1970s-1980s HCD Layout

[conrail1973]

Good afternoon,

So it's time to make a change with what I have done for the past 12 years in N Scale.  I really enjoy industrial switching, and I have always been fascinated with the Long Island Railroad ever since I was growing up on the Island in the 80s.  The Garden City Secondary has also been an interesting stretch that I would like to model:

http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrfantrips/freightbranch09-10-89/LISTfantrip1989garden-mitchelfieldsecondary.jpg

I also want to transition from Code 65 True-Track to Code 55 track as I want to accurately model branch line track.  As I embark on this project, I will continue to have the 30" x 80" HCD to work with as my man cave shares space in my wife's office    After throwing together a few sketches, this is what I came up with:



I'm looking at modeling warehouses, a team track, a lumber yard, and possibly a power plant.  Most train lengths will be 5-6 cars.  My rolling stock will consist of 50' boxcars, gondolas, thrall all door boxcars, 3 bay covered hoppers, and airslide covered hoppers.  I also plan on utilizing #10 turnouts as #7 turnouts seem to be hard to find, and staging will be on one of the two main tracks.

So, I'm interested in any feedback as I begin this endeavor.

Thanks,

Adam

[nscalbitz]

Hi Adam
Weird this has gone by without comment to date 

So here's my initial thoughts
1- SO much space NOT railroad. Me, I'm here for the trains.
2- Plot in what tracks are for- ie the arrival zone etc. Then,
3- A rough idea of where your stated industry sites will appear.

Looking at it, the top centre will not be a loading area, given it is the only runaround you need to switch others?
Lower centre- heck I'd want to fill that with low rise/ low rent industries like a scrap/recycling yard, something for your depot/ team track (multiple spots) etc.
regards davew 

[conrail1973]

Last weekend, I decided to teardown the layout I've had for 10+ years, and I flipped the HCD over to start on layout #2.  I started laying the code 55, and I thought I was making progress until I started running trains.  My locomotives were stalling on multiple turnouts and some digging around showed that code 55 turnouts can be challenging    At that point, I looked at the pile of code 65 track that I pulled off the first layout, and I decided to start laying it down on the HCD.  From there, I was able to get trains up and running with success.  Laying a foam board will be the next step as I begin my second layout in N Scale.

Thanks,

Adam

[txronharris]

Like what you've got going.  It's hard to resist trying to cram too much into a switching layout, but you're doing a good job of having multiple industries without doing that. Your original plan had tracks that weren't parallel. Did you decide to get away from that all together?  I'm surprised you were having problems with code 55. I use Peco C55 track and turnouts and don't have any issues.

Anyway, good start and looking forward to seeing more photos of progress. 

[Rich_S]

Hi Adam, I really like your HCD switching layout, it already has a nice urban feel.  If you'd still like to use code 55 to simulate a more branch line look to your railroad, another option like txronharris mentioned, would be to use your Atlas code 55 track with Peco Code 55 switches (turnouts). 

Are you planning on using a portable fiddle yard or cassette as an interchange for getting cars on and off the layout? 

[conrail1973]

@Rich_S and @txronharris - I appreciate the feedback!  I will have to take a look at Peco with regards to the turnouts.  If I can mix the Atlas Code 55 track that I have with Peco Code 55 turnouts, that would be helpful.  Are there any known problems with mixing the two brands?  With regards to staging, I currently utilize the left side of the layout/middle track to start my operating sessions.  If I block everything right on my switch list, the runaround moves have been working smoothly so far.  I think a staging cassette would be nice to have if I can make things happen with the Code 55 track.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Atlas 55 + Peco 55 isn't the straight shot you'd wish it were. The Peco stuff is faux Code 55. It's actually code 80 buried deeper into the ties with a second web .

You can see it here: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/Prof_Klyzlr/code55-code80.jpg

It also retains the biggest issue from most code 80 track: the ugly ties and tie spacing.

[CRL]

Unless you want to model a very light look by having the ballast very low on the ties allowing daylight to show between the rail and the ballast, the lower web of the Peco code 55 rail is buried in the ties & would be covered by the ballast and not be visible. The lighter looking rail is certainly more prone to damage, the Peco code 55 is bulletproof.

Youse pays youse money & take youse chances.

[Rich_S]

Atlas 55 + Peco 55 isn't the straight shot you'd wish it were. The Peco stuff is faux Code 55. It's actually code 80 buried deeper into the ties with a second web .

You can see it here: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/Prof_Klyzlr/code55-code80.jpg

It also retains the biggest issue from most code 80 track: the ugly ties and tie spacing.

Hi Ed, Yes I had forgotten that Peco code 55 was actually code 80 with two base sections, one set at a code 55 depth and the second base placed inside the ties.

I guess another option would be to use the Micro Engineering Code 55 turnouts. They make and Right Hand and Left Hand #6 in code 55.
I do not have any experience with the Micro Engineering code 55 turnouts.

 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The ME turnouts are pretty good if you can get your hands on them. They even have built in locking mechanisms!
I liked the greater flexibility of the Atlas stuff (ie, #5s, #7s, wyes, etc...) but they're a solid bet.

[nickelplate759]

The ME turnouts are pretty good if you can get your hands on them. They even have built in locking mechanisms!
I liked the greater flexibility of the Atlas stuff (ie, #5s, #7s, wyes, etc...) but they're a solid bet.

ME Code 55 turnouts are presently out of stock every I can think of to look.  Hopefully they'll make more soon (since I just broke two ).
Code 70 are easy enough to find.

When using ME turnouts with Tortoise machines - do you still keep the locking mechanism?

[conrail1973]

I appreciate the discussion on the track as this will be something that I look at in the not too distant future.

Thanks,

Adam

[Rich_S]

I appreciate the discussion on the track as this will be something that I look at in the not too distant future.

Thanks,

Adam

Hi Adam, I had constructed a previous layout using Atlas code 55 flex track and turnouts and didn't have the troubles you experienced with the Atlas code 55 turnouts. From what I remember the Atlas code 55 turnouts had a soldering lug for the frog. You may want to look into getting a "Frog Juicer" ( https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/dccfrogjuicers.html ) and see if that solves your problem of stalling locomotives on the Atlas code 55 turnouts?

EDIT: Looking back at your previous photos it appears you're still running DC. From my understanding you will not be able to use a Frog Juicer, they are DCC only. 



 

[conrail1973]

Good Morning,

As I look at everyone's input, Atlas Code 55 is still the plan since I have the track on hand.  I had originally bought #10 turnouts, but I wonder if #5 turnouts would be okay for a switching layout?  I did draft another track plan on my computer with #5 turnouts, and I am looking at 3 left turnouts and 4 right turnouts. 

I also started working on the Walthers Modern Concrete Warehouse kit.  I have a few things to finish, but it is a good stand in right now.  I was thinking of utilizing it as a retail distribution center.  I remember reading in an older Railpace issue that Woolworth had a warehouse in Denver, PA, and it is a good reason to run more boxcar traffic on my layout 

Thanks,

Adam

[DKS]

...I wonder if #5 turnouts would be okay for a switching layout?

It certainly is, even though in the real world, industrial switching areas are often populated by #10 switches. But the real world is really, really big, and so we make allowances for visual compression in the modeling world. You should have no problems, and it should look OK.