Been talkin bout this over thare’ though I’d share my insanity.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/HOUSE-Outdoor%20Layout%201-27-07.pdf
I am considering this for my outdoor layout, its R1, & has 5% grades.
I should point out that some of my favorite RRs are the Uintah RR, the Gilpin Tramway, the Mt Tam RR, and the Darjeeling Himalayan RR. All renown for their insane trackage and grades. Sorry, but that’s what I really like and have always wanted to model.
Now rolling stock will be small lokies hauling smaller ore cars, I’ve been testing my stuff on a 7% grade and its been A-Ok so far.
Max. vertical distance should be about 20 inches total. Stepping stones will be placed throughout during construction and yes that is a fence behind. I should have easy access to most all of the layout.
The way I envisioned operation, Heckaweh is the mining center, Borracho the freight center. I want to keep the trains short and light. At Heckaweh the ore trains (Loco & 3 or 4 empty ore cars) would be assembled at Heckaweh, run up the mountain, and then switched onto the siding and leave the string there at the mine. If I had to pick up a string of loads while delivering empties, the “brakes” (an icepick jambed behind the cars) would be set, the engine uncoupled, then when the loco has picked up the “loaded” cars, they would couple on the empties on the end then drag then up and switch them onto the mine siding for loading. Then the train would either back down the hill to Heckaweh to drop off cars on one of the sidings, or continue over the mountain to drop off the car at the mills near Borracho. The ‘loaded’ cars dropped off at Heckaweh would the be moved either back over the mountain or thru the tunnel to the Borracho mills. Freight trains (larger loco & 2 or 3 freight cars)would be ‘assembled’ (actually or just set down like a staging siding) at Borracho and run up the mountain to make ‘flag stops’ (stop for a short time) at the various places on the route, occasionally to drop a supply car off at a mine using the switching ‘technic’ described above. the train would then run thru to Heckaweh, where if I chose the engine would transfer to the back of the train and would then pull it back over the mountain back to Borracho, or just thru tunnel 4 back to Borracho.
Tunnel #4 is the ‘cheat’ point. If I want to run a more prototypical point to point operation the thru point of the tunnel doesnt exist. But if I want to run continuously, tunnel 4 is my way to do so. Best of both worlds? I still have some more trackwork to do at the Borracho yard, namely a passing siding. I’ll figure it.
I also have some real issues with just what am I going to do under the track, I think I might want to consider either a wood or concrete substructure to give the track additional support although the rock ‘mountains’ might be more than sufficient support, well see.
Whadda ya think? or should I just call the guys with the butterrfly nets and white coats?