WM Western Lines Engineering Report

[wm3798]

Fear not fellow babies... modular construction is going to be a centerpiece of the plan!!  Not due to any issues relating to the relationship...  I've become quite attached to the idea of not being attached to a particular layout!  I can scratch my "run all the trains" itch at John or Eric's...
Lee

[Dave V]

HCD...  HCD...  HCD...  One of us...  One of us...  One of us...

[wm3798]

Here's the space that's available.  Remember, I'm just looking at running a shelf along the wall that adjoins the garage. 


There's a possibility of poking through the wall into the garage, and doing a more ops oriented layout in there.  Put as you can see, there's a lot of work that will need to be done in there before much gets done...


Points to ponder.  I'd like to keep the shelf in the den no more than 24" deep.  It can run pretty much the full length of the wall between the book case and the fireplace, though.  It should be up around eye level, to allow for desks and so forth beneath it.
On the garage side, the floor is about 18" lower.  This would require a platform to be built to get to the same eye level as in the den, but it opens the possibility of a helix being included to drop one end down to a lower level.

In the garage side, it could either be a simple staging loop, or again, something more elaborate from an ops standpoint.  The segment running through the den would be primarily scenery, although a small hamlet with a siding wouldn't be out of the question.

My objective would be to model a remote stretch of the Cumberland Extension of the WM in the den, basically green mountains, a winding river, and a couple of detailed bridges and tunnels.

The other side could be pretty much foobed, with a yard, or just a couple of staging loops high and low.

I'd like to be able to run continuous, although the segment in the den would have to be single tracked, with perhaps an optional 6-8' passing siding.  The limiting factor on the siding would be the need for two long bridges and a couple of tunnels, all of which would be single tracked.

So what does the collective envision for this situation?  HCDs are definitely an option for the main decks.

Lee

[DKS]

Two questions. One, how much of that (currently very full-looking) garage will be available on a practical basis? Two, how do you feel about the awkwardness of a layout with one side you can't see or even get to easily?

I could envision all sorts of fun stuff, but being split in half, give or take, leads me to wonder if you might need some sort of traincam in the office to support any sort of ops scenario in the garage, even if it's simple.

[davefoxx]

BIG PROBLEM.  Your building inspector is going to hate you for cutting a hole or two between the garage with its associated noxious fumes (e.g., auto exhaust) and the living space.  Not to mention the problems from opening up holes from heated to non-heated areas, but are you trying to kill everyone in the house?

Mike Holmes would not approve.

DFF

[Ian MacMillan]

I'm still saying go HCD for now.

Im in the exact same situation as you right now, and as much as I want a large home layout, I'm waiting until I get a house in my name this time next year.

[NARmike]

Hmmmmm... If it were my space I would seriously consider double decking the office side, the scene you described on top and maybe some urban modelling on the bottom or a yard... whatever blows your hair back. In the Garage, either the helix or a "nolix" running between the decks... Nothing more than that though

Maybe you could build a "Fire door" for the tracks to access the garage  . That might keep Mr. Holmes quiet   .

[Dave V]

Mike Holmes would not approve.

This.

I'm still saying go HCD for now.

And this.

[MVW]

Forget about the garage. Too many hassles. The length you have inside would allow you to have 3+ HCDs laid end-to-end. What does that give you?

- A continuous loop.
- Large double-ended yard.
- 5-7 large industries
- Plenty of urban scenery possibilities

Best yet, it would be a 3-HCD "major city" module that can eventually be plugged right into a larger layout, someday.

That's the approach I've taken, anyway. I'm building a similar module ... modularly. I have two of the HCDs up, and plan to add the third next year.

Of course, it wouldn't have to be a yard/industrial/urban layout. You could take the same approach with a rural setting, since that seemed to be the original attraction for you. Either way, you'd have a hellofa start on a larger layout, if that becomes a desire or possibility.

Jim

[DKS]

One option to consider, perhaps, that might pass the "Mike Holmes test" would be to use garage space only for a completely enclosed return loop. This way you could have continuous running but restrict the living space area used to a (wide-ish?) shelf, maybe 18-inch HCDs for convenience. It would also mean you get to operate your layout in a comfortable, heated and pleasant space.

[wm3798]

Leaning very much toward "keep it simple".  It could be years before the garage is habitable.  Like the original WM layout, it could be years of planning before anything actually gets built, and by then many things could change (recall that I'm a designer and she's a builder!)

This is probably more an exercise for you fellows than it is for me!
Lee

[wm3798]

http://wmrywesternlines.blogspot.com/

The latest.

[davefoxx]

Lee,

You know, for sentimental purposes, I would really like to have a building or structure that you're willing to part with that I could use on my own layout.  Since I feel like I have a personal investment in your layout, I would like to have some small piece to help keep the memories of the WM Western Lines alive for me.  Feel free to PM me.

Dave

[John]

I've acquired the 84 lumber .. its currently sitting on the M&O awaiting switching

[davefoxx]

I've acquired the 84 lumber .. its currently sitting on the M&O awaiting switching

Heh, I saw that the last time I was at Eric's.  You're lucky it's still there.