Proto-lanced Pennsy: The West Slope

[chicken45]

Thanks, Ed! I emailed you the goods!

[Dave V]

Might be smoother for ops if you switch those crossovers so the go from outer to inner instead of vice versa.

[MichaelWinicki]

Hey Josh, I get the idea of keeping the layout Pennsy-pure... but is the trackplan going to provide you with enough operational interest?

[chicken45]

Hey Josh, I get the idea of keeping the layout Pennsy-pure... but is the trackplan going to provide you with enough operational interest?

That's one of the things I'm currently weighing. I do derive most of my satisfaction in watching coal drags and passenger cars roll on the main line with great scenery. I can always put on another door (or two) down the road. Since I have a two track mainline, I think I could do all eastbound, all westbound, or east and westbound traffic. I'm not very experienced in ops, though so I value any and all input.

[MichaelWinicki]

That's one of the things I'm currently weighing. I do derive most of my satisfaction in watching coal drags and passenger cars roll on the main line with great scenery. I can always put on another door (or two) down the road. Since I have a two track mainline, I think I could do all eastbound, all westbound, or east and westbound traffic. I'm not very experienced in ops, though so I value any and all input.

OK, so your goal for watching coal and passenger trains is good with this track plan.

After a drag or passenger train has passed through several times then what?

[chicken45]

I hear what you're saying, Michael. Thank you!
I'm trying to think of a way to strike a balance without losing focus that I'm building this on a HCD. I don't want to cram too much in there. I'm happy to take Ed's suggestion to remove that north siding and replace with an interlocking and straighten the tracks. I love MG tower so I'll enjoy that scene a bit.
 
I mean, the nature of the plan doesn't seem to lend itself to switching. I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I have preliminary plans to model some coke ovens. They baked the coke in Gallitzin and sent it to Johnstown. I need to research some more.

[Dave V]

After a drag or passenger train has passed through several times then what?

As a self-avowed roundy-rounder, I can attest that for some of us the novelty of watching the same trains transit a scene over and over again doesn't wear off nearly as quickly as it might for an operator like you.

[DKS]

I dunno... It seems like you've sacrificed just about all of your switching opportunities for visual effects. If it were me, I'd revert back to Version 1.0 (or thereabouts); I don't see much wrong with the way things were, whereas now it seems to be stripped down to nothing much more than a plain oval. Ed likes lots of nothing, and that's OK, but over time it may seem a bit sparse even for a hardcore roundy-rounder.



Things don't necessarily need to stay arranged this way, but anything along these lines will at least give you something to do when the roundy-rounding fun wears off.

[Lemosteam]

Culverts anyone?

[DKS]

Nice.

[MichaelWinicki]

As a self-avowed roundy-rounder, I can attest that for some of us the novelty of watching the same trains transit a scene over and over again doesn't wear off nearly as quickly as it might for an operator like you.

Valid point Dave... Different strokes.

I'm just trying to prod Josh a little to take a little more introspective view before he starts laying track.

[chicken45]

Valid point Dave... Different strokes.

I'm just trying to prod Josh a little to take a little more introspective view before he starts laying track.

...and that's exactly how I took it. I need all the introspect I can get! 

So far this discussion has given lots of great suggestions!
I'd prefer to tip the nature vs. buildings scale towards nature. So I get where Ed's coming from.
I love the idea of having MG's "backdrop mountain" as a view block, along with a proper interlocking.

[eric220]

Culverts anyone?

That's pretty hot.  I may hit you up for some of those.

[DKS]

I'd prefer to tip the nature vs. buildings scale towards nature.

OK, since there's nothing much left of Dave's Juniata, how about we start over with a (fairly) clean slate, pick some real locales, and fashion scenes around them, perhaps along these lines:



A future expansion at the top left would complete the wye at Cresson.

[kelticsylk]

Dave,
That's awesome...I especially like the photos that show what the areas are patterned after. I never would have thought of how you suggested the Cresson branch.

Makes me think I could use a similar idea for the New Portage junction.