Canton, Highlandtown and Fells Point - Compact layout

[DKS]

Or... if you want to go in a slightly different direction, rather than a figure 8, how about a folded dogbone? Much longer mainline run! And way easier to build. Minimum mainline curve is still a healthy 10" and grades are about 2.6%.



Staging (dashed line) enters on the lower level and leads right into the runaround beside the yard. If you wanted, you could pop another siding in the upper line, right over top of the staging yard lead.

[wazzou]

I like that last one the best, the folded dogbone one.

[Baronjutter]

Woah that's great for just looping trains yet also tons of switching and scenery.

[John]

Hmmm... given that change, the branchline must climb at a grade of very nearly 4%. Also, I think the leftover crossings you have are 45 degrees. I did a quick sketch using that angle, and it totally precludes having a wye or any sidings on the lower right loop, unless you handlaid custom switches.

I have a couple of different size crossing that could be used

[MichaelWinicki]

Also like the folded dog-bone.

Only thing I would like in the plan is a crossing... All that delicious industrial trackage and no crossings... sigh.

Can't have everything.

[davefoxx]

I like that last one the best, the folded dogbone one.

Me, too!

DFF

[wm3798]

The design committee will be convening shortly to weigh all the options.  Much to discuss...

Lee

[wm3798]

Okay.  If I lose the switch connecting the staging branch to the loop, I also lose the vertical  clearance problem that has everyone worried about my use of cheap vodka for "weathering"...

In this scenario, I keep the "out and back" nature of the design, going from staging to the green yard and back again, and I retain the figure 8 roundy roundy.

I could also add a passing siding to the aqua track at the upper right corner equal in length to the yard's run around track, which could serve as my "staging" track until I get the little shelf track tucked along over my desk.

I don't believe I have any curved turnouts in stock.  If I do, it's a left handed one on the bit of line that used to pass in front of the Cumberland station.  The only RH hand one I had is now at Eric's.  I'm sure I can squeeze whatever I need out of the numerous 5s and 7s I have in a box.

The last dogbone design was just way too cluttered again, but I think this simplification will take care of it.  Thanks for the input again, everyone.

Lee

[davefoxx]

I'm worried about how you would scenic this plan.  The portion at bottom right has elevations all over the place, making it near impossible to make it look realistic.  The coal trestle and "new" siding are a couple of inches above the street.  What are you going to do with the new siding?  Make it enter the second story of a building?  You can't bring the street up easily because it's at the level of the loop just after it begins its climb from the passing siding.

I still like DKS' latest plan better, because it's not asking for impossible elevations of track, buildings, and streets.

DFF

[DKS]

DFF has hit the nail on the head. The "simplification" process has resulted in some areas that are awkward at best. Also, when one uses actual track geometry, things get worse. Specifically:



The orange track, which includes the coal trestle, has a second stub siding that is not only rather short, but creates an overall high area with a lower track (aqua loop) passing through the middle. I'm not visualizing how this would come together. Furthermore, because the orange sidings cross over the loop where it has started to rise, they must be pushed even higher, placing the sidings 2.5 inches above base level. Now, if you have a mental image of this area that somehow works, more power to you, but it sure has me scratching my head. Sorry to pile on about this, but I'm just trying to make sure the thing is buildable and makes sense. And yes, I know it uses a RH curved switch; a regular #5 will leave you with a stub siding almost half the length it is now.

Maybe the folded dogbone plan looked too busy because I really loaded it up with industries; perhaps yanking a few would make it less cluttered?

[wm3798]

You forget that the tracks aren't the only thing that can be elevated.  I plan to "terrace" the streets to bring the buildings and street scapes up.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.287118,-76.557824,3a,75y,269.9h,89.1t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1scJ1O0cJcf750UkXavzs58g!2e0!6m1!1e1?hl=en

In this view, the old Crown Cork and Seal plant provides the vertical visual, the B&O passes in front of it on a trestle, and Eastern Avenue dives under all of it in an underpass designed to eliminate grade crossings.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.282052,-76.55463,3a,75y,313.33h,88.99t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1swWAYovKylXsiYhWyNFTqBg!2e0?hl=en

In this view, you can't see the Canton RR track, it's beneath you under the road bridge.  But you can see the terrain under the row houses.  The street to the left is considerably lower than Ponca Street, and the railroad is lower than that, but it climbs from left to right as it approaches Kane Street.

Also, consider that as a road that will haul fewer loads with smaller cars, I'm really not needing a full 2" for clearance above the railhead at the figure 8 crossing.  A typical MT boxcar is less then 1.5" tall, so I don't anticipate elevating the that bridge by more than 1.75"  That will reduce the grades, and reduce the overall height of everything,  including the new sidings.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Eastern+Ave,+Baltimore,+MD/@39.292478,-76.5638943,134m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c8040b9497ff93:0xa5d9867e55ae4723?hl=en

Take a tour from the link above.  East Baltimore is far from flat, and there are all kinds of interesting rail sidings that still exist that poke through buildings, sit up on retaining walls, and run through narrow cuts.  Don't worry, boys.  I got this.

Lee

[Leggy]

Someone say crossings?

[MichaelWinicki]

That's adding up the crossings Leggy!

You see the first one off the switch-back, the 90 degree crossing?  Well I thought the building that is being serviced by the other track creating the 90 degree crossing, could be moved back and up, so that it would be serviced by two tracks, which cross each other via the 90 degree crossing.

I will say having the little bit of street running that you added is interesting.

[basementcalling]

Why not keep the coal siding and other track in the center bottom right, but put the turnout just above the bridge over the lower yard, right in the center of the layout? That spot will already have sufficient clearance.

[eric220]

I had a minor brainstorm related to this beastie. It started with the idea of taking the dogbone and changing it to a pair of return loops, which would eliminate the double track section. That lead me to the idea of moving the industry trackage to the upper loop, with the lower level being the line "beyond the shelf". Much of it could be underground, as could the connection to staging.