New HO layout Town Container Terminal
- Thread starter Valleyman
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
IronBeltKen
Lazy Daydreamer
One thing in your container terminal yard that has me a little concerned, is your apparent use of #4 turnouts. These could lead to an unintended 'S curve' effect which causes longer cars to derail. Especially if you're using the modern 72ft-long well cars that are built to accommodate 53ft containers. (Don't ask me how I learned this, LOL).
Last edited by a moderator:
Rico
BNSF Modeller
Hey lookin' pretty good!
I guess you've mistaken a crossing for a crossover, ie: a switch to get a loco out if it pulls in a train. Otherwise a new thought would be to turn one of your industrial tracks the other way for variety and a bit of a switching challenge.
The passing siding looks good too, if it's not long enough for a full train you could extend it into the terminal or back around the green track?
Looks like you could keep two or three trains busy!
I guess you've mistaken a crossing for a crossover, ie: a switch to get a loco out if it pulls in a train. Otherwise a new thought would be to turn one of your industrial tracks the other way for variety and a bit of a switching challenge.
The passing siding looks good too, if it's not long enough for a full train you could extend it into the terminal or back around the green track?
Looks like you could keep two or three trains busy!
Now you've got it. Take a look at Rico's plan and add the crosssing to the end track of the container yard. The idea is to allow the swithcer to escape to another track if it's behind a cut of cars.
I can see Ken's concern. You can probably squeeze by with a #4 switch on the last tow right hand tracks but the crossover tracks will create a sharp S curve with #4 switches. You'll be using them a lot to shift cars around so replacing them with #6 switches will only cost you a few inches in the container yard and you'll have far fewer derailments.
Staying with everything on one level will make things much easier to build and you won't have to deal with killer grades. You can use view blocks and extruded foam to build up elevations around the tracks to give the illusion the layout isn't flat.
I can see Ken's concern. You can probably squeeze by with a #4 switch on the last tow right hand tracks but the crossover tracks will create a sharp S curve with #4 switches. You'll be using them a lot to shift cars around so replacing them with #6 switches will only cost you a few inches in the container yard and you'll have far fewer derailments.
Staying with everything on one level will make things much easier to build and you won't have to deal with killer grades. You can use view blocks and extruded foam to build up elevations around the tracks to give the illusion the layout isn't flat.
Great job sticking with all our complaints and carping. 
It's good enough to start buying some tracks and lumber.
The next thing to consider is where you are going to put a pop-up in the center of the layout. You'll never be able to reach all the points of the layout without one.
It's good enough to start buying some tracks and lumber.The next thing to consider is where you are going to put a pop-up in the center of the layout. You'll never be able to reach all the points of the layout without one.
Rico
BNSF Modeller
Like Jim said, thanx for putting up with us!
Yes you're at the point where you can start test fitting track, you'll still make changes on the way. Try running imaginary trains over it as you lay the track.
You may want to take a crossover track out of the yard,($), and turn one ind. track the other way just for variety.
We'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
Yes you're at the point where you can start test fitting track, you'll still make changes on the way. Try running imaginary trains over it as you lay the track.
You may want to take a crossover track out of the yard,($), and turn one ind. track the other way just for variety.
We'll be waiting to see how it turns out!
Last edited by a moderator:
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)