Rex - I don't like the new duckunder either, but it's my only option; tacking the new staging onto the existing 'pass-thru' staging track will introduce reach problems. At least it's only a
single duckunder - I originally thought I needed two, and that's what led to my starting this thread!
Larry - I heartily agree with you! But for me, a large part of the 'fun' is
having other modelers visit my layout and operate on it. If I make it too difficult for people to get around, they won't want to visit.
Chip,
Fisrt let me clarify: The operator of a point-to-point [or any other] mainline train is
NOT officially supposed to do his assigned job from either of the two "pits" (this is DCC remember!
). With that in mind, I've decided that the left side view blocker needs to stay, and here's the reason:
That wall gives my layout a
whole extra region. Eliminating it and using the Chandler tracks for pass-thru staging, would not only force me to sacrifice the town of Chandler (which is supposed to be at the opposite end of the visible route), I would also lose my favorite point-to-point
operation: the coal-mine-to-mill turn. The view block keeps the mill visually separated from the tracks where I need to do my loco runaround, when pointing the loaded coal train in the opposite direction. Doing that runaround without the view blocker would make it seem like the steel mill is right beside the mine instead of 100 miles distant.
One thing I've decided NOT to do is erect a tall view blocker between the pass-thru staging tracks and the mill arrival/departure yard - that way they'll just look as if they are part of the overall yard complex. Then mainline train operators will never (in theory) have to enter the "pit" to finsh guiding their trains onto the A/D tracks.
I've made up some diagrams to illustrate my strategy. The bright-green circles with triangles in them represent the operator looking in the direction which the triangle is pointing. The numbers beside them indicate the position sequence as the train moves around the layout.
Every
non-coal Mll Turn originates at the new staging yard, and moves in a general counter-clockwise direction. In the first diagram, with the oerator in position #1, he has a clear view of the staging yard [ven though he is on the opposite side of the duckunder] He then ws the train along the Chandler section till he reaches position #2:
Rounding the first bend, the train enters the Fagans Corner/East Minister subsection. At position #3, the operator can view the train on both this and the Chandler subsection, walking along to position #4:
Now the train enters the final stretch of mainline it will occupy - East Minister to Conneaut. The operator follows the train from position #5 until it enters the steel mill arrival track near position #6:
Continuing around the outside walkway, the operator can view his train as it continues into the steel mill arrival/departure yard, following it as far as position #8; at that point the mill yardmaster takes control of the train:
For a train making the return trip from the mill to staging, the sequence is reversed from position #7 to position #1.
Note that during this entire sequence [1 to 8], the operator was NOT REQUIRED to duck under or lift out any track sections.
Of course you know and I know, people are going to duck under whenever it it convenient for them. However if I have a "back challenged" visitor, I or some other able-bodied visitor can always help with the staging or re-railing.
