A while back, I posted a question about the extreme grade that this MRR published track plan has. I decided to see if it could be built, mainly because the design has aways interested me. To make it work, I had to lengthen the area from ten to twelve feet. The main line had a 3.5 % grade rising to where the bridge crosses the street track at 3.25 inches. Just enough clearance for the train to clear the bridge, and still look good. The siding that ascends to the street level had to be lengthened and turned out to be around a 5.5 % grade. One of my Atlas GP-9s would pull two 40 foot cars up the grade without any problems. The one problem I ran into was the S- turn that runs under the bridge. I laid this track using the standard of one car length of straight track between the opposing curves. The problem is that the radiuses had to be around 14 inch to fit it into the area. My GP-9 would negotiate the turns pushing one car, but didn’t look very good because of the overhang at the curves. This was a cool “experiment” because it showed that the equipment would negotiate the extreme grades and curves. Now that I have built it, it is time for me to disassemble it. The extreme grades and curves worry me too much about possible future problems. I wish I could have posted some pictures, but my digital camera has died. Hopefully Santa will read this post.
And here’s the Wolfgang thats a lot of good work both on the layout and the video [tup]
Very nice Wolfgang. I think my version would have worked much better if I had made it wider as well. I just this morning demolished mine. I did it only as an experiment in trying something different. I now am going to start on my permanent layout which will be a folded dog bone arrangement. I don’t have any real plans other than a couple of small towns and a pennisula with a saw mill on it. One or both of the towns will have a stock pen area for cattle cars. Other than that it will be a track arrange that is very uncomplicated. I want a small amount of switching, with a lot of scenery.
Hi Wolfgang,
I was wondering if you found the extra cost of the crossover in the middle of the main track siding was worth the investment. I can see it would be useful to serve the industrial tracks in the lower right-hand corner if this was a stand-alone module, but yours is integrated into a larger layout so you aren’t limited by the short main track on the left end. Is it useful for running around a short cut of cars while another cut of cars is on the other end of the siding?
Mark
I saw the video made by Wolfgang on his layout of that particular section and it worked very well for me. I had no issues with it. It is always nice to see a actual layout made from time to time from plans.
Well, the turnouts and crossings are scratch build, soldered. That’s for the cost. [:)]
This crossover gibes the chance to place a few cars out of the way and have still access to the interchange track (long track in front of McMurphy, lowest right). I use it often and park there cars for the next train to pick up.
Wolfgang
Nice work Wolfgang! I like switching and I really do enjoy your videos.
Thanks Den.