Baton Rouge Southern 3.0 - a Design discussion

[Philip H]

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So here's a plan that grows out of my recent switching on Bernie Kempenski's PoLA HO layout.  Basically he (graciously) adapted his PoLA track plan to my space and in N scale.  So the track plan isn't prototypical for the area, but I've operated it before and enjoyed it.  The industry labels are stand ins for the industries from Baton Rouge that I might want to model.

So, what does the gallery think?

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[Scottl]

How can a person not like it with Hwy 61 in the foreground 

It looks quite good to my eye, maybe with staging added as indicated on one end.

[Philip H]

oddly enough in that part of the Parish US 61 is called Scenic Highway (as it cuts through a dozen or more refineries and chemical plants.

Staging on the Top Right would likely be a removable module of some kind - that's where the built in workbench is in the garage, so as long as i keep that clean (!) I would be putting it up there and taking it down.  Since I still have Elkins from @wm3798 that would be the most logical starting point.

[basementcalling]

Looks ruggedly industrial. Good variety of spots, though do you have enough track capacity to hold cars in the yard pulled from the industrial trackage?

I like how you handled the turn area where the two legs of the layout join. That space always frustrates me when I try designing a switching layout in that configuration.

[Philip H]

Since there doesn't appear to be much controversy over this plan - Bernie clearly knows what he's doing - I'm pressed on to look at track laying supplies. The plan calls for 8 RH, 4 LH and I think 1 wye.  Since I want to do code 55, I could lay it as drawn with the Atlas code 55 I have on hand. granted the wye would be Peco . . . but its workable.

That said many folks seem to be having alot of luck with Micro Engineering - @GaryHinshaw has done some really beautiful track of late.  So I am thinking about switching.  depending on how much flex track I end up needing, I could do it out of existing stock at Klein's for $400 ish - but I'd still have to use either and Atlas or Peco wye.  and I could probably partially recoup the cost using that auction site to unload the Atlas I no longer need.

So Peanuts - can you get good performance with a single non-Micro Engineering turnout in the mix?  Do the Atlas wye's have the same issues as their regular turnouts?  Will Peco be the death of me?

 

[Scottl]

You will have to sort out connecting a Peco 55 to ME due to the rail size, but that is not a big deal.  Some of the ME flex has had issues with the molds- the timber ties I think was the example.  The concrete tie track I used recently is great, if you like spending time making sure everything is smoothly shaped.  As much as I dislike my experience with Atlas 55 turnouts, the flex is very easy to work with and looks great. 

I'm sure you'll get three pages of opinions 

[GaryHinshaw]

I like this plan!  But I would encourage you to draw it up in one of the (free) CAD programs that lets you simulate train movements, and try out a few sessions to make sure things work for you.  For example, are the tail tracks long enough when you have a lot of cars to shunt? And so forth.

I don't see where the plan calls for a wye switch, at least not one that is required by the geometry, so I would try to stick with one brand of track and go with that.  ME or Atlas should work fine.   I think the issues I had with the ME wood tie flex have been sorted out now, so that is probably not an obstacle.  Of course a pike like this should have all hand-laid code 40 track to be totally authentic.

[AlkemScaleModels]

Glad to see this starting to get built.  Phil liked operating my PoLA layout and thought that he would like to do something similar  in N scale based on Baton Rouge. So I agreed to take a crack at it. He initially thought using the PoLA track arrangement would work.  But the track plan for PoLA didn't seem to match what my brief research found in the Baton Rouge area, so I tried a new idea. If you are not aware, there are an amazing array of heavy industries in that area. Trying to capture a feel for it in N Scale in a small space required a lot of selective compression.  I think the plan offers a  lot of switching activity.

And the bonus is, the layout has one of the coolest names ever, "Devils Swamp."

Bernard Kempinski

[Philip H]

And the bonus is, the layout has one of the coolest names ever, "Devils Swamp."

Bernard Kempinski

Yes it does . . . and a renaming of the Thread shall no commence.

[Philip H]

As noted in weekend update, I've gotten Elkins/Baton Rouge out of its moving cocoon and put it up to test layout height. As I have a few photo projects brewing it will get a little tlc shortly.

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[davefoxx]

I know that HCD!  I bought it in Delaware, stored it in Maryland (it was the unused half of a bifold door set; the other half survives in Centreville, Maryland as the Yard-on-a-Shelf), and then donated it to the WM cause on the Eastern Shore, before it came to you and then moved to the Western Shore and, ultimately, to the Gulf Coast.  That's a well-traveled HCD, and I'm glad to see it back in action.  Post often, please.

DFF

[Philip H]

Yep

[metalworkertom]

Here is a nice Industry outside Baton Rouge in Denham Springs. Has both Tank Cars and Hoppers. http://www.adellplas.com/
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[Philip H]

Neat area. I'm working off of years of RAILFANNING in north Baton Rouge - an area known as Alsen.

[garethashenden]

Since there doesn't appear to be much controversy over this plan - Bernie clearly knows what he's doing - I'm pressed on to look at track laying supplies. The plan calls for 8 RH, 4 LH and I think 1 wye.  Since I want to do code 55, I could lay it as drawn with the Atlas code 55 I have on hand. granted the wye would be Peco . . . but its workable.

That said many folks seem to be having alot of luck with Micro Engineering - @GaryHinshaw has done some really beautiful track of late.  So I am thinking about switching.  depending on how much flex track I end up needing, I could do it out of existing stock at Klein's for $400 ish - but I'd still have to use either and Atlas or Peco wye.  and I could probably partially recoup the cost using that auction site to unload the Atlas I no longer need.

So Peanuts - can you get good performance with a single non-Micro Engineering turnout in the mix?  Do the Atlas wye's have the same issues as their regular turnouts?  Will Peco be the death of me?

 

Why does the Y have to be Peco? What's wrong with the Atlas one?