To Triplex: Atlas has just released some new Shay, they look very very nice but it really doesn't fit my layout theme. I'll have a hard time to justify the purchase of an expensive logging engine on a brewery theme layout to my wife :-(
To pgandw: I appreciate the detailed information about the GS&S
What do you mean by a small turnout ? could you publish your plan in the layout subforum. ?
When you mention a run-around track do you mean like the one on the picture ?
I wouldn't want to build a version of the GS&S without geared steam power.
Sorry about my error. I meant
turntable, not turnout. The idea came from another Gauge member. Your photo shows a typical run-around arrangement. My plan has a turntable where the oil storage tanks in the picture are.
Don't have a software form of the plan at present. It's simple enough, and has been with me long enough, to be held in my head. And I'm still enough of an engineer that I can keep track of dimensions and calcs in my mind. For instance, I had to widen the shelf from 18" to 2ft to make room for the Atlas 9" turntable, and still have the scenic features I wanted.
I'll see about drawing it out this weekend. I have been doing my modeling on the forums while I search for a job and house in Colorado Springs. All my trains and the tools (more critical than the trains) are packed waiting to be shipped to our new house. I am really wanting to get this move over and do real instead of virtual model railroading again.
A brief description: the lower terminal will be located at a doghole port similar to many in Northern California where the redwood lumber was transferred to ships to be taken to San Francisco and San Diego. The closest yard track will actually be a spur on a pier serving doghole schooners. The other 2 yard tracks will end at the turntable. Length of the yard tracks has been set up for an Inglenook configuration - 5 cars, 3 cars, 3 cars.
Tail tracks are 20-21" long, and the switchbacks will peak at about 8%, but most of the grade is actually on the transitions.
The upper terminal will have the main continue at a diagonal after the bridge to end up at the back corner for future expansion. There will be a spar yarder/loader on a spur in front of the main. A trailing point spur will serve the Woodland Scenics Tie and Plank mill.
The middle level tail track may be extended around a corner to reach a log pond and saw mill, something like the Mower Lumber Company plan (below) by Carl Arendt, flipped 180 degrees.
yours in planning