Hello! I've been lurking on this site for awhile and am finally getting the time to start a small layout this winter. After operating on a couple of layouts here in Denver, the decision was made to try and draw up a layout that I could bring cars on/off from destinations further than our selective compression allows. I have always liked the look of the green and white untis from the California Northern and Arizona & California RR's. My little L-shaped layout will allow me to model a couple of places along the route from Cadiz, CA to Phoenix, AZ. I wanted an interchange somewhere on the layout and it just so happened that the ARZC interchanges with the BNSF by way of a wye, perfect for one end of a door. I would like to run basically locals and through freights with dropoffs to keep the rolling stock moving and changing on the layout. The major industry will be a precast plant where girders, pipes and hollow core slabs will be manufactured (I'm a structural engineer by day). I have also got a spur for a small propane dealer and one more spur that I can't decide on (input from the board is appreciated!). Take a look at the trackplan and please provide any thoughts you may have. I did the scenery with Adobe Photoshop, a first for me. I plan on using an NCE PowerCab for DCC control. I also plan on doing some detailing and painting this winter to get a nice little fleet going. All of my railroading equipment is in California, so it will be Christmas time before any substantial progress can be made, but maybe some benchwork before then. Thanks for looking! Doug
cool looks good point to point or lap running with some switching thrown in looks to a fairly straight forward plan
Thanks. I plan on two 36x80 doors with 16"min radius where visible and #5 switches. I layed the trackplan out in AutoCAD, so if I got the turnout angles right, there should be no surprises when flextrack goes down.
Should be a very groovy layout to show off some great scenery. I like how the backdrop endloop acts as the viewblock for the interchange wye when standing on the right. Some thoughts: It is very difficult to get the turnout angles correct when "freelancing" on AutoCAD / paint / etc. I can see several that probably will not "turnout" spacing-wise as you hoped (like the passing sidings / yard on the right seem a bit tight). That's where XtrakCAD, 3rdPlanit, AnyRail earn their keep, by keeping the turnouts "honest". The other way to do it is to lay the track out on your space, tacked down with pins or double sided tape, and try it out The turnout on the top (interchange) has the main main going through the diverging route (unless that's a wye?). Is that a curved turnout lower left? Curved turnouts help a lot with saving space & smooth-flowing track. Using curved turnouts on the "south staging" yard will allow for longer staging tracks. The passing sidings / yard at the middle right seems a bit short for the trains you could run. Might be fine to start the turnouts farther "up" the line. But that all comes down to determining your regular train length and then fixing the staging & passing sidings accordingly. Another option is to flip the cement and the main & have it curve around the lower right & connect to the staging in the back (making the staging through tracks). For more ideas, check out John Leader's Marias Pass layout in the latest issue of N Scale Railroading (Nov/Dec 2011). Similar "feel" with the big turns & groovy scenery. Food for thought.
Great idea. Except the California Northern as you most likely know never went that far south in the real world. The fun thing is that many of us are doing layouts are not completely in the real world.:tb-biggrin: View attachment 40245
Very nice track plan. You have thought about it very well. And with the advice of MC Fujiwara, it can turn out even better!
i like the concept - the plan has some rough edges but overall it looks like a fun layout to build and operate. i think you are at a limit of about 8 cars with a single loco and caboose, which works for the smaller size of the prototype. all of the industries are easily worked from a single direction, the interchange track at the top is not - do you plan on spotting cars there?
MC - I use AutoCAD everyday so it is much simpler for me to use than the planning softwares, but I do agree, they earn their keep on switches. I plan on laying everything out temporary to get the "feel" of how the track moves before anything permanent is done. The interchange at the top does have the main going through the diverging route. From what I have seen picture wise, the ARZC main comes into the BNSF main, and I'm not worried operationally because the interchange is just there to give the illusion of points unknown. I will try to use curved turnouts where I can for exactly the points you have discussed. I wanted to stay away from the loop at each end of the layout look, so that is why the precast plant is where it is. Ken - In my world, the CN and A&C own the southwest. I've only ever seen the CN in Woodland, CA before, but the river crossing at Parker, AZ will be a focal point on a larger layout down the road. I plan on painting up some EMD units as well that they don't actually own. Thieu - Thanks! I look forward to getting started on it! mr1967 - I was planning on short switching trains the size you mentioned. Since it will only be me operating, there shouldn't be an issue with fouling the main while switching. I don't plan on spotting anything at the interchange, I feel everything can be spotted in Wickenburg since it's only a few feet down the road and two railroads would share that space.
Doug, If you can send me your AutoCAD file (dwyaneward at yahoo dot com). I have a tracking planning AutoLISP routine/menu system I have been developing. It can only at present draw NMRA std Turnouts. I can lay in the NMRA turnouts on you plan and send back. My past HO layout using Fast Track turnouts and my current N scale layout using PECO code 55, both match up perfect.
http://www.aeromoe.com/Peavine.html The above link has some pics & info about the ARZC-BNSF interchange at Castle Hot Springs and the Matthie Wye
sossei - This is great! Thank you! A quick glance shows the BNSF portion of the Matthie Wye to be the diverging route. Something to think about...
