Here is the diagram of my new 17x12 HO layout. I am still tweaking a few things and need some advice. Does the trackplan look sound? My protoype is the Putnam Division of the New York Central. It lies right in between the Hudson Division (Water Level Route) and the Harlem Division north of NYC. It is closed now but was open when I was a kid. It carried light freight and light commuter service. Was used for odd size loads until the West Shore single track line was built on the Hudson. It has 2 claims to fame: First, it was the first line to run a deisel passenger train in 1929. It was also part of the first route from NYC to Boston. Should I add a mine? The prototype had 2 iron ore mines but they were negligible and closed by the era i am modeling. Think I have enough action in the trackplan without a mine? ALL opinions welcome.
Looks like either the host site for your pic is down or there is something missing in your image code. That or your layout is an X.
Can you see it now? Should work now - posted on web site. http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2vj37/
Looks really good. my only suggetion would be to think about ways to add some staging to make your model “connect” to the “real world.”
Ron
My comments - they might be worth every cent you paid for them.
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the lead to Beer Brothers Coal has a curved crossing - both legs are curved track. You would have to build your own to make that happen. The distance is too short to do an over/under - would be about an 8% grade on the main line. Because of the brewing company and flour mill, you can’t put the coal company lead on a grade. And actually, you can’t put the main on a grade either. The coal company can only be switched from a train going counter-clockwise around the bottom loop. Where do you leave the caboose and tail of the train while you back into the coal company, flour mill, or brewing company if the track is on a grade?
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based on the above, I would consider adding a passing siding at Highbridge Station, perhaps extending around the loop. Use 18" radius for the passing siding (or flex track with 19" radius) to fit it inside. Move the turnout for the industries as far right as you can. Put the main on a 0.5% downgrade from the turnout, and the rest of the grade - probably still will be 6% - on the branch. The passing/runaround track will enable trains going either direction to switch the industries.
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if using Atlas turnouts, the Atlas #4 (which is really a #4.5) has an effective minimum radius of 22 inches in the closure rails. Use that, or Walters #5 turnouts instead of the Atlas #6 to save space, especially in the spurs and yard.
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make the M station passing track longer by pushing the turnouts to the end of the straight section. Right now your passing track limits train length to about 45", which is a modest steam loco and 5-6 cars. Using the smaller turnouts and lengthening the passing track will give you another 3 cars in train length.
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make 2 of your yard tracks stub end. You gain extra capacity and better looks for just a little more challenging switching.
Again, my suggestions, your choices.
yours in planning
Fred W
Yea - I was worried about how to clear the track for Beer Bros. Coal. I might take it out completely. These are great suggestions guys. I did not know if turnout #4 was 22" min. radius. That’s a big help. I want a minimum radius of 22" at least on the mainline. This is so I can run BLI’s 4-8-4 Niagra. I do have plans to add staging but it will require a lift-out. Will add that to my next redesign. This is key since this line links up to 2 other lines near Brewster Yard (Harlem Division and New Haven). Would love to be able to go through the wall near Highbridge for a staging yard and might be able to do so at some point. The turntable will be larger as well which will present some problems (shown is 90’ but want 130’). I was also going to have tunnels at both corners (even though prototype didn’t - gotta have tunnels). Keep the comments coming and I will keep you up to date on the track plan. Thanks all!
Instead of tunnels you could have the trains disappear behind big buildings. That would fit more with the scene.
I was going to suggest some other stuff, but Fred stole my thunder by taking all the obvious changes. I’ll look at it some more and see if I see anything else. Overall though I’d say it’s a pretty good plan.
I can see it now and It’s a beautiful design.
Of course, I have 1 or 3 questions.
Is there isle space on the yard side of the layout? If no, how far is the reach from the isle corner to the turnout for the yard ladder next to the roundhouse? Can you easily reach behind the round house to rerail a train or clean / re-work track?
Hi again,
Gary brings up a good point on maintinance and cleaning. That could be a problem.
Also, on the bottom right of the plan there are some “S” curves that should be delt with. Those are not real gentle (like 60 or 70 inch radius or something) and so they are likely to cause issues.
The other thing I see is that the rails follow the table edge a lot. Operationally this is a non-issue, but visually it could be greatly enhanced by “tilting” the rails so the don’t run quite so parallel to the edge. It’s just a visual thing. Maybe tilting the whole middle of the top part so that all the tracks on the left are slightly more to the south on the plan then the left, or vice versa?
Overall it’s a very nice plan that combines a busy area without an overcrowding of tracks. It has a nice balence to it.
I was thinking you might need/want another passing track. It seems you have only the yard and the station. You might get the clearance for Beer Brothers by leaving the main sooner, and having the main climb while the siding drops. i have not done any figuring, though.
There is no aisle on the yard side but there is an aisle to the far left behind the roundhouse. The reach to the turnout behind the roundhouse is 2 feet. I was thinking of putting the yard where the passing siding is (mahopac station) for easier reach but it will reduce the size of the yard and I’m not sure I like that trade-off. Another passing siding is necessary. I have heard also that running the tracks paralel to the edge was no good but did’t know why. These are all great ideas. I’m on the re-work and will repost revised track plan tomorrow if I can get to it. Thx all!
Hope we haven’t overloaded your brain. If it starts to hurt, it will have to come out, so take it easy. [swg]
I think your yard is good where it is but I would think about moving the stock pen and dairy to allow for a longer yard tracks. If you plan on running short trains that is not an issue, but if you want to run longer trains, you probably want to stretch your main yard. Other than that, I think it is an excellent plan for your space.
Ok everyone - here it is! I have incorporated many of your suggestions and hopefully solved a few problems on my own. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I may have finally achieved the right plan. My prototype did not run real long trains, once in a while one of the NY Central Limiteds would get diverted to the Put if work was being done on the Hudson Division. Otherwise it was strictly short commuter trains and even gas-electrics. Will make great fun modeling it because of the diversity of engines and even roads I can model (NY Central, New Haven, Penn Central, Conrail).
The Put carried the first deisel passenger train in the US in 1929. I’m really excited about the redesign - as you can see from the time posted, I’ve been up late working on it. So give me the good, bad, and ugly before I finalize the design and begin construction. I really appreciate all your help and you have all been an invaluable resource.