Scaled Down: Mopac Jville NW branch

[MichaelT]

David I'll check my LHS probably on Friday for the crossings, I think I have enough turnouts for the rest, but he does have a small supply of ME #6 turnouts if I need some more. It looks like one turnout bottom right might be a wye? Is that right?

[DKS]

Nope, no wyes.

[MichaelT]

Nope, no wyes.

Ok, my eyes aren't what they used to be!

Let me ask you this. With the diverging route on the curved turnout being a 15", would it help to add a curved turnout to the branch (base rising) line from the inner loop, and keep that entire curve at 15" to shorten it a little bit? There won't be very long trains running (probably no more than 5-7 cars at a time), and maybe the curved turnout would help both that and the inner loop curve?

[DKS]

With the diverging route on the curved turnout being a 15", would it help to add a curved turnout to the branch (base rising) line from the inner loop, and keep that entire curve at 15" to shorten it a little bit?

You don't want to shorten the branchline; shorter = steeper grade. If anything, lengthening it would be better.

[MichaelT]

You don't want to shorten the branchline; shorter = steeper grade. If anything, lengthening it would be better.

Ok, so if I still use the curved turnout, but put a 16" and then 17's to finish the curve, would that work you think?

[DKS]

I'm not getting why you want to use a curved turnout. It doesn't offer any advantage at that point on the layout.

In fact, in this drawing I moved the branchline switch as far back as possible, broadened the curve as much as practical, and also moved the branchline sidings back, all to lengthen the branchline and keep the grade down--it's now about 1.75%.

[MichaelT]

I'm not getting why you want to use a curved turnout. It doesn't offer any advantage at that point on the layout.

In fact, in this drawing I moved the branchline switch as far back as possible, broadened the curve as much as practical, and also moved the branchline sidings back, all to lengthen the branchline and keep the grade down--it's now about 1.75%.

Just trying to use what I know I have on hand at home. I'll check my turnout inventory tonight and see if I have all the needed ones.

[davefoxx]

I really like your track plan.  I foresee that it will be fun to run trains on this layout, and I think you have sufficient design built in for a little bit of ops.  Nice.  Also, what I like to see, and which I built into the design of my HCD layout, is the room for expansion.  Looks like you could grow the layout in at least three different directions.  Kudos to you and DKS for the design.

One suggestion, if you have the room, would be to extend the yard.  With enough space, you could build a wye off of the loop, so that trains could enter/depart the yard from/in either direction on the loop.

DFF

[DKS]

One suggestion, if you have the room, would be to extend the yard.  With enough space, you could build a wye off of the loop, so that trains could enter/depart the yard from/in either direction on the loop.

Excellent suggestion, Mr. Foxx. As it happens, there is just enough room for a wye. It does require a little two-step shuffle to get trains in and out of the yard, but coincidentally it does not force the train to be any shorter than it would have to be in the original plan (no longer than the runaround in the yard). The minimum radius is 11 inches.



It does require a different crossing (30 degree instead of 22.5) and a #2.5 wye switch.

[MichaelWinicki]

Adding the "Y" is a nice addition.  They're cool visually and it will add a lot to the operating potential of the pike.

[davefoxx]

Me likey, DKS.

[MichaelT]

Thanks for the add's guys. Mr. Foxx, the length of the yard is set by the length on the left side butting up against the wall. While I could turn the corner and head north from the left end, for now I'd like to concentrate on what is there. I don't want to start making additions and making the layout any bigger (or even considering it) until I get this set area going well.

I do like the wye addition and will lay some track out to see how that fits "actual". Before that I must get some of the collected stuff off the layout and start drawing out the pen lines and get some things glued down so I can start visualizing this for real instead of just on paper.

David I'll keep the curved turnouts on the shelf for now and see how far the turnouts I have on hand go, and then start making a list of what I need to pick up.

[davefoxx]

Hopefully, the wye will fit once you lay this out 1:1 on your HCD.  I agree that a yard with a significant curve in it (e.g., a ninety degree turn around the corner to run along the next wall) usually is not a great idea, if the yard is more than merely a staging yard and is switched.

DFF

[DKS]

David I'll keep the curved turnouts on the shelf for now and see how far the turnouts I have on hand go, and then start making a list of what I need to pick up.

FWIW, I figured out how you can use one...

[MichaelT]

Hopefully, the wye will fit once you lay this out 1:1 on your HCD.  I agree that a yard with a significant curve in it (e.g., a ninety degree turn around the corner to run along the next wall) usually is not a great idea, if the yard is more than merely a staging yard and is switched.
DFF

The yard itself probably won't be much more than a staging area for this little pike. I might do some light switching, but having the three/four industries above the yard (on the aisle side) will give more switching on that L part than the yard will.