Hello everyone! I’ve just finished up a layout design that takes some elements from Cass Scenic RR. I’d like to get any and all input before my wife and I begin to contruct the layout. Below are some images for reference.
I didn’t originally plan for a loop, but decided that folks looking at the layout would enjoy seeing a train running round nonstop, plus, the coal has to get delivered somehow! lol
The areas that shows huge ‘tunnels’ will actually be solid with only enough space for the mainline to pass through.
The table will be up against the wall so only the front half of the layout will be visible.
I’ll be running a Bachmann Spectrum 3 truck Shay with two passenger cars and a caboose up the scenic route. I will eventually add an open passenger car as that is what I remember from my childhood (see pic below).
I’m not sure what I’ll be running on the mainline but it will include a couple coal cars and probably a few log cars as I plan to allow space at the front of the layout for the Greenbrier River.
The layout, as drawn, uses all Atlas flex track, a couple #4 manual turnouts, and #850/#851 remote turnouts. Are these the best option for running DC? Most cost effective (those turnouts are pricey!)?
I’m sure I’ve missed something so please ask, suggest, comment on any and everything. I’m looking forward to everyone’s input.
The Bachmann 3 truck Shay is based on Cass (West Virginia Pulp & Paper) no. 5, so it’s a natural.
Access to the tracks by the wall may be difficult. I hope you are providing for that.
If you decide to move to the pre-tourist era when the line was operated as a logger, the level oval would represent the C&O. On that line, the standard steam power was usually an H-4 2-6-6-2 (Bachmann, out of production). It seems like a big engine, but it will manage your curves, unless you contemplate something tighter than 18" radius.
Kits for C&O stations similar to Cass have been produced, and may still be available.
What I recall from our vist, are the Shays,witch you got covered.And the switchbacks, you also have. There was a large white building that had a small layout in it. Looked like it could have been company stores or rooming. And the station witch was mention above. On the top of the hill, there was some really neat old loggin equipment,perhaps a loader? can’t recall. Other then that, trees and rocks.
Are you going to model it as it is, or just as a “based on” type layout?
That’s going to be a nice layout. I have to agree with all the suggestions posted before. They would all make your nice layout even better. Adding the Greenbrier River will be nice.
If you can’t find or afford the C&O H-4 a C&O GP-9 would be another good choice for the coal train.
Best of luck with it all and please keep us posted on your progress.
Thanks so much for the welcome and all the thoughts and suggestions so far. I’ve taken all of them into consideration and tweaked the layout a bit adding a staging area and spreading out the switchbacks (see below).
All of the curves are 18" radius for those that asked. The ground level of the layout will be approximately 40 - 45" off of the ground. The back area of the layout will be easily accessible (from underneath) as the ‘mountain’ will be hollow. I am still toying with putting the layout on casters though, but either way, it will be accessible.
I’ve got my eyes peeled for a good deal on a C&O H-4 or GP-9. While the Shay I have now is not lettered for Cass, but rather Greebrier & Elk, I got a heck of a deal on it so it works for now.
I’ll post pics as things progess. I’m not going to rush this so be patient and feel free to continue providing suggestions and thoughts. I’m sure I’ll have pleny more questions as things progress.
Oh, and this will be a ‘based on’ layout of Cass. I chose not to go with DCC due to cost and I’m not planning on an empire. Just a couple trains to run around the track. There are plenty of sound files for my smart phone so I’ll have all the steam whistles at my disposal. lol
Note that these are SnapSwitch turnouts and are significantly sharper than a #4. Since it appears that you will be shoving the passenger cars through some of the turnouts, that might prove to be too sharp.
It’s hard to estimate the grades from what you’ve posted so far, but bear in mind that you will need to allow from transitions from level to grade. Once you’ve done that, the grades may be steeper than you hope. As others have noted, this means that the switchbacks should probably be separated by more track than you show now. Also, the effective grade through tight curves such as 18” radius in HO is much higher than the nominal grade. With short trains, this may not matter, but is something to be aware of.
Note that most people find that they can’t reach more than 30” over a scenicked layout without damaging things close to the edge, so particularly if you plan on putting additional scenery at the front edge, parts of the layout may be out of easy reach. Most people also find that keeping tracks 3” or so away from benchwork edges is better as it prevents derailments from bodies pressed against the benchwork and helps keep equipment from being knocked to the floor accidentally.
Good luck with your layout. I hope that it will prove to be interesting enough in the long term after the time and money spent on the construction.
It would be nice if an HO Shay could handle an 11% grade like that found at Cass, but I’m not gonna push my luck. I want the grade to be as much as the Bachmann Shay can comfortably handle so some testing is in my future. That will all help determine the transitions and such necessary for a smooth track.
I do plan to have the front of the track away from the edge. I drew my frame at the minimum I’d like so I knew I could easily expand forward. Regarding reach, th
It depends on the final track plan. Generally, The Atlas Customline #4 (actually a #4½) is a good choice with minimum radii in the 18"-22" range in HO (barring S-curves). These are available with remote switch machines.
The slot car tracks I’ve seen don’t have delicate scenery at the aisle edge.
Turnouts far from the layout edge seem to often be the ones needing a little tweaking. Good access is a best practice based on many folks’ experience in model railroading.
I did a little digging and found a good answer from jrbernier (Jim)…
“Snap-Switches and Customline turnouts are both HO scale. The difference is that the Customline turnouts are built like prototype turnouts(they have a straight angle through the frog area). The Snap-Switch turnouts have a continuous radius curve through the frog area - This can be either 18” radius or 22" radius depending on the item #. They are not very good for use in yards as the track spacing of parallel track will get pretty wide. As you mentioned, they also include either a manual or remote switch machine in the package."
If I go with the turnouts instead of snapswitches, the cost will go up, but it seems, based on this information and your comments, that the frustration factor will go down. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Well, track pieces are on the way, along with lots of other bits! I found a deal on some Tortoise machines so I decided to forgo the snap switches and go with the more accurately scaled turnouts (thanks cuyama for pointing out the differences).
There is plenty of published information on this line to help with building appropriate structures. The standard C&O station kit has been manufactured by several companies as one bought out the other. My kit for that is Quality Craft Models “Marlinton Station”, Kit #104. The contents and plans allow for constructing the station in various lengths to suit different locations. I believe that this same kit has been also produced by one or more other companies.
Recall that Cass regularly operates “photo specials” of antique logging cars and equipment, so there will be plenty of things to fill up all storage tracks and also provide variety to your operations.
Hi Bill, thank you for the information! I’ve had my eye on several log cars that are prototypical, but I always get outbid. lol I’ll run some down eventually. I don’t even have the benchwork built yet so I have time I guess.
Welcome to the forums from another geared steam guy. [tup]
Yes, please test before committing, the Bachmann Shay is a tad light, so it can stuggle with “real word” grades, it is possible top add weight, but make sure your are committed to the number and type of cars you plan to push up the hill. Good trucks and metals wheelsets will help greatly.
Not sure if your going to use DCC, but you can always double the hill like Cass sometimes does if you have to add a couple more cars to satisfy ridership demands. [:D]
