I’m building a new H0n3 module “Salina”. Now I came about the idea to lay one track more.
I’ve drawn the track in question red. It’s long for two cars. What do you think?
This track can serve as team track and the “house track” will be a run around.
Wolfgang
Well, You don’t list the scale or dimensions of the layout, but I would say that the new spur will not work. The reason I say that is that the runaround to the stock yard is non-functional as you cannot get more that the engine in there because of the shortness of the mainline off the turnout. It will serve you much better to move that turnout inside the turnouts for the "inner runaround. You will then be able to use the lower track as an interchange track and have some real operational potential.
That looks like a good and useful change.
I did something similar at my passenger station so I’d have a place to park the RPO car, and any other (atypical) set-outs for the station.
I like your overall track plan too-- that looks sweet!
Jonn
Wolfgang:
I’ve got a practically identical set up at Deer Creek on my Yuba River Sub. The spur track is to service RPO cars and the occasional express reefer. I extended the depot platform on one side of the track. Works for me.
Tom [:D]
Chip, H0n3 of course. [:)]
And - it’s a module. That means it will be operated together with more modules. The first chance will be the meeting in Zuidbroek, NL in October. So you will have at each side at least 10 feet of track.
Jonn, Tom,
this will be my intention, set out for a reefer with a extended platform is a good idea. Thank you.
Wolfgang
Wolfgang,
if you move the depot and the spur a few inches to the left, so that there is a loco´s length between the switch and the main, you´d be fine.
Nice plan - I am looking forward to seeing the first pictures of it!
Here you’re Salina
Wolfgang
The plan works. I don’t understand Ulrich’s comment because the spur’s switch appears to be on the main track.
Mark
[oops] - I goofed! You are right, Mark!
Wolfgang.
As usual, nice work. I guess that what they say is true. Practice makes perfect. I should think that we all could do that kind of work if we want to take the time and put in the effort to do so.
Please keep on inspiring us.
Blue Flamer.
One question: What’s on the other side fo the station? If I’m reading your plan right, then the teamtrack and loading is cutting into the station parking lot. You say “Salina” and Narrow Gauge, and my thoughts are that a parking lot isn’t all the needed for the era and locale, but that’s a guess. And, most trucks or horse wagons will need some room to maneuver to come in, turn around, and pull out, which leaves Salina Depot with nothing more than curb-side service.
So, I’m wondering if moving the teamtrack to the pther side of the station (just a mirrored flip of where the track is now), or moving the parking lot, would get things out of the public’s way. Also, it could make room for a second track, which could either be RPO or a spot for Sleeper/Diner Commisary. Or, if the railroad isn’t in need of such a device, then you could toss a small warehouse into there, as another industry.
All that said, the plan is sound, I’m just looking at asthetics.
The most logical place for the station’s parking lot would be where the building labeled “supply” is located, and not between the railroad tracks.
Well if the layout’s set in the 1890’s, it wouldn’t really need a parking lot. I’m a little concerned about the house track being part of the road behind the depot, since it means you can’t spot cars there.
Only comment I’d make is the spur in red would (as a couple people have mentioned) be more likely to be used for the occassionaly express reefer or even for a Pullman car - sometimes a Pullman car would be set at the depot at night, and an overnight train would cut it in. So you could go to bed in Salina and wake up in Denver or wherever.
By the same reasoning you use, I think he could. Considering the original charm of street-running was the ability to offload in the middle of the street, and it’s technically off to the side a bit, I think he’d be okay. Plus, the other track is more of a spur, and serves nothing until it gets off the street either. So there’s plenty of room for a horse wagon or two there.
But did the narrow gauges do a lot of Pullman service? Or were they (Or is this line) day-run branchlines that only needed coach?
Logical maybe, but I have saeen a number of smaller stations where the parking lot is between the two tracks, to be alongside the station, if that’s where the room was. So it is at least justified. And I’d rather be near my car than parking in the “back 40”
Like the idea of a team track. Only problem I see is vehicle access. Even to back a straight truck up to a car on the track looks tight.
What did catch my eye was the double ended siding servicing the stock yard. Unless it was a very busy yard, I don’t see the need for it. I see the cars there blocking the ability for it to be a passing siding. Could you move the right hand end of that track to the location of the team track switch? Then put the team track on a switch off the right end of that extending parallel to the front, aligned with the “passing siding”. Move the stock yard to the right and have the team track loading point either before of after the stock yard. The garage could go to the left of the existing stock yard location.
I’m sure your idea was to use the area to the left of the station and it fits. Just looks odd to me to have something that would block that nice passing siding.
Have fun,
It allows the cattle train to pull all the way through, instead of a lot of backing moves. The Narrow Gauge lines that I’m familiar with were clost to the ranches, so being able to just sidle up and roll through one car at a time makes sense (to me).
Morgan, much better with the sig!!!
Why is it that people automatically assume that a double-ended siding in a small town is for passing? On my local Southern Pacific Branchline, each town had one or two double-ended sidings, all for industries, none for passing. In fact, double-ended sidings outnumbered single-ended sidings at most locations.
Besides, at stock pens cars are either being loaded and unloaded with a locomotive present to move the cars. Stock cars weren’t usually left standing, unattended, at the pens. So in this regard, the siding could be used for passing most of the time.
Mark