Missouri Pacific Arkansas Division, Hoxie Sub-Jacksonville Industrial Park

[MichaelT]

As much as I'd like to, I'd probably get in a little trouble if I spend all day in the train room so I'm out to the back yard to start blowing and raking up the myriad of leaves that fall/winter has deposited on the grounds. Then after lunch I'll come back and attach the two LH #4 turnouts that I picked up at the LHS while I was out running errands to get the ladder on the NLR staging hooked up.

This evening I'm going to set out some freight cars and run some ops on the sidings and see if any tweaks need to be made before I start gluing roadbed down.

[MichaelT]

Ran the Eagle passenger train on the outer loop and a mixed freight on the inner loop for about thirty minutes. So far I'm quite happy with how things are moving along. I think tonight I can start gluing roadbed down on the 40x82 section and start getting track glued down to firm it all up. Still mixed on the staging section and still considering going ahead and adding the 24x96 section on the back wall. Won't be able to do much with it yet but would be able to move the staging ends do where they will be and see how that looks.

[MichaelT]

This is loosely how things would look with the 24x96 section added along the south wall of the room. Window would still be completely benchwork free.



Extending the staging areas would definitely give some more run space for the trains, and could do some heavy scenery and a few more industrial sidings along the way.

Thoughts?

[DKS]

Are you really using sectional track, as shown in the plan?

[MichaelT]

Are you really using sectional track, as shown in the plan?

No but I hate taking the time to move the edit sections of the flex track in RR track. Once I'm comfortable with turnout locations I'll cut flex to mate with the turnouts. One of these days I'll bit the bullet and get a better track planning program. What do you use again btw?

I do use the sectional track pieces to piece together the layout like I have it now to see how things will run though. I've accumulated a LOT of sectional track over the years from people giving it away, tearing up layouts, etc., so at least it's good for something.

[DKS]

What do you use again btw?

http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html

The only trouble planning around sectional track is that quite often everything ends up straight and parallel--you lose the natural, fluid quality of flex--and some curves can be awkward or severe. Compare:

[MichaelT]

http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html

The only trouble planning around sectional track is that quite often everything ends up straight and parallel--you lose the natural, fluid quality of flex--and some curves can be awkward or severe. Compare:

Thanks, yeah I've noticed that. I've downloaded the trial of Anyrail...will see if I can get the hang of it and purchase the full version.

[MichaelT]

I'd really like to try my hand with c55, but I know I don't have enough turnouts for this layout and not knowing when turnouts will be available again I'm a little skeptical. I have c80 turnouts and enough flex for a majority of it, will need some more turnouts for the east staging but our LHS seems to get c80 turnouts about every other week and he has a pretty good stock now.

I could probably make some small changes with the curved turnouts, but then there are a number of people who have issues with the curved turnouts and I'm not that good at troubleshooting and fixing issues like what I've read.

....trying not to let the frustration level increase...LOL

[DKS]

I could probably make some small changes with the curved turnouts...

There are no curved turnouts in this rendering. Code 80 switches can be dropped into the plan as drawn.

[MichaelT]

There are no curved turnouts in this rendering. Code 80 switches can be dropped into the plan as drawn.

Well that's cool! What are the curve radii? The left side looks larger than the right side (by design I'm sure).

[DKS]

14" min.

[MichaelT]

Ok, that's a pretty cool program. Will take some getting used to and learning how to put things together for smoother designs.

I was trying to copy your layout and ran into a problem on the bottom runaround. Kept getting red lines on the inner track between turnouts.

[MichaelT]

Once you have a design ready to go, does Anyrail give any type of shopping list? i.e. how many of what pieces you've put on the design?


Nevermind, I found it.

[MichaelT]

14" min.

On the right side curves David, they aren't full 180' curves are they? One looks 90', but the other isn't a full 90' is it?

Also, the track that leads to staging upper right, would that be better with a right turnout to lessen the S curve there and to ease into the curve better?

I like how this looks. It's not cluttered on the loop, still plenty of switching room and with the added 96" shelf on the back wall, enables a longer run and a few more switching opportunities between the staging tracks and the loop.

[MichaelT]

Well a list of honey do's (actually more like just basic outdoor chores) has kept me out of the train room after church today, but I'm at a stopping point so I can make my way back to the layout and do some more ponderin'. I'm just about to the point of gluing roadbed down for the continuous loops but trying to figure out some small town structure placements (Main Street kinda stuff) and some type of hill or ridge to break up the flatland look.

I received an email from an MPHS member and friend who sent me a listing of the towns along the Hoxie sub in 1977 or so; that helps in planning my structures names in Jacksonville, Beebe and Bald Knob. The Doniphan Lumber branch was on its' own with the small fuel depot nearby, so that will work out ok.

So a little early dinner of chicken and dumplings and I think I'll break out some foam scraps and start stacking hills and a ridge line after that.