The LIRR Industrial Service, Inc. shelf layout

[Specter3]

ROAR! I AM THE JUST A LITTLE BIGGER MONSTER! WHENEVER THERE IS A SIZE CONSTRAINT I SHOW UP! ROAR!

[Lemosteam]

LOL!  In this case, I think M.C.'s and Eric's idea is a functional and helpful one.  I was worried about undercapacity, all the industry and not enough rolling stock to support, so this idea is welcome.

I promise Mr. Little Bigger Monster, it wont grow any further...  just ask my wife! 

[chicken45]

I promise Mr. Little Bigger Monster, it wont grow any further...  just ask my wife! 

What won't grow? The layout or Mr. Little Bigger Monster?

 

[Lemosteam]

For shame.   

[chicken45]

Ha!

Are you going to electrify the main line?

[Lemosteam]

Joshua, I'm going to attempt it. 

Eric, M.C., here is the latest plan.  Lift-out will be mostly staging.  Lift out will be approx 8.5" deep x 60" long.

Chris333, heights are on the drawing now.  AnyRail calculates a 3.5% grade from the PRR interchange down to just before the crossover about 56" long.  Decided to raise the PRR height to 2" above the LIRR to get a bit more height under the elevated trusses.  Moving the interchange switches had a huge positive impact on the grade. CAD for the PRR trusses and piers is coming along nicely.

I'm starting to envision the construction method for the electrification poles and trolley wire stringers...

More evolution:

[DKS]

One random thought... since the crossover from the PRR main to the industrial trackage can't be used when the lift-out is not in place, why not move the crossover onto the end of the lift-out? This would ease the grade a little more.

[eric220]

The only issue with using the lift out as staging is that you can't leave cars there between ops. The PRR interchange is easy enough to solve; you can just push the cars into the main. Where are the cars on the lower level going to go between ops?

[Chris333]

I was looking for the depth so I could figure out the grade, but you gave me both 

Why not extend it around the room and back up to the other side? 

[Lemosteam]

The only issue with using the lift out as staging is that you can't leave cars there between ops. The PRR interchange is easy enough to solve; you can just push the cars into the main. Where are the cars on the lower level going to go between ops?

David, I should have thought of that simple change.  Thanks!

Eric, that will be the last 1/2 hour of the session; putting all of the cars back up top vie the LIRR!  That will make me want to put the PRR crossover back in so I can use the rearmost track for storage. 

Chris, I fugred that, but I wanted to try the height tools in AnyRail.

[Lemosteam]

Been some time, picking up supplies.

I need to make the main table moveable (not permanent) because of a ceiling access I nearly forgot about.  I am thinking of mounting some 50# full extension bearing drawer slides under the top at a 45 degree angle away from the corner  (pulling away from the corner in the pic on the first page directly toward the camera.).  This should be more than enough support for the mass of the top.  I prefer this over trying to lift the layout up and out with nowhere to set it down.

Any thought or concerns?  Obviously the side extension would have to be removed first...

EDIT: added latest plan per DKS suggestions.  Immpoved LIRR grade down and increased height to the PRR elevated trusses, added the PRR crossover back in for visual interest and a plausible runaround in case the main is ever fouled:



DAE file in Google Sketchup (thanks poppy2201!) showing the grade and track, just the LIRR main table shown.  Ignore the gray track in front, it is just the outline of the table in AnyRail.

[eric220]

ROAR!  In the spirit of the "Just a little bigger monster"



By adding a little wing onto the extension, you can have a much bigger runaround.

[Hornwrecker]

By adding a little wing onto the extension, you can have a much bigger runaround.

You're not thinking big enough, Eric.  How about a helix on each end to the lower level staging yard.

Looks good, John, and the changes you've added should make for a much more enjoyable switching layout.  This will keep you busy for a long time.

[Chris333]

When is the official ground breaking?

[Lemosteam]

When is the official ground breaking?

Chris, construction begins this weekend. 

I am still designing many components in CAD for the trusses. 

Eric, I may consider that.  note that your lower spur could be tied directly into the lower spur on the extension creatinig another humongous runaround above it.  I'm envisioning though that the water continues around the corner of the base table hence the spurs stopping where they are.  Maybe I'll do it on the fly, dunno.

Damn shame how expensive that foam is!  Especially the 2" stuff so I'm going to layer 1/2" to get the heights I want to have less leftover material.  Buying a 4x8 sheet just for the PRR main did not make sense.

Hornwrecker, thanks, I'm getting geeked and I think this is my final plan.  I have just enough track components to lay up to the first switch past the lower bridge, including the berm side of the PRR.

I am thinking of having the elevated truss portion be a lift-out so I can work on the background and the lower level, which brings me to another question for the experienced layout builders out there:

After the foam is in position and considering the elevated truss portion of the PRR main, in what order would you attack the track, wiring, scenery, background and details.  I'm definitely thinking catenary last (which gives me more time to design it.  Any advice would be appreciated.