Weekend Update 1/6/19

[Steveruger45]

Perhaps, for those that want to blur the parallelism of track and layout edge on an existing layout a solution may be to extend the layout edges such that the layout edge is not parallel to the track, in places where that’s possible and still have good accessibility, then extend the scenery upon the the extensions to cement the desired illusion.  Just a thought.

[tehachapifan]

Wait, the layout is N Scale? 6' x 17' is hardly a mini-layout; it should provide all sorts of opportunities for non-parallel track and lineside structure alignment. Care to present the track plan in the Layout Engineering thread? I'm certain several of us can offer no end of suggestions.

Thanks, but I'm good with the layout as-is. Not looking for any suggestions really. I was just pointing-out potential complicating or space-eating factors if trying to angle an industry, etc. While I do have some things that parallel the layout's edge, I have done some other things to break up or "blur" the uniformity.

[nkalanaga]

And, just to be contrary, in many of the "flatlands", not only the streets, but the rural railroads and highways as well, are straight for miles.  Adding curves or angles really doesn't look natural there, because the real world is straight lines.  Much of the Midwest works perfectly as an Ntrak module, if you can overlook the 3-track mainline.

[davefoxx]

Another bout with insomnia allowed me to finish installing Sergent Couplers on the last Front Runner cars that I've purchase recently.  I'm slowly building up a TOFC train of spine cars circa 1984.  That era makes this more limiting than you might think.  These HO scale four-wheel Front Runners are made by Walthers and surprisingly track well.  They have had zero derailments, despite the curvature of my track.  Walthers recommends 24" minimum radius, but I'm running these cars on a 22" minimum mainline radius and a 20" minimum radius in a passing siding.  They also look a lot better on those curves than the 89' Twin-45 flat car that I also own.  I hope to buy a couple more of the Front Runners, if available, (and the other Atlas Seaboard System trailer) to lengthen this train.  Since these cars were brand new in 1984, it was not uncommon to see them run in blocks on some roads. 



DFF

[jagged ben]

Nice Dave.  We don't see enough 80s intermodal.