Another CR layout design study

[Point353]

There's a joke in there somewhere... I'm just not seeing it.

This thread seems to have reached 'step 2' - Map pain points to solutions and get feedback.
https://designli.co/blog/5-steps-proof-concept-successful-software-development/
Getting feedback might represent a pain point, in and of itself, for a layout planner.

[CRL]

In the continuing theme of "what should I do with my basement", here's another alternative take.

This is a layout based on Conrail's "Reading Cluster" that they inherited from the Reading (and a few other anthracite roads) and eventually sold off to the Reading and Northern.

I'm calling it the "Tudor Branch" because originally it was designed to fit on two doors (although that changed early on).

Here's some inspiration: http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/OnLocationWithConrail/HardCoalCountry. I know, the thumbnails aren't working right now, but the map version is handy: http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/OnLocationWithConrail/HardCoalCountry/map

The general idea is... two different jobs work out of West Cressona yard: one to St Nick and one to the other industries. The St Nick job handles the anthracite traffic to both the St Nick breaker (well, the remnants of it) and Blaschak Coal as well as the Goodspring Branch. The other handles the two other industries.

I may add a little more to it too since this is a just a first draft. I really like the idea of adding the grain thing at Weigh Scales (gotta send those new ScaleTrains hoppers somewhere...).

Here's the plan. The red lines are walls. The green line is the access area to laundry and the stairs. It can be occupied by people but not layout.

(Attachment Link)

I love the fact that it's almost ALL run with SW1500s and MP15DCs.

Ok... try this: keep the tables where they are, but rotate the track counterclockwise until your WC Yard is straight along the long left side of the table. Then relocate your other industries until they make positional and are aesthetically pleasing. Then stare at it until you spot things that would annoy you, fix those, then grab your tools and start building.

[DKS]

Ok... try this: keep the tables where they are, but rotate the track counterclockwise until your WC Yard is straight along the long left side of the table. Then relocate your other industries until they make positional and are aesthetically pleasing. Then stare at it until you spot things that would annoy you, fix those, then grab your tools and start building.

This sounds good... but only if you absolutely insist on building a stupid island layout.

[CRL]

Agree, but with an “island” layout, he can operate with “Wilson”. 

[Dave V]

I've been on the other side, too, where my mid's made up on a course of action, but then I keep dealing with the "you shoulds" and the "Instead why don't yous."

Ed, I would love to help you see the light that I have in terms of cockpit design, but I do understand the allure of the doors and a self-contained layout that doesn't interfere with the walls in any way.

So, on the plan you shared...can you extend Cressona in either direction?  I still fear those tracks are a bit short for a coal train.

Also, are you planning meets anywhere else along the main?  Again, thinking coal train lengths, you may want that passing siding at Minersville a hair longer.

Are the anthracite load-outs really just single stub-end spurs like that, or should you be able to switch out empties and loads at each one?

[Point353]

... but only if you absolutely insist on building a stupid island layout.

Does this one fall into that category?

[Dave V]

Does this one fall into that category?

That falls into the category of what you do when you get military orders every 18-36 months and have no idea what room size you'll have next.  Last I checked, Ed doesn't get PCS orders and he just moved into that house.

[EmdFan]

Dave,

Do you ever miss that layout? I know you've stated in another thread that you no longer desired to work in N scale. But it was one heck of a layout, one that I admired greatly.

What would your plan be if you still had to be mobile? Switching layout in HO or HOn3? I'm faced with the need to be portable for a while yet. I bounce between a tabletop N layout and an HO shelf switcher. Love the switching but miss the option for continuous operation when the mood strikes.

[Dave V]

Dave,

Do you ever miss that layout? I know you've stated in another thread that you no longer desired to work in N scale. But it was one heck of a layout, one that I admired greatly.

What would your plan be if you still had to be mobile? Switching layout in HO or HOn3? I'm faced with the need to be portable for a while yet. I bounce between a tabletop N layout and an HO shelf switcher. Love the switching but miss the option for continuous operation when the mood strikes.

No, I don't really miss it at all.  As for what I would do if I had to be mobile, it depends on how mobile.  Vollmer Life Chapter 3 suggests that there's a nonzero chance that we'd move to the north side of Denver.  I work with UCAR https://www.ucar.edu/ part time from home, part time in Boulder, but there are many more opportunities for me if I lived close to Boulder.  My wife wants to go back for her PhD too, and she's interested in the satellite meteorology program at Colorado State in Ft Collins.  Nothing's happening in the next four years though since my youngest just started high school here in Colorado Springs.  But the RGS is built on relatively modular benchwork.  I'm used to a completely seamless removal and relocation of the old layout, so moving the RGS will be ugly...but possible.  Much depends on the space at the other end.

Were I still military I would have probably stayed reluctantly in N scale and maybe done another door layout...who knows.  Because I could never tell if I were going to be ordered to a land without basements, I always had to be prepared to take the smallest spare bedroom in a new house.

Fortunately Colorado is a land of wonderful basements so I don't have to worry.  If we do move and the new space allows I may fill in the gaps on the First District (Dallas Divide, Vance Junction, Telluride) or go balls deep for Dolores and Durango.  Or...say screw it and go protolance.  There was a lot of narrow gauge hawtness in Colorado that wasn't RGS, or even Rio Grande in general.

Now back to Ed's thread.

[chicken45]

Ed, have you considered the around the wall approach?

If you do go that route, how will that interfere with your other basement hobby?

[Chris333]

Cyber bullies 

[CRL]

 

[Jbub]

Ed, have you considered the around the wall approach?

If you do go that route, how will that interfere with your other basement hobby?

You stopped short of asking if he was interested in having a helix for a second level.

[Point353]

That falls into the category of what you do when you get military orders every 18-36 months and have no idea what room size you'll have next.  Last I checked, Ed doesn't get PCS orders and he just moved into that house.

Why do they call them permanent change of station orders if you can keep getting them every 18-36 months?

Is Ed's employment situation sufficiently stable that it's unlikely he will never need to move?
Is is possible that he could receive a job offer that might make him want to relocate?

[CRL]

Because TDY was already taken.