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The intent of this layout is eventual basement domination. However, I cannot see starting phase 2 in less than 3 years. I want Phase 1
to be 60% or so done first. That would include scenery, track-work, and some buildings. I did want to make sure it was doable. Phase 3
maybe 2 years beyond that. The branch line would connect to Phase 3 in the top right above the saw mill. From the other side Phase 3
would attach to Sacramento Staging area.
While phase 2 won't have additional staging, for operational purposes it won't need it. Phase 3 will have the large proportion of staging
to date.
The branch line rises at 2%, the logging road rises at 4%. The logging camp is 12" above Sacramento Staging. Carson City Staging is
accessible only from below.
Is that ambitious in a good, take 10 years to finish a basenent lifetime layout way, or ambitious in a that will happen when Jessica Alba parachues naked into your back yard way?
I've got a Heisler and a Shay itching to prove their metal. Although I think the Heisler will end up doing the yard work at the mill. It didn't do well in my uphill challenge. Maybe they will get rubber tires.
Chip, if it was Jessica Alba parachuting into the backyard naked, I would have already been hard at work on those plans. No, I mean ambitious as in it will consume a good bit of your time but give you some interesting operations. I like plans that I know I can work on for a couple of years and still have more things to do. One of my frustrations with my current layout is that, except for adding signals and grade crossing protection, it's essentially done except for the usual small details I can add forever. I don't really have a place to expand the layout. I like operating but I also like building so I need to find a way to finagle the wife out of more room in the basement.
Rock Ridge is just far enough away from TC to be a problem. The ore from the RR mine is shipped via a mine turn emanating in Sacramento. The turn picks up the ore drops empties and must turn it's engine or travel down to TC to do it. It was just easier for the RR to build a small TT for that train.
Hmmm...going down really isn't an option since the layout height is only 40 inches but I built it low with the idea I might want to add a second level. I don't like to have the whole layout covered with a second level but use terrain to get the train up to a second level that only takes up a portion of the layout, kind of like Rock Ridge. Of course, I'd have rip out a bunch of existing scenery to do it but I'm that kind of guy anyway. I need to find my original XtrkCAD file with the track plan and start playing with it some.
Rock Ridge is just far enough away from TC to be a problem. The ore from the RR mine is shipped via a mine turn emanating in Sacramento. The turn picks up the ore drops empties and must turn it's engine or travel down to TC to do it. It was just easier for the RR to build a small TT for that train.
