I,too, decided to build in HO the Red Rock Northern (Jerry Boudreaux, designer), but have just learned there is a big difference between seeing the diagram in MR and being able to re-create it in RTS or Xtrk.
The last layout I built was many years ago: John Armstrong’s Berkshire Valley Route. With that, I had the advantage of the excellent step-by-step plans and narrative from Atlas’ King Size Plan Book.
So far, I have come up with a track plan on RTS, but in order for me to get it to look anything like the Red Rock Northern, I can see myself working hard but getting nowhere for months! As much as I like learning new software, I do want to get beyond the design stage in a reasonable amount of time. Without having specific information on curve radii, turnout numbers,elevations, etc., I can see myself in an endless process of guessing at different combinations.
I am not yet frustrated, but unless I see some light at the end of the tunnel …
Here are some links to the past Red Rock and Northern posts. It’s not all but the ones I could find quickly. The Red Rock and Northern has to be one of the most talked about MR layouts there is - I might be just a little bias on this though.
In one of these Jerry has provided some info to help out figuring it out. Let me know if you need more. I gave up on trying to put into a CAD. I would rather just build it.
I have decided to eliminate the mines loop in the original plan. I had post about this here.
I was thinking what tomikawaTT said but I knew it was only going to look good on paper and I wound up with too much hidden trackage.
Drop me an e mail with your e mail address and I’ll send you a few things I just sent out the other day. I also JUST posted some pictures here if anyone wants to see’em.
Here is what the current plan is today. You can still see the RR&N bones in it but has become it’s own plan now. Remember this is a concept plan only. It will serve as guide as I lay track. I know the yard needs work
I know there were several others working on this - any progress.
It is Atlas Right Track Software, and is used to create a trackplan on a computer, it’s free but the templates are based on Atlas track only. (Not a bad thing)
I have been working on this off and on since I got June 07 in the mail. I finally tore down my old layout in April and have been slowly working in earnest. I am just about ready to lay track down now. I modified the original plans a bit, but not to the extent that you did. Wow, nice work.
Did anyone but me notice that with a 90’ TT in that location, things get a bit cramped? I had to move the TT over a bit and add an angle piece in there just to get it all to fit. I don’t like to have my rails run so dang close to the edge. Not so much a safty issue, but rather an effect thing. I like to have 2 or 3 inches between the locos and the scenery. That way, it looks more… I don’t know… real? I can have a row or two of trees before the hardtack boards with painted scenery on them. Just a personal preference…
I didnt use CAD or RTS… I just put together a 9x11 L-Girder, made it all 24", glued my blue foam down, then used my kids butcher paper to freehand the plans. I built a little jig to draw the curves, which I expanded, and it all worked out great. I needed larger curves for my passenger cars and also straightened, to some degree, the portion with the wooden tressle bridge.
I really like this layout. With a double loop and some side lines for industries, I figure I can have a buddy or two over to run and we can have a swell time.
Thanks again for all the leg work on getting these links.
