The LIRR Industrial Service, Inc. shelf layout

[MichaelWinicki]

I think in some places you can make some roads a little wider... If nothing else it will create a good contrast.

[Lemosteam]

Michael, I agree, I'll probably do most of the road laying on the fly anyway (can't wait to try the grout process like Chris333 and Ian use) and I think multiple road surface tpes will add to the scene.  I am really focusing more on the track now and the overall concept.

[Lemosteam]

Ok, I think this is the final go.  Yeah right! 



Changes:

  Added 3.5" of depth to the benchwork for more industry room.

   Added a crossover instead of the first turnout for operations interest via runaround to drop off boxcars to the large backdrop industry that will be behind the prr main under the trusses.

   

   Added the engine house, businesses, fences and roads.  A two laner will be coming in under the trusses from the backdrop, splitting two multi-story building flats on the backdrop:

  The two tan areas will be earthen material unloading from gons and loading to barges with 40s era caterpillars (DKS... ) and end loaders, clamshell loaders, etc. with a conveyer drop into the barges.

Probably going to design the corrogated seawall sections and elevated trusses and have them made at Shapeways, unless someone's got a cheaper idea.  The two bridges will be Atlas girder bridges like the one in Chris333's pic.

Eric220, I hope that crossover adds some switching challenges? 

Whatcha think-  I hope it's not too crowded? Ireally want to have a dirty, muddy greasy long island "other side of the tracks" feel.  Have to get some images of the area...  Thinking of having a small gang war under the PRR mains a la "West Side Story".   

[Chris333]

I like it, especially that curved siding right up front. I also like the siding under the main, but will the main be high enough for it?

And I think switching layouts should look busy.

[Lemosteam]

I like it, especially that curved siding right up front. I also like the siding under the main, but will the main be high enough for it?

And I think switching layouts should look busy.

I'm designing the layout in CAD (aside from the AnyRail) and I need some more info on the trusses.  It all depends on how deep the trusses are under the track centerlines.  Since I'm down to 2.5% grade in CAD from the PRR to the LIRR, I may jack the mains a little higher.  I can also grade the track down to the business...

[Scottl]

Wow, I really like how this layout has evolved.  It just looks right.  I have not built anything like this before, but I can see the attraction.

[DKS]

Evolving is a good word, and I'm enjoying this as well. I like the siding that ducks under the main--I only hope the grades will allow it...

[Chris333]

Any way to post this plan with elevations on it?

Also you might find some ideas here:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?124780-Long-Island-Rail-Road-in-Z-Scale

[Lemosteam]

   Scottl, it's been a very long time for me and I hope I can do the design justice with good scenics and detail.  I'll be looking for lots of tips here...

   Dave, coming from you and the group that is indeed high praise.  Thanks.

   Chriss333, thanks for the links, nice stuff there.  I liked the log piling sea wall!  I want to design the track in catia but have not had time.  I have not assigned height to any of the track in AnyRail yet and have to figure it out.

   Oh by the way I keep confusing grade angles with degrees.  In cad I have the slope at 2.5 degrees not 2.5% grade...

    I did some research last nihgt and found a great pic of the NYC elevated PRR main being dismantled, www.flickr.com/photos/wavz13/7019448663 and there was only one level of structure above the piers- meaning the track support trusses attached directly to the faces of the crossbeam on the piers instead resting of on top of them.  In typical PRR fashion they have classic curved corner bracing and are quite elegant.  Will make for some interesting detail and the design will minimize the amount of vertical space it takes underneath the mains.

In the image a man happens to be walking right next to a pier.  Assuming he is six feet tall, top of the track truss is roughly eighteen feet high.  I estimate the trusses to be around 36" tall.  With my PRR foam at 1.5" or scale 20', the height would be a scale 17' beneath the trusses minus the rail height, code 55 atop the LIRR level foam, will I have enough room, no hi cubes likely but a 50' Boxcar?

[M.C. Fujiwara]

I know you said you had no more room, but in the first pict of your space I see some to the right.
Could you plan for a short 1'-2' detachable extension as a lead so you can push the turnout off the main farther right and thus give more room for grade / elevation change?

Mine is clamp on for the Free-moN modules:



But you could have one with pegs or a hinge to drop it down or other more secure detachable mounting hardware as it'd be unique to your layout.
When done switching you just detach and POOF! space back to "normal"!

[Lemosteam]

Mr, Fujiwara,

Now that is an outstanding idea.  I have 36" of room to the right with a wall next to that to affix to.  I will have to design something removeable that drops in like a bridge.  I'll include the PRR mains too!

Thanks!

It was yor daughter's layout that partially inspired this after reading your thread on it.  That and David's small diorama.

So many people's' work here is so amazing!

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Glad you like the idea.
36" is quite a space!
What's cool is that if you keep it narrow, but include some mainline & trackside details, you can take the "extension" outside and use it as a photo diorama. 

[GaryHinshaw]

Oh by the way I keep confusing grade angles with degrees.  In cad I have the slope at 2.5 degrees not 2.5% grade...

You'll definitely want to sort that out.  For angles less than ~10 degrees, the conversion is: grade (in percent) = 1.75*angle (in degrees).  So a slope of 2.5 degrees is a grade of 4.4%.  Otherwise, I'm liking the developments here.

-gfh

[Lemosteam]

Gary, thanks for that formula.

   Mr. Fujiwara's idea to extend the main will allow me to move the siding crossover farther to the right providing more length for the grade.  Whew.

   I went down and measured and there is actually 60" for the extension!  This will extend the electrified main substantially and that will make for (potentially) nice photos.

[eric220]

A couple of thoughts about the Fujiwara extension (which I very much like).

If you expand the width of the extension just a little, it makes room to continue the industry track that's closest to the PRR mains.  Minimally it could add more of a tail for the siding, allowing you to slip a little more siding in there, something like:



Are you planning to leave cars on the layout between "ops"?  If so, if you put the whole siding on the extension, the PRR interchange siding will have to be cleared of cars before the extension comes down.  If you're OK with that, it opens up the slippery slope.  If you expand the width of the extension even more, there's plenty of room in there for another industry or two.