02-12-2009, 12:55 PM
doctorwayne Wrote:I have concerns that your grade is too short to accomplish the rise you need to clear those tracks going into the tunnels. I also don't see where the lower level tracks (beyond the left of the switch to the upper level) have much room to descend, as the majority of the lower level tracks appear to be a passing track area - difficult to park cars on much of a grade, and it would make switching moves more difficult. The siding to the industry could be built level, though. If you're not running hi-cubes or auto racks, 2.5" will clear most HO equipment, and 7' of incline at about 3% will give you the needed clearance.
If you move the switch leading to the grade to the right (towards the door), you could either gain some length on the incline, lessening the grade, or you could keep the grade fairly stiff, then move the switch that's just to the left of the side street to the opposite side of the main street and farther to the right. This would allow you to lengthen the switchback track, although it would also shorten those industrial sidings accessed via the switchback.
The other change that I'd suggest is to have only the rearmost lower track enter the tunnel as you've drawn it. If you curve the other lower track to follow the facia, then have it enter a tunnel at a point near where the layout facia meets the upper level, you could continue the lower level track beneath the upper-level yard. This area would be a good place for a staging track, as you could park a complete train here, out of sight (more-or-less). Wayne
Okay Doc: you got me on a couple of points: 1 grade is pretty steep and you are right that there is no room for the to descend to the trackage at the front of the layout. Original plan was to have track at the back and under the window about 3" above grade and the track along the fascia to be at grade. I moved the turnout closer to the door as you suggested and have modified the track up top considerably by changing the location of the switch to access the the trackage on the backside of the street over to under the window. Grade heading up from the door will still be steep but not as steep and the trackage appears to be neater.
Changed the one duck under track as you suggested and it now goes to a 2 track staging area large enough to hold a couple of trains out of site.
been switching it in xtrkcad for a couple of hours and it seems to flow well although there are some challenges to switching along the backdrop as the loco needs to be on one end for one industry and the other end for the others.