Fluesheet Wrote:shortliner Wrote:This one - adapted from an N gauge one by Mike Fischer works well as a small switching layout
This has got me scratching my head. I like that all the track isn't parallel. I may have a little wiggle room on the left side, if even only a slight divergence from parallel. I am still studying what your plan provides operationally - it's apparently obvious to Stein!
Learning,
Matt
Matt - one advantage is that ALL the required trackage is within the switching area - it doesn't need a "tacked on" fiddle yard, as all the inbound/ outbound cars start/finish on the interchange track at the front, bringing in 3 cars distributing them and then collecting 3 outbound cars and putting them on the interchange (especially if you decide to put them in a specific order) will keep you busy for an hour+. Also you need to use the runround to get the loco on the right end of the cars to position - the running about all takes time. Using ground throws for the switches, a bamboo skewer for uncoupling, and allowing for pumping up the air, adds to the time that a switching session lasts. I use Peco switches and the other end of my uncoupling stick has a tube that fits over the "nub" on the tiebar, and allows my yardman to throw the switches. Take a look at these and see how long switching moves take in the real world
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And some model switching with links on the right side to more
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If you treat the cars on the interchange at the start of the session, when you come "on shift" (although they were really the ones you left there at the end of your previous "shift")they were dropped off "overnight" by a Westbound mainline freight train. Your job is to deliver them and make up an Eastbound set which will be picked up whilst you are at beans. Once the Eastbound cars are on the interchange track you can go eat, so run the loco back down to near Foxy Ladys works, and go refuel yourself and the crew at Ma Blakeys Eatin' house, and have a cup of coffee. When you're finiished, you'll find that the Eastbound mainline freight has dropped some cars off for you to deliver,(you can pull those you put on the interchange and replace with others if you like to see different cars on the layout) and then you position the cars for the Westbound overnight, and book off shift. A simple layout with a huge amount of operating potential.
If you have spare room, you could extend the layout left by about 15",run the teamtrack into the Foxy Lady building, put in a road crossing the track to the left of Foxy Lady and ACME, and add a short length of track to the centre track where you leave the engine while you go for chow. You could bring it down to your 7" width by having all the industries along the back as photoflats on the backscene