New track plan # 2

[ocalicreek]

Galen, I hope you didn't get to far on the other plan, but I am really happy with this plan. This plan seems perfect for a solo operator walking along with the train. Thank you for your help, come on over and operate whenever you can

I'll be glad to be part of that 1% when they layout is not a solo operation! PLUS, it seems like you'll need a few more structures...I'd be happy to help in that way as well. And although pencil had barely set lead to paper, I am pleased to have contributed to your planning process here in this thread.

Now...If I could add a couple refinements to the plan, I'd suggest making it a bit more curvy. If at all possible on the peninsula and the short wall, keep the main line from running parallel to the edge of the layout. On the shorter wall this is no problem, just swing the curve closer to the wall and let the yard/switching come towards the edge as it reaches the end. You'd need to move the icing platforms to the other side (aisle side) of the tracks, but hey, that's a nice wrinkle in the switching scheme! OR, put a kink in it in the middle somewhere. See Steve's 'narrow packages' thread.

On the peninsula this may be tricky since space is tight, but not impossible. An alternative may be to make the main line down the peninsula and around the blob descend alongside a retaining wall (concrete or stone for the industrial district setting). The choice would then become - do you incorporate the short sidings on the 'open' side of the peninsula into one long siding (very prototypical...fewer turnouts to build & maintain, a bit more challening to switch) that does not descend along with the main, or eliminate the aisle side turnouts and create an elevated switching district?

Personally I'd go with the second option. Let the main be just that, travelling down around the industrial district (maybe under some street overpasses & buildings, a la F&SM), while the switching district runs down the center of the peninsula, maybe even down the center of a dirty, busy main street. Have you seen Bob Smaus's original switching layout? Street running can be fun.

This would put the stockyard area a bit lower than the peninsula and yard, for vertical visual separation, but also increase the main line run between yard and "beef" area.

If the single track heading left out of the yard is just a switchback track for the few spurs near the yard, then consider curving it to match the curved track below it. Put a river between the two and you have a nice scenic feature. The river can pass beneath the two tracks exiting the yard, where the main and yard lead curve onto the peninsula. Choice of bridges would be yours, but I'd make them two different types, maybe a girder for the main and a pile trestle for the yard lead.

Just a few creative suggestions - again, choose and use them at your discretion, no offense taken if they don't make it on the layout.

Galen