The "What's a junction" thread under general topics make me start thinking about a layout design with a junction as it's focal point. Here's the general idea:
- Trains leave from Point A, and at the junction go to either B or C. Trains from B or C always go to A.
-There is no direct line between B and C, trains from B with loads for C would have to leave them at the junction for pickup by a train from A to C, and vice versa. Why? Because 1) there isn't enough B-C traffic to justify a separate train, or even to justify a connection, and 2) It allows for switching opportunities at the junction.
- There would also be some industries, or at least a team track, at the juction, and maybe some "along the way".
In the diagram (please excuse, I used Paint), the blue vertical line is a backdrop, so everything to the left of it is "hidden but accessible." The green thingie is a ridge or something, just to separate the tracks to A and B. The red lines are the infamous cassettes. You could get along with just one if you wanted to sometimes back into it.
Things I kinda like about this: It provides continuous running if you want it, or to build up "smiles", but is still sorta point-to-point. It provides some sort of reason for a train to go somewhere.
Submitted for your approval..
- Trains leave from Point A, and at the junction go to either B or C. Trains from B or C always go to A.
-There is no direct line between B and C, trains from B with loads for C would have to leave them at the junction for pickup by a train from A to C, and vice versa. Why? Because 1) there isn't enough B-C traffic to justify a separate train, or even to justify a connection, and 2) It allows for switching opportunities at the junction.
- There would also be some industries, or at least a team track, at the juction, and maybe some "along the way".
In the diagram (please excuse, I used Paint), the blue vertical line is a backdrop, so everything to the left of it is "hidden but accessible." The green thingie is a ridge or something, just to separate the tracks to A and B. The red lines are the infamous cassettes. You could get along with just one if you wanted to sometimes back into it.
Things I kinda like about this: It provides continuous running if you want it, or to build up "smiles", but is still sorta point-to-point. It provides some sort of reason for a train to go somewhere.
Submitted for your approval..