I've spent much of the last few months working on a grain unit train, patching them for CN and modernizing them (graffiti, weathering, new hatches, a few new paint jobs). I have replaced all the wheels with Fox Valley, and in a burst of operational optimism I have also put a resistive wheel set on each car.
I have also been thinking about a new version of the layout and trying out many ideas (I even considered H0 for a little bit, but discarded that idea pretty quickly- I want big trains and bigger scenery for now). This version is a bit of protolancing, trying to deal with two major issues with my current layout:
1. Hidden, limited staging (five tracks, about 75" limiting length). I have had a lot of operational issues with this hidden trackage.
2. No real operations
This plan is a variant of one I posted some time back, building on the theme of the Ashcroft Terminal, a small facility located near Cisco. The plan is big, with intermodal, warehousing and car storage, accessed by both CN and CP. It is actually pretty ideal for my needs, but it remains relatively undeveloped in reality.
This version addresses the two weaknesses by:
1. Daylighting the staging by increasing it to seven tracks with 93" limiting length. One track gets a mega 115" so I have room for that really big train!
2. The mainline has some switching and modest operations, with capacity to break down an intermodal train and store it, a grain-container transload and some other minor industries. this could keep one person occupied while another runs trains on the mainline.
3. The mainline siding gives switching access and also storage for another train, so this gives me nearly double the storage I currently have.
4. A nice roundy-round run and keeping the Cisco scene. There is still lots of work to do on that to finish it so it will scratch my scenery itch.
It is a pretty simple layout, but what I want is operational reliability and to avoid the hassle of hidden track. I contemplated a lower deck for storage but decided the complexity of it is not worth the hassle.
My existing Skoonka scene will go, but I think I will save it by creating a portable loop layout for shows. I have been involved in a new club in town and they are quite active. It would be great to have a nice scenic loop to run a train around and I think I can find someone to store it for me (I don't have room). If I don't, I am sure I can find a taker.
