HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Dave V]

Was thinking the same thing. Not sure what it'd do to the scene where it'd have to branch off though. Is it possible to do a return loop back there, if nothing else?

That's crossed my mind.  I'd really have to see the space completed and take measurements in the mechanical room before I'd count on this.

Good idea. 

@Dave Vollmer,

How about connecting the staging yard back into the plan at top left with one more small hole in the wall from the mechanical room, so that you can double-end the staging yard?  I know you're a runner, so a double-ended yard would be more efficient and enjoyable.  In your case, it takes up almost no extra room, and the only cost is a couple of turnouts and a piece of flextrack or two.

DFF

The reason I didn't connect it through is that there should be a grade (and shame on me for not marking it) between Vanadium and Lizard Head so that the track leaving Ophir on Bridge 45B should be at a higher level by an inch or two than down by Placerville.  Plus, the current connection could mimic Vance Junction and have trains backing in from Ridgway (as if being wyed at Vance Junction) and trains coming through Rico southward (down on the plan) enter staging head-on as if it were Durango.  But there's no such branch or operating scenario where entering/exiting staging between Ophir and Lizard Head would make sense.

I originally had thought about through staging in exactly the way you're describing but I haven't solved those two issues I mentioned above.

[wazzou]

I would imagine a spur that quickly goes down grade away from the main, behind trees or a hill, then behind the backdrop prior to punching through the hole wouldn't be too hard to pull off or too distracting.

[Dave V]

I would imagine a spur that quickly goes down grade away from the main, behind trees or a hill, then behind the backdrop prior to punching through the hole wouldn't be too hard to pull off or too distracting.

Scenically, no, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the district I'm modeling so operationally it'll require a fair bit of compromise.

[davefoxx]

Scenically, no, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the district I'm modeling so operationally it'll require a fair bit of compromise.

Just ignore it, until you need some hot roundy-round action.  Plant it in the weeds and make it look like an old seldom-used siding.  You'll be glad you did when you're not running ops and are just looking for a quick way to change out the trains that are running.

DFF

[Dave V]

Good point, Dave.  It may have a fairly steep grade at one end but if traffic is only ever going downgrade it's not a big deal.  It would be funny to have to double (split) a 6-car freight just to get it out of staging!

[wazzou]

Scenically, no, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the district I'm modeling so operationally it'll require a fair bit of compromise.

You could split it off right after Br. #57A which is the nearest point to the wall which will allow a longer descending grade and not interfere with the Lizard Head scene.
I'd just have a false wall/backdrop that allows the track to descend into staging.

[Dave V]

You could split it off right after Br. #57A which is the nearest point to the wall which will allow a longer descending grade and not interfere with the Lizard Head scene.
I'd just have a false wall/backdrop that allows the track to descend into staging.

That's an excellent point.  I like it!  Now it's really a matter of staging feeding to and from Rico which works very well given Rico's importance as the road's one operational division point.

<in my best Monty Burns voice> Ex-cellent...!

[pdx1955]

It's nice to see you thinking about some logical operations - it will make this a more fruitful effort as you can just run around or be more more point-to-pointy if the ops bug bites on a day without committing fully one way or the other. Doesn't the staging as sketched run right into the furnace/water heater? I was thinking that maybe "Placerville" should rotate clockwise a bit up the wall so that the staging will clear the water heater when the "tunnel" is bored through the wall.

Another idea that would work better with a shifted Placerville is to make the junction a full wye. Right now, I see that you have a Ridgway-Rico run up one side and a Rico-Durango down the other side of the layout. Rico-Durango is a straight shot into staging (and vice versa) but the as-drawn orientation makes Ridgway-Rico a bit more awkward. A wye could have one leg be Ridgway -Rico , the likely straight leg be Rico-Durango, and the third leg could be the continuous run connection. The wye could also be used to turn whole trains around if desired. You could still have a double ended staging yard to facilitate runner ops (but the long stretch of hidden track from Bridge 57A could be a concern).

[Chris333]

This is what all the big ballers are rockin'
http://www.raggstoriches.biz/RIDsidepage.html

[Philip H]

Thats one expensive station kit . . . . gorgeous but expensive.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is what all the big ballers are rockin'
http://www.raggstoriches.biz/RIDsidepage.html

And THAT is why Dave is rapidly trying to sell off his stuff!

$265 for a station kit. My word.

[davefoxx]

But, this is a perfect example of where bigger is not always better.  By keeping the layout plan simple, Dave can save money in other areas to allow him to afford this station kit.  For example, foregoing the second deck or a smaller HOn3 roster (as compared to his sizable N scale roster).  That station will be such a centerpiece to his layout, that I say it could be worth every penny.  Of course, if Dave has plans to scratchbuild his own structures and enjoy the construction, then, sure, he could do so for a lot less money.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

But, this is a perfect example of where bigger is not always better.  By keeping the layout plan simple, Dave can save money in other areas to allow him to afford this station kit.  For example, foregoing the second deck or a smaller HOn3 roster (as compared to his sizable N scale roster).  That station will be such a centerpiece to his layout, that I say it could be worth every penny.  Of course, if Dave has plans to scratchbuild his own structures and enjoy the construction, then, sure, he could do so for a lot less money.

DFF

Absolutely!

[Dave V]

Guys, I just bought an IHC plastic kit for Rico station for 10 bucks.  I have the Campbell shingles and correct Grandt Line eaves and gables to replace the crappy IHC ones.  With proper paint and detail it'll look almost as good at an order of magnitude less money.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I THOUGHT that looked familiar!