TruckLover said:
Ya I was thinking of doing that. Thanks Russ
As for the track layout, I was trying to create a custom one using Atlas Freeware Track Program but they don't have the 26" to 30" radius that I need for the engines and 85' cars.
I guess I will just have to lay track out on the table and try to come up with something that works.
if you click special, then shape flex track, you can put in the dimenisons for the curves you want.
in any event, you certainly don't need 26-30" curves for that sort of thing. I made a layout with 22"s and 24"s that should work. I wasn't aware that you wanted to run autoracks though so there is no yard for that ( speaking of which, an auotrack yard is almost to big for anyone to model anyway, considering the size) , but the big diesels will be fine on this layout.
all of it is atlas code 83. Each track is color coded if its important (it also makes it easier to see). Its a point to point run, with no continuous running.
The mainline run arounds use #8s, the other 3 mainline switches are a #6 into the main industrial park, a # 4 to a team track, and i think another #8 into the cement complex. Towards the left, the mainline is hidden by containers ( or silos, I'll get to that later) so that you cannot see the tracks dip below the table to staging. the green tracks should start going down, hidden by the scenery, and by the blue tracks, it should be under the table and heading into a 24" helix. I didn't make a staging level, but it should really be a bunch of long tracks, and a reverse loop so the trains can turn around. Also on the mainline is a long run around track, and there should be enough room. that is higlighted in light blue. It is common practice on railroads (CSAO does this on the track near my house) to run to locomotives facing in different directions, so that one is always facing forward, and the crew can switch from one locomotive to the other, so you won't have to worry about pulling your trains long hood forward all the time ( unless you like NS to...)
the Orange tracks are part of the cement complex. it has a #4 switch, one going Walthers Medusa cement, and the other to a loading dock for boxcars, as appears common when i look at suck facilites on google earth.
the Dark Grey track is a team track, which takes generic freight from the surrounding area for businesses not right next to the tracks.
Next is the whole Industrial park. The Purple track is the Industrial lead, which allows your trains to acess the Yellow and light Grey tracks.
The yellow tracks could be a container facility for intermodal trains, or you can make it a grain elevator with lots of extra silos for grain trains. both should hide the tracks behind it and are interesting.
the light grey tracks are supposed to be a junk yard, where you can bring in gondolas to take out the scrap metal.
on the other side, you have 2 red tracks, and a tan track. the 2 red ones can be a generic industry ( like a ware house or something like Walther's Magic Pan modern bakery), while the tan one is a lumber yard. the lumber yard has a freight platform to recieve and deliver other shipments at the end of the track, while the res it devoted to centerbeam or end bulkhead flats loaded with lumber.
There should be enough switiching here to to keep you busy for a while. the scenry is more or less based on Various places i've seen through out northern NJ ( where CSX, NS, CSAO aka Conrail, UP, CN, and occaisonaly BNSF trains can be seen). All in all, there should be enough room to run a pair of 6 axle diesels just fine, although they usually use smaller locomotives to do industrial switching.
there is also about a 4' by 3' area in the middle to stand in. as long as the right side is open ( so you can reach that side of the layout) you shouldn't have any problems reachin anything.
what do you think?