New small ISL trackplan - need feedback

[Schraddel]

For switching I will mainly use this beauty <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.php?siteid=2408&threadid=323190">http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.ph ... did=323190</a><!-- m -->
Its from a private German company, which will work well for a small switching layout. It was an expensive purchase for such a small loco, but it looks fantastic and runs beautifully!

Hello Yngve!
No, i cannot agree with beautiful running of the ADE DHG500 on H0 2-Rail systems. Of course the DHG50 looks phantastic, finely detailed, etched parts and crisp details.
But ...
This model is optimized for the toy like H0 Gauge 3-Rail system. Meaning traction tires and running in analog mode fast, faster and even faster.
The 2-Rail version has 2 traction tires on the wheels of the middle pair of drivers too. As they have a slightly little bit bigger diameter than the rubberless wheels, they cause the 3 axle loco rocking about the middel axle and thus causing immense current pick up problems.
So get rid of the traction tires, they are more than useless on the layout seize you are planning. Without traction tires the pick may be a little bit better, but still far away from the relaibility you need really for slow switching operations.
There are only 6 wheels on three axles, all fixed stiff onto the main frame. So only three wheels have actually contact with the rails, two on the one side and one on the other side. The rest has "airtime" and a wheel on airtime does not really pick up current from the rails. And Murphy's law for model railroads say, that the only wheel which has no airtime will indicate all dirt and gunk like fly's shit on this rail relaiable. Ever.
Have you red the German text?
and here:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/read.php?10,5874223,5874223#msg-5874223">http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/r ... sg-5874223</a><!-- m -->
On the German forum were several discussions about the ADE DHG500 current pick up problems. If you have difficulties to understand German language, i can do a summary in English.


What can you do?
First all of the switches have to be equipped with live frogs. It will be necessary to to some additional work, but for stress less enjoying switching operations it will be a well done investment.

And i am also of the opinion to built the layout some smaller. And what do you think about diagonal laying of the tracks? Imagine the staging area will be pushed back. on the plan the rails will then enter the layout on the upper right side. A slight curve will redirect them to the lower left end of the layout. Then the main rail will run diagonal and all other rails will connect to it in a angled manner. The warehouse and loading area my be still flat on the back were they are now sited.
And a door in the right side of the ware house with a additional spur rail leading into the warehouse?

My 2 Cents

Lutz

[Southern Tuxedo]

Since there seems to be some confusion about the size I can inform you about the following:
- The size of the "sceniced part" is 150x50 cm. When converting to inches its 59" x 19,7"
- The grid size is 1'. Normally I would use centimeters, but I put it as feet since I was asking for advice here.

I actually did not react to the 30" being mentioned earlier because I'm used to using centimeters, not inches.

So yeah, hope that clears up any confusion.

Yngve,
It sure does. I hadn't been here in a few days (which is unusual for me) and I wasn't sure whether I missed an earlier post that got edited or something. Thanks for the clarification.

Mark

[Yngve]

For switching I will mainly use this beauty <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.php?siteid=2408&threadid=323190">http://www.nexusboard.net/showthread.ph ... did=323190</a><!-- m -->
Its from a private German company, which will work well for a small switching layout. It was an expensive purchase for such a small loco, but it looks fantastic and runs beautifully!

Hello Yngve!
No, i cannot agree with beautiful running of the ADE DHG500 on H0 2-Rail systems. Of course the DHG50 looks phantastic, finely detailed, etched parts and crisp details.
But ...
.
.
.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/read.php?10,5874223,5874223#msg-5874223">http://www.drehscheibe-foren.de/foren/r ... sg-5874223</a><!-- m -->
On the German forum were several discussions about the ADE DHG500 current pick up problems. If you have difficulties to understand German language, i can do a summary in English.
Lutz

I have not read all the German text (did a quick google translate on some of it). While I'm sure there are people who have experienced problems with it, all I know is that mine is running great also at slow speeds. Also it must be mentioned that since I dont have a layout yet my only option is to run trains on the floor using Roco Geoline tracks. They have dead frogs, but no problems through the switches.

What can you do?
First all of the switches have to be equipped with live frogs. It will be necessary to to some additional work, but for stress less enjoying switching operations it will be a well done investment.
Lutz

Oh this will definately be built with live frogs! All my switching engines are of this size or smaller so its a must for me! Cant risk my locos stalling on the switches.

And i am also of the opinion to built the layout some smaller. And what do you think about diagonal laying of the tracks? Imagine the staging area will be pushed back. on the plan the rails will then enter the layout on the upper right side. A slight curve will redirect them to the lower left end of the layout. Then the main rail will run diagonal and all other rails will connect to it in a angled manner. The warehouse and loading area my be still flat on the back were they are now sited.
And a door in the right side of the ware house with a additional spur rail leading into the warehouse?

My 2 Cents

Lutz

That idea does not sound bad, I might play around with it a bit.

[BR60103]

Yngve:
50cm by 150cm will fit nicely on the larger size of IVAR shelving from Ikea. Actually, it's shorter than 2 of the long shelves. That's what I'm using for my layout.

[Yngve]

Hello folks,

I need some suggestions for the industry along the back. I have some steel coil cars which I would really like to use, therefore I'm open for suggestions for a realistic industry which receives steel coils to make its products. My proposal is to use the open area at the end of the spur for unloading of steel coils, and the occasional filling of a gondola with scrap metal from production. The building will have seperate spots for inbound loads and outbound loads, both being shipped in enclosed cars.

However I'm struggling a bit to come up with what kind of goods will be loaed and unloaded along the side of the building. I've tried googling around to find typical products manufactured from steel coils, but I only seem to find websites for companies producing steel coils. So yeah, any good suggestion folks?

Here are some links to show what kind of rolling stock which will be serving this industry:
Steel coil cars: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=151">http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=151</a><!-- m -->
Closed cars: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=146">http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=146</a><!-- m -->
Gondola cars: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=145">http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=145</a><!-- m -->



Thank you!

[jwb]

Here's an example of an industry that handles coil steel, although this one is not rail served. You would normally need a crane like this to handle the coils, although a heavy duty forklift can also be used.
   

[BR60103]

Yngve:
I think steel coils are used for any product that has large sheet panels: kitchen appliances: stoves, refrigerators,washers, dryers; automobiles; railway cars.

[Yngve]

When I think about it, I think I will change it into two industries and make the steel coils in/scrap metal out spot a seperate industry from the warehouse.

[BR60103]

or scrap metal in, steel coils out?

[Brakie]

Yngve,As you may recall from some of my post I like thinking outside the box when it comes to small ISLs.

Some of my wacky industries for your consideration that I have actually used on my past ISLs..

Wellson Building supplies..They received 50' boxcars of brick,cement and 50' gons of rebar.

General Wholesalers-tobacco,whiskey,beer and wines.Out empties

The Goodman Corp.Plastic pellets and oil.Out empties and boxcars of scrap plastic(wastage) loaded in gayloads(large dumpable shipping box).

[Yngve]

I decided to switch the two industries along the top spur. The reason being that steel will be unloaded in an open area so it doesnt matter if the cars are placed in the curve after the switch, unlike the enclosed cars which will be placed at the warehouse and must be at the same angle as the wall. It also gives me some interesting modeling opportunities for outdoor storage of various items in the top right half of the layout.

[Dottney]

Yngve,
I'll be watching with interest as I'm beginning a similar ISL myself. I have a couple things in common with you, a 3way turnout to use and I'm going to model modern European in HO. I have some track just placed on the board to see what fits where.
I look forward to seeing more of your progress.
Dave

[radivil]

unlike the enclosed cars which will be placed at the warehouse and must be at the same angle as the wall.

Not true, loading docks and bridge plates can handle that. For instance, this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tinyurl.com/nbmvbsq">http://tinyurl.com/nbmvbsq</a><!-- m -->

[lajry]

[quote="jwb"]Here's an example of an industry that handles coil steel, although this one is not rail served. You would normally need a crane like this to handle the coils, although a heavy duty forklift can also be used.

jwb
This looks like the place on 49th St Vernon CA just west of the old ATSF Malabar Yard. They probably get the coils via the ATSF Vernon Team about a block east of there. If you look at aerials it looks like there was a spur there before. Use 2667 Fruitland Av 90058 to see the team track on Bing or Google, then drag it west along 49th St to see the coil place.

[Yngve]

unlike the enclosed cars which will be placed at the warehouse and must be at the same angle as the wall.

Not true, loading docks and bridge plates can handle that. For instance, this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tinyurl.com/nbmvbsq">http://tinyurl.com/nbmvbsq</a><!-- m -->

Sorry, I see that what I wrote wasnt actually quite what I meant. Im planning to build a shallow platform along the outside of the building. Some of my rolling stock is quite long and I want to make sure that they are spotted so that they are level with the building/platform, otherwise it might end up looking rather silly if there is a large gap.

See 4th picture here for an example of my long rolling stock <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=146">http://www.vmji.no/Default.aspx?tabid=146</a><!-- m --> (the one with the blue CARGO logo)