I have attached a slightly modified version of BDA 8 that I will call BDA 8.1, which incorporates some minor mods, mostly visual. 1. Road along staging not really needed. Removed and added 2 more tracks. 2. Tried to make passing sidings equal to staging, no need for them to be any longer. 3. Angled the track by the Depot a couple of degrees so it is not parallel to the wall (visually should be more interesting). 4. Angled the front truss bridge by about 5 degrees. This is another visual thing but it also helped smooth out the curves. I'm pretty happy with the plan at this point unless anyone has any other suggestions.
I really like the general arrangement of your yard, engine service terminal and RIP track in version 6. I would lose the caboose and run around track. The switch back to the RIP track (no way). I would loose the team track in favor of the RIP track. I really like the A/D and classification tracks arrangement now that Linville is not part of the equation, that extra foot made it awesome! Just more ideas for your consideration. Jerry
Thanks Jerry, your ideas will be taken into consideration. For now I think I'm done with any major tinkering because I like the overall look of things. As construction begins in January all of those ideas may come into play then. We'll just have to wait and see. My mind is always open for suggestions and improvements. The next step for me now is to go through storage and drag all my stuff out and do an inventory and see what else I may need.
Hi Charles, With the words "Black Diamond" in the name, I'm really squinting to see a coal mine, but the illustration is really too small to tell, is there one? Just curious, Bill in FtL
Here's version 8.2 with the elimination of the caboose and run around track, elimination of the team track and the classification tracks are now longer. Instead of the RIP and team track, just the rip track with no switchback.
Looking much better Charles. One of the keys to successful track planning is to view it from the real world perspective. When a string of cars is pulled out and a minor problem is detected it is prudent to have the rip track handy so the car can quickly be shoved out of the way, repaired and returned to service. Since all the switching action is concentrated at the drill track and yard ladder it makes good sense to place the rip track at one end of the yard ladder or the other. In your case a left hand turnout off the service track would be most ideal. Don't worry if that creates an 'S' curve. By swapping places with the rip track and yard office, it would place the yard office in a very desirable location. Obviously not all prototypical yards are that well laid out and in most cases there is no wrong answer; however when you begin operating your layout you will more than likely appreciate the benefits of an optimum design. More ideas to ponder. Jerry
I like your final plan and think it flows really well. I know that you'll maybe see things as you start to build, so just keep that in mind and don't be afraid of small changes. My only suggestion at this point and its really small, is not to make the roads so straight. I know that may have been done so it was easier to draw, but just like perfectly straight long runs of track look a little out of sorts, so do perfectly straight roads.
Thanks Ron, I was working on some changes while you were posting. So, what are the changes? I felt that there was too much track on the lower leg of the U so I eliminated most of it at BD Jct. Instead I put a siding and moved the grain elevator here. This was based on the short line prototype I used to live nearby. Griggs Oil distributor was moved to the upper leg of the U. I like the fact that there is a sense of separation between the grain elevator and Sunrise Feed Mill now. Some of the other changes are just cosmetic in nature. I'm pretty happy with this new version 8.3 and it will probably be the final version before construction begins.
Wonderful improvements. I really like how the siding and grain elevator are laid in, so realistic! Have you considered a scenic divider on the lower section? My thought is just behind the yard (would have to bring the yard office down a little). On the other side you would retain Industrial Road and all the buildings as they are. This in fact would allow the buildings to become the back ground. This would also give you two distinct scenes on this section of the layout and extend your visual mainline running, something that is often lost with return loop designs. I think your track plan has evolved nicely. My suggestion is now directed at the layout design. Jerry
Thanks for the kind words Jerry. I had not considered a scenic divider up to this point. I was going to rely on buildings, trees etc. I have drawn one in running from the first curve on the left of Industrial Road and all the way to where it intersects with Hwy 231. I would intend to make the divider removable. Visually I think this would add a lot to the layout.
That's there so a road engine can escape a train (or connecting to one) moving in a counter-clockwise direction, or add/remove a caboose on a train running in a clockwise one. It's probably not really necessary but adds another dimension to the operations.
Okay, here's the plan with the scenic divider indicated and there was just a few other cosmetic changes made.
I really need to stop tinkering and start building. However, that still has to wait until after January 1st. What I have done now is mostly cosmetic. I moved the names of the towns and stops and some other minor changes. The biggest change is at the upper leg where I eliminated the siding. Instead I envision a longer run that will traverse through a cut to help hide the track along with some trees. To me this gives an appearance of running through the countryside. I moved Elizabethtown to the center of the "U". Elizabethtown use to have passenger service, but with the decline in ridership over the years the BD&A discontinued service. The old depot still remains, but now houses an art gallery, gift shop and a small museum dedicated to the history of the BD&A. The BD&A no longer stops in Elizabethtown. Augustaville was moved to the lower leg. Only one area of Augustaville is represented and that is service to the grain elevator, a mobile home park and some light non-rail industries. A removable scenic divider is in place to give one a sense of two scenes, on one side the elevator, etc. and viewing from the other side is Sherman Yard. I personally think this helps break up things with multiple views.
A New Beginning [FONT=&]I really have the “itch” to start running trains again. It has been way too long. The plan for the BD&A that I have been working on just does not seem feasible right now and the “CFO” agrees. Depending on whether I used Atlas or Peco, the costs for track right now would be anywhere from $545 (for Atlas) to $789 (for Peco). This is not counting the fact of building the benchwork . So for now I am going to postpone building this project until I am in a better financial situation.[/FONT] [FONT=&]On the bright side I still have 90% of the Atlas track and structures from a previous build. I am going to build 4 modules that I can eventually use for the U-shaped plan in the future.[/FONT] [FONT=&]The plan I am going with is a modified version of the Havaphew Central that was published in Model Railroader in March of 2005. The plan was originally 2’ 6” x 5’ 0”. The plan is basically a double-track main allowing for continuous running while some switching can be done at the flour mill and yard. This plan will be 71/2’ x 3’ with a 1’ x 6’ extension for staging. I added a wye where the line goes to staging. I know a wye takes up a lot of real estate but I wanted some capability to turn a train if needed. All I want to do for now is run trains, some switching and working on scenery skills. Nothing complicated. This is also a great opportunity to try and get the grandkids involved. My 11 year old granddaughter has been on board with previous projects and she called me the other day and wanted to know when we were going to start building. I told her with this concept we can start right after Thanksgiving.[/FONT] [FONT=&]I want to thank all who have contributed ideas to the U-shaped plan. I have not given up on the U-shaped plan, just need to wait until a later date for that project.[/FONT]
So I repositioned everything in the room and laid out a tape outline of the benchwork to see if everything will fit. Everything looks like a go except for the bookcase. It has to be moved to another room to allow for at least 24" access all around. No big deal. I tweaked the track plan some and put down some more ideas of how I am going to do the scenery. Updated image is attached.
