First steps

[PaulB]

Hmm, nobody else wants to comment.

Wow! That design looks good. I hope it isn't too ambition for a first attempt. What is the minum radius that you are using? Also what is the smallest point (turnout)?



I think the RIP track would be better if it came off the yard lead (headshunt). You want to be able to drop or pick up cars there without having to move stuff out of the intermodal siding.



There is one small industry that would require moving cars from another to access it. You could stick with it as sometimes industries in confind places had to do things like that. Or think about another way to arrange the small industry sidings.




The steel works would be way too big for this layout. I see two solutions. One, have it off table with transfer yard only. Two, go for a modern 'mini mill'.

Steel mini mills are based around an electric furnace and a rolling mill. They are very small (by steel works standards). They use scrap metal and electricity to make steel. Covered hoppers of limestone and metal additives are needed in smaller quantities. You still get slag and dust coming out. So not iron ore or coal needed (the coal goes to the power station instead).


Walthers makes an electric furnace kit:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3056

and rolling mill:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2971


These two might be placed next to each other. The rolling mill has soaking pits for ingots but maybe a continuious caster would be more approriate these days? This site helps explain all about the steel industry:

http://www.steeluniversity.org/content/html/eng/default.asp?catid=1&pageid=1016899460


I hope I haven't overloaded you with information.

 

[Iron Horseman]

This is what i have came up with so far. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/goodyards.jpg/

Not bad. I think the small industry area needs a little work. That one industry going toward the top is on a pretty short switchback. One simple way to fix it would be to make the crossing a double slip switch so that either of the tracks going toward the bottom could be used.

Also i have been trying to work out a name for the layout. It will be a branch line off the CP Rail network in and around the Sault Ste. Marie area. So far i have two possible names, - "The Rock Sault Line" or "The Sea Sault Line". Think i might go with the second one.

those are both clever names but the punnishness of them might get old after a while. However my cleverness seems to be failing as I have no better suggestions right now.

 

[moogie]

Paul B, Iron Horseman, thank you you all your help. I wouldn't have sorted this out on my own.
To answer a few questions - minimum radius on the main line is a No. 4 (24") and the goods yard is No. 2 (17 1/4")
Points - all the points that i have a Peco No2 radius ones (17 1/4") and 6 5/8" long.
Decided to drop the steel mill, as you said Paul it was just too big for my layout. Also had to shelve the upper level idea. Because of the sloping roof it was going to cover the level underneath and restrict my movement around the layout, still going to have the lower level as storage and somewhere for the main line to go to.
I think this is my final design, maybe! Made a few alterations to the small industry section, added in two double slips. Good idea horseman, never come across them before, had to do a search on Google to find out how they worked.
Paul, is the rip/team track in a better position now?
Still need to add a few roads around the layout, along with bridges and other things.
I had a 8'x4' layout in my model shop for demonstrating trains and scenery, etc. to the customers, but nothing as complicated as this one. My main interest in the modeling was Radio controlled buggies and heli's so i am still learning about the trains.
Again, thanks for all your help.
Noel.

 

[UPBigBoy]

I take it your turntable is for basically turning engines around for opposite direction use?

 

[steinjr]

Paul B, Iron Horseman, thank you you all your help. I wouldn't have sorted this out on my own.
To answer a few questions - minimum radius on the main line is a No. 4 (24") and the goods yard is No. 2 (17 1/4")
Points - all the points that i have a Peco No2 radius ones (17 1/4") and 6 5/8" long.
Decided to drop the steel mill, as you said Paul it was just too big for my layout. Also had to shelve the upper level idea. Because of the sloping roof it was going to cover the level underneath and restrict my movement around the layout, still going to have the lower level as storage and somewhere for the main line to go to.
I think this is my final design, maybe! Made a few alterations to the small industry section, added in two double slips. Good idea horseman, never come across them before, had to do a search on Google to find out how they worked.
Paul, is the rip/team track in a better position now?
Still need to add a few roads around the layout, along with bridges and other things.
I had a 8'x4' layout in my model shop for demonstrating trains and scenery, etc. to the customers, but nothing as complicated as this one. My main interest in the modeling was Radio controlled buggies and heli's so i am still learning about the trains.
Again, thanks for all your help.
Noel.

You note a stairwell on the lower left. And a roof that is slanting inwards a little up on the walls. So I presume this 12x12 foot room is on the upper level of a small building ?

I presume that the top of the stairs are towards the lower left hand corner of the drawing? Have you allowed enough room for a landing at the top of the stairs?

I also presume that you will not be able to reach the track along the left wall behind the stairs (i.e. above the stairs on the drawing) from the stairwell?

How deep is benchwork for the part of the layout behind the stairs? To me it looks like it is about 50" wide, if the scale along the drawing is accurate. 30" is about an absolute max of what you can reach, and the recommendation is normally to try to have no track further away than 20" from the aisle if you want to be able to reach it comfortably.

How wide is the aisle around the peninsula? It looks about 20" wide. Minimum aisles for one person is usually 24", better 30" wide. If you want to be able to have guests or fellow operators up there, 3 feet (36") or more would be better.

I would suggest losing the peninsula and slimming down the benchwork.

Stein

 

[moogie]

You note a stairwell on the lower left. And a roof that is slanting inwards a little up on the walls. So I presume this 12x12 foot room is on the upper level of a small building ?

Yes the building is a storey and a half. It also means my layout will only be 24" off the floor.

I presume that the top of the stairs are towards the lower left hand corner of the drawing? Have you allowed enough room for a landing at the top of the stairs?

Just enough to step onto. Dont want to loose too much running track.

How wide is the aisle around the peninsula? It looks about 20" wide. Minimum aisles for one person is usually 24", better 30" wide. If you want to be able to have guests or fellow operators up there, 3 feet (36") or more would be better.

There is one point it is 19" the rest is 24"+.

I would suggest losing the peninsula and slimming down the benchwork.

Stein

All track is now within a 30" max reach.

I take it your turntable is for basically turning engines around for opposite direction use?

Not really, have it lying around and thought i would stick it on the layout somewhere. More for show to be honest.

OK, final re-design before i start the bench-work.

 

[steinjr]

Mmm - 30" is quite a bit of reach, especially if you are planning to reach _over_ largish buildings. Even with low benchwork. I would suggest mocking up the scenes with cardboard buildings and track, and see how your reach is.

My preference would have been for making as many industries as possible be flats or semi-flats along the walls, and having tracks fairly accessible in front of the the buildings instead of between the buildings and the aisle.

But your layout, your choices

Smile,
Stein

 

[moogie]

Got started to some bench work over the weekend. This is as far as i have got.
This area is where the paper mill and grain elevator will be, still needs a section built onto the front of it. It is sitting on temporary legs at the moment as the lower level is still to be added.



The big hole in the corner is where the turntable will be. Additional timber will be added once i finalize its position.



Looking down the side where the main line will disappear under the baseboard.



The peninsula where the small industries will be is still to be built. Also i need to build a set of stairs, the ladder will have to do for now.
All the framing is 2"x1" PAR and is glued and screwed with half lap joints.

 

[Doughless]

All track is now within a 30" max reach.

Moogie,

I hope its a 30" max, looks wider to me...Anyway, you still have a reach problem since those large buildings are shielding the tracks. Especially with the angled ceiling, those tracks in the NW and W side will almost be hidden. I would flip the buildings to the outside and place the tracks on the inside. You can convey a sense of a huge complex by placing the buildings against the wall. Seeing only three sides of a building allows your eye to perceive the buildings as continuing beyond the backdrop, whereas four walls gives them finite borders. Flipping the track and buildings will improve access, operations, and even the look of the layout. A little less run created by taking the inside path is really no sacrifice.

Consider switching the location of the yard with the location of the large buildings. The flat yard will fit into the low ceiling better and the large buildings will fit into the high ceiling area. Also, the angle of the mainline that's behind the stairwell will allow you to place the yard tracks along the wall and flow into the NW corner, where they will fit and look better than where they are now.

The peninsula is in an awkward location relative to the stairwell landing...looks like a hip catcher to me.

 

[North Coast Railroad]

The reach is one thing, but how will you be able to see your trains behind the pulp mill?