The Transcontinental PRR

[eric220]

One possibility is to use a "ship" backdrop .. and expand the harbor facilities more ..  IIRC .. Bernie K used a backdrop for his harbor modules and it seemed to work well ..

That's an interesting thought.  At the end of the day, I'm not sure that I really want to expand it that much more.  I'm going for a small port along the Sacramento River that the local can easily work by itself.  I could expand this all the way up to a large port requiring a dedicated switching job, but that's more than I really want to get into in this area of the layout.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Have you thought about including a runaround for those long industry tracks:



The runaround crossover is in red.
A switcher pocket for the dedicated 44-tonner is in green up & right (though could be higher up).

I can't remember the track plan above the California section, but it seems a lot of long cuts to be pushing long distances.
You could also have a shorter track for repairs / extras off the far-left bend (and ending before the silos).

I also have the Sanborn maps for Port Costa / Crockett in the 1910's & 1940's if you want ideas for local industries to use in the background above (west of?) the docks.  Lots of lumber, furniture, canneries, "oriental frieghts" and metalworks.  Send me an email if you want them.  mcfujiwara@gmail.com

I'm diggin' the view block at the end of the penninsula.
You're going to have some great scenes!

[John]

I wasn't advocating more track .. but it would give you room to add structures and stuff to give the scene more depth ..

[eric220]

Got another quarter mile of track down tonight courtesy of a guest gandy dancer who's been known to lurk around these boards.



We also resolved a minor design issue.  The small freight yard in front of the passenger terminal was originally designed to be three or four tracks wide.  When I cut it down to two tracks, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to separate the ladder from the main with a total of four turnouts, thus.



This area is essentially the west end of the layout.  Any through train approaching from the east will have diverged into the upper staging yard before this, and any local arriving from the east will pull into one of the two yard tracks.  Given that there are only two yard tracks, it seems to make a lot more sense to put the ladder directly on the main with just two turnouts.



The guest gandy dancer also brought along some drunken guy named Hank, who kept asking for whisky.  Hank wanted the Juniata Shops to take a look at some crazy contraption that he built.



 

[wm3798]

Looks like the West Coast  :ashat:s are forming an unholy alliance...

[Philip H]

Looks like the West Coast  :ashat:s are forming an unholy alliance...

Well, we knew that the DMV Posse couldn't rule Cali for evvvvvaa yo!

[pwnj]

Yesterday, December 19, 2011, is a date which will live in infamy.  (You're not German, are you Phil?  Just curious...)

[DKS]

Still two switches, but it just looks a little more sensible.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hank likes whiskey? Give that man a CRHS membership...

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Hank's still trying to figure out how he passed out near Portland and came to in Altoona.
The Transcontinental PRR is a pretty sweet set-up, and already looks pretty awesome, even 1/4th done plywood prarie.
It's going to take a lot of whiskey to finish it, though, so I guess Hank will hang around to "help"

David: having the two turnouts come off the main allows for smooth straight shots into the local holding tracks.
I'm not sure removing one turnout from the main outweighs the s jog to reach the center track.

[DKS]

David: having the two turnouts come off the main allows for smooth straight shots into the local holding tracks.
I'm not sure removing one turnout from the main outweighs the s jog to reach the center track.

Well, if that little jog causes problems, then it would seem that layouts everywhere should be in trouble (the original plan had them as well, after all). But, whatever; not important enough to worry much about, really.

[eric220]

  West, yo!

Although modifying this now means pulling up track, I am interested in suggestions for improvement.  What about this?



I lose about a foot on the upper yard track, but it's still 10 feet long, so it's not a big deal.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Operationally, it's all basically the same.
What David's suggestion does do is create a sense of separation from the main: two tracks behind the main rather than three tracks as a solid visual unit.
Go with what feels right.



West-side, yo 

[eric220]

Here's another thought.  There's still an s-curve in there, but it eliminates the back-to-back curves.

[wcfn100]

With all that room, why the sharp turnouts???

What about a couple #10s?


Jason