Plans for Next Layout

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quakers1

quakers1

The Blue Man
Hello everyone. I took a break from here and decided to find my preferred area in the country to build a layout. I am looking at the northern Arkansas/ southern Missouri region, since it is my home turf. I have looked into a couple layout ideas. The first one is the Jonesboro-Paragould segment of the UP Jonesboro Sub. It is only about 30 miles long in real life. There is alot of grain elevators along the line, a good sized yard in Jonesboro, a large interchange with the BNSF Thayer South Sub, and a massive grain complex. The second one I am looking into doing is the Newport-Poplar Bluff segment of the UP Hoxie Sub, which is around 70 miles long. This line has more than one interchange, yards in Newport and Poplar Bluff, alot of traffic, some industries, and even Amtrak service. As always, space is a major factor. I am still trying to figure out what kind of space I can come up with. I am wanting to use HO scale because of the wide product selection and it is easy for me to work with. I might use N scale if I find out I can't come up with the space necessary to build whichever of the two layouts I choose to build in HO scale. And, one of the people in the model railroad club I'm in knows both of the lines I am considering modeling really well. I can get train frequencies, train types, and all that stuff from him. But, I could use your tips on stuff. This is going to be my first prototypical layout, so this is newer to me. I have experience in freelance layouts, so I'm not new to model railroading. If you have any ideas, tips, or anything that may help me, please feel free to share them with me.

-Skylar
 
Skylar,What size of layout are you planning on running,and what era?You can get a lot of railroad with N Scale,but if you have the space for HO Scale then go for it,as long as you are having fun,that's the main thing.How much space do you have to work with?
 
Well, I am not sure what size of layout I am going to build. I am going to be modelling in the modern era because I love big UP diesels such as the SD70M, ES44AC, and the SD9043AC. And I also like to run longer trains. I am not sure what kind of space I have yet. I aim to try and get as much as I can because the extra space will pay off since I'm modeling in the modern era. I need alot so I can run big locomotives such as the SD70M, and long frieght cars such as autoracks, and piggybacks. And more space will allow me to run longer trains in HO. Is their any sites or books that might help me with trackplanning?

-Skylar
 


Since you have already built layouts, you know that a track plan all depends on space. Without know the exact space you have available, any track planning will be an enjoyable but fruitless effort since you have no idea what will fit. Since you are trying to model an actual prototype sub, you'll need to use selective compression to fit things in that give it the look of the real thing. How much compression again depends on the space you have available and the gauge you choose. Until you have these two things nailed down, you're not going to make progress. There are a ton of track plan sites of the net. Just go to the Atlas site for a whole bunch of different ones. Kalmbach and Atlas also sell a raft of track plan books. My question is, what do you think the probability is that any of them will be even a passable match for the real railroads you want to model? I'd spend more time with either some paper maps or Google Earth and see what are the major features you want to include as a first step to a track plan.
 
Jim, I use Google Earth alot, and that is my primary source for getting an idea on what major landmarks on any railway line look like. I have another idea for a layout that I have not mentioned yet. My favorite railroad is the modern Norfolk Southern, so I have thought of modelling the NS line I know the most, the Harrisburg Line. The Hoxie Sub was just another thought, but I know alot more about the Harrisburg Line. And, the Hoxie Sub does not really give me enough urban area.

I even know the exact trains that run on the Harrisburg Line. Also, I pretty much have the list of the places along the line I want to include. I'll go ahead and post it.
  1. Rutherford Intermodal Yard
  2. Hershey's Chocolate Factory
  3. Wyomissing Junction
  4. The Yards in Harrisburg and Reading

The list is not complete, so I will add to it if I find something else I want to include. I am still deciding on other things such as turn radius standards, which I have trouble with. I am wanting to run longer frieght cars such as autoracks and 89' Piggybacks, and run 6-axle locomotives. The longest trains I want to run will most likely be in the 20-25 car neighborhood. I will make auto trains and piggyback trains a little shorter because of the longer cars. Could any of you awesome people help me find the best minimum turn radius for the kind of operations I want to do? The scale I am wanting to use is HO.

-Skylar
 
If you want reliable operation of 89 footers and big six axle lcomotives, 28" curves are the absolute minimum I'd use. Tighter radius curves may work but they have to be laid perfectly and you'll get interference between the longer cars touching in the curve, not mention the clearance you'll need for the gigantic overhang. Long cars and locomotives will look and run better on 36" curves, which would be the mainline radius I'd shoot for. You'll also have to consider space for switches for passing sidings and yards, which should be #8 for passing sidings and #6 for yards. As usual, the larger the curve and switch you can use, the better.
 
Thanks for your estimates Jim. Once I get a space calculation, I will post it here. I am also looking at the Harrisburg Line on Google Earth to see if there is any other major things I should include, and trying to get an idea of the topography in the area so I can have an idea on what I need to make the landscape like.

Thanks for your help once again.

-Skylar
 
You might try my Beginner's Guide to Layout Design. It might have a few things in it to save you some time and money. Takes about 5 minutes to read. Click to it in the signature.
 
Thank you for your recommendation SpaceMouse. I have read that Layout Design guide before, and it helped alot. I plan on getting some books on track planning from Kalmbach soon. I might get some track plan books, too.

-Skylar
 
An Idea

Since their seems to be more Conrail stuff out there, I have considered backdating my planned Harrisburg Line to the mid to late 90s, or the last years of Conrail. NS has not made very many changes as far as I know. I'm going to try and find more info on the Harrisburg Line that is from the late Conrail era.

-Skylar
 
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