My Final Trackplan.....

Gary S.

Senior Member
Hey Josh...

I'm on dial-up tonight so I didn't get to see everything, but my first impression is

"YESSSSSS, I love it!"

Your plan is certainly "aggressive" for your bedroom, but I like that. I am looking forward to your progress.

Questions and comments:

1. At what height are you building the benchwork? If you made it pretty tall, you could use the area under the layout for storage, bookshelves, maybe even your TV could go underneath, possibly even a desk for doing homework and stuff.

2. If it is fairly high above the floor, you could put the layout over your bed too. Nothing too wide, maybe a 12 inch shelf for staging?

3. How tall is your dresser? If the layout was a touch taller than the dresser, you could increase the width there, out to the front of the dresser.

4. Any reach problems in the upper left hand corner?

5. I am a bit concerned about the peninsula. There is no doubt that it dominates your room. Will you have space to change clothes and such? If it were me, I might consider deleting it.

6. Are you going to build the benchwork using shelf brackets (either store bought or home-made) or are you going with conventional benchwork with legs and such? It seems to me your layout will be perfect for using a shelf type system so the area underneath is clear for you to use for other things as mentioned above (except the peninsula).

Like I mentioned, this is a very aggressive plan, and I LOVE it! It's great seeing someone with a "go for it" attitude.
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
Now that the dial-up finally let me see the entire plan, I have another comment. This is just something I think you should think about -- do you think there may be too many tracks crammed in the space? Me, I would consider simplifying things just a touch. But either way, I still love it! It is a grand plan and adventure!

Edit: Now that I have read everyone's comments, I have to agree with the comments about adding more run-arounds. Maybe delete a few spurs but add some run-arounds?
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Hi Guys, havnt been able to log on for a couple days but im back and boy am I pleased with everyones Comments :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Going to answer everyone, its just going to take me a few mins to do that hehehe

Josh was first

great plan josh :thumb:.it will definitely not be boring! but if your carpentry skills are up to the challenge,could you make the layout high enough to clear the TV and add a shelf over it to widen the area over the dresser?--josh

Thanks Josh!!!!

The dresser is somewhere between 44" - 48" tall, Im not quite sure and Im not at home to measure the height of it bu I member it is somewhere in that region. I want my layout to be about 40-42" tall so that I am still able to reach the backs without having to stand on something so the idea of having the benchwork come all the way up to the top of the dresser is pretty much shot.

Plus I have a pretty big TV. and it sits ontop of the dresser and sticks out off the back also a little bit. That small strip that runs behind the dresser is 4" wide.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
The only run-around I see is a small one near Shop Bldg. #1. You may think about another one somewhere so as to be able to get the locomotives around and in front of or behind desired cars. It would be nice if you could fit a double mainline up through there but it seems like things are kind of tight the way they are.

Thanks Trainnut!!! I am kinda confused on what you are saying. Im pretty new and I dont get what you are saying when you say run-around? Im sure if I knew what that meant I would understand a whole lot better :eek:ops: :eek:ops: sign1

These are some areas that I would like to change to allow more cars to be backed up into the industries such as the Shop Building and Cement Complex:

Changes.jpg


I need help with the spot where the arrors are, what can I do to make these spots better serve the industries? I may need to take out the mill area (rolling mill and Allied Rail Re-Builders to do so and im fine with that.


This may be the first thread in Zealot history where every post on the first page was made by the author of the thread!:mrgreen::thumb:
sign1sign1sign1sign1 I was supprised I made it thru the whole page without someone posting, I think it took me about an hour to post all of them too hehehehe
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
I really like your trackplan, TruckLover, I wish I could do that kina thing with MY bedroom! Just asking though, where are you gonna build things now? you dont have a workbench on this.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
TrainNut beat me to it while I was double checking the track plan. Another run-around (and a longer one, if possible) would probably make your life a lot easier when it comes time to operate this layout.

Thanks Scott!!! I need some help with those run-arounds (first I need to understand what they are lol) so if you could give any advise I would appricate it :mrgreen:

Also, I applaud your sense of minimalism (in terms of furniture) but I don't think you went far enough. Get rid of the bed too. A sleeping bag should fit in the closet when you're not using it, thereby freeing up more space for another industry or two. And that dresser, throw that in the closet too. Furniture is *so* over-rated. :mrgreen:

sign1sign1sign1sign1 Dang that sounds like a good idea, toss the bed and put the dresser in the closet hehehehehe :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Hey Josh...

I'm on dial-up tonight so I didn't get to see everything, but my first impression is

"YESSSSSS, I love it!"

Your plan is certainly "aggressive" for your bedroom, but I like that. I am looking forward to your progress.

Thanks so much Gary!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Now to answer your questions :thumb: :mrgreen:

1. At what height are you building the benchwork? If you made it pretty tall, you could use the area under the layout for storage, bookshelves, maybe even your TV could go underneath, possibly even a desk for doing homework and stuff.

Like I said above in answering Josh's post, I want it to be about 40-42" tall, thats a comfortable height for me to stand up and reach across. I would like to use the space under the layout for storage. I wouldnt put a TV. down there but I should would put boxes and other layout stuff that I have down there. Im am currently doing this with my layout that I have right now, its all storage underneith.

2. If it is fairly high above the floor, you could put the layout over your bed too. Nothing too wide, maybe a 12 inch shelf for staging?

Now theres a neat idea!!!! I would like to do that, it wouldnt even have to be 12" wide, something more like 8", I could get 3 tracks maybe even 4 on there right? That would be a nice little staging yard and it would clear my bed (at least that side would be cause the headboard is way too tall)

3. How tall is your dresser? If the layout was a touch taller than the dresser, you could increase the width there, out to the front of the dresser.

trucklover said:
The dresser is somewhere between 44" - 48" tall, Im not quite sure and Im not at home to measure the height of it bu I member it is somewhere in that region.

Also my TV sits atop the dresser so no layout space could be used up on it anyways lol

4. Any reach problems in the upper left hand corner?

There could be a problem in that spot, I see it now and I didnt see it before, but luckly there will only be those Oil Storage tanks in the back, no tracks will be back there so it shouldnt be a problem :mrgreen:

5. I am a bit concerned about the peninsula. There is no doubt that it dominates your room. Will you have space to change clothes and such? If it were me, I might consider deleting it.

I think that the peninsula will be okay, plus if I got rid of it, that would eliminate the whole cement complex :eek: as it doesnt fit real well any place else. And hey, thats what the walk-in area is for, to change clothes and such right? heheheheheehe

6. Are you going to build the benchwork using shelf brackets (either store bought or home-made) or are you going with conventional benchwork with legs and such? It seems to me your layout will be perfect for using a shelf type system so the area underneath is clear for you to use for other things as mentioned above (except the peninsula).

Ill be using the traditional/conventional benchwork with legs. I think some of the spots will be to wide for shelf style and it wont support the weight very much, I'll do a couple spots like in the walk-in, behind the dresser, and that new staging plan you suggested using shelfs

Like I mentioned, this is a very aggressive plan, and I LOVE it! It's great seeing someone with a "go for it" attitude.

hehehe I do have a "go-for-it" attitude on this one, I want to start my first good sized layout so bad :mrgreen: Thanks again Gary and if you could give me any pointers/advise on those run-around things that would be great :mrgreen: as well as any other questions you might have for me :thumb: :mrgreen:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Now that the dial-up finally let me see the entire plan, I have another comment. This is just something I think you should think about -- do you think there may be too many tracks crammed in the space? Me, I would consider simplifying things just a touch. But either way, I still love it! It is a grand plan and adventure!

I like the idea of having alot of tracks, it will deffinetly keep me busy thats for sure :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Edit: Now that I have read everyone's comments, I have to agree with the comments about adding more run-arounds. Maybe delete a few spurs but add some run-arounds?

I would like to do this, any suggestions on where to put them in at?
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I really like your trackplan, TruckLover, I wish I could do that kina thing with MY bedroom! Just asking though, where are you gonna build things now? you dont have a workbench on this.

Thanks CNWman!! hehehehe Im loving the idea of having trains and in the same room as I sleep in, its already cool right now having my smaller layout in my room and this is going to be just flat out awesome!!

Im not going to have a workbench lol, Ill prolly end up building things on a corner of the layout/benchwork cause im not going to be building all the buildings at one time, this is going to take me a lil while and om going to take it one industry at a time I think :mrgreen: :mrgreen: So I will have room to work until my last industry is being built sign1
 

Nomad

Active Member
Josh, a runaround is a way for the engine to get behind a car and push it. For instance, when you leave armstrong electric and need to get a car to the adm building, how are you going to get behind the car to pull and push it into there? You need some way to runaround the train. The same thing when you get to the other end of the layout. Without a runaround, your engine will be trapped unless you use the 0-5-0 switcher.

Loren
 

jbaakko

Active Member
Here's my thoughts.

#1 I back everyone in adding a longer run around, and maybe a 2nd. To keep it more urban, you don't need much, as I'd imagine trains are short enough for the "backwards" industries at the bottom. big thing is when the train leaves with a cut of cars, can it run around it's self.

#2 All but the bottom industries face the same way in switching, which is nice, but sometimes there's something opposite. I've added one possibility towards the top. Heck you can just make it a team track with a small ramp, for unloading new heavy equipment. ;) ;)

#3 Where to stage trains? I know you want to switch the industries, but its going to get boring REALLY fast when you can pull the cars out from the industry, then have to put them right back because you've got no "off layout" spot to go. Picking them off and putting them on the mainline in the middle might be ok, but will also get boring. Even though you loose 2 industries, I'd suggest making the area in the door way into a staging yard, or leaving it as is, but USING it as one 90% of the time.
 

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Gary S.

Senior Member
Josh:

I'll try to explain the need for a run-around using the diagram below.

To set out a car in the industry spur, the engine has to be on the west side (left) of the car to be set out. The engine has to back the car into the spur and drop it off, then the engine pulls back out.

So, in Scenario #1, a train heading to the west (left) has no problem setting out a car in the spur. For a train heading west, the turn-out and spur is known as a trailing-point spur. As the train travels west, it will stop so that the rear of the car to be set on the spur is at point "A". Then it will uncouple from the remainder of the cars. Then it pulls forward past the switch, then backs the car into the spur. It uncouples, pulls out of the spur, then backs up to get the rest of the cars and then proceeds on its journey west.

Now, still in scenario #1, if a train is traveling to the east, the Turn-out and spur is known as a facing-point spur. Notice that there is no way to back the car into the spur. The loco would have to pull into the spur first, and would then be trapped by the car that needs to be left there. So generally, a car can only be set out on a trailing point spur.

Now look at scenario #2. A run-around track has been added. If a train is heading east and wants to set out a car at the spur, it does the following. The train stops with the front of the car at point "B". The loco then pulls forward (east) until it clears the turn-out of the run-around. Then it backs up using the run-around to get behind the car. Now the loco is on the proper side of the car to push it into the spur and leave it. Then the loco again uses the run-around to get back on the east end of the remaining cars so it can continue its journey east.

The location and length of the run-arounds are pretty important. A well-thought out plan will be "easy" to operate. A poor arrangement of run-arounds can be a nightmare (but some people enjoy that - like the "timesaver" modules and such).

I hope this helps. Listen to everyone's advice, and don't be afraid to deviate from your plan if you get some ideas for improvement that are based on logical operating procedures.
 

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TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
#1 I back everyone in adding a longer run around, and maybe a 2nd. To keep it more urban, you don't need much, as I'd imagine trains are short enough for the "backwards" industries at the bottom. big thing is when the train leaves with a cut of cars, can it run around it's self.

I agree, I am adding in the longer run around by the shop building. Im going to leave the other two out that are by the grain complex tho, thats still going to be some more grain details (the new ones that walthers is coming out with, I cant draw them in yet as they havnt released the final dimentions for the buildings....) and the other one up there that was coming off the mainline I dont think I need anymore with the BIG run-around I just put in next to the refinery.

#2 All but the bottom industries face the same way in switching, which is nice, but sometimes there's something opposite. I've added one possibility towards the top. Heck you can just make it a team track with a small ramp, for unloading new heavy equipment. ;) ;)

again thats the spot where the grain details that walthers is releasing will go so....

#3 Where to stage trains? I know you want to switch the industries, but its going to get boring REALLY fast when you can pull the cars out from the industry, then have to put them right back because you've got no "off layout" spot to go. Picking them off and putting them on the mainline in the middle might be ok, but will also get boring. Even though you loose 2 industries, I'd suggest making the area in the door way into a staging yard, or leaving it as is, but USING it as one 90% of the time.

Im going with Gary's idea of a small staging shelf along side my bed, that it will have 3 very long tracks on it that should suit my needs and will act as a good car storage area also :thumb:

Got to draw that in also on the plan
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Josh, a runaround is a way for the engine to get behind a car and push it. For instance, when you leave armstrong electric and need to get a car to the adm building, how are you going to get behind the car to pull and push it into there? You need some way to runaround the train. The same thing when you get to the other end of the layout. Without a runaround, your engine will be trapped unless you use the 0-5-0 switcher.

Josh:

I'll try to explain the need for a run-around using the diagram below.

To set out a car in the industry spur, the engine has to be on the west side (left) of the car to be set out. The engine has to back the car into the spur and drop it off, then the engine pulls back out.

So, in Scenario #1, a train heading to the west (left) has no problem setting out a car in the spur. For a train heading west, the turn-out and spur is known as a trailing-point spur. As the train travels west, it will stop so that the rear of the car to be set on the spur is at point "A". Then it will uncouple from the remainder of the cars. Then it pulls forward past the switch, then backs the car into the spur. It uncouples, pulls out of the spur, then backs up to get the rest of the cars and then proceeds on its journey west.

Now, still in scenario #1, if a train is traveling to the east, the Turn-out and spur is known as a facing-point spur. Notice that there is no way to back the car into the spur. The loco would have to pull into the spur first, and would then be trapped by the car that needs to be left there. So generally, a car can only be set out on a trailing point spur.

Now look at scenario #2. A run-around track has been added. If a train is heading east and wants to set out a car at the spur, it does the following. The train stops with the front of the car at point "B". The loco then pulls forward (east) until it clears the turn-out of the run-around. Then it backs up using the run-around to get behind the car. Now the loco is on the proper side of the car to push it into the spur and leave it. Then the loco again uses the run-around to get back on the east end of the remaining cars so it can continue its journey east.

The location and length of the run-arounds are pretty important. A well-thought out plan will be "easy" to operate. A poor arrangement of run-arounds can be a nightmare (but some people enjoy that - like the "timesaver" modules and such).

I hope this helps. Listen to everyone's advice, and don't be afraid to deviate from your plan if you get some ideas for improvement that are based on logical operating procedures.

Thanks Loren and Gary. I now know what run-around tracks are!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Gary, thank-you for the nice lesson, I was able to understand it with ease!! I appreciate it and it really helped me edit in some run-arounds on my plan :thumb: :mrgreen: :thumb: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I would like to thank everyone that has helped me out with this, I am really learning alot and I just wanted to say a BIG thanks to everyone who has helped me so far, thanks a lot guys, i really do appreciate it :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :thumb:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
okay so here is the plan edited with the longer run-around in and also another long one

Run-Arounds.jpg


You can see that I made the 1st run-around that I already had longer and I also added in a second really long run-around next to the refinery. This one comes off the mainline on a curved turnout up by the grain complex. I took out a track that was in the refinery complex to make room for the 2nd run-around.


Member that GREEN tracks are the Mainline and the GREY sidings and spurs

ohh and one more thing, I fixed all the measurements on the benchwork, everything is all 100% correct now, I spent 2 hours fixing all of it lol

Now to add the staging yard
 

TrainNut

Ditat Deus
I really like this just how you have it... BUT, just a thought here... what if you put a nice double main line across the top with some cross overs (not shown). That way, you could use your double main line as your run around and then disburse the cars to their appropriate locations from there. If you did that, you could simplify some of the other areas where you are trying to work in longer runarounds. It could also bring in a little diversity as you could put those really big engines on the main line that you wouldn't normally use to shunt traffic around.
Run-Arounds.jpg
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Im liking that idea, and your rite, it would make more use out of my bigger engines. Ill add that idea in too, I think it could benifit me and ill just have to sacrafice 2 of the tall oil storage tanks. Gonna work on it rite now, post back in a few mins :thumb: :mrgreen: :cool:
 
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