A Update

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Good point.

I guess it depends on what's going on the two tracks "east" of the elevator spurs. If they can be shorter, I can skootch everything east a bit and lengthen the elevator spurs.
 

brakie

Active Member
First,Good job Squid and many thanks.:thumb:

Guys,We have the layout roughed in..Now we need to fine tune it..
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Rail Ohio,Good point about the grain elevator..As it is now it defeats the "super size" elevator that I am working on..I ordered the second ADM kit so I can add the silos and head house to the to the first kit..There will be silos on both sides of the main building..The operation will be similar to Central Soya in Marion.
I believe it would be better to place it in the upper right hand corner and place the paper mill where the elevator is.I need a lot of headroom so I can spot at least 7 cars on each track and still clear the load out shed by 6 lengths on the load track if I can swing 7 cars..
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Thought..Could we use a Atlas 22.5 degree crossing instead of the 25?
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Question:What size curves did you use?
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Larry,

I'm reminded of the old SNL skit, the "Lowered Expectations Dating Service". :)

Keep in mind that a 50' covered hopper is about 4.5" in N-scale. To get your 8-car track for the silos, you're looking at 3' of track. That's a lot of track on an 80" door! I put 10 cars on the top spurs so you could see what it looks like:
 

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railohio

Active Member
Larry,Keep in mind that a 50' covered hopper is about 4.5" in N-scale. To get your 8-car track for the silos, you're looking at 3' of track. That's a lot of track on an 80" door! I put 10 cars on the top spurs so you could see what it looks like:

And if you could make one track a car longer then it would be possible to hold a nine car train there, three on the loading track and six on the extra, and load them in equal cuts. Now all he needs is a working Trackmobile in N scale! :eek:
 

brakie

Active Member
Guys,This is from actual testing..A 30" piece of flex will hold 5 cars from loading shed to the end of track and 2 cars beyond with the elevator slightly off center...So,I think 46" should suffice.Sound like a lot? Its not because my old door layout I had in the 80s had 2 46" yard tracks then,-if memory serves,a 40",38" and 30".I do recall the 40" tracks because those was my primary makeup tracks.


Where to put this monster is the next question..



Now you can see why I ask for help.I never had this problem before and why is that? I am tempting some of my crazy ideas that I thought of while railfanning.

Oh not to worry I remain flexible if those ideas are to hair brained.sign1

Besides all that,several minds on the same track usually ends up with excellent results..
 
Looking good!

If you wanted a big elevator, maybe you could have the top sidings start all the way in the upper left right after the curve, and run the length of the layout along the top.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Larry,

Something like this?

Of course now with such long tracks, any moves in the elevator are going to foul the main... do we need a lead up there too?
 

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tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
You'd almost need to out a lead up there and it looks like there is only room for a slip switch too. Unless I'm missing something?

BTW - I'm really enjoying watching how this is developing. :thumb:
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
You'd almost need to out a lead up there and it looks like there is only room for a slip switch too. Unless I'm missing something?

Sheesh! The guy hand-lays one double-slip switch, and starts seeing a need for them everywhere! :p :D

BTW - I'm really enjoying watching how this is developing. :thumb:

Thanks! I'm having fun too! This is one of the parts of the hobby I enjoy the most.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Larry,

I don't know if I asked this before - what type of track were you planning on using? I've been using Peco Code 80 turnouts and such for this so far.... if you were planning on using Atlas, I should re-tool the thing so it's correct.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
It can be done with Atlas track, but I don't like the result as much. Peco turnouts are constant radius, while Atlas are fixed frog angle. The Pecos make for nicer trackwork in small spaces.
 

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railohio

Active Member
Shouldn't need a lead up there. This seems like a train-a-day out-and-back style of branch. Nothing to get in the way of if there's only one train running at a time. I thought the one at the bottom was rather a waste since Larry is going to be the only operator, but I thought better of saying anything. Now, however, the gloves are off!
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
I thought the one at the bottom was rather a waste since Larry is going to be the only operator, but I thought better of saying anything. Now, however, the gloves are off!

Well, my thinking was that even though Larry is very interested in operation, I think we all like to see the trains roll from time to time without having to think about it. The lead on the yard lets Larry kick cars while something rolls around on the main, for those times when he just wants to relax and putter, rather than "operate".
 
C

Catt

I'm looking at this plan and thinking it would be great for my Z scale layout,except I would go bankrupt buying MTL track and turnouts.

But still the thought is there. :mrgreen:
 

brakie

Active Member
Ok..Sweet! We are getting very close to the final plan..

As far as the lead for the grain mill..HMM it has possibilities.Maybe a red and yellow Bachmann GE44 Tonner owned by the mill?

As far as the yard lead..This is industrial branch so,I am not sure if it will stay but,on the other hand the layout can double for my C&HV.


The bottom right does call for a Peco switch to gain space needed for the second industry.

In order to save the hassles of having to change my older cars to low pros I will be using Atlas C80 track...

If I didn't miscount I will need 20 switches..
I can get the Atlas switch for $9.99($199.80 for 20) vs 14.69($293.80 for 20) for Peco -seeing I am retired to my mind its a no brainer...I may have to use Peco switches on a case to case bases though as I noted earlier..
 

tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
Sheesh! The guy hand-lays one double-slip switch, and starts seeing a need for them everywhere! :p :D

Installed and then ripped out don't forget! :mrgreen:

Naw, it seems kinda silly to put one there.

Shouldn't need a lead up there. This seems like a train-a-day out-and-back style of branch. Nothing to get in the way of if there's only one train running at a time. I thought the one at the bottom was rather a waste since Larry is going to be the only operator, but I thought better of saying anything. Now, however, the gloves are off!

Well, my thinking was that even though Larry is very interested in operation, I think we all like to see the trains roll from time to time without having to think about it. The lead on the yard lets Larry kick cars while something rolls around on the main, for those times when he just wants to relax and putter, rather than "operate".

You both make good points. I guess it's all a question as to what Brakie wants to get out of this.

Now, I'll go sit down at the back of the room again. :p :mrgreen: :p
 

brakie

Active Member
Quote:
Shouldn't need a lead up there. This seems like a train-a-day out-and-back style of branch. Nothing to get in the way of if there's only one train running at a time. I thought the one at the bottom was rather a waste since Larry is going to be the only operator, but I thought better of saying anything. Now, however, the gloves are off!

Quote:
Well, my thinking was that even though Larry is very interested in operation, I think we all like to see the trains roll from time to time without having to think about it. The lead on the yard lets Larry kick cars while something rolls around on the main, for those times when he just wants to relax and putter, rather than "operate".

You both make good points. I guess it's all a question as to what Brakie wants to get out of this.

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I think I came up with a third idea..sign1

As far as the lead for the grain mill..HMM it has possibilities.Maybe a red and yellow Bachmann GE44 Tonner owned by the mill?
 

railohio

Active Member
I was thinking today to reverse the direction of the lead to the grain elevator and run a second track all the way around the right which would give you a single lead that would work for both the yard and the elevator. It wouldn't be a through track in regular operations, but would make the leads longer and then let Larry run laps if he wants to switch.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
I was thinking today to reverse the direction of the lead to the grain elevator and run a second track all the way around the right which would give you a single lead that would work for both the yard and the elevator. It wouldn't be a through track in regular operations, but would make the leads longer and then let Larry run laps if he wants to switch.

I'm not sure if that will work, since that would require reversing the direction of the elevator spurs... I've got to leave room for that big elevator too, y'know!
 
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