My Big and Evil Plan

[wm3798]

In the tradition of Snydley Whiplash, I have determined that if someone's giving up the deed to the ranch, it ain't going to be me.

Tonight I did a little surveying, and some inventory work, and determined that I have enough stuff laying around the house to complete a circuit around the layout room which will enable me to connect the current sections of the layout to the staging yard.

Here's the deal...  Using some 1x and a few wing nuts, I'm going to construct three modules that will provide access from the end of the yard I built this spring over to North Jct. and the permanent staging yard below the paper mill.  The new modules are shown in green.


Since I'm still sharing space with Andy, the modules will be manageably small, and designed for quick installation and break down, and easy storage.  There will be no operation points located on the modules, although there will be a switch located at each end to provide for traffic flow.  At the yard end, the track will split to provide access to the current stub-end staging track, making it double ended.  At North Jct. there will be a turnout to create a run-around track to aid in switching the Penn Central interchange and the industries there.

Since I'll have access to only one end of the staging yard, I'm going to install a reverse loop that allows trains to run from the eastbound yard around to the westbound side.  I already put in the crossover and turnout for this since I'm planning to use this feature as part of the permanent track plan.  Essentially what I'll end up with is three westbound tracks to stage trains on, three eastbound tracks to receive them after they've circulated around the layout, and one reverse loop to allow a through train to run more or less continuously.

Ther reverse loop will be located under the peninsula like thusly...


My goal is to have all this done in time for the planned operating session on August 5th.  I need to pick up a couple packs of snap track for the new reverse loop, but that's about it.  The garage is well stocked with lumber, and I have a reasonable stockpile of c55 track.  I even have a Peco c55 turnout to grind up for the transition from the yard (which I built with my leftover c80 track) to the first bridge.

This is what I think about while I'm up on the scaffold painting my house... ;D

Lee

[Train Nutz]

Isn't sometimes amazing how we scheme things up about our railroads while were suppose to be doing something else? Hey Lee. just don't get to overboard about Snydley Whiplash thing and start tieing down scaled chicks to the tracks!! (he he!) But what ever it takes to complete the circuit, go for it.
On another note: While searching youtube I found your "Where's Ed ?" video.  Is that about the same Ed that frequents here?
Train Nutzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[keystonecrossings]

Good ole Andy... taking one for the team!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yep, that was about me...

BTW, way to go with this Lee. I likey.

[Mark5]

Consider the possibility that Andy may not like that as a late teen. But you know him well, so that's pretty cool. ;D

[wm3798]

Well, I need to stop building railroad for a bit and start renovating that other bedroom...

Maybe tomorrow ;D
Lee

[wm3798]

Happiness is...

...a full staging yard!

From left to right:  Track 8 - AJ-3, west bound.  Track 7 - Rock Runner, eastbound.  Track 6 - B&O Grain Extra, eastbound.  Track 5 - Laurel Valley Coal Extra, East bound.  Tracks 4 and 3, clear, Track 2 - BT-1 westbound.

The direction of the train is determined when it hits the wye at the main part of the layout.

Lee

[wm3798]

Pardon the chunky production values, but here's a peek at the new bridge line...

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Lee

[Allentown Hump]

Someone needs to write you up for exceeding the speed limit through yard limits...  ;D

[keystonecrossings]

Pardon the chunky production values, but here's a peek at the new bridge line...

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Lee

I dunno, Lee, the figures look a bit out of scale to me! 

[wm3798]

Tonight, in preparation for the big show on Sunday, I installed yet another loop that will enable me to use the entire staging yard in both directions.  I got a reversing circuit, which works seamlessly, so now trains can run in and out of staging without having to keep a track open for run-around locomotive moves.

This will really make the ops session more entertaining, as trains can be added and removed from the layout almost at will.

I pity the poor slob who will be responsible for switching the paper mill...  Bwahahah!! ;D

Tomorrow night I'll be hunting down and killing any remaining electrical gremlins, then a wholesale track cleaning will commence.  Hopefully by Friday my ChuckPack will arrive, and a couple more decoders will be installed to increase the number of road units available.  Through it all, I'll be setting up the staging, and writing up switch lists.  I have car cards, but we'll be working with switch lists this time to simplify things a bit.

Saturday night I'll test drive everything, and swap out any equipment that isn't in top shape.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I am salivating.

If you need more power, I've got my pair of GP38-2s and a pair of MP15s (I think i fixed that one that wasn't working) that can pinch hit. Granted, they're blue, but they're available if a time warp opens up.

Ahh, fond memories:

[keystonecrossings]

You guys have a great time at the op session on Sunday... I'd love to be there, but my wife just had surgery and I can't afford to be 3.5 hours away.

Take lots of pics!

[wm3798]

Yeah, Ed. Call in the reserves.  I've got 20 trains scheduled.  We can put the blue stuff on the point of the west bound Alpha Jet and call it Reading.  It looks like there will be at least 5 of us, so the road crew can have a conductor and I'll play dispatcher and work the staging yard.

Don't worry Jerry... there will be pictures!  Now, if I can just get Andy to put his toys away so we can play with mine!! :-\

Lee

[keystonecrossings]

I'd love to be there just to slap some Pennsy power into the mix!!!