New trackplan in the making (320 x 290 cm)

[Yngve]

Hello all,

After reading some of the stuff by Lance Mindheim Ive gotten a ton of inspiration so I decided to play around with a trackplan which could fit in my livingroom. It would have to be built in sections as there is no room for a permanent layout. Rolling stock will be relatively modern era, mostly Norwegian trains, but also other European freight cars which are or have been fairly common on Norwegian tracks. Im thinking the time period from late 80's till today, which gives me the option to run pretty much all of my rolling stock except passenger trains.

The space I have available is for an L-shaped layout with an outer size of 320 x 290 cm. The extra yard/staging section Ive drawn is not an option at the moment, but I made it to explore what options might be available in the future. I can also use the track towards the edge to add a removable cassette to make more room for inbound/outbound trains and for removing/adding cars.

As for industries, Ive added a few which I definately want. For the combination of container loading/unloading and ramps for autotransport cars I have seen pictures of this combination in real life so no doubt about that one. Each of these tracks is long enough to hold three of these beauties <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://togbutikken.no/webshop/shop1/product.asp?intProdID=1655">http://togbutikken.no/webshop/shop1/pro ... rodID=1655</a><!-- m -->. The combination of container cars and auto transport cars is also common in Norway which can give me some interesting switching if the autotransport cars are at the "wrong" end of the train. I also want to have a gate to make operations more interesting.

I have also added a spur for loading gravel/ballast. Im not sure excactly what to add to the top spurs, but Im thinking some sort of warehouse and one team track. The upper right spur is long enough to have two smaller industries.

I originally had the runaround track only at the top of the layout, but I felt it was a bit short to be able to support the container/car terminal so I extended it around the curve. Now its quite long, but I think it looks pretty good and it will make operation sessions longer.



Anyone have any opinions they want to share about the trackplan? While its not certain that this layout will ever be made, Im having a ton of fun planning it and Im hoping it can become a reality one day.

Best regards,
Yngve

[Catt]

I like your track plan,it looks definately workable.I hope you will keep us posted on your progress . :mrgreen:

[Yngve]

Okay so after looking through a ton of satelite images I came across this small terminal of some sort in Copenhagen,Denmark which I felt would be perfect for modelling. While I have no idea what its used for (looks like only one type of load in the birds-eye view) I think the track arrangement is very interesting for a small layout.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://binged.it/yyGBEU">http://binged.it/yyGBEU</a><!-- m -->

As for size of the layout, I have changed from L-shape to a longer linear layout with a size of 400x60 cm (roughly 13'x2'). By adding a few extra tracks I think I got something which is very simple, but at the same time has a lot of potential for operation. Reducing the number of turnouts helps keep the costs down, and building it in sections will be easier since its straight forward.

Trackplan explanation:
Track 1 - container cars or any cars loaded/unloaded by truck. Ramp for autotransport cars.
Track 2 - same as top track with the exception of the ramp, but normally kept clear.
Track 3 - industry not decided yet, also used as run-around track.
Track 4 - industry not decided, but some sort of warehouse/small industry which receives goods in enclosed cars with sliding doors.
Track 5 - gravel loading.

I think this plan has a lot of operation potential. For example the autotransportcar has to be switched so that its in the correct end of the train on track 1, track 3 has to be kept clear to operate track 4 and 5, etc...

Since I dont really have much experience with operations I would really like some feedback on this one. For example, will I get stuck too easily? Will the maximun number of cars on the layout have to be kept very low to keep it operation?

All comments and suggestions are very much appriciated!

Edit: I added a new version with an off-spot track next to the main line which can be used as temporary storage if cars needs to be cleared to operate some of the industries.

[BR60103]

I think that having a rail-served industry on track 3 will foul up your operating process. In the picture it looks as if the building may not have any rail service.
If you spot cars at plant 3, they will block the runaround and also plants 4 and 5. To get into 4 and 5 you would have to move the cars at 3, either into the new spare siding or into the headshunt at the left.
This could be part of your operating complications. Your switch crew will have to contact the foreman at company 3 to get clearance to move the cars (which may only be partly loaded/unloaded) temporarily out of the way.

You could experiment. Put a temporary building there and see how it works.

[steinjr]

Vigerslev is an old freight terminal (i.e. a team track) on the "freight ring railroad" in Copenhagen.

Track configuration for the team track area would appear to look like this schematically:


I would think that freight cars are spotted for loading/unloading at tracks A and B, on either side of the hard surface where trucks can be parked for transloading to the RR cars.

Track C-D seems to be an engine escape track - which also can be used for storing a cut of cars when the track is not used as an engine escape track.

E-F is the switching lead for the tracks A and B. F can also be used for adding an engine on the right side before pulling out on the main.

Smile,
Stein

[Russ Bellinis]

Okay so after looking through a ton of satelite images I came across this small terminal of some sort in Copenhagen,Denmark which I felt would be perfect for modelling. While I have no idea what its used for (looks like only one type of load in the birds-eye view) I think the track arrangement is very interesting for a small layout.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://binged.it/yyGBEU">http://binged.it/yyGBEU</a><!-- m -->

As for size of the layout, I have changed from L-shape to a longer linear layout with a size of 400x60 cm (roughly 13'x2'). By adding a few extra tracks I think I got something which is very simple, but at the same time has a lot of potential for operation. Reducing the number of turnouts helps keep the costs down, and building it in sections will be easier since its straight forward.

Trackplan explanation:
Track 1 - container cars or any cars loaded/unloaded by truck. Ramp for autotransport cars.
Track 2 - same as top track with the exception of the ramp, but normally kept clear.
Track 3 - industry not decided yet, also used as run-around track.
Track 4 - industry not decided, but some sort of warehouse/small industry which receives goods in enclosed cars with sliding doors.
Track 5 - gravel loading.

I think this plan has a lot of operation potential. For example the autotransportcar has to be switched so that its in the correct end of the train on track 1, track 3 has to be kept clear to operate track 4 and 5, etc...

Since I dont really have much experience with operations I would really like some feedback on this one. For example, will I get stuck too easily? Will the maximun number of cars on the layout have to be kept very low to keep it operation?

All comments and suggestions are very much appriciated!

Edit: I added a new version with an off-spot track next to the main line which can be used as temporary storage if cars needs to be cleared to operate some of the industries.

Put a parking lot at industry spot #3 and use it as a team track location. In his new book How To Operate A Modern Era Industrial Switching Layout Lance shows situations where a railroad might drop a car for trans-loading to trucks on a little used section of track. Then you can use a variety of rolling stock and trucks for trans-loading. If a car is in the way on a team track, I don't think it is nearly the problem that it would be to get permission from an industry to move a car to use the run around. The professional railroaders on the site would know more than I would, though.

[paulus_jas]

hi,
a scenery only zone is used by Lance Mindheim in a completely different way.
More like a smallish part of the line between stations or freight-yards without spurs.
The background could be a great place for an industry.

IMHO the double slip switch is not really needed. I would prefer the extra spur at the left, near the transloading or team tracks.
If you have already two tracks dedicated for rail-truck transloading the "team" part is very well covered.

Do you want to have a fiddle track, where cars are changed between sessions by hand, between a drawer and the layout?
Do you prefer to use the drill track for fiddling?

Paul

[Yngve]

Thank you for the input, Ive been playing around with the trackplan for a bit. I added an extra track and a crossing to free up some space on the runaround tracks. Im still searching for inspiration for what to do with track 4. Perhaps something lumber related as that is a very common rail industry in Norway.

Now I think I have something which could give me plenty of fun in my livingroom, and it gives me the possibility for expansion to staging at a later stage. Im also very happy with it because I have to build it in sections, and now I can build it in 3 equally long sections without interfering with any of the turnouts.

All comments are welcome!

[Russ Bellinis]

Lumber would work for track 4. I don't know if they run bulkhead flats in Norway for lumber loads, but you could leave the area clear on both sides of track #4 and load lumber there. Put stacks of lumber around the area, but leave room for a forklift to operate. All buildings for the lumber yard would be in the aisle.

[Yngve]

At the moment Im definately leaning towards lumber loading as its something you see so many places in Norway, it would be easy to make and it would fit nicely in the somewhat rural setting Im looking to capture. Rolling stock on the lumber track will consist of Kbps and Rps wagons.

[Russ Bellinis]

Just curious, are you looking at hauling out logs or finished lumber; or will it be a lumber dealer receiving finished lumber for local building. Since you mentioned rural, I'm presuming lumber or logs being hauled out to the city down the line.

[steinjr]

Lumber and cars - sounds like Brakerøya by Drammen: http://kart.finn.no/?lng=10.25286&lat=59...,r,Drammen

Lumber terminal at bottom - track with parked empty stake flat at top. Car loading terminal (3 tracks) mid center of image.

Smile,
Stein

[Yngve]

I have been playing with paper, scissors and tape today. The result you can see below (sorry for the poor quality). I put out some rolling stock just to give an impression of what it will look like. At the moment Im very pleased with this trackplan, but I will probably leave it on my floor for a few days and see if my opinion changes.

[Ralph]

I can't think of a better way to really get a feel for how a potnetial track plan might look and fit into your space!

[Yngve]

Its a great way for visualization. It gives a completely different feel than a picture on the computer screen. Im planning to have some 'operation sessions' with just moving some trains by hand to see what works and what might need rethinking.