CSX Hanover Subdivision 3.0

[mu26aeh]

I built a few walls, then decided 2 years later I didn't like where the walls were.  So I tore some of them down and rebuilt them.  I boxed in and made a room where the sump pit is and access to crawl space under the addition.  This caused the east end of Lincoln yard to come out at a 90* angle into the aisle way.  While Steve was here the other week, we discussed how to makes some changes to improve that situation.  I have been thinking about taking the corner off the room, making an angled wall.  With that hint, Steve suggested building a small staging yard (this will represent NS Windsor St, oddly enough the yard that now Lincoln Yard used to be under @Ed Kapuscinski ownership).  This will also solve the storage solution for the NS coal train that comes into York and ultimately Spring Grove for the paper mill.  I decided also that the propane distributor that was in the corner will now go somewhere down on this new section to give some distance for the job, as it is actually located on the old Pennsy line that paralleled the WM tracks between Hanover and York.



I rebuilt the wall around the sump pit this week and set out to realign the yard today.  This section had 2 curved turnouts that sometimes didn't behave as expected, 1 more so than the other.  I pulled all the tracks up to the nearest joint on the straight and realigned everything, while allowing a more gradual curve coming out of the yard.  I was also able to get a prototypical look for that end of the yard and allowed me to get tracks for Lehigh Cement in place.  Lehigh will largely be represented by a backdrop.  In the last photo below, you can see covered hoppers spotted on the lead past the 2 turnouts.  Also added an extension to a stub track that already existed where YorkRail crews will park the power when not in use.

[davefoxx]

Kudos on fixing the left end of that yard, which was shoehorned in to fit in @wm3798’s layout room in his attic.  That’s a much improved looking alignment, which I’m certain will operate better without those curved turnouts that were giving you trouble.

About fifteen years ago, I designed a HCD layout that made extensive use of those Atlas curved turnouts.  They were such a disaster, due to poor quality control, that I scrapped the entire layout.  I love Atlas, but that’s one time I have to give them the ol’ skunk eye.  I can’t believe that they haven’t redesigned that curved turnout in fifteen years.

Anyhow, keep up the good work,
DFF

[wm3798]

I like it.  You might consider adding a turnout to the innermost lead so you can extend the switching lead so as reduce interference with main line traffic while assembling a train.
It looks like there's enough there, but as we all know, there never is!

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Extending the switching lead would go against YorkRail operations On both ends of the yard, they use the main to assemble/break down trains.

East end ( the realignment above)

West end

I did think briefly about extending the yard tracks to the left, but that would require tearing out a lot more turnouts and linkages.  It still may happen but for now I'm leaving them alone.  I'll run a few ops with this setup and see if more track storage is needed

[John]

When in doubt.  The real railroaders usually have it figured out. 

[wm3798]

It'll be easier to add another 6" to the middle of the yard.
Those linkages are buried in the turf pretty good.  I cut channels in the plywood with a Dremel to run the piano wire.

An old carpenter once told me "if someone put it together, someone else can take it apart"  but if it ain't broke...

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Windsor St staging yard constructed today. this will also be home to a 2 track siding for Koppys Propane Dist.

[mu26aeh]

Tracks are down for the mainline, passing siding and the LPG sidings.  And just enough room for the local to fit on the tail track.  Staging yard/RIP/programming track will go in front part.  Thinking this will be workbench area.

[mu26aeh]

Staging yard in place.   Wasn't originally planning on this but think it will serve the layout well. 

[nickelplate759]

Is your new benchwork just 1" (or maybe less?) foam over 1x4 boards, or is there more to it than meets the eye?   It looks pleasingly simple.

[mu26aeh]

Is your new benchwork just 1" (or maybe less?) foam over 1x4 boards, or is there more to it than meets the eye?   It looks pleasingly simple.

That's all it is.  Above example is only 1/2" foam because it was sheet I had laying around.  Usually use 3/4" at least.  It helps modeling a relatively flat area.  This sub has a lot of rolling hills with very little grade

[mu26aeh]

Layout update for March

[mu26aeh]

Worked classifying the yard for about an hour each the last 2 nights, today I wrote up switchlists for 5 different jobs, the 6th job being the NS coal train to the paper mill.   Some more work wiring up turnouts and getting micro switches installed and I'll be able to run ops on the YorkRail section of the layout, with full capability of interchange with NS to the east and CSX to the west.

[mu26aeh]

Lincoln Yard is filling up as track crews have the east end of the yard shut down with various jobs going on.  They're going to have to clear out so YorkRail train crews can get cars to their customers.



I was able to get some basic ground cover in the realigned section of the yard today.  Tracks still need weathered and ballasted.  But it already looks so much better not seeing all that green foam.



Also got started on the Lehigh Cement loadout sheds.  Using some modelers license here as I don't have the space to lay out the facility correctly.  Most of the facility will be a backdrop.  The shed to the left will be for normal 2 bay cement hoppers, while the one on the right will be for the PD3000 or 3281 style covered hoppers.  I'll need to cover the seam with a well placed electrical conduit or piping running up the side of the building.