Large Scale Central

Building the Kittatinny Mt RR

Track and Trestles
#121

Haha thanks guys. I knew I could always count on ya’s. Another thought was keeping Jose’s original plan but make the reverse loops 8ft dia and keeping the outside mainline at 10ft dia. That way anything that requires 10ft curves can still use the layout and the two reverse loops would be further apart. (One concern Steve had about the reverse loops being too close. I have to agree with him).

After my eye Dr. appointment I plan on laying out the track and seeing how things will fit into place.

I have to admit this fun seeing all the different ideas. Amazing what one can do in a small area. Lots of options.

#122

Harumph! Thinks he knows more than his betters… I mean… his elders.

Well, he is payin’ the freight. I guess that gives him some say. But only some…

:wink:

#123

Well Shawn, the correct waviness of a layout is in the eye of the beholder; anyway, I tried to “wave” a bit the “flat layouts” in figures 1 and 2 (page 5), trying not to overdo it and always leaving straight segments between curves.

I came up with the variants indicated in figures 9 and 10, respectively:

Figure 9 - Flat layout with 4’ radius return loops

Figure 10 - Flat layout with 5’ radius return loops

In figure 9, only the return loops have 4’ radius, but these curves are preceded with 18° arcs of 5’ radius, which function as transition curves and do not enlarge the loops. The total track length, excluding turnouts, is 180’.

In figure 10, the total track length, excluding turnouts, is 175’.

Enjoy

José Morais

Headmaster of the Lapa Furada RR

#124

Jose, what would figure 10 look like if you left the outer portions of the return loops at R5, but where they then returned to the middle of the layout, reduced the radius to R4, with a short R5 lead-in? How much area would that free up in the middle?

The looks of the R5 would be retained, and there would be more room for stuff.

#125

Wow thanks again Jose. I like figure 10. It seems to have everything Im looking for. I like the longer reverse loops. Steve what do you think? :wink:

#126

Shawn (napkin builder) Viggiano said:

Wow thanks again Jose. I like figure 10. It seems to have everything Im looking for. I like the longer reverse loops. Steve what do you think? :wink:

See my last post. If you insist on just chasing your caboose, with that slight modification, “that’ll do.”. :wink:

#127

Fig 10 looks good on paper.

#128

Shawn and Steve:

I took figure 10 and changed the inside part of the return loops to R=4’, including R=5’ 18° transition tracks. In this way we can increase the area between the loops to 5’ without changing the outer appearance of the loops with large radius.

I think this is a pretty good alternative.

Figure 11 - Layout with mixed 5’ and 4’ radius return loops

José Morais

Headmaster of the Lapa Furada RR

#129

Must have posted at the same time Steve. I see what you mean now (I think). The outer loop seems good but the inner reverse loops are too crowded? Then yet having the longer reverse loops keeps the engine from chasing the caboose. That is one reason why I keep thinking about going with one reverse loop with an option for a second one somewhere down the road. I like the look of fig 10 but omitting the upper reverse loop would give me more room.

#130

Shawn:

In a previous post, Steve suggested that the inner part of both return loops be tightened to 4’ radius, while leaving the outside of both loops with 5’ radius. This would allow the available space between loops to increase significantly.

In figure 12 a comparison is made between the layouts of figures 10 and 11, showing the changes that were made.


Figure 12 - Comparison between layouts 10 and 11

You can see that the width of the space between loops has increased significantly by tightening part of both return loops

Jose Morais

Headmaster of the Lapa Furada RR

#131

I started laying track to see how things will fit together. Im trying to get a rough idea. From what Im seeing:

How a double reverse loops will work out. To me its seems it will be very tight and too crowded. I took a few pictures to get an idea. Granted Im more of a visual person not one for math, so my lengths could be off. For example how many feet long are the straights, how many feet from start of curve to end? I guess it could be figured out but thats where I lack. All the curves are 10ft dia.

(http://oi59.tinypic.com/2lu5cw8.jpg)

(http://oi60.tinypic.com/33oo5tc.jpg)

I went back out and was able to shift everything another 2 ft or so to the right. It will give me the room I need for the second reverse loop, although it still seems very crowded to my eye and might take away from that backwoods feel Im after.

#132

Shawn, the thing about limiting yourself to one reverse loop is that once you have used it, you have to back through it to reverse directions, again, never a good option, especially with live steam, I would imagine.

It shouldn’t take much for Jose to parse out the length of the tangents for you.

#133

I think if can get the length for each straight and each curve I can make it work. I shifted track around making some sections shorter and it made a difference. The only area that will be shorter is the yard area. Because of the well area I have to start the steam up switch where the wall drops for the well. It should not effect the rest of the plans since I can play at that end to get everything to connect.

It doesnt help that its 24 degrees out.

#134

Shawn:

If you indicate the layout you prefer I will prepare a detailled drawing for you, with all the dimensions and a reference grid.

Also, if you give me the make and references of your track, I can adjust the plan to minimize track cuts.

Jose Morais

Headmaster of the Lapa Furada RR

#135

Thanks Jose. Im really leaning towards Fig 10. I like how it gives me more space. All the track I have is Aristocraft 5ft straights with arsitocraft turnouts. wide rad. Im using a rail bender for my curves.

I measure the yard area. The most I can get is 8 1/2 ft of straight track. Thats including the turnouts.

#136

Since when has the Kittatinny Mountain Railroad been affluent enough to hire Professional Civil Engineers to layout their new Right of Way? BTW I like what you have done Jose.

#137

Randy McDonald said:

Since when has the Kittatinny Mountain Railroad been affluent enough to hire Professional Civil Engineers to layout their new Right of Way? BTW I like what you have done Jose.

Haha Im not opening a pawn shop for nothing. :wink:

#138

A few strategically placed wheelbarrow loads of rock/soil will eliminate that cramped feeling on the track plan. Even a few buildings placed to break up the continuity of the track will work miracles. Are you going to add plants to the layout?

Bill

#139

Bill my plans for landscaping etc… will be very similar to my old layout. Lots of plants and lots of view breaks and rolling terrain.

Jose I made a mistake on track plan. I like figure 12 using the R4 on the reverse loop starts. If you already it for the other I can still work with that.

#140

Shawn (napkin builder) Viggiano said:

Randy McDonald said:

Since when has the Kittatinny Mountain Railroad been affluent enough to hire Professional Civil Engineers to layout their new Right of Way? BTW I like what you have done Jose.

Haha Im not opening a pawn shop for nothing. :wink:

:wink: