Large Scale Central

Making a siding/spur, not sure if it looks right

Problem Solving
#21

David, it is still amazing how much space this takes up. Of course I originally started with the plan of just putting a very small loop of track on the ground. I was going to be happy with that. I should have known better. This has snowballed. lol.

Robby you should have stuck around!

Richard, I’d thought of that too. Just half a elevator or almost a false front type setup. But after what everybody said, if I did want to shuttle cars off the mainline I couldn’t.

So…after working late today…I got home and moved the track around again. I put the right hand switch further back. Then off the siding about 5ft I put the next right hand switch. That made for a long enough spur to put about 4 grain cars on other side of where they would be loaded…I think. AND, if I do it that way I sort of have an idea on what to do with that corner now.

I’ll post pics here in a minute.

#22

Ok. Pictures uploaded.

I took this today at lunch. I was thinking of moving the right hand switch back to here.

So, I got home about dusk tonight and figured I would move things around.I moved the right hand switch further down the line.

It still doesn’t give me a whole lot of room to move cars while not on the mainline. Although, I do like this better.

If I measure right…The spur has enough room to load at least 4 cars now, possibly 5. The siding will hold 5 cars. But from the spur switch back to the mainline switch will only allow for 3 cars and the engine off the mainline. If I keep it like this I may pull that right hand switch back down the mainline further.

This setup does give me a good idea for that corner now, BUT the #1 problem with this is cost. I will have to buy more track. Looks like about 1/2 a box of 20ft curves…and those are not cheap. :frowning:

So,…now what? I think I’m over option 1. So that leaves setup 2, or this latest setup.

#23

Much nicer! Do it right, and you will be happy every time you look at it.

Compromise, and you will be reminded of it every time you look at it.

Your track is indeed the foundation of your layout.

Greg

#24

Greg, you’re right. I know if I don’t do it the way I want it, then it will drive me crazy. That’s why I went from just some track on the ground with a small loop to the way it is now. lol.

#25

Matt, that will work also (what I suggested, in reverse)…

However, I’d still move the siding closer to the fence, giving one more room to step between the mainline siding and the elevator siding… Between the brick wall, and the 2 mainline tracks, it will be a feat to twist your foot and step between mainline siding & elevator siding tracks, maintain balance, and bend down to uncouple cars…

#26

Thanks Andy. I kinda thought that’s what you were saying. I just didn’t want to go the other way with the switch.

I will check the space. I think I can reach everything o.k. as it sits. It’s not too far from the brick wall. I still need to build the protective fence to go along my privacy fence too. I still can’t believe I’m running out of room in this area. It looked much bigger before I started building the railroad. lol.

#27

Matt Russell said:

I still can’t believe I’m running out of room in this area. It looked much bigger before I started building the railroad. lol.

I agree with you about the space problem… Am running out of space here, too… :slight_smile:

#28

Don’t forget, on the real railroads, especially on a short line, or even a branch line of a real railroad; the locomotive from the train servicing the grain elevator, often leaves its cars on the main line and just goes into the elevator track to put and take cars.

A lot of western elevators just have a double end siding, and no passing track. Only the big modern "MEGA Terminals have extensive trackage, with a siding to hold a full train; and only on a main line that has many other trains that might be delayed by the local making its moves.

Are you planning on a branch line with other traffic on the line, or are you planning on modelling the whole UP, CP, CN, or BNSF main line somewhere.

Part of designing your sidings and industrial spurs, has to take into consideration, what kind of a model railroad you are planning. This involves longer range plans, even though you might never build the whole thing. Planning ahead is always a good idea, and what you are doing is a good exercise…

#29

Hey Matt its looking real good . Why don’t you put the right hand switch directly after the right hand curve coming off the gap in your rock wall . Then run it all the way to and past your industry. It will look like double track but the inside track would be your siding lead. Just a thought .

#30

I count 11 bricks back from photo #2 you posted on the 24th is where i’m talkin about starting you left hand switch…

#31

Fred, that’s exactly what I’m doing here. This is a small town grain elevator to hold 4-5 cars. This is similar to the siding/spur that was in Carmi where I grew up. I plan on leaving the train on the mainline and shuffling cars around then hooking back up.
I’m more of a Family Lines System, Seaboard System, Chessie, CSX guy myself.

Mike, I plan on moving the switch back a little further, but not that far back. I want to have a highway over pass for cars going over a single track. Then the track switches off right outside the overpass. Similar to this:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Enfield,+IL/@38.097173,-88.335976,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m5!1e2!3m3!1s68900370!2e1!3e10!4m2!3m1!1s0x88711adc7d70141f:0x2571396dfac9b3f2

#32

Ok, Matt… If you go further west, under the overpass, and around the corner, then you get to the spur leading off into the Enfield Elevator…

They have a loading track, with their own locomotive, and have 2 spur tracks, that, many years ago, were intechange tracks…

What your layout configuration is, is more like the Elevator at Addieville, IL… What was said about leaving space between the mainline and siding for foot traffic, can be seen by googling addieville, IL…

Funny, both the elevator/town you mention and the town I mention are both now on the Evansville Western mainline… :slight_smile:

#33

Andy, I’d actually considered doing the Enfield elevator since it is still operational. But, with my area I wanted the elevator in, it just wouldn’t work. Enfield is one of the towns I work in. It’s just 10minutes from me. I actually drove around the elevator a couple weeks ago doing some brainstorming. lol.

I just checked out Addieville’s. I like that. I think I’ll do like you suggested and leave some space between the mainline and siding. Just in case I can’t reach something.

I’ve got some friends that work at the EVWR. :smiley:

THANKS!

#34

Matt Russell said:

I’ve got some friends that work at the EVWR. :smiley:

THANKS!

Only person I know that works on the EVWR, is Dave, the Engineer on MCL-1… Have talked with him a few times, in Nashville, and out at Ashley…

My layout includes the EVWR Branchline… Click ““Layout Logs”” above, and look at the Bluestone Southern… It has my trackplan there…

:slight_smile:

#35

I don’t know any engineer’s. The guys I know are on track crew or signal maintenance. They are based out of Mt. Vernon, In. Aaron Odaniel, Stoney Bishop, and Matt Lydick. Which Matt doesn’t work there anymore. I know their secretary over there too.

I checked out your track plan. Holy crap that’s HUGE! Very impressive!

#36

For some pictures, go to ““operations”” and look under Bluestone Southern Ops sessions…

#37

Keep talking Matt and you’ll get an invite.

#38

Andy, I checked out the pictures. WOW. That is seriously impressive. I love the evwr loco’s you have.

Ric, is there something in particular is should say. lol.

#39

Wondering who Ric’s inviting where… hehehe

Thought my railroad was always an ““Open Invite””, all anyone has to do, is email or call, and we can set a time…

#40

Cool! Thanks Andy. I will have to get a hold of you sometime. I’d LOVE to see your empire!