My Final Trackplan.....

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Thanks Loren!!! I couldnt have done it without you guys!!

Okay I just finished the Staging yard that Gary suggested I put in.

StagingYard.jpg


It is over my bed and it will be a shelf construction mounted on the wall so no legs will be used. 2 track staging yard and it is 4" wide to keep the sleeping space to a maximum hehehehehe

I also changed the postion on the Allied Rail Re-builders Building and I had to delete one of them to make room for the track.

Now to do Trainnut's suggestion, adding that double main at the top.




I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions guys, thanks very much :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
Josh, I am assuming that you plan on uncoupling cars by hand? With the short spurs and curves and such, it will be pretty difficult to get consistent uncoupling with magnets.

Another thought:

I did alot of research when I was designing my layout. One thing I read was the following, which I think you should consider.

Using the diagram below: Scenario #1 and Scenario #2 both can hold 2 cars. The first scenario has a turnout with all the added complication and expense. The second scenario is just a straight piece of track, simple and easy. But as I said, both will hold 2 cars. Using #2 will simplify your trackwork, save money, free up some space for industries, and make your switching of cars a little more interesting because you may have to pull a car out of the spur, set a new car in, then put the first car back where it was.

So instead of having two short little spurs behind the turn-out, you have the single spur serve two different industries.

There are a few places on your layout that may be candidates for this.
 

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Gary S.

Senior Member
Another note, Josh:

I'm still thinking you have too much stuff crammed in the space. My two cents is to simplify things a bit, and as you go along, I'm going to keep prodding you on this point. But don't get me wrong... I think your overall goal is fantastic and I am really psyched at what you are trying to accomplish. I just want you to succeed with the layout, and sometimes making things simpler will help you achieve your goals.

One thing you may consider is to go ahead and build the benchwork, and put in the main tracks from staging over your bed all the way around the layout to the door. Then, as you start to put in all the spurs, it will allow you to make changes based on what is really feasible versus what you have down on paper.

What locos will you be running? From what I am seeing, you are going to be stuck with switchers and smaller 4 axle geeps? And what is the radius of the curve which goes from the section by the door to the section behind the dresser? That one looks pretty sharp.

Again Josh, I am not trying to discourage you, no, what I am doing is getting you to think about everything so you can make sure you don't hit an unforeseen snag and get discouraged. I really really want you to get this layout built and to enjoy operating it.:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Josh, I am assuming that you plan on uncoupling cars by hand? With the short spurs and curves and such, it will be pretty difficult to get consistent uncoupling with magnets.

Nope, you got it right, I will be doing all the uncoupling by hand


I did alot of research when I was designing my layout. One thing I read was the following, which I think you should consider.

Using the diagram below: Scenario #1 and Scenario #2 both can hold 2 cars. The first scenario has a turnout with all the added complication and expense. The second scenario is just a straight piece of track, simple and easy. But as I said, both will hold 2 cars. Using #2 will simplify your trackwork, save money, free up some space for industries, and make your switching of cars a little more interesting because you may have to pull a car out of the spur, set a new car in, then put the first car back where it was.

So instead of having two short little spurs behind the turn-out, you have the single spur serve two different industries.

There are a few places on your layout that may be candidates for this.


That is some exellent advise Gary!!!! Thank-you, I will be editing some of my spurs, I see 3 right now and im sure there is at least a couple more in there that I can free up. It will save me money when it comes to trackwork!!! Thanks again for the advise, ill be changing those after im done posting Trainnuts idea :mrgreen:
 

TrainNut

Ditat Deus
...One thing you may consider is to go ahead and build the benchwork, and put in the main tracks from staging over your bed all the way around the layout to the door.
I'm having trouble following this but I wonder if we are thinking sort of the same thing. Complete the loop! Bring your new staging yard around and up over the headboard of your bed. Cross your aisleway with a liftout or a foldup bridge of some sort past Heritage furniture and.. TADA... a continuous loop.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
One thing you may consider is to go ahead and build the benchwork, and put in the main tracks from staging over your bed all the way around the layout to the door. Then, as you start to put in all the spurs, it will allow you to make changes based on what is really feasible versus what you have down on paper.

thats always what kinda happens to me lol, I get the mainline down and then the industries in but the spurs never end up quite the same lol

What locos will you be running? From what I am seeing, you are going to be stuck with switchers and smaller 4 axle geeps? And what is the radius of the curve which goes from the section by the door to the section behind the dresser? That one looks pretty sharp.

Ill be running smaller 4 axles thru-out most of the layout but I also will have bigger 6 axles too (not doing switching of coarse, just passing by on the mainlines)

The section where the dresser is is a very tight curve and the more I look at it and think about it and now that you said something, I need to make it bigger somehow but im not sure how to do it yet.

Again Josh, I am not trying to discourage you, no, what I am doing is getting you to think about everything so you can make sure you don't hit an unforeseen snag and get discouraged. I really really want you to get this layout built and to enjoy operating it.:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

Who you kidding Gary? I love all the advise and suggestions you guys are giving me, look how much better my plan has gotten!!! Keep it coming I say :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I just cant believe how much of a help you guys are and have been, so for that thank-you
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I'm having trouble following this but I wonder if we are thinking sort of the same thing. Complete the loop! Bring your new staging yard around and up over the headboard of your bed. Cross your aisleway with a liftout or a foldup bridge of some sort past Heritage furniture and.. TADA... a continuous loop.

Dang I was thinking the same exact thing but I dont think thats going to happen, I would really like to do it but im affraid my dad would think thats too far lol, he was already hesitante about the way it is right now but he said it was okay if I wanted to do it, im happy with this right now, I might add it in later.

Here is the newest version of the plan with your idea in it with the double main at the top, I like it alot!!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

MainlineandADMComplexRe-Done.jpg


Theres three 12.5 degree crossings in there


Now to edit those spurs as Gary said
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
I'm having trouble following this but I wonder if we are thinking sort of the same thing. Complete the loop!

What I was saying is this: Don't be surprised if once the benchwork gets built, that the plan gets changed. All those spurs and complicated trackwork look great now, but once you start laying the stuff out for real, you may have second thoughts that "simpler is better." Keep an open mind, and don't seek out unnecessary complications.

I don't think there is enough room for a continuous loop down by the door area.

Edit: Oh! I see what you are saying... the removable bridge could go from the headboard area across the aisle to the shelf behind the dresser. Hmmm.....

Josh, if you need, I can show you some pics of how I did my removable bridge. It is simple, compact, and working great.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
here is the plan with 3 of the spurs taken out that I saw right away, took out one at the Custom warehouse (turquoise building) and 2 at the cement complex, see anymore that I could do without?

spursedited.jpg
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
Who you kidding Gary? I love all the advise and suggestions you guys are giving me, look how much better my plan has gotten!!! Keep it coming I say :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I just cant believe how much of a help you guys are and have been, so for that thank-you

Thank you Josh for understanding where I am coming from. Your plan is just so utterly outrageous and full of passion that I can't help but be impressed. I mean, the whole room full of railroad! Wow!
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
What I was saying is this: Don't be surprised if once the benchwork gets built, that the plan gets changed. All those spurs and complicated trackwork look great now, but once you start laying the stuff out for real, you may have second thoughts that "simpler is better." Keep an open mind, and don't seek out unnecessary complications.

Im starting to get it now hehehehe, just keep pounding it in my head :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


Edit: Oh! I see what you are saying... the removable bridge could go from the headboard area across the aisle to the shelf behind the dresser. Hmmm.....

Josh, if you need, I can show you some pics of how I did my removable bridge. It is simple, compact, and working great.


I really would like to do that removable bridge thing!!!!!!!!!! I just have no idea what my dad would say as I would have to move it everytime I walk in and out of the room lol.

Or could I leave it out and put it in when needed?

I would love to see some pics of your removable bridge Gary, the more think about it and we talk about it the more I want to do it, that would really make things alot easyer!!!!
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Thank you Josh for understanding where I am coming from. Your plan is just so utterly outrageous and full of passion that I can't help but be impressed. I mean, the whole room full of railroad! Wow!

hehehehe I know, im loving it more and more every second!!! I think I fell in love all over, shhhhhhh dont tell my gf hehehehehe
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
The bridge could be left out except when you are running trains. I should have my camera tomorrow night, I'll take some photos of it and how it connects to the layout. It actually spans about 3 feet 6 inches. It consists of "unistrut" which is strong metal channel iron, and on that I added some girder bridges and a truss bridge.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
never mind about the idea of the bridge thing, theres just no way I could do it right now, that would be over doing it and its already overdone hehehehehehehe

I still might add it in later on but deffinetly not right now, id still like to see your pics Gary!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Errr.... has your dad given you approval for any of the layout yet??:eek:

hahaha yeah, he loves it but he said no more and that was before I made the change to the penesula by making it wider in that spot. I have the okay to start construction I just know hes not going to approve of the bridge thing right now lol
 

TrainNut

Ditat Deus
...I just know hes not going to approve of the bridge thing right now lol
But see that's the beauty of a removable bridge - It's only up when your operating. The rest of the time, it's under the bed, out of sight!
Just kidding :mrgreen: and don't feel like I'm trying to convince you. It was just a thought to be taken or left. That's the neat thing about helping out with somebody elses layout... you can come up with this kind of stuff and nothing gained, nothing lost.:mrgreen: Your fathers approval is most important at this point. We don't want to come up with something so wild that he throws in the towel on the whole project.:eek: Cool double mainline. Those crossovers are going to be a very busy place! It might need some more thought but I think you've got a good basis for exploring that option.
That cement complex is going to be an AWESOME focal point!
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
But see that's the beauty of a removable bridge - It's only up when your operating. The rest of the time, it's under the bed, out of sight!
Just kidding :mrgreen: and don't feel like I'm trying to convince you. It was just a thought to be taken or left. That's the neat thing about helping out with somebody elses layout... you can come up with this kind of stuff and nothing gained, nothing lost.:mrgreen: Your fathers approval is most important at this point. We don't want to come up with something so wild that he throws in the towel on the whole project.:eek: Cool double mainline. Those crossovers are going to be a very busy place! It might need some more thought but I think you've got a good basis for exploring that option.
That cement complex is going to be an AWESOME focal point!


hehehehehehehehe I know, I would really like to do the bridge thing but i just wont be able to do it right now, and I know you guys arent trying to push me, your just trying to help me and suggest new ideas to help make my layout even better then it already will be :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


Yeah, im most exited for the cement complex, thats going to be a blst to build!!!!
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
I got a suggestion to put a Diesel Fuling Facility down by the Rolling Mill and the Allied Rail Mill area. I liked the idea and im working on adding it in right now.
 
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