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Well. Ive been thinking a bit about the layout, and havent touched it in months. I got an idea last night though. Im kinda at a roadblock scenery wise, and although I like my layout and have a lot put into it, the more I think about it, its not much more than a big circle, and when done probably wont leave much operating intrest, I have a very tight corner that all my 6 axle diesels have issues with, and other things as well. Id love a littel extra space in the basement as well. I dont want to be done or anything, but Im thinking of scrapping the layout and rebuilding something different. Something smaller, and more operational intreset. When I eventually move out I have MUCH bigger plans for a massive shelf style DMIR layout.
Ive been scouring around some trackplans, and the redrock northern comes to mind. Ive always likes this, and although it wouldnt be much along the lines of anything DMIR related, I could try and incorperate some DMIR to it, or just build it pretty similarly, since it looks pretty fun to operate.
What do you guys think of this layout?
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1235">http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1235</a><!-- m -->
Lastly, anybody ever find a good way to keep balast since I have alot of that layed and dont want to toss it all out?
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Hi Kevin.
I have been where you are at many times. When I get to that point, I know it is best to completely start over. Get out the tools and get busy!
The Red Rock seems to be a very popular plan. Do a search on some of the other forums and you will find threads where the layout has been built and what they think.
As far as the ballast, if you used white glue, it might be possible to soak the ballast in water and dilute the glue enough to rinse it out, but I have never heard of anybody doing it, so I don't know for sure.
Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
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Im realy starting to like the idea. But I am getting really confused at the elevation differences of the layout and how to build them in. But Im thinking I might change the layout to accept a yard in the middle of the layout and just add more industry where the the current yard is. Im thinking Ill bust out some graph paper soon later and start tinkering with some ideas.
After I figure out the darn elevations.
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I took another look at the track plan and the elevations look OK to me. But I have also read where it is sometimes difficult to make these track plans work in real life. Where are you having a problem?
Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
Posts: 220
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I can picture it all scenic wise in my head, but the benchwork, track laying is what has me somewhat confused. Im used to building on a flat piece of styrofoam, and this is a little different. 
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In my opinion, ballast is relatively cheap and not worth the trouble to try and save. If you are really tight on budget, find a place nearby where you can "quarry" your own. Screen it to the right size, bake it to kill all the critters, run a magnet through it, and use it like you would ballast you bought at the store.
If you really want to save it and it is glued with white glue, it can be soaked in detergent and warm water, rinsed several times, and dried. If you used matte medium, it is insoluble with water once dried.
--
Kevin
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I have never used foam, just plywood, so I can only go by what I have seen others do on the net. Myself, I would "cookie cutter" (check this out, <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/hobbies/mr.html">http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell/hobbies/mr.html</a><!-- m --> ) most of the layout but put the yard on a sheet.
What I have seen on the net is people using sheets of foam and the using the Woodland Scenic elevated roadbed (look here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tukaram.net/foam.htm">http://www.tukaram.net/foam.htm</a><!-- m -->)
I hope this helps.
Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
Posts: 220
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Joined: Dec 2008
Thanks Nomad. I just drew out what would appear to be a pretty good twice around trackplan for the area I have in mind. Just need to make some measuremnts and make sure all will work.
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That is great! Keep us updated on your progress.
Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
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I recycled the track from my previous layout and knocked most of the ballast out. I used matte medium/Scenic cement and it seemed to come loose easily -- often just by flexing the track as the glue doesn't hold on plastic. Then I soaked it in water for a year to separate the grains.
David's rule: As soon as you finish ballasting your wife will want to move house.
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
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Okay, can somebody point me to a different copy of this plan since I'm NOT a Model Railroader subscriber?
Thanks,
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!
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Galen, search for Red Rock on the Trains forum.
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Sorry, I meant for this to be a pm.
Loren
I got my first train when I was three,
put a hundred thousand miles on my knees.
Posts: 220
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Joined: Dec 2008
Well Ive been thinking lately, and although I already have a good protion of stuff, Im not sure what to do with this project completely yet. Im not really wanting to put money into trains right now, I have a few other things Id prefer to be spending money on and already have alot invested into trains as it is. Ill keep posting progress though.
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Ive been doing some looking and Ive decided that I wont change the layout of the Red Rock Northern too much. The space i will be using is a little larger, mor elike 11x11 so I can make the layout a little large in one direction. Other than that, the only other real change is where there is a tunnel to send trains behind the yard, and to some "staging" I will make a second level where I can have another yard, and some more switching opportunities so its not all on one level, and I can strech the mainline out a little bit. I need to find out how to draw up plans that I can put up on here so I can get opinions and some help with benchwork planning. I want to have the second yard under the first, and have this setup kinda like point to point. to have a reasonable amount of space between the levels, how long/steep of a grade would I be needing?
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