinking all interchanges would have been made in the Jenks yard in North Little Rock or the Memphis switch in Bald Knob. I've taken out the wye for now and just made a curve into the closet and the small three track holding yard; that will suffice as an interchange for now.

I have gotten a few bits of information from a few guys at the MP modeling yahoo group, and as it seems, the Jacksonville branch was more than likely switched out on the Hoxie Subdivision local that came through, probably twice daily during its' heyday.

David, I'm going to stick with the first plan and massage it while I get benchwork finished. I might loop from the middle peninsula to the nook at the NW corner next to the closet, that's an option that came up this afternoon while I was running the HCD loop and pondering. Might could do an over/under at the bottom of the peninsula, then loop around in the nook, still having the three track yard in the closet for some type of staging.

Whatcha think?

[MichaelT]

Ok, at the behest of the Mrs. (who really has some solid ideas from time to time (actually all the time)), a coin was flipped and a new direction was taken for the MP Central Div; Hoxie Sub; Jacksonville branch. The biggest move has been scale, this will be an HO layout, and the second biggest is that the benchwork has been cut down quite a bit to allow for a portion of the room to be utilized as my music office/library.



The diagram is not exact, but it's close. Not exact in that I have plenty of room between the track and the ends of the benchwork, so a wayward engine/car will not travel to the floor, plus when I install the fascia I'll raise it a couple inches to help with that as well. I have 1-1/2 of foam on the framework, and Larry (a good friend and model railroader) and I worked with the track idea on Saturday. I fiddled with it a little bit more last night to make room for #6 turnouts on the branchline, and I'll probably end up with #6's throughout the layout, except for the interchange on the west end of the layout. Here are a couple first shots;



Along the wall on the left will be a couple industries; one is a company that makes aluminum venting products for homes and business buildings (boxcars, gondolas, closed hoppers), and the other will be a cardboard box company (boxcars, tankers, gondolas). The two spurs to the right will service a company that makes kitchen cookware (boxcars, closed hoppers) and a company that makes industrial and commercial fans (boxcars, flat cars, occasional gondola).

I had a runaround of about three cars, but instead took it around the corner (top of picture) and extended it to about 12 cars; more than what I plan on having at any time (most regular branch runs will consist of 7-10 cars). The other end of the runaround is seen in the picture below;

 

In the loop below the picture, there will be a midsize cabinet company (flatcars, boxcars, closed hoppers) and a chemical nutrition plant (tankers, hoppers). At the back of the loop, I've installed two turnouts that will connect to the interchange (seen in the diagram) which will connect to a small (12" wide) addition that will hold the incoming cars for the branch. I'll include two or three staging tracks to hold other incoming cars for op sessions. Also one track will hold a four car passenger train that will run on occasion (just because).

There are a couple places that I'm looking at adding a team track (The Jax branch had one next to Lomanco) for other area businesses to receive and load LCL items.

We're planning on laying roadbed on Saturday and I'll start installing track the following Monday if all goes well.

As always, I'm open to any suggestions, thoughts, improvements, etc. that you folks care to offer!

michael

[DKS]

Good start. I'd be tempted to try and work in a wye at the yard for tuning trains; barring that, a cutoff placed strategically to form an out-and-back plan. I'll try to scribble out some sketches of what I mean.

Also, the yard looks as though it has some minor functional issues. Can the yard extend a little more to the right?

[MichaelT]

Good start. I'd be tempted to try and work in a wye at the yard for tuning trains; barring that, a cutoff placed strategically to form an out-and-back plan. I'll try to scribble out some sketches of what I mean.

Also, the yard looks as though it has some minor functional issues. Can the yard extend a little more to the right?

Not much; maybe another foot or two, but I'd like to keep it away from the desk/shelving I have going in for the library/work station. Probably two feet max could be added.

[DKS]

A few suggestions, if I may...



I took the liberty of making some adjustments that might enhance ops, and also improve maintenance.

First, I added a second line into the yard that provides out-and-back ops; it also adds interest since the crossing must be watched.

I got rid of the track in the lower left corner, as that looked like one of the worst places to try and access. The siding at the bottom right is nearly as bad, but access is at least possible.

I moved a couple of sidings here and there to provide more challenging switching, and to make better use of space.

The yard is about a foot longer and totally reorganized to maximize the runaround, since this dictates the longest train you can run. There are only a couple of storage tracks; if the yard was widened a few inches, you could maybe add another one. I also included engine facilities.

Finally, I (literally) cut some corners to cut down on the bruising that will take place with so many 90-degree corners.

One final note, if you think you'd like to add interest in the form of grades, I'd lower the yard and raise the main so the 90-degree crossing is eliminated. Just an afterthought...

Let the haggling discussion begin...

EDIT: Parts list:

500. Flex, ~12-14 pcs.
505 #6. Left turnout 11.61", 8
506 #6. Right turnout 11.61", 9
563 #6. Left turnout 12", 2
564 #6. Right turnout 12", 2
577 Crossing 2" 90º, 1

[MichaelT]

Ok David....

WOW!!

Give me a while to take this in and look at it in the room. I printed a copy to take in there with me and look at these ideas...

For the grades, which would you have the over, and which the under? I'm thinking the yard lead would be the under?

The biggest problem with cutting the corners off the benchwork is that the benchwork is sitting on some industrial metal shelving modules; I built an underframe just the size of the top shelf framing, and then screwed the benchwork into that framing, so cutting the corners would still have the corners of the metal shelving sticking out. That has actually helped immensely with getting things off the floor and put somewhere.

So the branchline if I'm seeing it right becomes just a huge wye to turn engines? I do have an Digitrax AR1 so I could install that to handle the electrical aspects of the wye. Taking the yard shelving another foot or so wouldn't be a problem, and making it a little wider (16-18") wouldn't be a problem either.

 

[Chris333]

For the grades, which would you have the over, and which the under? I'm thinking the yard lead would be the under?

577 Crossing 2" 90º, 1

I'd lower the lard and raise the main so the 90-degree crossing is eliminated

[DKS]

Refresh your screen to see recommended elevations. Note: these are estimates and may need to be adjusted to reduce grades and clearance.

[MichaelT]

It helps that I haven't put the shelf together or installed it for the staging area. Another advantage is that the shelf will probably now be level or just above the window sill, which will give better access to the window (I was a little concerned with blocking the window for egress in emergencies, or opening and closing for air on the cool days).

Thanks a lot for the nudging David; this gives me lots to work on Saturday now!

[MichaelT]

Was able to get some train room time tonight, so I started tacking track down for this plan. I have decided to forego the grades for this layout. The Jacksonville branch is relatively flat from the mainline to its' end, it crosses two creeks which I can cut into the foam, but other than that it's pretty flat.

I'm going to pickup a crossing tomorrow at our LHS and use it instead of the grades and over/under for now. This will help the budget not having to purchase more foam and the risers for the grades.

I'm pretty sure I just about have everything where I need it on the main area of the branch (will work on the holding yard some tomorrow), so I'll start laying down roadbed and maybe get some sections of track down before bedtime!

mt

[MichaelT]

Saturday update on the JAX Branch: Roadbed is down and track is down on about 2/3 of the branchline. The biggest caution was setting the 90 crossing and I think we did a pretty good job of it. Taking a break to let some glue dry, then will (hopefully) get the remainder of the branch line track down including the runaround. Five siding spurs might not get installed today, depends on how long it takes to finish the branch line track.

The framing for the yard extension hasn't been put together yet. Going to wait until all the main branch line track is down and then we'll start building the yard box.

mt

[MichaelT]

Wanted to take the space and say thank you to David K. Smith for his redesign and suggestions on the revamp of the MP Jacksonville branchline layout. As of this afternoon the entire branchline has been tracked and I've installed some feeders and ran one of the MP GP 38's over the line to check for problems. So far the engine has run both ways a number of times and has rolled very well. I still have six spurs to track, not sure if I'll get to that this afternoon or not.

Thanks again David! I appreciate your design help and suggestions for this layout. The diamond was the part I was a little worried about being on a curve, but it's in and the engine has rolled through it very well a number of times.

Once I get the rest of the spurs in I can start tackling some scenery and get some structures put together and planted on the branchline.

mt

[MichaelT]

2000 update: All the branchline and spurs are tracked and glued down. After the glue dries thoroughly, another hour or so, I'll take the GP38 over all the trackage and check for any problems.

Phase II will be building the frame for the yard extension and laying roadbed and track for the yard.

[MichaelT]

Snapped a few pictures of the weekend work before I shut the train room down for the night.