My old computer desk has recently been vacated, so now I have a nice 4' wide by 2' deep table ready-made for a layout. Space is at a premium in my house, and this looks like the best location for a layout at this time.
I've been tinkering with a number of variations on the continuous-loop-with-branchline theme. Below is one of the trackplans that I've come up with, and a full-scale mockup on the table.
The basic daily operation runs something like this: A engine picks up empty hopper cars from the interchange/yard, and runs them up the branchline to the mine (caboose first). After going through the switchback, the engine backs into the mine. There's enough room in the switchback to handle a Bachmann Consolidation, two Atlas 50-ton ore cars, and a bobber caboose. The filled cars are then moved down to the smelter on the lower level after a quick run-around move on the loop. Later, a flatcar or boxcar could pick up the processed copper ore, and deliver the empties back to the yard. Empty hoppers can also be delivered to the mine engine-first (so that they can be backed into the spur and left there).
The grade up to the mine (at 3 inches above the base) is about 5.6%. Minimum radius is 9.75". All turnouts are #4.
The yard/interchange can also run to a removable cassette for moving trains to "staging."
I'd appreciate any hints, tips, ideas and criticisms. The full-size mockup showed that the basic ideas worked, but if anyone has any ideas on how to make it better, please let me know!
Trackplan:
Mockup:
I've been tinkering with a number of variations on the continuous-loop-with-branchline theme. Below is one of the trackplans that I've come up with, and a full-scale mockup on the table.
The basic daily operation runs something like this: A engine picks up empty hopper cars from the interchange/yard, and runs them up the branchline to the mine (caboose first). After going through the switchback, the engine backs into the mine. There's enough room in the switchback to handle a Bachmann Consolidation, two Atlas 50-ton ore cars, and a bobber caboose. The filled cars are then moved down to the smelter on the lower level after a quick run-around move on the loop. Later, a flatcar or boxcar could pick up the processed copper ore, and deliver the empties back to the yard. Empty hoppers can also be delivered to the mine engine-first (so that they can be backed into the spur and left there).
The grade up to the mine (at 3 inches above the base) is about 5.6%. Minimum radius is 9.75". All turnouts are #4.
The yard/interchange can also run to a removable cassette for moving trains to "staging."
I'd appreciate any hints, tips, ideas and criticisms. The full-size mockup showed that the basic ideas worked, but if anyone has any ideas on how to make it better, please let me know!
Trackplan:
Mockup:
