Seaboard Central 2.0

[Sokramiketes]

Except perhaps the return loops....

How many return loops in a 20' x 60' loop? 

[Ian MacMillan]

How many return loops in a 20' x 60' loop?

Left turn! And another left turn!

[mcjaco]

How many return loops in a 20' x 60' loop?

It's one big one.  Silly.

[Ian MacMillan]

It's one big one.  Silly.

Isn't it actually 2 big ones?

[mcjaco]

Isn't it actually 2 big ones?

I suppose so, if it's double tracked.   

[davefoxx]

Moving back on topic.  I updated the track plan, because I revised the crossover at the end of the yard in Aberdeen this weekend.  I switched the crossover from the third (SBD mainline) and fourth (A&R trackage) tracks counting from the bottom to the second (Yard Track No. 2) and third (SBD mainline) tracks.  This allowed the runaround to increase by approximately two 50' freight cars, matching the length of the passing siding in Southern Pines.  It also makes more sense to have the runaround in the yard rather than across the mainline in the A&R trackage.



With this, I believe I am finished tweaking the track plan, with the exception of the small siding against the layout edge in Southern Pines.  I may alter this to allow for the installation of a small passenger station and/or to increase the length of the siding.  Although I designed this layout from a track plan, actual operations has really helped me nail the final design to my satisfaction.

Enjoy,
Dave

[conrailthomas519]

Great Job Dave!

[davefoxx]

If you will recall, a few weeks ago, I moved a crossover between the A&R and SBD mainlines in Aberdeen over to the SBD mainline and Yard Track 1.  While this was sorely needed for SBD trains, I quickly found once I began running trains again that I removed the runaround for A&R trains terminating in Aberdeen.    A quick PM to my good friend here on TRW, elnscale, and I bought a few more needed turnouts that allowed me to restore the first crossover.  Now, I have crossovers for SBD and A&R trains:


I also entirely relaid the track in Southern Pines.  I was dissatisfied with the arrangement of the sidings, which were facing point turnouts.  With some new turnouts, I was able to make two trailing point sidings, which also added capacity for one more freight car.

Before:


After:

You have just got to love yellow carpenter's glue for trackwork, because the track pops free easily with a small putty knife.  There's no clean up needed to the track for reuse.  The yellow glue also allows the cork to release from the 2" foam with practically no damage to the foam.  I had this area rebuilt in just a couple of hours, including brainstorming the new sidings' design.

I also built in some superelevation on the mainline in this cosmetic curve that I inadvertently omitted in the previous trackwork.  I did not superelevate the passing siding.  I love this effect (the last picture in this post may show the effect even better):


The new sidings in Southern Pines are planned to be a propane dealer on the track to the left in the following picture and a team track at right:


I am pleased with these revisions and have resolved all known operations-related issues that I had with the layout.  I guess this goes to show that trackplanning works great, but, ultimately, operating the layout is the best way to work the bugs out.  Up next, I need to begin designing the expansion, which will hold two staging yards (likely on a 24" HCD).  This probably won't occur in the very near future (my trial schedule in January is hectic), but I really need to add capacity to the layout.  As I quickly found out with the Yard-on-a-Shelf on the Virginia Central, staging yards are key.

DFF

[eric220]

I have to say, I love the bulldog. There's very little that says Amtrak like an F40 in phase III paint.

[PAL_Houston]

If you will recall, a few weeks ago, I moved a crossover ....

I also entirely relaid the track in Southern Pines.  I was dissatisfied with the arrangement of the sidings, which were facing point turnouts.  With some new turnouts, I was able to make two trailing point sidings, which also added capacity for one more freight car.

Before:


After:

You have just got to love yellow carpenter's glue for trackwork, because the track pops free easily with a small putty knife.  There's no clean up needed to the track for reuse.  The yellow glue also allows the cork to release from the 2" foam with practically no damage to the foam.  I had this area rebuilt in just a couple of hours, including brainstorming the new sidings' design.

...
DFF

What I really love is the narrative on this thread, discussing the evolution of your track plan and implementation via operations.
I also think your hints about material (glues) that facilitate your layout development  is very helpful.
Thanks, Dave.

[Philip H]

Dave,
Looks good. The propane dealer facing one way against the other siding will reLly amp up ops in this corner.  And while maintainance of the crossovers would give the prototype a fit, they are useful if done judiciously on model pikes.

[davefoxx]

Thanks, guys!

Updated plan:

[Ian MacMillan]

Much better! Although trailing point switches can be fun!

[MichaelWinicki]

Question Dave...

How is the yard going to function?  It looks like from my vantage point that 2 of the 4 tracks are for run through traffic.  One of the remaining tracks needs to be kept relatively clear to allow run-a-round moves.  The final track at the bottom needs to be clear at it's "neck" in order to allow access the locomotive track/team track. 

[DKS]

Question Dave...

How is the yard going to function?  It looks like from my vantage point that 2 of the 4 tracks are for run through traffic.  One of the remaining tracks needs to be kept relatively clear to allow run-a-round moves.  The final track at the bottom needs to be clear at it's "neck" in order to allow access the locomotive track/team track.

I can see temporarily "borrowing" the the two mains for runaround moves, which kind of makes the lowermost crossover at right superfluous.