Beachbum
Member
I have no experience with and minimal knowledge of DCC, so I defer to more knowedgable posters...
Ideas needed
- Thread starter quadmx72
- Start date
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I have no experience with and minimal knowledge of DCC, so I defer to more knowedgable posters...
OK, better, not best. The engine terminal should fit in the lower RH corner with only a 9" turntable. Having the other enginehouse at the opposite end of the yard makes no sense unless it belongs to another RR.
The reverse loop makes no operational sense. It's just 'there'. The current engine terminal lead is WAY too short. Were I you, I'd have someone sketch you some track plans before you make anything permanent. Take your time. Definitely consider the HOG track plan, your space more than allows for it.
Had to chuckle when I read this. Several months ago I was doodling on my train ride home after work and sketched out a 12 X 12 modular plan just as you described here. I did put a level crossing with interchange track on one of the "rural" modules.
Sorry Chad...I've been busy laying track myself!
It looks like your plan is shaping up!
That is going to be a steep grade to get that track up & over your bridge...I have the same thin g on my layout, & I had to use about 15' of track to keep the grade managable...
One thing you need to try & avoid is having turnouts on really steep grades...they can be problematic...
That track that you have dangling over the opwearing pit...what's the plan for that? Are you going to build some benchwork under it, or push it back on the existing bench? You could tunnel it back under the high line...?
Another piece of advice I would stress (past experience talking here) is make sure all your tracl is easily accessable...you don't want to have to do a lot of reaching around & over a lot of scenery & structures to get to your track...
Keep up the good work!
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I have no experience with and minimal knowledge of DCC, so I defer to more knowedgable posters...
A reverse loop in DCC is not really a problem electrically. You'll pa between $30 and $40 for an automatic reverser, and it will handle all the polarity issues. The question I have is why do you need to connect back to the mainline and create the reverse loop? I would use that switch at the top as an entrance for a switching district. Yuu can have a runaround track to bring the engines back to the mainline and not have to worry about a reverse loop. The new arrangement with the round house and yard closer together is good, that opens up a lot of space on the left for industrial spurs and a city area.
West Virginia Midland Man
Member
No problem,Im very good at learning from other peoples dollar
I appreciate all the help,thank you.I have alot of time into the bench and i can already see that track laying is going to be exhausting.Well here's another pic with tonights changes.
OK, better, not best. The engine terminal should fit in the lower RH corner with only a 9" turntable. Having the other enginehouse at the opposite end of the yard makes no sense unless it belongs to another RR.
The reverse loop makes no operational sense. It's just 'there'. The current engine terminal lead is WAY too short. Were I you, I'd have someone sketch you some track plans before you make anything permanent. Take your time. Definitely consider the HOG track plan, your space more than allows for it.
Actually, there are three points that need isolating, the two entrances to the loop from the main line, and then the other connection that comes across the pit to the reverse loop formed by the main line connections. Getting rid of one of the main line connections and dumping that apparently useless connection across the pit solves all those problems. I agree with WV about the two engine houses also. Moving the turntable to the far right side of the layout with a longer lead facing the yard makes a lot more sense. You could move the other engine house next to the relocated roundhouse if you're using it for a repair facility.
quadmx72
Member
Good stuff,good stuff,I will hit the drawing board tomorrow night again.I will see what I can do to get those engine sheds on the right side,theres only a foot of space,I might have to flex the yard to the left to make more room.
I am going to remove that center loop.
someone had mentioned posting drawings,im all ears!
I really appriciate everybody's time to post there opinions.
thanks,
Chad
I am going to remove that center loop.
someone had mentioned posting drawings,im all ears!
I really appriciate everybody's time to post there opinions.
thanks,
Chad
Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
Chad;
I would recommend a couple of things.
1. Download a track planning program. There are a couple of free ones on the market and several that you have to pay for. I personally use XtrackCad. Its a FREE download and will let you design any size layout, using just about any brand of track that you want to use. Its open source now so it gets updated frequently. I downloaded my copy a long time ago and can't tell you where to get it. You can find it by doing a search or I know that someone here can give you the current address for downloading as well. If you do download it, go thru the tutorials and you'll learn it fairly easily. If you click on my Alabama Central Homepage in my sig, it will take you to my layout page. In the photo album section, you can see a copy of my layout plans. Which brings me to point #2!
2. Develop a written concept of what you would like your layout to represent. The first page of my homepage, deals with just that, the concept of my RR. A why for the layout if you will. Having a concept makes designing the plan much easier.
3. If you haven't already, get a copy of John Armstrong's "Trackplanning for Realistic Operations". It available from Kalmbach Publishing, the folks who bring us Model Railroader magazine. This one book is probably the #1 book for trackplanning that has ever been published.
4. Also get a copy of their "102 Trackplans for Model Railroaders" and if still available a copy of "101 Trackplans for Model Railroaders". This one was originally published in the late 1950's or early 1960's. It may be out of print.
These books will not be for "finding" a plan to copy, but finding many of the ideas that you are looking for. I have designed some layouts for several folks, and have found that track planning books are probably the #1 source for ideas to place in a plan.
Using these books in conjunction with a written concept can make developing a plan that you'll not only be satisfied with at the start, but also for years to come. Plus its a lot of fun!
I would recommend a couple of things.
1. Download a track planning program. There are a couple of free ones on the market and several that you have to pay for. I personally use XtrackCad. Its a FREE download and will let you design any size layout, using just about any brand of track that you want to use. Its open source now so it gets updated frequently. I downloaded my copy a long time ago and can't tell you where to get it. You can find it by doing a search or I know that someone here can give you the current address for downloading as well. If you do download it, go thru the tutorials and you'll learn it fairly easily. If you click on my Alabama Central Homepage in my sig, it will take you to my layout page. In the photo album section, you can see a copy of my layout plans. Which brings me to point #2!
2. Develop a written concept of what you would like your layout to represent. The first page of my homepage, deals with just that, the concept of my RR. A why for the layout if you will. Having a concept makes designing the plan much easier.
3. If you haven't already, get a copy of John Armstrong's "Trackplanning for Realistic Operations". It available from Kalmbach Publishing, the folks who bring us Model Railroader magazine. This one book is probably the #1 book for trackplanning that has ever been published.
4. Also get a copy of their "102 Trackplans for Model Railroaders" and if still available a copy of "101 Trackplans for Model Railroaders". This one was originally published in the late 1950's or early 1960's. It may be out of print.
These books will not be for "finding" a plan to copy, but finding many of the ideas that you are looking for. I have designed some layouts for several folks, and have found that track planning books are probably the #1 source for ideas to place in a plan.
Using these books in conjunction with a written concept can make developing a plan that you'll not only be satisfied with at the start, but also for years to come. Plus its a lot of fun!
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drew1125
Member
Hi Chad,
I know you’re getting hit with a lot of info & advice here…so my apologies in advance for overwhelming you even further…
The way I would look at your plan, if it were mine, is that it’s basically a doughnut with 4 sides…
I would think of each “side” as a separate section, or “scene” connected by the main line…
It looks like you’ve already dedicated one of the sides for a yard, & that’s good…
What you need to come up with now are the “where’s & why’s” the RR goes, to & from that yard…
OK, if this were me, I would dedicate the side opposite to the yard as one or two (at the most) industries that provide the reason for needing a RR…your imagination is the limit here…whatever type of industry peaks your interest…you’ve got the space in that section to model one or two of these, with large structures, multiple sidings, etc…lots of good operating potential…
On the sections at the top & bottom, connecting the yard & industry sections, I would make these more scenery-oriented: I.e. rural area, small town, river crossing, etc…think of these as the miles the RR travels to & from…you could do a siding or two, but I would keep the scenery-to-track ratio very high in these areas…just a RR line meandering through the countryside…
Another piece of advice I would offer is to teach yourself how to work with flex track…it frees you up a whole lot when designing & building…Go ahead & use you sectional track too, but buy yourself a couple of pieces of flex track, & try it out…it’s not as hard as you might think! You will need to get a pair of rail nippers & some small files, but you’re going to need tools anyway, so go on & get yourself some, if you don’t already have them…(while you’re at it, get yourself a scale ruler, & an x-acto knife with LOTS of extra #11 blades!)
Good luck with the layout! Keep us posted on your progress!
I know you’re getting hit with a lot of info & advice here…so my apologies in advance for overwhelming you even further…
The way I would look at your plan, if it were mine, is that it’s basically a doughnut with 4 sides…
I would think of each “side” as a separate section, or “scene” connected by the main line…
It looks like you’ve already dedicated one of the sides for a yard, & that’s good…
What you need to come up with now are the “where’s & why’s” the RR goes, to & from that yard…
OK, if this were me, I would dedicate the side opposite to the yard as one or two (at the most) industries that provide the reason for needing a RR…your imagination is the limit here…whatever type of industry peaks your interest…you’ve got the space in that section to model one or two of these, with large structures, multiple sidings, etc…lots of good operating potential…
On the sections at the top & bottom, connecting the yard & industry sections, I would make these more scenery-oriented: I.e. rural area, small town, river crossing, etc…think of these as the miles the RR travels to & from…you could do a siding or two, but I would keep the scenery-to-track ratio very high in these areas…just a RR line meandering through the countryside…
Another piece of advice I would offer is to teach yourself how to work with flex track…it frees you up a whole lot when designing & building…Go ahead & use you sectional track too, but buy yourself a couple of pieces of flex track, & try it out…it’s not as hard as you might think! You will need to get a pair of rail nippers & some small files, but you’re going to need tools anyway, so go on & get yourself some, if you don’t already have them…(while you’re at it, get yourself a scale ruler, & an x-acto knife with LOTS of extra #11 blades!)
Good luck with the layout! Keep us posted on your progress!
Beachbum
Member
Had to chuckle when I read this. Several months ago I was doodling on my train ride home after work and sketched out a 12 X 12 modular plan just as you described here. I did put a level crossing with interchange track on one of the "rural" modules.
quadmx72
Member
@cjcrescent-I have xtrackcad but failed to take the time to use it.I have the 101 track plans but not the other two you talked about.
@drew1125-excellent ideas,I do have about 75 feet of flextrack,It is kinda mixed on the table right now.
Well I hope three times a charm ,here is some changes I did tonight,I felt pretty good about this one,however there will be some minor changes that I can see already,thanks alot for everybodys help!
@drew1125-excellent ideas,I do have about 75 feet of flextrack,It is kinda mixed on the table right now.
Well I hope three times a charm ,here is some changes I did tonight,I felt pretty good about this one,however there will be some minor changes that I can see already,thanks alot for everybodys help!
West Virginia Midland Man
Member
I think he does, but the grades will not be easy.
drew1125
Member
No comments...dirty jokes....or shouts of despair about my 3rd re-do???
Sorry Chad...I've been busy laying track myself!
It looks like your plan is shaping up!
That is going to be a steep grade to get that track up & over your bridge...I have the same thin g on my layout, & I had to use about 15' of track to keep the grade managable...
One thing you need to try & avoid is having turnouts on really steep grades...they can be problematic...
That track that you have dangling over the opwearing pit...what's the plan for that? Are you going to build some benchwork under it, or push it back on the existing bench? You could tunnel it back under the high line...?
Another piece of advice I would stress (past experience talking here) is make sure all your tracl is easily accessable...you don't want to have to do a lot of reaching around & over a lot of scenery & structures to get to your track...
Keep up the good work!
You don't have enough room for a bridge in that area. The grade will be impossible. Just lose that connection in the middle. Connect the existing track on the left to the hilly track and run that up a grade to a coal or or some other kind of mine or quarry at the top. You can make a small yard up there and runaround track, so trains can pick up loads and deliver empties. Having your hilly scenery up there will serve as nice view block for the roundhouse and yard area. You can take the track down the other side of the hill and connect a switch off the the newly formed mainline so you can still have a loop for continuous running. That track in the middle just doesn't serve an useful purpose, and getting rid of it allows you to think of a bigger railroad that jsut runs in loops. I think you've basically got it, once we decide what to do about that middle track and make that lower track more interesting.
This is a rough idea of what I mean. Use the remains of the track that went across the middle as a caboose track. Join the mainline track together, with a switch coming from the mountain. You'll have a reverse loop here, so you'll need an automatic reverser, but they are inexpensive and easy to install with any DCC setup. Have the tracks climb up to the mine, but you only need maybe a 2% grade, because you can make it look steeper with the surrounding mountains and cuts. Put in your mine or quarry and then build a small yard to service the industry. The track coming down can also give the illusion of a steep grade if you use the mountainous background correctly. When I say track coming down, it can really handle traffic in either direction. It would actually be better to use the "down" track as your normal up track, so the engine is at the front of the train and can back into the yard to drop or pick up cars and the engine won't get trapped. I just thinnk getting rid of thaqt middle track and conceentrating on your mine and scenery in that area will look much better and give you more operations as well.
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Beachbum
Member
How about using it as an interchange track instead of a caboose track? Run the rails right up to the edge of the table to represent going off to another RR. You'd want to put some kind of guard there though to keep things from falling off.
If you build a coal mine, you could put a floodloader on that loop - that would be quite prototypical of the PR Basin these days.
But hey, just some random thoughts...
If you build a coal mine, you could put a floodloader on that loop - that would be quite prototypical of the PR Basin these days.
But hey, just some random thoughts...
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