much adeiu about nothing... or a 14' x 15' loosely based on FGLK

bob_suruncle

New Member
After many kicks at the proverbial cat and much thought about whether or not to post my efforts may I present my humble layout. Hoping to start construction before the cold weather ends... still have a few minor givens and druthers to iron out but the basic plan should remain intact.

Loosely based on the Finger lakes Railroad only I plan to backdate as the whim hits me and run steam era trains as well.... only they will be lettered for FGLK too... yes I know it never really happened but this allows me some level of freelancing while maintaining a loose grounding in reality.... besides its my layout so I can do whatever I want :razz: :mrgreen:

By the way the grades are not marked but the trackage along the wall will be about 5" higher than the yard and other tracks along the front edge of the layout.
 

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Nomad

Active Member
I really like your track plan. It looks like you plan on running trains in both directions?

Loren
 

bob_suruncle

New Member
I really like your track plan. It looks like you plan on running trains in both directions?

Loren

Yes the staging under the layout is "through staging" consisting of 3 tracks capable of holding a 25 plus car train. The way its set up I can run a train on the main continuously while switching the yard or the upper branch all without fouling the main.
 

Nomad

Active Member
I noticed the 2 sidings on top have no runaround, so you will need to run opposite direction trains. I like that. Kind of mixes thing up. Do you have access to the corners?

Loren
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
I really like it! Seriously, were I in the track planning stage I think I'd plagiarize it a bit. :thumb:
Ralph
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
What is your minimum radius in the plan, and how big would your steam locomotives be? Frequently steam engines will not handle the radius that diesels handle easily. If you are running even an 18 inch minimum radius on the return curve behind the Penn Yan yard it looks to be over 40 inches to reach the back of the layout in that corner unless you have access on that side.
 
Very nice work. Why did you choose a crossover on the lower turnback vs just sending it around the curve, with the staging cutoff descending and the return ascending? And what do you have planned to go in that space?
 

ozzman

New Member
Overall it's an excellent plan. I'm tempted to adopt elements of it into my own current planning. When do you think you might start construction?
 
You know, after studying the plan, I may have answered my own question. I can see how moving the passing siding away from the industry keeps an inside curve up front (which IMO makes trains look better and curves seem broader), minimizes the amount of retaining wall necessary between tracks, creates a more interesting rail-over-rail crossing, and keeps the end of the passing siding in the loop up front so the turnout as well as any uncoupling manuevers are accessible.

But what were your reasons?

And what do you have planned for that space (specifically, will it hide the staging cutoff)?
 

bob_suruncle

New Member
wow lotsa questions :mrgreen: minimum radius during planning was 20" and I dont think I have anything under 21. My largest steam will be a heavy mike.

in terms of the some of the other comments... well here is my latest revision.
The area on the lower blob now allows me to model one of the gorges along the way with a nice curved bridge without affecting entry into staging below.

The original thought with the crossover was to add a visually interesting element and a scene divider in one. Now I will simply use scenery profiles and trees to do that. Much cleaner I think.
 

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Next question - what sort of grades will you use on the descent/ascent into/out of staging, and on the main line above/crossing over the staging lead?

Nice changes, a great plan!
 

bob_suruncle

New Member
Next question - what sort of grades will you use on the descent/ascent into/out of staging, and on the main line above/crossing over the staging lead?

Nice changes, a great plan!

Grades will be .....ooooh... about that much.:mrgreen: given the equipment I am running and the room available the run down to staging I will have to play with this but for all visible sections it should be right around 2.5 - 3%.
 
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