Yep, I believe I need to get out and do something else for a day or two.
I’ve been working on this for what seems like days and days and days now and I feel a little burnout coming on. Not having done any of this before this yard area gave me fits trying to get it right. If both ends of the yard had come back into the mainline at the same angle I think I’d have gotten this far a LOT sooner.
but as you can see in the diagram, it angles away so that it can have a long lead…
and it still needs tweeking before I can draw the centerlines, move over the track and put down roadbed.
and what am I going to do about the bridge? I’d like to find a warren truss bridge for double track but so far I haven’t found one…
and another thing… see that area at the far end of the yard that comes tooooo close to the 2 inch drop off to the lower track?
that has to be done better also.
Oh well, that’s working on the railroad for you.
I think I needa break.
JaRRell
Yep… Your on the right track…pun intended… I feel the same way at times, by getting away from it…but still thinking a bit about it…It all comes togather and better then anticapated with new and better ways to do it…Take care…John
Jarrell,
Despite all the tedious work and tweaking, what you’ve done so far looks really good! [tup] Keep in mind, as you already stated…this is your FIRST time at it. And I think you are doing a bang up job.
When doing anything, sometimes the best thing to do is to do something completely different for a few days, then come back to your “challenge” when you are fresh. I do that at work all the time. It’s amazing what even 24 hours makes when tackling a problem. Sometimes I just scratch my head and say to myself, “Now why didn’t I see that yesterday?” You can break away from it completely or just do some modeling, or put together a kit.
With the track being rather close to the dropoff issue. Could you add a slight overhang that would give you that little extra buffer you need and still fit in the scheme of the terrain?
Tom
John, I had worked on that far end of the yard straight through for most of the day, and just gave up… got something to eat and did other things for an hour or two. Went back in there and had the thing done within an hour.
Sometimes it just pays to quit for a while.
JaRRell
Gettin away does work…my wife must have the same beliefs…she intereps me for those HUNNY DOOOO things LOL. John
A little time away is usually a good thing. Although, I’ve had too much time away and it is chewing me up.
As far as the bridge, have you looked at Walthers double track truss?
I’ve been doing things other than actually working while I’m at work for about 15 years now, and you’re right, it helps [:D][:p]
Ray
Tom, if I just knew what I was doing it would be great instead of having to figure out each and every little thing… 
I’ve found you have to be careful though and back off when you start feeling overwhelmed. Just lay it down and walk off for a while. I think, on that drop off area, that I’ll be able to cut a section of 2 inch foam to fit there, glue it down and it’ll be ok.
I hope.
JaRRell
Fellas, I appreciate the advice. Mark, that Walthers bridge might be just the ticket.
Thanks!
JaRRell
Excellent track plan, excellent well everything.
Jarrell,
That’s exactly what I was thinking but didn’t describe it very well. If there is going to be an embarkment down to the track or section below, a slight overhang could fit right into the scene, provide the needed buffer for the rail above, without it looking like an afterthought or fix.
Hang in there, my friend. You’re doing a great job. [:)] I feel for you. It’s tough sometimes having to learn by “on-the-job training”. A needed break will allow your gray cells (i.e. your brain, not your hair color) the opportunity to rejuvenate so that you can see things more clearly.
Keep us posted…
Tom
By all means, pack it up for a few days, a week even. That’s all it’ll take, especially when you still want to complete it. BTW, is there any reason why you couldn’t have, as a diversion at times, the pleasant and challenging task of building your own wooden bridge? Get some diagrams or photos, buy some of the long thin wood stock from your LHS, and start measuring, cutting, and gluing. I had a lot of fun doing my “trestles”. I used quotes because the bents are not protoypical, but they look okay.
Anyway, it is a wise man who knows when to close the door behind him. Tomorrow, or the next, are 'nuther days.
the layout is looking great Jarrel . i don’t remember seeing that version of the trackplan before , it’s a good one !
you’re right … sometimes a short break is needed to get up a full head of steam when working on a long project
Crandell, I’d thought of trying to scratch build one but I know I’m not the best modeler on the block, so I dunno. Might be fun though. Heck, if it didn’t work you’re only out a few pieces of wood…
JaRRell
ereimer, I confess… I cheated a little. An experienced modeler drew it up for me on his cad program after I gave him the dimensions of the benchwork. Most of it I could figure out, but the yard had me baffled. Come to think of it, it don’t take much to get me baffled…
I do wish it had a couple of reversing loops but the elevations change so much and so quickly I haven’t come up with a way to do them yet.
JaRRell
You could take a break from trackwork, while continuing to make progress. How about spending some time on a structure kit? It took me a month to paint, assemble and detail my roundhouse, which is the basic Atlas 3-holer. I didn’t do any trackwork while that was going on, but when the roundhouse was done enough to fit it in, then I was ready to lay the rails to it.
Quality trackwork takes time, so you’re better off doing it when you’re fresh and can concentrate to get it right.
Hey there Mr. Beasley. You’re right, there’s always something else to do… including catching up on that honey do list that has been ignored here lately. Ugh…
JaRRell
Great to see your progress Jarrell. Your plans have changed a lot since I last saw them. The last I saw you had a large incline going up the back where you have your yard now.
How come you haven’t installed Roadbad (cork or other)? Or are my eyes deceiving me…I would have thought that even with foam base that it was still essential to install roadbed. Maybe it’s not. Anyone want to set me to rights…or is roadbed merely a personal choice and esthetics, with no functional application?
Trevor
How about an elevated parking area for that passenger station nearby? Extend it out over the lower track and add lots of clutter/trash beneath. You’ll have to work out something to reach the turnout, but that’s simple enough.
Mike Tennent
My sediments exactly!! I get to feeling frustrated and overwhelmingly fatigued at times when working on the RR. It’s almost like building a staircase to the moon, when am I ever going to finish? I know that model RRing is a continuous process that never ends, just getting all the track down seems to be a never-ending process. At times I’ll walk out to the garage at night where my layout is and just stand there. I’ll move a few things around, figure out a few things and then notice that I have more wood to cut. Then I have to dig out the table saw from the pile of junk…I then think, it’s so much easier to go inside fool with a few layout structures while watching tv and having a hot cup of coffee…that’s soooo much easier! Good Luck and remember “pace yourself, it’s going to be there tomorrow.”