Pike is based on Boston & Albany branchlines, it’ll have an amalgam of prototype similiar scenes.
Space and sketch:
Governing Rolling Stock: 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific, Light 2-8-2, Heavy 2-8-2, FA-2 (A+B) Athearn shorty Passenger cars 70’, It would be nice to run an L2A, or L3A Mohawk (not required).
Just posting for comments…trying to see what kind of main I can fit into the space. I’d like to squeeze in a small yard, engine terminal, dairy farm/dairy pair, staging is essential. I plan to clean up the geometry a bit to gain more wiggle room things like stacking the loops in the Northeast corner. Assume that the line starts at it’s highest elevation from the left and decends to it’s lowest at the balloon at the right. Nothing crosses at grade…
Put in the aisles! You probably have access problems in some areas. In other areas there is no space for an adequate aisle, where are the operators going to stand?
Note that with the figure eight your operators are going to have to back track to follow their trains.
Hi. Basing what I state on what you have depicted so far, your only real option for a “yard” that actually looks like a yard is at the very top of the diagram, long double tangent. You should be able to get four or five yard tracks and a servicing track in a shelf there that is about 26" deep, give or take…more if you add a turntable or substantial engine house and transfer table. With a 90’ TT, you’d need about 15 full inches for the pit and apron, and you can get dimensions for a roundhouse at Walthers’ site.
Edited - missed some details in your original post. Bench dimensions, or intended aisle locations would be helpful, plus any topography and obstacles (mountains to be tunneled, water courses, ravines, etc.). Only the one industry?
I just started scribbling, I plan to include all the details brought up sofar as I develop the trackplan. First and foremost aisles!!! I’ve already noted some “squeeze and reach” issues.
