So i’ve squished flopped extracted and deleted my prototype to vague recognition, and am ready to begin construction on stage 1 of my layout.
The AC&Y late transition (1950’s), with some exceptions, still running mixed trains, and akron still has traction (it’s my railroad).
Some stats: nscale, code 55, mainline min radius 18, min frog 10, industrial min radius 13 frog#7, temporary staging at each end moving as more layout is completed. Structures are not to scale for placement only. Only operational grade on entire layout is on traction line, all others are cosmetic. max grade 1.5. Attic eve access beneath layout,small hatches previously installed, seldom used.
Stage one
For reference here is the current entire plan. Note Plymouth and Carey are still V1 and will be overhauled.
entire plan
Givens:
oddly shaped 29’x19’
multi use studio, no peninsulas
single level
sectional
Druthers
inspired by AC&Y
urban running and switching
some rural running to stretch legs
Brittian Yard
continuous run would be nice
Thanks for any thoughts
jason
Relocate the yard from that corner. Have it come out of Carey into the middle of the room where you can get some length.
Or shove the computer desk to the middle of the room and fill some more space along that wall with more of the yard. Your arrival and departure tracks look like they can only handle a little train. Hardly worth dispatching to the cookie monstor stage one you got going up there.
The rest of it I have nothing to get into except your staging and continious run area at the doorway on the “South” side of your plan graphic. It seems you can use more staging and need to find a way to get continous run.
Your stage one is BEAUTIFUL. But it will generate so much traffic coming and going to “Feed” it your yard or staging might not be able to keep up
You have done much and it is evident in your plan. That is all Im going to say here because those items are the only ones bothering me. It may not bother you at all. I dont know.
Really nice plan. Looks like mostly industrial and transfer business. One engine around the yard, one switching section 1, one on the other end of the railroad and a local/transfer doing everything in the middle.
I don’t know that the yard is too small since it looks like you will running fairly small trains based on the siding/runaround sizes.
Dave H.
Hi Jason,
Overall, the plan looks great. In general, I don’t really like curvy layouts, but the AC&Y was a curvy road, so they’re justified in this case. You’ve utelized your space very well.
I’ve only got a couple of comments:
-
increase your minimum radius as much as possible (assuming you’re modeling in HO). 20" or 22" should be MUCH better than 18", and won’t mess up your overall plan. Your trains will thank you for the increased radius.
-
Operationally, the layout is fine. You’ve got one usable yard, a decent area for staging, and three switching areas. Scenically though, I think you’re missing out on the “wide open nothingness” that makes up 99% of the mainline running in this country. Considering that you’ve got one LARGE town and one LARGE mine complex, I’d recommend sacrificing New London for a little open running through the foothills. With as little traffic as the two industries there will generate, I don’t think you’ll miss them too much.
First off let me thank you all for the comments.
“Relocate the yard from that corner. Have it come out of Carey into the middle of the room” as much as i’d like to i have no rights to the middle of the room, it still has to remain a working studio. I’m surprised the wife told me to build the circumference of it actually, i only asked for a corner.
It is Nscale, and i am planning on shorter trains. 15 car average 20 as a rarity. Call me weird, but anything larger even on a layout this size, and they start to overwhelm the layout to me.
I am working on more staging,i realize that is a huge weakpoint in the current plan. I’ve add 2 additional tracks to the staging behind the computer, and lengthened the A/D tracks in the yard as much as possible. I had a larger yard in an earlier version, but it overwhelmed the layout, i thought.
“Scenically though, I think you’re missing out on the “wide open nothingness” that makes up 99% of the mainline running in this country.” Can’t agree more…you’ve confirmed my suspicions.
Thanks, hopefully revision soon to follow
Jason
[#welcome] to the active life of the forums.
You have done a VERY nice job with your givens and druthers. There is only one thing I would add to Phase 1, and nothing I would delete or move.
You might consider putting a turnout behind the building that screens the end of the Erie interchange, and making the last few feet of it double track. That way a switcher can shove a cut into one track and pull a different cut from the other track, or you can have two cuts hidden if you pull before the shove.
For your later construction, you might consider your “need more staging” to the right of the stairs as a good site for a vertical traverser - in N scale you could have six tracks and still only need about sixteen inches above and below the entry level. You might also try to squeeze in another active interchange between your road and the B&O. (a second traverser behind the computer desk might or might not be overkill. My staging is designed to hold seventeen freights and eight passenger consists, but I’m going to be operating well over 100 trains per timetable ‘day.’)
All in all, it looks like a fun layout for the switching nut (guilty as charged) but still capable of operation that will be interesting to the mundane visitor or the wannabe mainline engineer.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Jason,
Being from the Akron area, I know what you’re trying to model. I understand the flow from place to place along the line through Akron, Fairlawn and out to Carey. The area were the tracks cross over Howard St and the powerplant should be interesting to model. Don’t forget to put in Luigi’s. People will instantly know where they’re at. You might consider adding the old B&O valley line that runs through that area. It would complete the scene and might add some interchange traffic. Also check out the Goodyear sign by Miller Engineering. It would be a nice addition to you East Market industrial scene. It’s a little more modern I think you’re era, but still a nice effect. Also might want to consider the old, old power plant shed that used be down by North Main St where Perkins (MLK) runs down to the innerbelt.
Another important detail not asked is how high will the layout be. Consider that the higher the better. It also frees up more of the floor space (that needs to be shared). I echo the other comments about adding some more staging, perhaps above the computer desk. I like the idea of being able to have continous running.
I’m not overly familiar with the Carey stone operation. I know it generates a fair amount of traffic for the WL&E now. Have you considered added the stone facility you can see from I-77 in the White Pond drive area. This would provide a destination for some of the stone.
Overall a nice design.
jktrains
Who would ever forget luigi’s, yummm! The B&O Valley line will be represented, but only by the low stone trestle across the canal, and the shortlived downtown passenger station spur, and powerhouse spur. The interchange actually happened on spur 4 further east i just cant fit it in. Actually my market street industrial district is a highly distorted compressed and jamed together version of spurs 3 & 4 of the prototype and is the least prototypical part of the layout. It would take the whole room just to model those 2 spurs anywhere near accuratly. This process has been quite a trial of patients, what to keep, what to get rid of, what to completely make up… I’ve decided that if i can make it look reminicent of east market street with my structures and scenery, actual trackage will be forgiven, at least that’s my story.
Thanks for the Goodyear sign referance, i didn’t know that existed. I was/am gonna try to scratchbuild the old “Go Go Goodyear” sign, nice to know there is another option.
“Another important detail not asked is how high will the layout be. Consider that the higher the better.” The highest i can go is 44" (that’s track height) anything higher and the hipped roof starts eating layout pretty quick. This kills the vertical traverser/elevator idea as well. At 44" I have 8 inches before the ceiling starts angling in at a ratio of 1:1. I’m using shelf track for my wall connections so height will be adjustable to a degree.
“Have you considered added the stone facility you can see from I-77 in the White Pond drive area.” no i hadn’t, nice call, time for some more research. I’ve actually been mulling over the idea of bringing my furthest west point in from Carey, to Medina, Sharon Center or even just Copley, localizing my scope.
At this time I think i’ll let the west end simmer for a while though. I’m pretty happy with the plans for the yard through the valley (stages 1-3). W
