Free Layout Design Help

[railroader9731]

HI Rob I'm looking for a N scale plan that will fill a 74 inch by 36 inch with a L shape extension of 36 inch wide by 80 inch long. The L shape will be 13 inch wide as to note. As for what I'm looking for hauling will be 45% coal 35% box car and the remainder will be misc. So with that said id like something perhaps something with an Appalachian touch with a spots for at least 2 towns. Thank you for your time Harry.

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

Which side is the extension on? Left or right? And what did you mean by "The L shape will be 13 inch wide as to note"? Where does the 13" come into play?

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

The L shape will be on right hand side and by 13 inch wide I'm trying to get at the L shape will be at max of 13 of surface to play with if that helps ( basicly a add on shelf style)

[dingbat]

HI Harry,

Can you give me some more details on what you would like to see on the layout, and what type of industries should be included? I also need your standards such as minimum radius, turnout number, maximum grade, type of track, etc. Anything you can add would be helpful.

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

Like to see as in? What I have for industries buildings so far are walthers diamond coal mine, red wing flour, Roberts printing and a scratch built structure. Other than that industries that still at a draw here. As for grade I have the woodland scenices 4% in 8ft run inclines, atlas code 55 12 and 11 inch radius along with #5 turnouts. I will add more as time allows.

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

It would be nice to know what era you want, steam? diesel? both? once around mainline? continuous run? staging? double or single track mainline? bridges? rivers? givens and druthers? etc?, etc? Just describe what you have in mind with as much detail as possible, so I have some idea what your goals are for the layout.

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

Ok forgive me as that question was half asleep any how in going to swing the golden era steam to diesel era. As for main part a run around loop and at least passing tracks for 8 to 12 cars. I kinda would like to see a bridge or trestle scene and 1 bridge over a roadway. As for the L extension that can be used as a branch line for the coal mine and what ever you think may fit. I don't know if a small yard and or engine facility is possible?? As for double deck ill let you think that over.

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

Is there any way you can do up a drawing of your layout space to show its configuration, and where it sits against any walls?

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

No art award here lol

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

Thanks for the drawing. I was seeing a few configurations for the dimensions you gave me, but that wasn't one of them. Glad I asked.

Take care,
Rob.

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

Here's my first attempt at a layout for your space.

The track plan consists of a continuous run loop with a passing siding, and two branch lines. Both the yard and town site are on the branches off the main loop. There is also plenty of opportunity for some nice scenes with river crossing, overhead highway bridges, along with a few tunnels and mountain scenery.

Operations of the daily local would consist of making up a train at the interchange (staging) yard, circling the loop a few times doing some switching along the way, then cutting off to the town to do more switching. The loco would be turned on the wye and return to the yard. Coal trains would operate between the yard, and the Diamond mine as turns.

Here's the design:

   

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

sounds interesting but no design showen up??

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

I had a link to the graphic file on my server, but the server seems to be down this morning. I placed it as an inline attachment.

Take care,
Rob.

[railroader9731]

I like what I see so far out of this design. Only thing I'm trying to visualize is how a few coal cars with the engine in the lead may set the cars out or wait for another engine to come up to the point of pick up. Worst case for me but not a huge deal if other switches could make things better feel free to add to it to see what changes may be better.

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

I'm glad that you like the plan. I think it offers a lot of operational potential, plus give some nice scenery options. As for switching the mine, it is pretty straight forward even with the track that is there, but I will try to explain my thinking using both words and graphics.

   

The graphic above shows the start of the day with a train of 10 empty 2-bay coal hoppers ready to leave the interchange yard depicted in position #1. There are also 10 loaded 2-bay coal hoppers waiting at the coal mine to be picked up depicted in position #2. The empty coal train leaves the yard, and makes a few laps around the mainline.

After making the laps, the caboose if cut from the train and left of the mainline. The crew then pulls forward and drops the 10 empty hoppers on the siding depicted by #3. The loco is then backed onto the caboose and taken into town and both turned on the wye. The caboose is then left on a siding while the mine is switched.

   

After dropping the caboose, the crew runs uphill to the mine and brings down just 5 loaded hoppers at a time to the position depicted as #4. The crew uncouples the loco, and runs around the 5 hoppers, and starts building the outbound loaded coal train on the wye depicted as #5. Once the outbound train is finished the crew takes just the loco down to pick up the 10 empties still at position #3.

   

The loco pulls the 10 empty hoppers back to town and stops in position #6. The crew then pushes the 10 empties up the hill, and splits them between the two tipple tracks at #7. The engine crew returns to town and backs onto the 10 loaded hoppers still on the wye in position #5. Before leaving town, the crew backs onto the caboose and then departs for the interchange yard where it started.

Take care,
Rob.