Allegheny Eastern: Clean Slate

[kelticsylk]

"Operating The Track Plan"

The layout is still not ready for prime time. Fortunately the software I use lets me "run" trains on the track plan. I can check the operations in digital form before I commit to the actual rebuilding. Previously I had used the program to rough in the layout, I simply ran tracks together or across each other to give the impression of turnouts and crossings. This time I went back over the plan placing switches, creating elevations and adding structures. The result was a virtual layout I could operate for trial runs...

Average Eastern: February 15th, 2014

The effort has already paid off. I've been able to see what grades will be needed to provide clearance for the mainline trains. The software also tells me how steep they are. I was also able to see flaws and correct them. The long drill track at Average was a direct result of trying to make up a train in the yard. The only other alternative was to foul the four track main...

Average: Drill Track, Crossings

At the other end of the yard are engine and icing facilities. Reefers outbound from AE customers get their ice loaded here. They also get topped off before shipping. The Average Easterns 2-8-0's are stored and repaired in a two stall engine house. I'm thinking of putting in a bigger roundhouse hoping to create the impression of a prosperous railroad that has lost income. The coal and water facilities are a bit large for two locomotives but allow both engines to be serviced at the same time. Water comes from a metal tank served by water columns at trackside. I also included ash pits and a track for coal loads and a gondola for ashes. It also serves as a storage track for the lines two cabooses. A short section at the end of a yard track adjacent to the water tank serves as storage for the work train. A combination storage and/or RIP track runs along the left side of the yard...

Average: Facilities

The locomotive shown is too long for the turntable. The actual turntable is sized for the Bachmann Consolidations.

There are two interchange tracks. To the left of the mainline is one for eastbound traffic. On the opposite side of the four track is the westbound interchange track and depot. The spur off the interchange track is for LCL freight and mail. The interchange track on this side may have to be lengthened...

Average: Interchange

Heading "east" from the interchange I had located several industries. I deleted these, reasoning that the interchange tracks provided quite enough revenue. There's already too much cluttering on this side of the layout. I need a place to put the town.

With the help from a visual aid and You Tube we can take a look at a typical morning on the Average Eastern. It's a bit long and the music will probably get annoying.

Operations start at the Average engine house. One of the two "connies" heads out to the turntable and spins around to take on water, coal and sand.  Last nights ashes, now cool, are being shoveled into a gondola. The 2-8-0 moves down into the yard and backs up to pick up a caboose. Dropping the caboose out on a yard track the locomotive starts switching. The first job today is picking up a brace of reefers at the ice house. They are to be set on the eastbound interchange track.

There is a boxcar blocking the reefers. The engine couples to the boxcar and uses it to pick up the refrigerator cars. The loco backs up far enough to drop the reefers without fouling the turnout and then switches the boxcar onto an adjacent track. The Consolidation retrieves the reefers and heads for the interchange.

As the train approaches the interchange track a long freight comes rumbling eastward on the mainline. It becomes painfully obvious that there is absolutely no way to set out the reefers without fouling all four mainline tracks. Oops. Looks like we need a revision!...

Regards,
Frank Musick

Building a dream layout on a nightmare budget

The Average Eastern Railroad

[MichaelWinicki]

I like what you've done Frank!

Congrats on the changes you've made!

I like the flowing nature of the plan.  The part that looks odd to me compared to the rest of the layout is Quotidian.  It's too... I dunno... too "O-27ish" in shape and form.  I much prefer the old Quotidian with industries and roads laid out in a less symmetrical/more haphazard fashion.

[kelticsylk]

I like what you've done Frank!

Congrats on the changes you've made!

I like the flowing nature of the plan.  The part that looks odd to me compared to the rest of the layout is Quotidian.  It's too... I dunno... too "O-27ish" in shape and form.  I much prefer the old Quotidian with industries and roads laid out in a less symmetrical/more haphazard fashion.

Thanks!

These test runs are fun and provide tons of info that can be used to refine the plan. I made another vid after the changes. The new trackage works great but...

I think the symmetry of Quotidian is a result of using Tomix track for that area. I used their 4" radius curves and mini turnouts almost exclusively. Let me sketch up the streets to see if that improves the look. If not I'll see if I can rework it.

[GaryHinshaw]

There is a lot to like here Frank, but I agree that the Quotidian section looks like a fish out of water, and will be operationally problematic -- 4" radius curves??  Crossed spurs?

I also think that having the yard only accessible by crossing a 4-track main is asking for trouble. Couldn't you swing the line around the main, e.g., in the bottom-left corner?

[DKS]

There is a lot to like here Frank, but I agree that the Quotidian section looks like a fish out of water, and will be operationally problematic -- 4" radius curves??  Crossed spurs?

I also think that having the yard only accessible by crossing a 4-track main is asking for trouble. Couldn't you swing the line around the main, e.g., in the bottom-left corner?

Agree on both points. In particular, there are better alternatives to Tomix track--especially 4" radius curves--for urban industrial areas. I'd start over with a fresh take on Quotidian.

[kelticsylk]

I'm looking at reworking Quotidian. I was thinking street trackage is tight, like trolley track. My Bachmann PCC's can handle 3" radius so i thought 4" would work for 40 foot cars and my FM switcher if speeds were low. I have done some virtual switching at Quotidian and it is a nightmare, but isn't it supposed to be?

Would would you guys suggest for minimum radius?

As for the four track crossing, it's based on Catausqua on the Lehigh Valley where the Lehigh & New England crosses the 4 track LV main south of the Pine St Bridge......


Notice that the L&NE yard is adjacent to the LV main, just like the AE yard.
It makes for "exciting" operations and I think with the proper care, signals, autostop whatever it can be made to work.

More info is available at...http://himedo.net/TheHopkinThomasProject/CoalFireIronSteel/Appendices/CatasauquaIndustryResidences/CatasauquaIndustries/Railroads/YurkoArticle.htm#LaterLVRR

[kelticsylk]

Quotidian revised. Minimum radius is 10" turnouts are #7...



What looks like crossed sidings is actually two sidings separated vertically. The elevated siding allows hoppers to unload directly into coal bins. I got the idea from a coal supply in Altoona...

[DKS]

In looking at your latest plan, I'm having a hard time envisioning how the track and buildings fit into the space such that you've got a logical arrangement of streets and such. You've got a nice space; it would be cool to use it for some realistically-proportioned industries. Here is a suggestion on how you might develop it--



Note that it's nothing more than food for thought. It's designed using Atlas Code 55 track, #5 switches and 12" radius curves.

[MichaelWinicki]

Dave's suggested plan for that area looks like a winner to me!

[chicken45]

Yeah, that's pretty cool, DKS!

[MichaelWinicki]

With Dave's designs the roads determine where the industries go... as opposed to the other way around.  Which is how it should be... within reason of course!

[wazzou]

I really like what DKS drew but I'm still a little unsure of the industry with a crossing in the lower center.

[kelticsylk]

In looking at your latest plan, I'm having a hard time envisioning how the track and buildings fit into the space such that you've got a logical arrangement of streets and such. You've got a nice space; it would be cool to use it for some realistically-proportioned industries. Here is a suggestion on how you might develop it--



Note that it's nothing more than food for thought. It's designed using Atlas Code 55 track, #5 switches and 12" radius curves.

Awesome! Thanks for keeping the raised siding at the lumber coal supply. Hopefuilly I can recreate it in XTracCad....Dave does your program export DXF files?

I also took Gary's advice about the Catausqua style crossing at Average and went around the four track. Aside from the crossing , the climb to clear the mainline before Owertown was a very ridiculous 4.5%. A few more revisions kept the maximum grade, westbound out of East End, to 2%. The only exception is the trestle at the coal yard. Need the clearance for the lower track. Here's the revised (again) plan. I grafted in the DKS improvement to Quotidian. ...


I'll have to revise the town to match

[DKS]

I really like what DKS drew but I'm still a little unsure of the industry with a crossing in the lower center.

It's not a crossing--as noted previously, one track rises up over the other, based on this prototype industry:

Dave does your program export DXF files?

Sorry, no. You'll just have to eyeball it...

[kelticsylk]

Sorry, no. You'll just have to eyeball it...

I think it's pretty close...


I may be able to add "structures" other than the ones that come with the software. They'll actually be colored polygons, but may look more realistic. I'll try operating it and record the session.