Grampy schematic - rough analysis

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Several people have asked Grampy for a schematic of his magnificent layout, but he hasn’t had time to make one yet.

Based on an attempted analysis of the images he has presented (see the link from his signature: http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm237/GrampysTrains/), I have attempted to deduce from the photos the eastern part of his track plan, from east staging to the yard/big city scene:

Some of this stuff is based on conjecture, since I haven’t seen the layout in person.

I am more hazy on what the west end of the layout looks like - from the yard to west staging.

Grampy - feel free to correct me/clarify, and I will post a corrected drawing.

Stein

2

Actually - maybe not - this picture must show the very western end of the layout, and one can see the city module in the background:

And Grampy has mentioned that it is single track from the yard to west staging. So I guess the two mainline tracks merge to one west of the yard, maybe after a crossover.

Also - the picture below must be from the far eastern end of the layout - we see Stoney Creek Town on the left:

Which means that there is a siding going to the mine between east staging and stoney creek.

Smile,
Stein

3

Is there no interchange between the Reading and the Pennsylvania?

Mark

4

Stein

Great job, thank you for the effort.

GS

5

You are right - Grampy would have put in an interchange.

Found it - it wasn’t in his picture gallery, but was in a sketch in a thread about yard design (http://cs.trains.com/forums/1490163/ShowPost.aspx)

Updated schematic (also added the yard lead/drill track and some tracks for a mine near the east end of the layout):

There is probably still some stuff missing along the part labelled “single track mainline”.

Smile,
Stein

6

Hi Stein: Thank you for your interest in my layout and taking the time to try to figure out my track plan. You guys are the greatest! To try to clear things up a bit, here’s a series of photos of an West bound passenger train. The train is 5’ long. Leaving E staging representing Philadelphia: Heading for yard: Passing through yard: Passing Reading interchange: Entering double track: Passing farm and culm piles: Heading for tunnel: Coming out of tunnel heading for curve at creek: Heading for girder bridge: Passing town of Stoney Creek: Passing over Stoney Creek and heading for Blue Mountain tunnel Passing BM tower and heading for W staging:Rep. Harrisburg. Hope this helps. Thanks again for your interest.

7

Hmmm - that simplified things a bit again, yes :slight_smile:

How’s this ? :

You got a mine at the west end of the Reading, right ?

Stein

8

Hi Stein: You are a genius, my friend. That is just great! As to the mine, yes, it is at the West end of the Reading Line. BTW, the other end of the Reading Line ends in 4 track staging. I’m actually currently working on that. It was in a spot that was just too uncomfortable to get to. So I’m moving it out and away from the wall to make it more accessable. Doing track plans is an art in itself. My hat’s off to you! Thanks again for taking the time to do this. I really appreciate it.