BNSF Mojave Sub

[wazzou]

I'd make the aisles a little smaller since I assume where you're living, you'll basically be a lone wolf.
This will allow you to broaden those corners of the benchwork permitting more sweeping, broad, larger radiuses which is what a layout in this locale should demand.
That will give you a better sense of scale for desert mainline railroading and scenery.

[C855B]

Maybe move the small yard at Hinkley to between Mojave and Barstow. That way the yard can represent the train storage or origination/termination at each "end" of the line, with the added benefit of moving the second siding to the opposite side of the operating loop.

[chuck geiger]

Perfect thanks wazzou and c855b.

[johnb]

Modeling the Barstow yard going to be difficult, I would basically skip it. I would consider a smaller, fictitious yard....

[C855B]

In this setting, Chuck's certainly not trying to model either Mojave or Barstow. They're just ID points. I was suggesting using the virtual idea of a limited holding or staging area he had as Hinkley in his sketch to represent the endpoints of the line.

Yes, that Hinkley, of Erin Brockovich fame.

[nkalanaga]

Is there anything unique, that you want to model, at Mojave or Barstow?  If not, put a staging yard there, and label one end Mojave, the other Barstow.

[johnb]

Is there anything unique, that you want to model, at Mojave or Barstow?  If not, put a staging yard there, and label one end Mojave, the other Barstow.

Motow? Barjave?

[Hamaker]

In this setting, Chuck's certainly not trying to model either Mojave or Barstow. They're just ID points. I was suggesting using the virtual idea of a limited holding or staging area he had as Hinkley in his sketch to represent the endpoints of the line.

Yes, that Hinkley, of Erin Brockovich fame.

And Hinkley will always hold a very special place in my life.  Back when I was just ten years old, my father, a freight conductor for the Santa Fe, arranged with his entire crew to sneak me aboard the caboose in Bakersfield and I was able to ride from Bakersfield to Hinkley.  They stopped the train so the caboose was setting on the grade crossing where my mother was waiting for me in the family car to take me back to Bakersfield.  No one wanted to risk my being discovered on board in the Barstow yard.

[3DTrains]

What a great experience!

Cheers!
Marc - Riverside

[Hamaker]

It was indeed a great experience !  And though it happened 67 years ago I can still vividly remember the thrill of sitting in the cupola as we traveled around the Loop. 

[chuck geiger]

Time to get a real plan together.

[chuck geiger]

Bryan and Mike - Think we are getting there. Anyone who can rip a version of this in a track planning software and post? Gratefully appreciated and would reciprocate.

[chuck geiger]

It was indeed a great experience !  And though it happened 67 years ago I can still vividly remember the thrill of sitting in the cupola as we traveled around the Loop.

Ham - Finally gonna see those engines you gave me on the lead of the Boron Local.

[Hamaker]

Ham - Finally gonna see those engines you gave me on the lead of the Boron Local.

COOL !!

[chuck geiger]

UPDATE - We are looking officially for a home in Juneau. I am spending a lot of armchair time looking at every good video I can to get ideas and my goal is to finally have a layout that really resembles true life. Meaning - I'm tired of scenes looking like a model train layout. Joe Fugate, Lance Mindheim, Thomas Klimoski, Mike Komo, Pelle Soeberg, Mark Lestico and our own asshats, Ed, Chris, Caleb, Dave V and countless others who inspire us here.