Hello All,
On some good advice I have decided to post a thread as I am interested in any advice the Forum members have to offer before I go firm on a track plan developed from MR’s Virginian and start cutting the benchwork next weekend.
I have decided to rebuild my 9x5 HO US layout as a version of the Virginian calling it the Norfolk and Western. I have stripped back the old layout and developed a track plan. I plan to lay a 4x8 sheet of ply on my existing base and using the cookie cutter method for the inclines and using Woodland Scenics Subterrain to blend that with the 6" surround to blend in the 24" radius extra mainline.
I essentially want to build the Virginian because I really like the look, function and expandability of it. The modifications to the MR plan orientate around the fact that I want to use Code 100 track and build on the 9x5 base that I already have. I added the extra mainline so that I could also run my passenger trains which are much happier on curves greater than 22".
I have just finished stripping down my old layout and have laid down the 4x8, drawn my grid and am now test fitting track. I have already reassessed my plan to reuse some of my switches from my old layout in ‘Rogers Yard’ as I was not happy with the arrangement so I am now going to try the setup MR describes.
All constructive advice welcome.
Regards,
Mick
Looks good. You might want to consider just expanding the plan and increasing the tight 18" mniimum radius instead of adding a third main line. It was designed as a backwoods railroad, and a third main line might be overkill. The third main will also complicate operations as described in MR, since it would change where trains can get to easily from a given location (say, the main yard, for example.)
I like your drawing. I considered an adaptation of the Virginian myself, but I couldn’t get it to fit my available space.
S&S
If possible, I would try to expand the radius of the middle loop to put it closer to the outer loop. It would give the effect of a double tracked main line and provide more separation from the branch line loops.
You might then be able to make each yard track longer, thereby eliminating one yard track and still have the same storage capacity. This would allow for a thicker scenic divider (the hill and trees)
Dear S&S,
Thank you for your response and your compliments. You are the second person to recommend increasing the radius of the design rather than adding an extra mainline. I have considered this but I added the extra mainline with the thought process of adding a passenger operation to the operations already described by MRR. (I have both 50s/60s era and modern era passenger trains that I love running). It also adds a longer run to staging without overly complicating the operations; that opinion is purely mine and I admit that I am no expert in track design. I also like the dynamic of trains passing each other going the opposite direction. Having said all this as a quasi justification for the current design I am in the process of doing a CAD drawing for 22"and 24" radius version of the Virginian for consideration before I settle on the final design towards the end of the week. Thanks again for your advice.
Dear Dougless,
Thank you for your advice. I had not considered this option and will test it this week to see how it goes. I will let you know how I go.
Thanks again to you both for posting your advice.
To have more operation, you do not necessarily have to increase the number of tracks. To add passenger operations, you WILL need to increase the minimum radius to accommodate the passenger cars (22" min is a must) and add a new staging track or two, but other than that, not modifications need to be made to this plan. The operating schedule can be modified to fit in a passenger train or two between the freight trains (though actually the freight trains should be fit around the passenger trains.)
The increased radius will also make the freight trains look and run better. And if you decide that you still want the third main line, just tack it on around the outside, but I’d recommend keeping the 22" radius curves.
S&S
a version I drew a couple of years ago, with the yard at the edge.
Paul