Trussrod
Well-Known Member
C & S West-SL construction once again continues. I started this layout approximately in 1998 but due to several reasons, one of which was the old
5'x9' layout that took up half of the 10' x 21' space I'm now utilizing and I wasn't sure if I was going to utilize some or all of that space. As such I had not progressed beyond the trackage/table work that reached the Ridge Crest area on the upper ML line with it's decending loop down to the lower line and the station at Five Oaks which has now been moved to the right side of the extented section as compared to how it's shown on the track plan. Be aware that the RTS software I was using doesn't seem to draw things in the proper perspective as there is approximately twice the space needed for the Five Oaks station and sidings.
This layout represents a branch line operation sometime around the turn of the Century and before, running small steam locs and a couple of early Box Cab deisel-track cleaners and two Shays for logging and a Climax for mine operations, so short trains or four and five cars are the norm and longer trains require double heading to climb the 6% grades to reach the Ridge Crest station area, engine house and turntable as well as to reach the Hootville station area, engine house and turn table.
Operation on the C&SW is point-to-point for freight and continuous loope running for passenger service. The main line, not counting passing sidings is approximately a 97' run
The track plan can be a bit confusing at first. Ridge Crest is on the upper main line, 8.5" above the lower ML, and located on the Left end loop area and Hoot-ville is at the upper point at the other loop. This can be a bit confusing especially at the Ridge Crest area with it central tracks and the decending loop which curves around and under itself. Just remember there are two main elevations on the main line represented by the inside line which is basically at 0" until it reaches the loops on either end and then the elevation climbs to about 8.5" above the lower line.
Behind and above Ridge Crest is the Rio Lobo Logging trackage which climbs approximately 8" higher yet and transverse back and forth across that end in the woods and the tall trees as well as servicing the high country cattle area & pens.
The Atlas RTS program I used to draw the plan doesn't put things in the proper perspective but at least gives a general perspective of things. To emphasize this the area to the Right of the central extended area is twice as long as it looks and I somehow made the Right end a foot to narrower in depth too. Aslo the program only allows for either 18" Radius track or 24" and my raduses are about 20" so I chose to use 18"R to draw with but the loops are too small by 4" diameter so I acutally have more room than it seems on the inside of both loops.
I don't have all the table work up yet but the wood is cut and it's in the works.
I've already made some changes that the plan doesn't reflect such as swaping the Five Oaks area from the Left side to the Right side of the central extension and curve trustle and moving the Serpha Iron works building to the Left side where Five Oaks was. The central extension will have a somewhat low curved trestle, about 7" high, across it on the lower line. At this point I planning my trackage as I go along and considering how the scenery might look although I have a general idea I'm working from.
I'll be taking various pictures as I progress and on how I've done things. All my table work and road bed will be covered with 1/2" Celotex or Sound board on which either the Cork road bed is laid or will form the ground level areas for stations and yard tracks etc.
I'm going to be hand laying code 70 weathered rail for the main line and code 55 WR for the yards, sidings, mines and the logging areas along with building all my switches to fit the situation at hand.
Let me know your thoughts and any suggestions or questions you may have.
5'x9' layout that took up half of the 10' x 21' space I'm now utilizing and I wasn't sure if I was going to utilize some or all of that space. As such I had not progressed beyond the trackage/table work that reached the Ridge Crest area on the upper ML line with it's decending loop down to the lower line and the station at Five Oaks which has now been moved to the right side of the extented section as compared to how it's shown on the track plan. Be aware that the RTS software I was using doesn't seem to draw things in the proper perspective as there is approximately twice the space needed for the Five Oaks station and sidings.
This layout represents a branch line operation sometime around the turn of the Century and before, running small steam locs and a couple of early Box Cab deisel-track cleaners and two Shays for logging and a Climax for mine operations, so short trains or four and five cars are the norm and longer trains require double heading to climb the 6% grades to reach the Ridge Crest station area, engine house and turntable as well as to reach the Hootville station area, engine house and turn table.
Operation on the C&SW is point-to-point for freight and continuous loope running for passenger service. The main line, not counting passing sidings is approximately a 97' run
The track plan can be a bit confusing at first. Ridge Crest is on the upper main line, 8.5" above the lower ML, and located on the Left end loop area and Hoot-ville is at the upper point at the other loop. This can be a bit confusing especially at the Ridge Crest area with it central tracks and the decending loop which curves around and under itself. Just remember there are two main elevations on the main line represented by the inside line which is basically at 0" until it reaches the loops on either end and then the elevation climbs to about 8.5" above the lower line.
Behind and above Ridge Crest is the Rio Lobo Logging trackage which climbs approximately 8" higher yet and transverse back and forth across that end in the woods and the tall trees as well as servicing the high country cattle area & pens.
The Atlas RTS program I used to draw the plan doesn't put things in the proper perspective but at least gives a general perspective of things. To emphasize this the area to the Right of the central extended area is twice as long as it looks and I somehow made the Right end a foot to narrower in depth too. Aslo the program only allows for either 18" Radius track or 24" and my raduses are about 20" so I chose to use 18"R to draw with but the loops are too small by 4" diameter so I acutally have more room than it seems on the inside of both loops.
I don't have all the table work up yet but the wood is cut and it's in the works.
I've already made some changes that the plan doesn't reflect such as swaping the Five Oaks area from the Left side to the Right side of the central extension and curve trustle and moving the Serpha Iron works building to the Left side where Five Oaks was. The central extension will have a somewhat low curved trestle, about 7" high, across it on the lower line. At this point I planning my trackage as I go along and considering how the scenery might look although I have a general idea I'm working from.
I'll be taking various pictures as I progress and on how I've done things. All my table work and road bed will be covered with 1/2" Celotex or Sound board on which either the Cork road bed is laid or will form the ground level areas for stations and yard tracks etc.
I'm going to be hand laying code 70 weathered rail for the main line and code 55 WR for the yards, sidings, mines and the logging areas along with building all my switches to fit the situation at hand.
Let me know your thoughts and any suggestions or questions you may have.
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