joefryfry's layout - The Waynesburg Southern

[joefryfry]

This will be my running thread for my layout. My layout will be inspired by the Waynesburg Southern, a piece of the Norfolk Southern trackage that runs from Waynesburg, PA down into West Virginia and serves Federal #2, and Blacksville #1 and 2 mines. A link to the history of the rails can be found here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wvrail.railfan.net/mga_past.html">http://www.wvrail.railfan.net/mga_past.html</a><!-- m -->

[Charlie B]

I'm sure we will all be watching your progress. That is an interesting line you have picked to model. Many of the coal trains on the Conemaugh line originate in that area
Have a Merry Christmas
Charlie

[joefryfry]

Here's a sketch of the final layout plan:

[joefryfry]

Here's Phase I, above the dogs.

[joefryfry]

Here's Phase II, some foam added. Phase III, soon, will have most of the track laid except for the elevated track coming out from the helix.

[TrainNut]

Coming right along! That foam does not look very thick. How thick is it?

[joefryfry]

It's only 1/2". The only ground changes on this side of the wall will be the hills.

[LynnB]

It's only 1/2". The only ground changes on this side of the wall will be the hills.

Your off to a good start. If you were to goto thicker foam base you would have many more options available for creeks rivers and bridges if the desire arises for that sort of thing.

[joefryfry]

Here's Phase III. Look familiar?

[joefryfry]

Here's the final lower plan. All in all the track work was pretty good. I'd give myself about a B-. I still have some cleaning up to do on the inside of the rails and fiddling with the turnouts a little, and maybe add another feeder or two. I spent the better part of yesterday soldering turnout wires until I went to Lowe's and discovered butt splices. I don't know how reliable they are, but they saved me hours. There's 11 turnouts on this little layout. I am too hard on equipment to use ground throws. I thought rail joiners were a pain in HO, man were they no fun to work with in N. I ran across some of my HO track this weekend. It looks like O after working with N. I got my bridge for the upper part this weekend. It of course comes in a kit that I'm not in the mood to start yet and it may not have all I need for it. Stupid kits. I wasn't sure how well the helix would work, but I was pleasantly suprised with this. I've never done one. It is pretty stout considering the design. I will probably regret not painting the wood. The grade on it is 2% max and my little engine can only pull about 4 cars up it, which is the reason for the yard. I don't know much about operations, so I created some. I had two goals: turn trains without lifting them or backing into a wye, and to gain elevation to use a bridge. To create operations, I made a little yard to hold cars while the engine took a few at a time up and around the loop that is elevated after the helix. If I ever get finished with this side of the wall, the other side of the wall gives me 12 feet of space to make a more realistic operation line with space for the town of Waynesburg, and a river load out. It will probably be quite a while until I update this again as I have to build this bridge and paint our unborn child's room, among other things like getting very busy at work and reading baby books. Comments are welcome. Thanks.

[nomad]

Gonna be nice Trains on those broad curves in back will look good !
Just curios, how did you fasten the helix to the table?

Loren

[LynnB]

Nice job , I'd give an A for the helix. It'll be interesting to see what you do with the upper level for the helix entrance.

[Cannonball]

Look like that will be a fun layout when it's done.
I'm developing a real fascination with helix layouts.

[Trucklover]

I give you kudos Joe for pulling that helix off I think you have done a great job for getting the most out of a small space while still keeping it fun to operate

Maybe i missed it somewhere, but what radius is the helix?

[joefryfry]

Gonna be nice Trains on those broad curves in back will look good !
Just curios, how did you fasten the helix to the table?

Loren

Thanks. I have a problem with layouts that force too much track into layout, which is about what I am doing here.