Large Scale Central

Layout ideas

Track and Trestles
#1

Ok so we move into our new home on the 21st and we have been trying to come up with some ideas for our all new layout design. Here is a rough idea of the back yard where the trains will be, the yard is about 60-70 feet wide and maybe 25-30 feet deep and most of it is a on a slope something close to what Ray Dunakin’s back yard is like just not as steep of a hill, I think it is maybe half as steep.

We are thinking of making 3 different teres to the hillside for the trains with several bridges, towns and 2 rivers with waterfalls going in to 1 pond at the bottom behind the garage and patio. I do know that I am going to be making a portal into the baskside of the garage for the train storge this section will be elevated about 3-1/2’ off the ground, then run out to the lowest part of the hillside and run at ground level from there.

Does anyone have any ideas for us to consider for designs on this whole thing. Thanks in advance Sean & Val.

#2

It’s hard to offer any suggestions without seeing a few photo’s as well as your track plan.
In general, make sure your design allows for easy access to all areas with rail.
Ralph

#3

Any number of ideas! A few pictures and measurements of the elevations wouldn’t hurt.

#4

As HJ says Pictures and measurements, you know how us engineers are always need measurements. Or is that surveyors, oh well I’m both! If I can ever get my pictures to up load I’ll show you steep!

Now, wiht the help of a nice young man (13) the ugly green jungle is now cut down to about 3" , and next Sat. it will get down to 2", gee I can see my track now wow it’s still there! Also get some tree triming so I can get to the upper station! If you check my post on the Wheelwright Shop thread you will know why I have not been able to get much done so far and I’ll be open during the convention! I may have to ask for help!

Paul

#5

No doubt Sean, bridge(s) are in the plans. The waterfall sounds interesting! Given the slope of the yard, a coal mine would fit in really well. But like the other guys, some pictures will add a lot to the clarity of what you are working with.
Ron

#6

I won’t bug you on the pictures and measurements but I’ll add a question.
Are you sure about the height on that track into the garage? If you only have only 3 1/2-inches to go over the garage footing I would say the soil is higher than the garage floor. I had to go 7 inches on mine.

#7

Yeah you guys are right I had to wait til I got home to post up the folowing pics, because I can’t do that at work typical government computers can’t do to many things on them. So here ya go hoping this helps with the ideas rolling in; The southern end of the yard and curving slope

(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/New%20Home/P1080182.jpg)

The main(middle section)

(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/New%20Home/P1080183.jpg)

And finally the northern end of the yard( this is where I plan on running the trains out of the garage.

(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/New%20Home/P1080185.jpg)

#8

Also we are planning on taking all those weeds, grass, bushes, and trees out plus putting up a 6’ wooden fence around the whole back yard.

#9

Sean,

You said - “I do know that I am going to be making a portal into the baskside of the garage for the train storge this section will be elevated about 3-1/2’ off the ground”

I’m thinking you might want to consider coming into the barn at a higher elevation and work both up and down from a central mean height. It might give you more flexibility on the elevations without drastic grades.

Good luck on your adventure.

#10

Seeing the pictures of the yard , CASS the logging operation senic railroad came to my mind , and / or mines also .

http://www.msrlha.org/

#11

Sean, also Ray Dunakin’s comes to my mind with the slope you have there. Possibilities are endless with what I see. Depends on funds available, and what YOU want to really accomplish!! Keep us posted. Regal

#12

OK, I see a ‘U’ shape around the garage, is this correct? As noted above, you should set the storage/ terminial at 42 to 48 inches above the finish floor in the garage. Meet your main line in the middle and go both ways. Now do you want to just run your trains and watch them go or do you want to operate? You need to answer that one, now, before you start laying track. That will dictate how much access you will need and where to put things.

If you have some fellow rails in the area find out if someone has a 50 foot or 100 foot tape measure. Make a rought sketch of the area with demensions to some scale (like 1/4" = 1’ 0"), when you can rough out a track plan. Check if you have a printer to see if it will scan! That way you can share the track plan.

As noted above, depending on the money situation, Some walls (under 4 high) may be a good idea. Also a walkway adjacent to the building (house) would be well and keep the other half happy. Too bad I’m not closer, it look like a good challenge for my survey ‘gun’ and computer. You migh just call around and see if a local surveyor would do it cheap with you helping him. The shots and the plot.

Paul

#13

Hmmmmm very interesting! Since you’re in Colorado, how about building something on that theme?

BTW what are the dimensions of the garage? Putting “staging” at the end of the garage - perpendicular to the slope of that hill - would be a start. Judging by the pictures you’ve got a 14ft rise on the hill, hitting the hill at the halfway mark is too high. Setting staging at 5ft above the floor would be more like it.

How much snow are you getting were you are and how does it deposit around the garage? That could determine the walkway suggestion along the garage. Where are you planning for your rivers and lake? As far as access along the track goes, plan on putting in dry gulches.

Three different, but connected tiers would also allow you to build the layout in stages.

#14

Sean, after looking at the pictures, I thought of John Allen’s railroad where you had several level of trains running at a time. With the given slope, several levels of track would look good. The northern end would work well for a yard given how flat it is. The southern end probably will work as a loop back if the concrete in the foreground is not usuable.
Ron

#15

I have about 12 foot of vertical difference from basement floor to the back corner, under the elevated track just visable in the back of the picture.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/smokevalley/_forumfiles/MVC-914S.JPG)

Looking down to the back fence.

#16

More Pictures, the loops as we go down to the back elevated RR. Yes, the grass needs mowing and edgeing but that is only done between rain storms - right now the sun is shineing! Enjoy while you can.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/smokevalley/_forumfiles/MVC-918S.JPG)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/smokevalley/_forumfiles/MVC-917S.JPG)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/smokevalley/_forumfiles/MVC-916S.JPG)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/smokevalley/_forumfiles/MVC-917S.JPG)

#17

Sean, John allen is great but do not try to pack too much RR in to too small a space, remember you need to get to it to maintain it!

#18

E. Paul,

I would like to see how you lock in the removable piece of track that the second to the last picture shows. I’m going to make an elevated line using the ladder method and I need removable sections to accommodate mowing and general access. I have some ideas and will post but if you already have it worked out I will gladly copy! :slight_smile: I like all the sections and look forward to creating an elevated yard myself.

russ

#19

Russ McIntire said:
E. Paul, I would like to see how you lock in the removable piece of track that the second to the last picture shows. I’m going to make an elevated line using the ladder method and I need removable sections to accommodate mowing and general access. I have some ideas and will post but if you already have it worked out I will gladly copy! :slight_smile: I like all the sections and look forward to creating an elevated yard myself. russ

Hillman made a Bridge Clamp that was perfect for lift-out sections. I’m not sure. I think it was Silvergate, who bought the Hillman patents, is manufacturing it now. I have several hinged / folding and lift-out sections. You just need to support the section at both ends and use the clamps to line up the rail.

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Bridge-640-007.JPG)

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Bridge-640-008.JPG)

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Bridge-640-010.JPG)

#20
Russ McIntire said:
E. Paul,

I would like to see how you lock in the removable piece of track that the second to the last picture shows. I’m going to make an elevated line using the ladder method and I need removable sections to accommodate mowing and general access. I have some ideas and will post but if you already have it worked out I will gladly copy! :slight_smile: I like all the sections and look forward to creating an elevated yard myself.

russ


Split Jaw Rail Clamps! The other guy’s will work just as well. There are two stel pins cast in the concrete to keep the 2x6 bridge in place and I clamp the track ends together. Needed that to get to the lower 40.