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OK I have not even finished my first layout and am already thinking about additions. I want to add a larger yard off to the side of my 4X8 that I've almost completed. Both options will require a bridge to access, one just leads into the yard the other has a loop back to mainline. I'm just not sure which makes sense as I'm still learning allot about building layouts. I'm not even sure about what kind of space I'm looking at yet but your input is greatly welcomed.
I did forget to put that in there didn't I, its HO. I think I'll have enough to get over from the 4X8 but not really sure of on the down side to the addition.
It depends on how high you want to go and what % grade you want. In order to clear autoracks and double stack containers at 2% (ideal for HO) you would need 13'-14' at least. 2% is 1/4" rise per foot of length. Standard boxcars and hoppers might only require 10'. If you go at a steeper grade (3%-5%) then you also have to figure in a vertical transition at the beginning of the grade. This is your first layout, keep it simple and come off the outer loop as Ian suggested. Another suggestion is to put a crossover between your two loops...maybe you are planning this but it doesn't show up in the drawings.
willie
Thanks Wille, I'll do some checking and see what kind of distances I have and see what the angle is going to be. I didn't do a real good job on the drawing, I tried doing it with a cadrail demo and and Right Track but I need allot of practice yet. There are two crossovers in the layout on front and rear sides. The end where the addition will come off there is a hill between the inner and outer loops. Here is a better pic of the area I'm looking at crossing over.I'll change the spur going to the sand loading area and go straight over the loops to the addition is what I'm thinking.
Why not take what I think is the return (on the little addition) and hook it back up to the in track, thus giving you a loop which would change directions besides coming off the outside track. may be a lot easier to do
After looking at the space and requirments for elavation needed to make the bridges over the loops I know I won't have the enough running room at all. But another question has come to mind. If I go off the outer loop with a switch and want to make it a full loop as shown in the changed drawing (yes bad artist) am I right in thinking the turn at the purple arrow will have to be a min 18" radius? Because of the size of the first part of the layout I am restricted to 40' to about 57' cars and 4 axle engines which has been no problem for me until I get the bug to build another larger layout.
it should give you a wider radius on the turn around (the only way you would have to change direction as your original was a one way layout) and adding the other single crossover would allow you to go from the outer to the inner oval no matter what direction you were going or just reverse one of the single crossovers you now have. I'm thinking this would give yo a little more operations to do plus a little more running time.
While with the equipment you use can take an 18" radius, I would try my best to get a larger radius there. One way to achieve this would be to turn the drawn in factories and make them into "flats" with just a loading dock(s), as the only 3D part of that section. Not knowing how wide the addition will be, keep in mind that it takes 36" to make a half circle, 40" with 20"R, and 44" for 22"R. The larger the radius, the smaller the area will be for the factories.
I don't know if you're into operations but, why not make the addition into an "industrial park", and have the RR serve the various industries within the park.
