Tomorrow’s plan is to cut ties for switch rebuilding, and get me some industry sidings to switch.
Fred Mills said:Agreed!
Good work, Bob; I know the feeling.
Camera still on the fritz. I may use my cellphone temporarily…
Anyway, rejiggered the switches for one siding, bought me another industry siding. Have to cut in a third RH turnout, that’ll give me 3 industry sidings. Then I think Ill work on Burke Yard a bit…
OK, progress as of this afternoon, and a trackplan. Everything hilighted in yellow is done. Green is the incline to the storage barn to be built behind the shed. Red is the ‘escape’ that allows loop to loop running. The black is what I intend on having built at the end of trackbuilding season this year. Im currently working on Burke Yard (the yard right/center). I have the entry switch built and ready to go in, and then its just a matter of laying down pre-built sections of track and switches.
If you rotate that trackplan 180 degrees to the left I think it looks like Hilary?
Seriously though…Bob what is your max. grade? You have those 2 loops over and under in what appears to be a short space? I think it’s pretty sweet. I just have a basic folded dogbone(kinda sucks,need siding’s etc). I can picture them running and I can see some hellish scenery possibilties with that plan! Did you leave any room for the kids to play in the yard?:lol:
Max grade is about 2 1/2 percent. The 2 loops are pretty sizable.
Size so far side-to-side is about 50 feet, and maybe 90 up and down. Plenty of room still in the yard!
2 1/2% …now I have a better image. I’m picturing my kid running a highball on the main and I’m running down to the industries on the LH siding(between the loops) with a GP 38-2 to do some switching and pull the loads back out to the main. Can you fit a passing siding between the loop’s? Just asking?
Well, operationally the loops arent connected, thats just just a convenient ‘escape’ for when guests come over and ‘want to see a train run’.
Bob, that is a very interesting track plan!
You say “Red is the ‘escape’ that allows loop to loop running.” What do you mean?
The red connection allows trains to run in a loop, instead of point-to-point. Operationally, the RR goes from one end to the other, with Burke Yard roughly in the center. But I can use the loop connector to run trains roundy-roundy for when the great unwashed want to “see a train run”.
Wait…you added the red? I don’t remember seeing that the other night…LOL…either way point to point is even sweeter! I think you should elminate the red and just make a continuious run! I do like the plan though…trains passing over and under etc. adds more excitement IMO.
Well, like I said, when non-train-buffs come over and want to see a train run, its easier to have a loop around the garden than have them say “Is that all it does?” when it goes from one end to the other…
I like your trackplan. Looks like it will have plenty of interest both visually and operationally.
Red shouts to me - thought it was something to do with polarity or another electrical issue, not operations!
Do you incorporate an Allen, an Inglenook or other technique(s) to add operational interest? Your track plan shows one structure in the SE quadrant that looks like an Inglenook, but if there’s an Allen anywhere I’ve missed it.
I second Ray’s comment - your plan is intriguing. Since I’ve just commenced building Stage Two of our RR (Stage One is a simple loop that plays chicken with our concrete water tank), I still have the opportunity to make changes to the design.
Your track plan provides insight into what you’re doing. Unlike plans on paper or the web, a track plan posted on a forum allows blokes like me to ask blokes like you WHY a layout has been designed a particular way.
While much layout design is about topography, it looks like a lot of your design is based on operations. As my grandsons grow older, the simple loop that satisfies them now will become boring, and I’m keen to add features that increase interest. Even if the boys do get bored, I won’t!
Digicam has been sent off to Pentax for repair, so just a text update.
Cut in the passing siding at Majestic Colliery today (RH siding, with the 2 tracks, before the lower loop). Pulled the turnouts that were there for rebuilding this week.
Re: Dave’s questions.
The colliery can be switched mostly as an Inglenook, and Im planning a timesaver for somewhere, but I dont know quite where yet. Possibly at the lowest unbuilt passing siding on the trackplan.
The next several days will be devoted to cutting cedar for 2 trestles. I have the fence boards cut to length, now I just need to rip them to width.
Bob McCown said:Bob,
The next several days will be devoted to cutting cedar for 2 trestles. I have the fence boards cut to length, now I just need to rip them to width.
My eyes are watering, my nose is running and I’m sneezing just thinking about it!!
Sorta smells like a pencil in here…
Bart Salmons said:Grandpa, what's a pencil?
Sorta smells like a pencil in here.....
Chris Vernell said:It is an uncrashable word and number processing system.Bart Salmons said:Grandpa, what's a pencil?
Sorta smells like a pencil in here.....