Thanks Dave & Paul! Yes, it will; scenic blocks (tunnels, mountains) will separate each scene on the layout, making it seem larger. DCC and Tortoise control as well.
That's awesome!!! Is there a pic of the entire layout? Just getting my "train room" ready I can appreciate all the hard work you have put in! Jeff
Simply impressive Hemi! You're an inspiration on many levels. Thanks. Now one thought, after you complete wiring and turnout control installation, hold yourself a mini operating session before you put down a single inch of scenery; test your sidings, get the feel of staging. Do they work the way you anticipated when put to the test? Make sure your plan works under complex situations, then scenic! You don't want to find your sidings are too short after you scenic the layout. Michael
Ahh the golden spike - or nail. It took me two years to get my mainline in so I could run trains nonstop. From what I've seen in this thread, you spent a year planning the thing and less than a month getting trains up and running. Good job. I'm also looking forward to seeing the scenery on your layout.
I don't have an up-to-date photo, just this: Thanks for the kind comment... I know for a fact that Plain Siding is too short--Crescent is over 9 feet long, while Plain is a 6.5 footer. I really dunno how to lengthen it, without cutting a signature curve west of Tunnel 1... http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/628/EB_loads_Tunnel_1_b.jpg http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/628/11_lite_units_t1_wp.jpg Any ideas? Heck, Mike Danneman didn't model this curve either, come to think of it... Lengthening the west side of the siding would cut tunnel space for 2-8, and they are already compressed farther than I like. I think I'll paint a track nail gold, spike it in, and leave it after ballasting.. Or maybe not..:shade: Nope, that's my date nailin' hammer! I found it near Big Sandy, MT, laying in the grass...:angel:
Congratulations on nailing that final pin.... wish I had your room you to extend my little bit of the tunnel district.
Oh, why is it every time I look at this guys stuff, I think of you....check out this auction, then take a look at what he has up for bid....nice.... http://cgi.ebay.com/N-SCALE-KATO-RI...124QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260088908379 The engines....three perfectly matched F40's, wer also up.....so is his layout....
Update: Last night, I wired up another section of the PM42, and ran a train unassisted by the ol' 0-5-0 from staging, to Plain, to Crescent, thru the helix, back to Plain tru the Wye, and all the way back to staging, thru the loop, and parked the train. Amazing little gadget! Now, I need more decoderized lokies!
Jeremy: What if you moved the turnout on the arm of the Plain Y that comes from staging from its current location at the front of the layout to the back of the loop (1/2 loop lower in the helix). This repositioning to a spot just down from the other Plain turnout would mean you could come out through the supports just as you do now but you would be coming out through the supports at the end of the stem of the U rather than the supports that are on the Plain-side of the helix. This will let you run 1/2 of the loop of track from staging to Plain on the OUTside visible portion of the helix, hugging the supports next to the aisleway but lengthening the visible portion by about 4 or 5 feet. The arm of the Plain Y that goes up to Crescent for continuous running could disappear behind a building or some trees, but usual operations from staging would benefit from a longer siding at Plain without needing to cut out any mainline tracks uphill from Plain. The downside is that your aisleway may need to be a little narrower for about 6 or 8 inches at the point where the repositioned tracks (main and siding) pass the front (inner or aisle-side) portion of the helix.
You completely lost me.... Maybe it's the fact I've been at it since 0500, but I'm lost... What will this improve?
Jeremy, a little something to wake up your day....looks like you long wait is soon to be over bro...follow the link..... http://cgi.ebay.com/N-Scale-Athearn...486QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300086120447 Not a reservation.....brand new......have a good one...and p;ost some more pics.....
I have 2 coming from Wig-Wag as we speak. I reserved them the day the announcement was made... Long time coming! Funny thing is, I'll be chasing trains on the REAL Moffat Route when they arrive in the mail.... Since I am unhappy with Plain's tiny length, I am contemplating rebuilding it. In fact, I have entertained redoing Plain as a whole. If I move the main a bit further from Staging, and add a small s-curve like the one at Rainbow Cut, I could gain a few inches more. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=86330 I moved a 2-engine, 20-hopper coalie with caboose onto Plain, and marked the foul points. I then mocked up where a new east switch could be installed. With Tunnel 1 separating the helix/wye area from the sceniced mainline, I need a 2-3" section beyond the wye turnout for tunnel space. That way, I don't have a turnout in a tunnel. I could gain about 10"-12 I think, moving the east switch at Plain further east, removing the curve. In fact, I can lay the curve again, only as a siding. The 20-car +caboose train would fit, but could be a close shave for a meet. I checked length of a TW quad, an Athearn hi-side gon, an Atlas 90T triple hopper and the hi-sides are about 5-8 scale feet longer than the Atlas triples. If 19 plus caboose and 2 locos fits a revised Plain siding, then a train of hi-sides can only be about 18 cars long, and still fit between the switches at Plain for a meet. I think it can work, without shortening train lengths too much, and without chopping more scenery/tunnel space for Tunnels 2-10.
I think what Dave is trying to say is to daylight part of your helix. Move the turnout that feeds into Plain back further in the helix and add new track that will be on the outside of the helix supports out in the open. This will move the tunnel portal back and allow the Plain siding to be much longer (about 4 feet longer). This is my interpretation but Dave should chime in with his own explanation.
Hemi: Mike has it exactly. I'll try to post a pic. Edit: Here is a quick sketch of what I'm talking about. Presently the arm of the Y at Plain that extends from staging ends at support #6 (IIRC) at the front of the helix. I'm suggesting putting the turnout back by support#2 at the back of the helix and about 1/2 loop closer to where the staging track enters the helix. Then, when the track peels off the helix it will come out through Supports # 3?, 4?, and 5? on the end of the U instead of coming through Supports #7? and 8? on the Plain-side of the helix. This will let you run along the outside of the helix for about 4 or 5 feet before getting to what is currently the helix end of Plain. Mike..."Daylighting" the helix is a great way of describing what I proposed. (BTW--what is the proper way to pronounce your last name?)
Mike, my guess is 'Der-SIM-skee'.... Great ideas!!! I wish I had seen these posts before I went to the cellar this morning... Wow, I have never thought of that. I don't like having turnouts in my helix now, and I dunno if I like the idea of rebuilding parts of it. I did, however, rebuild Plain this morning. I should be nearly 9 feet long now for Plain. I'll post pics later... I also fixed the house track at Crescent, back to correct track.
It's pronounced "Dee". I just call him "Mike D." Actually, I think Hemi has it about like I say it, whether I'm saying it right or not is an entirely different story! When in doubt, just mumble the first syllable and add "ZIN-Skee" on the end and you've about got it. Works for our buddy Wyatt, too! :shade: Back on topic...lookin' good Hemi! You are definitely making some primo progress there. The interactions with Dave are worthy of publication, lemme tell ya! Great thread.
