03-04-2011, 12:01 PM
O'Dave - that works excepto for one fly in the ointment - two of my planned branches go off in the direction of Middleboro but one would go off the opposite side. The raised floor stuff might end up being the way to go - this is a 'dream' design anyway. Or I could possibly eliminate modeling that one.
Dave - I do the mid 50's. I'm not too worried about the loops not fitting traffic patterns in the respect of restaging or reusing trains during a given session. I don;t see myself changing - in that I run trains ALL the time, so there's no way any layout I build will remain in a set status from one formal operating session to another. If a formal session with guests is scheduled, I will be spending time ahead of time configuring staged trains, so for example looping the Perk around ot East Penn, I will have one train set to come up the Perk adn 5 or 6 set to come through East Penn. Likewise the south end, I envision basically stopping at the river, so I have 3 directions to manage - looping two of them allows me to stage trains as if they are comign up the mian from philly, off the R&C, or off the crossline from Harrisburg. Yes I am somewhat ignoring the Belt Line - I had once considered having the main north from Belt Line Junction just go into staging but that would end up being used for a traint hat comes in off the south end, runs through Reading, and then into staging. Sort of a waste and I don't knwo who would want to even mark up for such a short run. Now if I end up with a barn to build in and can actual model some of the main line north.... My aim is indeed a 'dream' plan but also something manageable, with the focus being on the East Penn Branch and the rest mostly providing the supporting cast. As an alternative to putting bits of the entire Reading system in with each segment more condensed.
--Randy
Dave - I do the mid 50's. I'm not too worried about the loops not fitting traffic patterns in the respect of restaging or reusing trains during a given session. I don;t see myself changing - in that I run trains ALL the time, so there's no way any layout I build will remain in a set status from one formal operating session to another. If a formal session with guests is scheduled, I will be spending time ahead of time configuring staged trains, so for example looping the Perk around ot East Penn, I will have one train set to come up the Perk adn 5 or 6 set to come through East Penn. Likewise the south end, I envision basically stopping at the river, so I have 3 directions to manage - looping two of them allows me to stage trains as if they are comign up the mian from philly, off the R&C, or off the crossline from Harrisburg. Yes I am somewhat ignoring the Belt Line - I had once considered having the main north from Belt Line Junction just go into staging but that would end up being used for a traint hat comes in off the south end, runs through Reading, and then into staging. Sort of a waste and I don't knwo who would want to even mark up for such a short run. Now if I end up with a barn to build in and can actual model some of the main line north.... My aim is indeed a 'dream' plan but also something manageable, with the focus being on the East Penn Branch and the rest mostly providing the supporting cast. As an alternative to putting bits of the entire Reading system in with each segment more condensed.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad of the 1950's in HO
Visit my web site to see layout progress and other information:
http://www.readingeastpenn.com
Visit my web site to see layout progress and other information:
http://www.readingeastpenn.com