Tehachapi, BC

[GaryHinshaw]

Thread index (to help me find my way - and expose how slow my progress has really been):

• Initial planning discussion, Jun-Jul 2011
• Room preparations, initial construction, Dec 2011
• Backdrop ideas, discussion, Jan 2012
• Roadbed construction for the Loop shelf, Jan-Feb 2012
• Benchwork for remainder of upper deck begins, Feb 2012
• Track ballasting and weathering discussion,  Feb-Mar 2012
• Prototype track photos, Mar 2012
• Commence track-laying, 1st train under power, Mar-Apr 2012
• Performance testing, string-line discussion, May 2012
• Video: 1st train in Loop, May 2012
• Track joints w/o joiners, May 2012
• False starts with turnouts, Jun 2012
• First proto:87 turnout, Jul 2012
• Proto turnout reference shots and more discussion, Jul 2012
• East slope beauty shot, Jul 2012
• Track: Ed shames me with his attention to detail,   Aug 2012
• First turnout installation, Aug 2012
• Lennart's Tehachapi Tunnels module video, Aug 2012
• Track plan & general status update, Sep 2012
• Staging helix discussion, Sep 2012
• Bridge at the 5th crossing, Sep 2012
• Mojave ariel photo, from Space Shuttle transport plane, Oct 2012
• Some progress at Summit, Oct 2012
• Turnout motors, control panels, and all that, Oct 2012
• Getting serious about staging, Oct 2012
• DPU ops, with video (after 2 months lost to work...), Jan 2013
• More upper deck track-laying progress, Feb 2013
• Working with photo backdrops - the desert shelf, Mar 2013
• Working with photo backdrops - the Loop shelf, Mar-Apr 2013
• Refining the staging and ops concept, Apr 2013
• A first look at Edison, Apr 2013
• Helicopter railfanning, Jun 2013
• A start at ballasting, Jul 2013
• DCC installation and the start of storage yard #2, Aug 2013
• Clean your room! and more lower-deck mock-ups, Aug 2013
• Ops session #1!, Aug 2013
• Begin temporary staging construction, Sep 2013
• Connecting to temporary staging, Dec 2013
• Tehachapi, NV!, Feb 2014
• I ballast, therefore I am, May 2014
• Ops session #2, May 2014
• Signal planning, Jun 2014
• Ops session #3, including Monolith, Jun 2014
• Scenery planning, the horizontal fascia debate, Jun 2014
• Progress on the storage yard, Aug 2014
• The Vortex begins..., Aug 2014
• Puzzling out the reversing sections, Sep 2014
• More on the Vortex and reversing, Oct 2014 - Apr 2015
• The Vortex - a novella, Aug 2015
• Ops session #4, Aug 2015
• Land prices in Vancouver, Sep 2015
• Rethinking Bakersfield staging, Sep 2015
• Layout control with tablets - discuss, Oct 2015
• Mudslides! (on the prototype), Oct 2015
• Signals in panels, Nov 2015
• 2015 wrap-up, Dec 2015
• Block detection update, Feb 2016
• Accesory power management, Feb 2016
• Photo backdrops, again..., Mar 2016
• A tale of two tunnels, Mar 2016
• I ballast, therefore I am, May 2016
• Kern Junction, revisited, Jun 2016
• Bakersfield construction begins, Jul 2016
• Buttonwillow branch?, Jul 2016
• Google Photos sucks!!, Jul 2016
• Planning the remaining construction, Nov 2016
• Working with foam, Dec 2016
• First results with foam, Jan 2017
• First train into Bakersfield, Jan 2017
• Lower deck construction begins, Feb 2017
• A wooden spike, Mar 2017
• The silver spike, Apr 2017
• Lower deck overview, Apr 2017
• Ops session #7, Apr 2017
• RMMBC 2017, May 2017
• CATS is awesome, Jun 2017
• Session #10, Jul 2017
• Vanrail 2017, Sep 2017
• A new (iPhone) camera, Sep 2017
• A start at scenery on the Loop shelf, and a new tool, Mar 2018
• RIP Banjo, Apr 2018
• Voice-comm, and the first signal!, Jul 2018
• Boys will be boys...  , Aug 2018

With a move behind me, and room preparations underway, I have been making some progress planning my next pike, and now I think it's time to tap the brain trust here to help me improve the plans.  I'm especially interested in tips for enhancing the operating potential of the plan consistent with the givens & druthers outlined below.

First I'll start with the boundary conditions, which are fixed, the room:




It's a 10' x 20' garage with a roll-up door on the left and an entrance door that opens out on the right.  There are no windows nor any services that need to be avoided.  My givens & druthers include:

* Single track-mountain mainline running with numerous sidings and some double track; based on contemporary Tehachapi.
* 18" min. radius, 2.2% max. grade, DPU ops if reliable.
* Some online industrial switching.
* Some terminal / staging operations.
* A crew of ~6 operating 4-5 mainline trains each way, and 2 locals.
* CTC control with operating signals (eventually).

At this point I have sketched in a mainline configuration that I am quite happy with operationally and scenically.  The first mainline level is shown here:




The mainline enters at the upper left at Edison (in the central valley).  This features the fruit packing house district that will host one of the 2 locals.  The line continues on around the room and includes the landmarks of Sandcut, Bena, Ilmon (sort of), Caliente, Tunnel 2, and slightly beyond.  The line starts at 42" and proceeds to 55" on a total run of 71'.  The ruling grade at this level is 1.9%.

The second level is shown here:




The second level meets the first at the red X's, enters a short hidden section, then emerges into the main Loop scene.  After that, the line proceeds along the lower wall in a depiction of Tunnels 14-17, one of my favourite sections of the line.  It then reaches summit which includes a depiction of the massive Monolith cement plant.  This will be another switching focal point.  Finally, the line heads back downgrade towards Cameron/Mojave, and staging.  The line starts at 55" (red X's) and reaches a summit of 66" by the entrance door.  The ruling grade is 2.2% (both sides of summit) and the length of this run is 75'.

I'll leave the terminal / staging sections for another post, and stop here with a few comments & concerns about the mainline plan:

* Overall, I'm very happy with the scenes I was able to include and how they connect.  I think it captures the essential character of the line.
* For ops interest, I'm happy that I was able to work in the two main industrial settings on the line in this plan.  I hope it's enough...
* I think I was able to include enough space for people in this plan.  The aisles on either side of the peninsula have pinch points of ~25" at their opening, but I tried to make the remaining aisle space wider, and include enough room beyond the peninsula.  I've also tried to avoid stacking operational hot spots.
* I'm especially happy with the Tunnel 14-17 segment and the fact that I was able to include the sites of all 3 signal bridges on the line, all of which Traincat produces. 

Please speak up with comments and concerns, especially after I post the terminal layers.

Thanks!
Gary

[GaryHinshaw]

The yard / staging concepts have been quite fluid and are still uncertain.  I was originally thinking of using stacked storage cassettes under the middle peninsula for both north & south staging.  (This is a space-saving approach that Mark Dance showed me could work.)  These would feed two helices which would serve as staging for both ends of the line.  The rough layout was something like this:




The north & south sections were to be exactly stacked, and helices would go up clockwise to feed the mainlines in the upper left.  However, I'm worried that this concentrates too much activity in that corner of the room (near Edison) and would quickly become a choke point.  It also does not offer any yard ops potential.

My current thinking is to lay out the north terminal activity along the lower wall and feed Edison from the left with this layout:




The wye could be extended under the peninsula to serve as the Arvin branch, or as a storage yard.  It might also be desirable to have 1 or 2 helix turns between the wye and Edison to make sure there is ample separation between the yard and the first mainline layer.  It's only about 6-9 inches now...

The main job of a yard crew in this scenario would be to make up consists for the outbound trains, and to accept inbound trains off the arrival track.  A loop or two of a helix would also provide some buffer staging between the wye and Edison.

For south staging, I'm thinking that the helix idea in the first figure may still be the way to go, either with cassette storage, or a simple reverse loop.  I'm still pondering that, but I'm a bit worried about the concentration of complexity along the left wall.  Fortunately, the garage door will remain operational and can be opened for access from the left if need be.

Comments and suggestions for improvements are solicited!

Thanks,
Gary

[GaryHinshaw]

By the way, here is what the full stack look like:




The switching areas are not stacked, but the left wall is a concern.  I'm tempted to simply end the south end of the line (upper level) at Cameron/Mojave with staging there, but I'm not sure yet.

-gfh

[Sokramiketes]

Nice.  Now go teach Ian Mac how to properly start a useful thread under Layout Engineering Reports.

[James Costello]

Looks magic. Makes me wish I had an empty garage....

[Scottl]

It looks like a great plan with lots of open running, some work to keep a few operators switching and room to store lots of trains.  The space for operators seems generous too, so I think you could fit six people in there.  The opening garage door gives some good access possibilities, but I still wonder if the scenes on the left side are not too deep?  I'm having the most problem envisioning how you will access and view the loop in the upper left corner.  I think your suggestion about terminating at Cameron/Mohave will make construction much easier, but it would still be nice to have some hidden staging on that end, IMO.

That is a lot of HCD!  I suggest some good BC lumber for the benchwork. 

[wm3798]

You're off to a good start.  I would implore that you carefully think out your below decks storage and staging so you avoid the pitfalls I'm encountering with my hastily designed get up.  Can't wait to see how it all progresses, and I'll be working on finding an excuse to get back to the Pacific Northwest one day...

Lee

[ednadolski]

Gary, how much vertical clearance is there between Caliente/Bealeville and the Loop?   You might also want to consider shifting Tunnel 2 to the right, if you can spare the aisle space.

Another thought, the upper left corner looks like it will need some kind of pop-up access to reach the tracks near the walls.
Ed

[ednadolski]

BTW Gary have you checked out the Les Coombs Tehachapi layout in the Jan 1999 MR?   That looks like it works in a number of the things you are considering.

Ed

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks for the early responses (even yours, Skibbe  ;D).  Here are a few more renders to address a few of the concerns raised, and hopefully clarify a few things.

Lee, your point about staging clearance is very well taken!  This shot shows the helix help I could invoke if need be:




This is supposed to show N helix turns in the upper left, between the wye and Edison.  With an oval format, each turn produces 3.5" of elevation with <2% grade.  The staging yard at Bakersfield is 39" without any helix, and would drop 3.5" with each turn.  The lowest point on the next level is about 45" on the far right, so I'm thinking 2 turns (an extra 7") would be good.  The main concern there is that there be enough headroom to uncouple the road power on the (back) arrival track for the runaround.

Scott, Ed, points well taken.  Here is a blow-up of the left side with some additional info added:




[What a mess!]  First off, I'm very attached to the deep Loop scene on the top level.  My vision here is an open expanse of 5' x 10' at a mean height of ~60".  My hope is that 3 features make this design not insane:

1. There are only 3 turnouts in this whole scene.

2. I can access the back side through the garage door if absolutely necessary.

3. There are two 24" access points available as shown in brick colour in this render (the Caliente horseshoe notwithstanding, see below).  This provides very close access to essentially all of the track on that level.  The bottom one would require a ~48" duck-under to get to (see below).  The top one would require a ~40" duck-under to get to, if I include the helix turns.  Not great, but hopefully infrequent....

Ed, the Caliente loop is roughly 49" in elevation, while the Loop above varies from about 62 to 65", so there is nominally >12" clearance there.  However, I'm thinking it makes sense to move the whole Caliente curve about a foot to the right so it's not so deep, and so clearance for the lower access circle is better.

The Tunnel 2 peninsula is quite malleable.  I'm open to suggestion, but I'm not sure I follow the one you made.  Do you want me to move Tunnel 2 to the right?

Cheers,
Gary

P.S. I don't recall the Jan '99 MR article, and I gave away most of my issues when I moved, under the theory that I'd buy the DVD.  Perhaps you could scan it in the meantime?   :

[ednadolski]

1. There are only 3 turnouts in this whole scene.

If you can fit them in, the Atlas #10s would look great and reduce the severity of any 'S' curves (in particular at Tunnel 9)

2. I can access the back side through the garage door if absolutely necessary.

Will you have a backdrop, and if so then would that limit access from the garage door side? 

(Just FWIW, a garage door is a potential pain, if you ever have to repair the door, tracks, springs, opener, ...)

3. There are two 24" access points available as shown in brick colour in this render

The access to the 'west' side of Tunnel 9 still looks like a bit of a stretch (esp. considering a +60" or so height).   The west Walong switch is located in a cut, which also makes reach a bit more of a concern, but the way you have it in the sketch seems OK.

On the Caliente curve, it looks like that is occupying a considerable portion of the access circle.  BTW if those circles are going to be pop-up hatches, don't forget about a place to lay them down (hopefully not on any Tehachapi oaks  )

Do you want me to move Tunnel 2 to the right?

Yes, it might be worth sketching that out, just to see if it can help.   Considering the depth of the scene I'd be cautious about locating any track below the Loop (other than hidden track).   Even tho the track height gives you some clearance, the Loop scene has an overall vertical height that you'll need to allow for, including framing, lighting for a lower level, and such.    BTW I heartily agree about keeping the Loop on a top level -- even if there is track elsewhere at a higher elevation, having a shelf/level above the Loop itself would distract too much from the grandeur of the scene, IMHO.   Be sure to plan for good, even lighting all around the Loop!   

P.S. I don't recall the Jan '99 MR article, and I gave away most of my issues when I moved, under the theory that I'd buy the DVD.  Perhaps you could scan it in the meantime?   :

Let me see what I can find.

Ed

[3DTrains]

Hi Gary,

It looks like you have the beginnings of a great plan. My only concern is the left-side garage door access. If it were mine, I would shorten the overall length of the plan by 24", thereby giving you just enough room to crawl under and pop-up behind for maintenance and re-rail access, and without having to always open the garage door (the whole tunnel 2 pennisula could be shifted to the right as well). If major work is needed, then it's a simple matter of opening the door, and as Ed mentioned, this would also give you access to the door hardware. Creating this space also eliminates the need for pop-access cut into your scenery.

Cheers!
Marc

[GaryHinshaw]

Great feedback Ed.  Thanks very much!  Here are a few responses and some updates that I've made since my last post.

* Most of the mainline turnouts are #10's.  The Tunnel 9 turnout is a #7, but I'm going to see if I can fit a #10 without blowing the easement curve specs I have set in XTrackCAD.

* For the upper level, I'm thinking I would build the backdrop into the garage door panels, over the insulation kit.  The lower level would be mostly hidden track (but accessible) and would thus not have a backdrop.  (I do expect problems with the door, BTW...)

* I'm completely psyched about the openness of both the Loop shelf and the Tunnel 2 peninsula.  Definitely a full bank of ceiling lights to begin with.  Lower level illumination is still a bit sketchy in my mind.

* I'm also really pleased with the Tunnel 14-17 shelf, which is such a cool stretch:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=221657&nseq=5

and my extremely crude mockup:  :



As for the design mods, here is another stacked overview with the track in the 3 layers now color coded: blue=bottom @ ~32-42"; green=middle @ 42-55"; sand=top@55-66":




I have moved the Caliente horseshoe about a foot to the right and have reworked the reverse curves after Tunnel 2 (perhaps unwisely...).  I'm still open to moving Tunnel 2, but I'm a bit antsy about crew space.

The lower access point is now clear, and no track on the Loop shelf is more than 24" from an access point:




I'm thinking the access holes would remain open during ops, and only be closed for photo shoots.  But who knows, really.

Cheers,
Gary

P.S. Lee - we'd love to have you make a run for the border!

[GaryHinshaw]

Hi Gary,

It looks like you have the beginnings of a great plan. My only concern is the left-side garage door access. If it were mine, I would shorten the overall length of the plan by 24", thereby giving you just enough room to crawl under and pop-up behind for maintenance and re-rail access, and without having to always open the garage door (the whole tunnel 2 pennisula could be shifted to the right as well). If major work is needed, then it's a simple matter of opening the door, and as Ed mentioned, this would also give you access to the door hardware. Creating this space also eliminates the need for pop-access cut into your scenery.

Cheers!
Marc

Thanks for the feedback Marc.  I really should try squeezing the plan like you suggest to see how it works.  In addition, I'd like to start mocking up the benchwork at that end before committing to one or the other config.  It would be relatively easy to shift it left or right depending on how it seems in person.

Best,
Gary

P.S. How is your plan coming?  Starting construction yet?

[James Costello]

How's all that going to look in reality though Gary? My own personal concern would be whether the bottom two levels distract attention from the loop.... but I don't have a lot of experience with multi-deck layouts.

Do you have your 3D mock-up again?