Ok... I tried posting this on the Atlas forum without much success so maybe you guys can be more helpful... LoL! So... during the few last months I've been trying to design a decent trackplan and ended up with this. http://www23.brinkster.com/magicman841/trythis.html You have to open it in another window since the server I'm using won't let me post pics. Ok so you have a yard in the front with a siding probably for oil and fuel. On the right is the interchange and a cement plant at the top. The top right siding is a grain elevator and the left one (2 spurs) is a lumber mill. The top of the layout is reserved for scenery. Any advice mucho appreciato. Thanks
Why not make the switchback (on the right side) a passing or run around track? That might give you some more flexibility when operating two trains. How did you do that track plan? Is that a scanned drawing or do you have one of those track design programs? That’s what I need, a good plan to get me started.
Excuse my ignorance but what is a switchback???... lol I put a runaround on the bottom of the plan just below the yard, and I don't plan to operate 2 trains at a time anyway... The program I used to do this plan is Atlas' Right Track Software available on their site for free... www.atlasrr.com
A switchback is when you have track in a 'Z' type of configuration. In order to get a car to the loading dock in the upper right, you have to backup onto the siding on the lower right, throw the switch, then move back over the switch and into the industry. I notice that you have a run around (that is a double ended siding alowing an engine to move from one side of a car to another) on the bottom half, but all of the sidings, and the yard, can be accessed from the left. The upper side of the plan has two switchbacks, but no run around. I suggest adding or at least moving the runaround to the top half of the plan. This will allow you to operate the top half as 'town A' and the bottom half as 'town B' Also note that you can seperate the two towns by adding a bit of straight track to the right side and left side curves. Other than the run-around - that's a good solid 4x8 plan.
Thanks for all the advice guys!!! ------- Ok.... I updated my trackplan, I added a runaround at the top and added an industry. By the way this layout will be N scale, 32" X 60". Click Here to see my updated plan and hit refresh if it doesn't load. [ 21. March 2003, 00:12: Message edited by: MagicMan_841 ]
Yes, much better. See if you can adjust the new crossover so it is incorporated into the curve better (like you have done on the lower left) so that a train, heading counter-clockwise an onto the upper siding won't have to go through the tight S curve.
I'm looking at curved turnouts for those 2 spots.... I don't know who makes them and what radius they are, though...?
