HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[nuno81291]

I can do a quick write up but my insipiration was this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkYCDz2a7XI&app=desktop[the only difference is I had to frame my hinged portion different since I was making a 90* turn. I used the similar pegs/slots for the electrical connection/safety concern. Fit and finish can be nicer than the video example. Since mine was a 24" curve I made a 1/2 ply subroadbed, that was braced by the Masonite fascia connecting to a series of ribs (1x2) i built a lip that the hinged portion rests on and do a fine leveling of track (cut rerailers on both sides) with styrene shims to account for the nature of the humidity/temp shifts here in New England. It didn't take me all that long to put together, and was where I thought would be a weak point in my layout.. fortunately it has not been problematic at all since construction. My only regret is if it was not mixed use space I would have built a hinged section that opens to the side like a door versus up and down. It does get a bit tiring to open the thing and I do often go under it in the down position if my back isn't bothering me so much. A section that hinges like a door would seem to be less of an engineering puzzle perhaps as well.

[milw12]

Food for thought if you haven't seen it, Lance Mindheim has a simple lift out: http://lancemindheim.com/about-us/removable-bridge/

Fun watching this develop, can't wait for construction to start on the helix

Lucas

[Dave V]

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[Missaberoad]

Not tea bag! 

What is the min radius? 15/16"? If that's acceptable then I say build this, seems like the best version so far!

[John]

There is room for a helix 

I don't know if you remember, but I have a hinged bridge that lifts up .. its a lot easier to align than a swing bridge .. you can also get the electrical .. also, check the whats neat video .. I think last month he did a complete lift out bridge that solves the electrical, but has no hinges
.. starts at minute 12 something

 

[Dave V]

Not tea bag! 

What is the min radius? 15/16"? If that's acceptable then I say build this, seems like the best version so far!

Working with 18/19" (excluding the turnout at Ophir..I already have it built and it's a 16" inner radius).  Looking at the plan I probably need to widen that peninsula a bit or move the track closer to the edge to do 18".

There is room for a helix 

I don't know if you remember, but I have a hinged bridge that lifts up .. its a lot easier to align than a swing bridge .. you can also get the electrical .. also, check the whats neat video .. I think last month he did a complete lift out bridge that solves the electrical, but has no hinges
.. starts at minute 12 something

 

Cool!

[nuno81291]

I think the plan is awesome Dave. The beauty of the around the wall layouts is the sense of immersion, at no point can you take it all in... this looks like it would be a blast to build and operate!

[MVW]

Looks like a very manageable build, as well. Whaddaya got there, about 15-20 turnouts? Should be relatively easy to get some good old-fashioned roundy-roundy going fairly quickly. Will be fun to watch!

Jim

[Missaberoad]

Working with 18/19" (excluding the turnout at Ophir..I already have it built and it's a 16" inner radius).  Looking at the plan I probably need to widen that peninsula a bit or move the track closer to the edge to do 18".

That's the exact part I was curious about... 

The plan looks good tho, perfect Railfan layout and display for craftsman kits...

[davefoxx]

@Dave V,

Does anyone make curved turnouts in HOn3 or are you going to buy/build custom turnouts?  Because, otherwise, you're going to have some short passing sidings.  Curved turnouts could really be used to extend these tracks, especially in Rico.  Looking back at the plan, you have Lizard Head drawn as if it is getting curved turnouts, which would make for some slick-looking track through there.

DFF

[Dave V]

@Dave V,

Does anyone make curved turnouts in HOn3 or are you going to buy/build custom turnouts?  Because, otherwise, you're going to have some short passing sidings.  Curved turnouts could really be used to extend these tracks, especially in Rico.  Looking back at the plan, you have Lizard Head drawn as if it is getting curved turnouts, which would make for some slick-looking track through there.

DFF

Dave,

I do have a custom-built curved turnout for Ophir.  The other ones will be #5s (Peco) or #6s (Micro Engineering).  I'm not worried about short passing sidings (i.e., Lizard Head).  Most trains will be no longer than 6 30' cars, a loco, and a caboose.

[davefoxx]

Good.  I'm glad you're thinking ahead.  I'm still surprised by how I have been satisfied by running short trains, since I tore down the expansion to the Seaboard Central 2.0 a year-and-a-half ago.  I think I learned that the long trains tended to be unit trains that required no switching and more-or-less just got in the way of other trains.  Without a large classification yard and significant staging, it's more fun to keep train lengths down to manageable size.

Knowing how you operate your layouts, I think you'll enjoy your plan.  Now, get started.

DFF

[pdx1955]

Great plan - love the color rendition! It's all set up for continuous run, but you could run even point to point if you ever wanted to do that.Ridgway is setup nicely for visible "staging" as needed without it looking out of place. Having the swing/lift section between Rico and Ridgway visibly separates the two ends of the layout which adds to the appeal.  Short trains work best with slow speed especially with the addition of sound will add a lot to the run and make it seem pretty long. The more I think about it this is a pretty perfect narrow-gauge plan ...I can imagine viewing and hearing the approach of a freight working up the grade...can't wait to see on how it all turns out.

[Dave V]

From this:

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To this:

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[Dave V]

I am steadily working toward having a full set of structures representing the RGS at Rico.  Rico will be one of two signature scenes, instantly recognizable by anyone with a passing knowledge of the RGS.  What's amazing is that I will be able to fit the entire yard with all of its track and structures in my planned 2' x 10' LDE with almost no compression and almost no compromise.   This is a very different experience than trying to fit a four track mainline onto a hollow core door!

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