04-30-2011, 02:52 PM
Hi Rob,
Just a few thoughts following my reading of the postings so far.
Given your desire to model Vermont/New England then less track is more.
Try thinking like the Engineer who built the line. You need to get your trackage from Point A to Point B and beyond while spending the absolute minimum on trackage, switches, earthworks, bridges and signalling to get the job done safely. You also need to consider keeping curvature and grades to a minimum in order that your rail network is economical to run and conserve your limited capital budget to make earning a return on invested capital easier to achieve. Try thinking like Monty Burns from the Simpsons.
I have roughly calculated that your stipulated 30" accessway to your sump pump is costing you just over 47 square feet and a shocking
25% of your layout room.
I suggest that you consider running trackage round the corner on a narrowed shelf only 8" to 12" wide and access the sump pump at 45* to the walls. Refer to Model railroad Planning 2010 and Tony Koester's Editorial Narrow-Mindedness on pages 6 & 7 for more information. Photograph the corner to show us all the pipework.
I am also concerned by the "open doorway to the laundry room" as a source of high humidity [along with the sump pump] and its potential effects upon your layout structure, scenery, trackwork, locomotives, and wiring as I am assuming that where there is a washing machine there is a tumble drier and or wet washing drying. I dont think that any of us would want you to discover your layout backdrop with oversize condensation drops and streaks running down the walls.
I hope this helps.
Mark
Just a few thoughts following my reading of the postings so far.
Given your desire to model Vermont/New England then less track is more.
Try thinking like the Engineer who built the line. You need to get your trackage from Point A to Point B and beyond while spending the absolute minimum on trackage, switches, earthworks, bridges and signalling to get the job done safely. You also need to consider keeping curvature and grades to a minimum in order that your rail network is economical to run and conserve your limited capital budget to make earning a return on invested capital easier to achieve. Try thinking like Monty Burns from the Simpsons.
I have roughly calculated that your stipulated 30" accessway to your sump pump is costing you just over 47 square feet and a shocking
25% of your layout room.I suggest that you consider running trackage round the corner on a narrowed shelf only 8" to 12" wide and access the sump pump at 45* to the walls. Refer to Model railroad Planning 2010 and Tony Koester's Editorial Narrow-Mindedness on pages 6 & 7 for more information. Photograph the corner to show us all the pipework.
I am also concerned by the "open doorway to the laundry room" as a source of high humidity [along with the sump pump] and its potential effects upon your layout structure, scenery, trackwork, locomotives, and wiring as I am assuming that where there is a washing machine there is a tumble drier and or wet washing drying. I dont think that any of us would want you to discover your layout backdrop with oversize condensation drops and streaks running down the walls.
I hope this helps.
Mark
Fake It till you Make It, then Fake It some More