Ohhh Boy...

tetters

tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
Jan 21, 2005
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0
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
So while I've been diligently working away at the small details on my layout, I've been contemplating something drastic. With the addition of a seven foot section in the works, the bench work completed and ready to be installed, I've been getting ideas. The idea would involve a major do over of my layout in certain areas. I would do my best to keep the yard tracks intact at the lower portion of the layout, however, it would involve pretty much changing and redoing a good chunk of the track work at the bottom right corner.

Part of this is to also give the bottom right section a complete makeover. Right now I have a few tracks there for engine servicing. However, the more I look at layouts with dockside tracks the more I fall in love with the idea of having a small lake port with a rail car barge and small tug sitting dock side while a switcher unloads and loads cars. The harbor, the wood dock, barge, I love it.

Another problem is, I do not know what to do with the top left end of the layout. I've got a decent sized chunk of real-estate there, however the little voice at the back of my head is saying less is more and I don't want to get carried away. A part of me is contemplating just stretching out the existing track work to create more distance between the industries and provide more room for non-RR structures and roads for vehicles. I have been thinking about removing the one sided x-over in the area as well and just spacing the turnouts so that it isn't needed.

The old.
CP_Shelf_Layout_4_2_.jpg


The new.

Cpdocksideswitchinglayout.jpg
 
I like your idea. Moving and enlarging the industries to allow a bit more space for them would result in industries that would look like they are big enough to actually be served by trains. Small industries would have been served by trains prior to WW2, but since the war, the cost of laying spur tracks down and maintaining the tracks has resulted in most if not all small businesses going to trucks for their freight service. Rail service is more and more going to large industries that can handle a whole train or at least a half dozen carloads or more at a time.
 
Cpdocksideswitchinglayout-2.jpg


Just playing around with the track plan some more.

So I relocated the passing siding on at the top section to the right of the main...that's right...the main. I didn't really think I had one on my present design however I think its fitting that the longest stretch of track from one end to the next should be considered my mainline. I also moved the t.o.'s off the main a bit to get more track in between them and the main. The longest spur at the top I figure could serve two industries instead of just one. Maybe.

Down in the yard the track the 6th track from the edge of the bench work I added a cross-over as an escape in case I find my loco on the wrong end of a train. Looking at it I could move it further right and closer to the dock to make the usable track space a bit longer.

I'd like to know what others think of it so far. I'm betting that I'm going to start working on this in the new year. As I don't really have the time, nor the heart to just start dismantling sections just yet.
 
What about destination industries in the other corner?

What really is a pity is that you can't put a terminal for that rail barge in the upper right corner and mimic the actually cross-water transport. I guess if you loaded a barge made to function like a casette and moved it across the room to the other terminal...:confused:
 
Tetters, you are absolutely crazy to want to change your wonderful trackwork before it is even finished, but the harbor and the barge are a wonderful idea – I would do it :thumb:. To stretch the upper left side is a good idea too. But instead of just drawing plans for the tracks, did you try to put in structures and streets to see if your track plan will allow you to build a convincing scene?
 
Mountain Man said:
What about destination industries in the other corner?

What really is a pity is that you can't put a terminal for that rail barge in the upper right corner and mimic the actually cross-water transport. I guess if you loaded a barge made to function like a casette and moved it across the room to the other terminal...:confused:
Click to expand...

I had thought about making the float a cassette if only for it to function as an off the layout staging area. I had thought about making two. So I could swap cassettes. However, I'm trying to keep it simple, I think one float and one dock scene is more then enough for me to handle. :thumb:
 
cnw1961 said:
Tetters, you are absolutely crazy to want to change your wonderful trackwork before it is even finished, but the harbor and the barge are a wonderful idea – I would do it :thumb:. To stretch the upper left side is a good idea too. But instead of just drawing plans for the tracks, did you try to put in structures and streets to see if your track plan will allow you to build a convincing scene?
Click to expand...

I could use some ideas actually. I would welcome anything that anyone could offer. Right now, I'm thinking operations. I have the concept in my head, I just have a hard time putting it all on paper...so to speak. If you have something in mind, I'd love to see it. Your original track plan from a couple years ago gave me the jump start and the motivation to get going.

I just flipped it upside-down. :thumb:

Model_Trains1.jpg


Look familiar? sign1
 
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