Planning a switching layout (Max size 12x2 feet)

[Yngve]

Hello all!

I'd like to start by introducing myself. My name is Yngve and Im 24 years old from Bergen, Norway. I have been lurking here for some time as its one of the most active message boards Ive come across, but now Im planning a layout so I figured it was time to register to ask for some assistance.

Over the years I have gathered a nice collection of trains, but Ive never had a layout. Now Im bored with running trains on the floor so I have decided its time to take the step and make a working layout. Ideally I would like to make a layout which would allow continous running with long passenger trains, but space restrictions does not allow that. So I figured a switching layout would be the second best choice. I have set the maximum size for the layout to 12x2 feet, but if a smaller trackplan allows me to go smaller it would be even better. The layout will be built in 2-3 sections depending on the size. Era is set to 1990 to today.

I have already decided on some of the industries I want on the layout. They are all based on real industries here in the Bergen area. The prototypes does not have railroad service, but in the modelling world everythings allowed.

Jaeger Automobil (car dealer)
This will be served by Laaeilprs autotransport cars. These cars are long, about one foot. The model has not yet been released, but it should be quite soon (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hobbytrade.dk/images/flyers/oktober_2010.jpg">http://hobbytrade.dk/images/flyers/oktober_2010.jpg</a><!-- m -->). I would like to have 2 or 3 tracks being able to hold a total of 6 of these cars.

Toro Plant
Toro is a company which makes soup/caserolles/cake-mix (only add water/milk/cream) and also finished sauces and ketchup. This will be served by Hbikks/His/G4 cars which are closed freight cars up 50 ft in length.

Hansa Bryggeri
This is a local brewery. This will be served by the same type of cars as the Toro plant.

With the size I have decided there is probably room for more industries. I have some open freight cars which can be used for pretty much anything which I would like to use (steel, concrete products, timber, scrap metal, etc...). I also have 8-10 container cars, but Im not sure if the layout is large enough to support a small containerterminal too. Perhaps if it was the main industry, but the ones I have mentioned above are "must have"'s for me.

I would also like to have a short track with a switching engine stored, perhaps with a small engine house.

Now my problem is where to start. I have found a few trackplans that I like, but Im having a hard time modifying them to my use.
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There is also the question of how to operate the layout. If I decide to use the full 12 feet there will be no room to run a train "off the layout". If I go a bit shorter I will have the option of making a sharp 90 degree turn into a small fiddle yard, and I will also be able to use it during the switching if the train gets too long.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a layout based on my requirements? Are there any other trackplans out there which fits my requirements, or which I can modify?

All help is appriciated. Thank you in advance.

Yngve

[Puddlejumper]

Welcome to The Gauge! If you don't mind me asking, how do you pronounce Yngve?

Here is a link to one of my favorite layout threads http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...w+packages

It also is a shelf layout with parameters similar to what you have. I'm sorry I can be of not much help to you right now, as I don't even have a layout right now. The most experience I have had is a 4x8 layout I had when I was a teen. I wish you luck and can't wait to see photos!

Dave

[steinjr]

Hei Yngve --

I would suggest having a look at Brattørkaia (Brattøra docks) in Trondheim harbor (sacrilege as it may be for a person from Bergen to look to Trondheim ... ) for some ideas of possible track configurations that may work for a small switching layout.

One thing to look at is the typical small container terminal configuration - two parallel tracks (embedded in concrete) close together, with room for trucks to pull alongside on both sides. Add a ramp at the end of the tracks, and you also have a car transport terminal. Plan for e.g. three containers cars to a track - i.e. 3 foot tracks for H0 scale (I assume you are in H0 scale).

The rail served industries along Brattørkaia also would work as background industries for Toro and Hansa. And of course - adding a Hansa sign to the building would go a long way towards wiping out any possible bad karma resulting from using the Third City as inspiration for the Queen of the West :-)

Here is a rough sketch for a first idea - as you can see, to get respectably sized industries needing a number of cars spotted at specific doors, you won't really have a lot of space for many more industries. Cars shown are 89-foot and 60 foot cars:



Smile,
Stein, som modelerer Minneapolis i 1950 årene på Sørumsand i Akershus :-)

[Yngve]

Hi and thank you for the welcome! As for my name, I guess it would be like "Yng-weh" (click play to listen <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.forvo.com/word/yngve/">http://www.forvo.com/word/yngve/</a><!-- m -->)

Puddlejumper: I will definately check out the link you posted tomorrow. I would do it now if it wasnt approaching midning here in Norway...

Stein: That is an awesome layout! I never though about combining a containerterminal with autotransport cars. I will have a good look at it tomorrow. Btw, what size are the turnouts?? I was planning to use Peco code 75 for this layout so I was wondering which turnouts matches the one you have used.

As for modelling after a prototype in Trondheim.... we'll see in a week after Brann - Rosenborg is over!

Yngve

[steinjr]

Stein: That is an awesome layout! I never though about combining a containerterminal with autotransport cars. I will have a good look at it tomorrow. Btw, what size are the turnouts?? I was planning to use Peco code 75 for this layout so I was wondering which turnouts matches the one you have used.

Peco code 75 - medium turnouts. Might be a little marginal for those auto transport and container cars - depending on whether couplers are truck mounted or mounted on the cars - truck mounted couplers are more forgiving of sharper curves.

As for modelling after a prototype in Trondheim.... we'll see in a week after Brann - Rosenborg is over!

LOL :-)

Grin,
Stein, who has heard his share of dead drunk Trønders singing the Rosenborg song in the wee hours as a student in Trondheim long ago

[Yngve]

I dont think Peco medium turnouts should be a problem. Im using Fleischmann short couplers which Ive never had any problems with. Besides when Im running trains on the floor Im using Geolinetrack which have far sharper turnouts.

Yngve

[steinjr]

Btw - a few minor mods:

1) Curve the engine pocket track a little
2) Checking that the longest yard track can be used as an A/D track (engine will be trapped on arrival)
3) Moving the Hansa crossover left, so there is one car length of straight track between the crossovers, to avoid a double S curve
4) Flipping the crossover at far right - cuts down on runaround capacity on track above main, but gives an extra car spot at far right



Time for me to head to bed, too - it is 00:20 over here :-)

Smile,
Stein

[Yngve]

I must say that I really like that trackplan you made. Perhaps its my lack of experience, but based on my requirements I cant really see anything to make it better. Now it will be a while before Im able to start working on it, but I will definately keep this trackplan. Thank you very much!

[Yngve]

With easter holiday coming up I thought it would be a good time to start some serious planning of the actual construction. I was thinking about where to make the joints and I came up with this suggestion.



I think this way will be the easiest to hide the joints because I can make them right at the edge of the structures/car storage. What do you think?

I also need to start thinking about benchwork. Does anyone have any good suggestions for sites which shows how to make easy benchwork for this type of layout?

[steinjr]

Mmmm - maybe move the leftmost section border about 30 centimeters (1 foot) left, so each section is about 4 feet (~122 centimeters) long - that's a size that goes well into car for transport.

Making the box - 12mm (1/2") plywood, cut some sections 3" (7.5 cm) wide, use to make a box - maybe use some triangular pieces to reinforce corners. Description of how to make a FREMO module: http://home.online.no/~bjornrl/modulkasse.htm - you can use the same basic idea, but make the top flat instead of having a single track on a "bridge" across the module.

Smile,
Stein

[Yngve]

Hello

Ive been doing some thinking lately and I feel that this layout might be a bit too crowded, particularly for a norwegian prototype.

One layout that I really like is Roger Nicholls' Glendale layout. I feel it has a nice amount of track with plenty of opportunities. The trackplan does not have any dimensions, but Ive read somewhere that the size of this layout is 9 ft x 1 ft 6 inches. I got some more space to work with, which I will need with the rolling stock Im planning to use.

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Im thinking about using the tracks in the bottom left corner for the container/car transport terminal, and the other tracks for the remaining industries. Stein, do you have any input on how to modify Glendale to my requirements, or the pros and cons with this layout?

All help is appriciated.

[steinjr]

Mmm - that track plan would be hard to modify to fit modern container cars in an urban setting in Norway - it is designed for 40' cars in an American small town setting - and things like track lengths and lead lengths is based on handling shorter cars.

Have you had a look at Norwegian station track plans in the newest railroad authority (jernbaneverket) network statement (http://www.comitato.com/V1/) ?

Section 3.7.1 shows intermodal terminals. Annex 2 shows track plans for a selection of stations. Combining that with e.g. http://www.finn.no/kart for zoomable maps/aerial pictures, you can have a look around and see what you can find.

Well, I'd better head off to bed. Seems like a server I have been working on all night is running stable now, and I have to get up at dawn (when the high school students comes by making a racket) to raise the old red, white and blue, and then take my kids to children's parade at the elementary school in about 9 hours. Happy constitution day!

Smile,
Stein

[Yngve]

Hi

With me being sick for a few days Ive had alot of time to think. I have changed the trackplan, and reduced the number of industries. Im quite pleased with this layout and I think it gives me some good opportunities for a bit of scenery as well, but as a beginner Im sure there are some parts that can be improved.

A general explanation of the layout:
Bottom track: This is the mainline, and will mostly be for astethics. Will be used if the layout is expanded in the future.
Second from bottom: This track is for inbound/outbound cars. Along with the mainline this track will have catenary, but the rest of the layout will not. So cars left here will have to be picked up by the local switcher. Im also considering adding a connection to the main line on the left side of this track, see second picture.
Left side: These three tracks will be used for container/autotransport cars. Incoming cars for the car dealer/workshop on the right side.
Right side: Car dealer and workshop. The two tracks will be used for incoming car parts for the workshop.