Starting again

[GimpLizard]

I like your way of thinking, Luis. A freelance road will allow you to pick up used locos, of just about any road name, and repaint (or "black patch") to your own road. Much like a real shortline would do.

I have a few former Lackawanna GP-7s awaiting black-patches & weathering so they can be put into services on my Pine Bluff & Juneau. (That's right... the PB&J) A timber, ore and general freight hauling shortline in northern Wisconsin. But first I need to get track laid. And before I can do that, I really should get a track plan. At least in my mind.

(Ah, procrastination... thou art a two-sided sword.)

And yes, I realize that Juneau is actually in southern Wisconsin. But I couldn't call it the Pine Bluff & Cavour. Who ever heard of a PB&C? 

[luis_lopes]

Hi all.

Thank you so much for all your replies.

That will be really helpfull.

Meanwhile, I have been playing with SCARM, doing some changes to the track plan.

This is what I came up with:





Just three turnouts, one big grain elevator, one grain shed, a concrete mix, a warehouse non railserved, just for complete the scene.I'll some bit's and pieces while building it, like some roadside shops, and gas pumps, and a team track to justify the presence of a box car from time to time. No hidden fiddle yard. Track will be MicroEngineering code 70, with Nr. #6 turnouts.

The grain elevator is based on Tom Johnson's Lucerne Elevator. I asked his permisson. He sent me the details about this structure, which I gladly thanked him

Thank you for the time you took reading this., and I apologise for my poor English.

[jpec]

Your updated plan and your English are quite fine, sir... I was hoping to meet the master of the modern era shelf layout (Lance) this weekend at a local prototype modelers meet but alas, other priorities have surfaced.

Jeff

[packers#1]

I like the minimalist approach; I notice you mentioned no fiddle yard; will there still be a lead at the end of the layout so that all the tracks can be switched?

[lajmdlr]

Luis
This is my reply today to your post on Railroad Line Forum:
Being a layout "doodler" for the past 40 years, couldn't help but make some revisions to you plan. Treat these as "food for thought" to give you some ideas about what else can be done w/ your space. Biggest thing was adding a couple of yard tracks. You could even use one for a "staging tray" so you don't have to handle the cars all the time. The industries om the bottom spur can be imaginary & have no actual buildings - maybe just have loading/unloading docks. Also added another industry spot on right on the main so you'll need a way to run around cars to spot there. Show 2 Xovers but you could get by with just the one between main & yard. You don't have to lay all these tracks at one time. Just add what you want when time & money allow.
Is your grain elevator just for storage? If the silos are for a place like General Mills you could have outbound loads of bran (outer husks of grain) used for animal feed.
BTW do you have any plans to add anther module on the lower right?

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[luis_lopes]

Thank you ll for you encouraging and very usefull advices.

The layout is going to be a part of a bigger layout, in a near future. I drew this plan based on Palmetto spur from Lance Mindheim. The idea is to continuing to add more modules, but this first part I didn't want to make it too complicated.

The revision you made has lots of potencial, but I'm afraid that it could become too crowded. I'll do some tests, after receiving my Microengineerng track. The silos are for storage. I plan to have deliver empty cars and pick up loaded cars. Also, I have a grain storage shed next to it, but it could be something else, for operating potencial, using the same theme. While doing spotting and picking up the hoppers, I can also spot a box car on the team track (I have few of them, I mainly collect closed hopper cars).

At the momment, this is more like a scenic diorama, that I can easily start to switch some cars, when I do not want to be building models. Very little track to clean, few turnouts to keep it safe from problem that they cause. If time, space and money help me, I can continue to add to it.

The fiddle yard can be added on the right side, making it in an L-Shaped layout.

But all the advice you gave are going to be taken into consideration!

Thank you for the time you took reading this.

[davefoxx]

Luis,

I agree. Keep it simple.  Less is more.  It may not be the dream layout but expansion can take care of that.  Don't over do it from the start.

DFF

[packers#1]

Why not change the grain shed to a fertilizer dealer? It would go hand-in-hand with an agricultural themed grain elevator, and could recieve covered hoppers or tankers, depending on the kind of fertilizer.

[luis_lopes]

Hi.

Thank can be an great idea!

[luis_lopes]

Hi all.

Not much done these last days. Just placed 3cm foam on top of my benchwork, using Liquid Nails. This is ideal for me, because this way, I can make some depressions on the surface easily. The ground isn't  flat, so we must try to represent these irregularities. For this I use foam, as I have done in the past



Since last night I added reinforcement to the two modules, where they connect. This was made for two reasons:
1 -Protect the foam subroadbed
2 - Have a strong base for the track sleepers on the end of each module

This was made adding a 10mm piece of plywood on each module. The layout is now ready to receive the track. I am ancious to start working on the thing.




Best wishes.

[luis_lopes]

Hi all.

I have been trying to plan the layout, but I am having some issues. The plan is missing that "je ne sais quois"... that A-HA moment!
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I just want to have three turnouts (it's hat I have now - Two right and one left).

Layout is 10' long.

Can someone help me? I'm stuck here...

Thank you.

[Scottl]

Luis,

I always find visualizing simple layouts difficult but there are some really great ideas out there.  One of my favorites is the blog by Lance Mindheim http://www.lancemindheim.com/blog.htm.  He stresses simplicity and operations in design, and might have some ideas you can use.

[packers#1]

I would either stick with your current plan, as it will work, or pull that left turnout around and make the siding for the grain elevator a passing siding, which was a pretty common thing in grain country

[Bsklarski]

A run around!