SP Branch; A Small Layout

jwaldo Apr 24, 2010

  1. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    I started this a couple years back and got about as far as benchwork and a partial mainline before school got me busy. The concept gradually moved from a diorama to a switching layout to a portable full layout before the track plan took its current form.

    [​IMG]
    The plan has a scenic divider running across it; the bottom section will be an urban setting, and the top will be a more rural scene.

    The mainline is Peco code 55. For the sidings I'm considering the same (for ease) or hand laid code 40 (for looks). However, I have exactly zero hand laying experience, and I'm not sure how well that would work out :tb-wacky:.

    The biggest concern I have now is the siding in the bottom left section. The plan is drawn with one of those tiny Peco Setrack turnouts to match the curve of the main. While I've never really had operational issues with these (after a bit of shimming), lately I've been tossing around the idea of hand laying this turnout in code 55 for better looks and a powered frog. Again, I run up against the whole never-done-it issue. Not to mention another long delay in the project. I'd kind of like to get the mainline working some time this year...

    Until I get that sorted, I'm stuck here:
    [​IMG]

    Comments, critiques, and better ideas welcomed...
     
    Kurt Moose and Pfunk like this.
  2. tehachapifan

    tehachapifan TrainBoard Member

    1,859
    859
    46
    I like the trackplan. Lots of operational and switching opportunities in a small space but not overdone.

    Why not go with the Peco turnout for now, see how it works, get the layout running and replace it later if you want?

    Russ
     
  3. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    I hadn't even considered that, given my dodgy track record (no pun intended) with trackwork in the past. I'll have to give it another try now that I've more or less figured out how to solder decently.
     
  4. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    A bit of progress made. I got the mainline loop down, dropped feeders, got them connected to terminal blocks, ran wires to a power pack, and ran a train. This was my first experience with powered-frog turnouts, and I'm quite pleased. No stuttering or stalling at all, and the trackwork is pretty darned smooth :tb-ooh:

    After all the good stuff, though, an old problem resurfaced...

    [​IMG]

    Due to the close spacing of the large turnouts, the smaller turnout doesn't line up with the passing track. Neither does a curved turnout (drawn in red). Either way, I end up with a sharp kink in the track. It seems xtrkcad moved things around rather oddly to make the alignment work. After some fiddling, I found a potentially workable solution:
    [​IMG]

    If I move a curved turnout back a couple of inches, it seems to line up with everything else.

    I'll have to experiement a bit more to make it work without kinks. On the upshot, if it works I'll have a use for that curved turnout again...
     
  5. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

    13,326
    499
    149
    Good idea on the solution. The old "mark it with chalk and cut it with an axe" idea or just rely of the physical turnouts to get it exactly correct. You can design yourself to death.

    If you are using the very small peco no. 4 turnout, I didn't like it. All the others are good, but I thought the Peco n0. 4 was bad. IIRC, the no. 4 does not come in the electrofrog version.

    Also, all my Peco turnouts (225 of them) have to be shimmed (.010 inch styrene) along the frog to help prevent picking the frog. I still prefer them because of their other features, but just be aware of a potential problem.

    Very nice design. Thanks for the post.
     
  6. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    Time for a tiny update!

    [​IMG]

    Got the divider installed. It's made from foamcore board, fitted into a slot in the foam base. Unfortunately, the biggest solid piece I could find was still too short, so I had to use one with hinges. It turned out pretty well, but one side is decidedly leaning. I spent a good half hour chopping and widening the slot, and making a mess of things trying to straighten it out, before I thought to check if the foamcore was warped. Yep. :tb-wacky:

    Once that was in I started on the hill and the tunnel. The first layer of foam is cut to shape, but that part's at a standstill until I figure out the tunnel portal. The Chooch Enterprises concrete portals are similar to the prototype I'm trying to match, but the opening is too narrow to work on a curve. The WS portal is wide enough, but looks completely wrong. Unless I can find another alternative, I'm going to have to scratchbuild.

    Maybe I'll actually work on the track before I come back to that...
     
    Kurt Moose and BNSF FAN like this.
  7. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    Pardon the thread necromancy, I missed my decadal update but only by a couple of years. Despite a slew of life changes (including the demolition of my original SPVRR layout), the SP Branch is still kicking around, receiving the occasional update, even if the cost of Peco track has doubled. :eek:

    [​IMG]

    I've made a few tweaks to the track plan to make operations more interesting. With the north spur flipped to join at the passing siding, I can run a train continuously on the mainline and work around it to switch cars between industries. Unfortunately, this change will mean tearing up part of the mainline I'd previously laid to move the spur! Fortunately, my soldering (and de-soldering) skills haven't atrophied too badly. I was able to flip the turnout to the new location and, with some flex track salvaged from the SPVRR, start laying down the passing siding:

    [​IMG]


    The track is tarnished but polishing up nicely with an eraser and some alcohol. I'll have trains running in no time, assuming any of my locomotives in storage still run, that is.
     
  8. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    Well, out of a dozen or so locos, most ran after a little contact-cleaning and re-oiling; two suffered from cracked plastic driveline components and need replacement parts. But it was enough to run a couple of trains and prove that my track and wiring are up to snuff. Still got it! I also trimmed some cork to fill in gaps in the roadbed, like the one on the left side of the picture:

    [​IMG]


    With the mainline done it's time to backtrack to something I should have done first: a fascia around the edge of the layout to protect and support the foamboard. Made of poplar and oak, and proceeding at the speed of drying glue, I have added three sides and one corner so far:

    [​IMG]

    There's a ~1/4" gap around the edge of the foam on one side that I'll need to fill. I've never used expanding foam without creating a superfund-level disaster, so I'll probably slice up some thin strips of blue foam to wedge in there this time.
     
  9. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    I added a couple of handles to one side to facilitate carrying the layout, and took it outside for cleanup. The fascia immediately paid for itself as I banged it into every available door and corner on the way out. A few minutes with a trim router and sandpaper, and it looks good from several feet away. I'll call that a success.

    But seeing the woodwork in a finished state got me thinking. Right now the controller (a Digitrax Zephyr that used to run the SPVRR) connects to a handful of wires that dangle unceremoniously from underneath the frame, but it would be nice to have a more practical and finished-looking solution. Does anyone have a recommendation for quick-disconnect power connectors that can be mounted flush(ish) into the fascia? I considered the old standby coaxial connector, but I'd prefer something with some extra pins to incorporate the DCC programming track wiring, and maybe a jump throttle connector on the opposite side of the board if I'm really feeling ambitious.
     
    BNSF FAN and gmorider like this.
  10. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

    2,093
    6,282
    65
    I bangs stuff around too! (y):unsure:
     
    BNSF FAN and jwaldo like this.
  11. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

    1,235
    2,086
    37
    jwaldo if you have some old computers laying around fer parts you could raid them for connectors . maybe visit some thrift stores for connectors as well.
    never know what goodies are in thrift stores. one just has to hunt for a whole component that might yield many good parts (old printers ect ) yard sales are another good source of cheap parts.
     
    jwaldo likes this.
  12. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    Powerwerx and others have Anderson PowerPole series connectors, used on N-trak(?) modules, in recessed/flush, chassis/panel mount configurations, at very reasonable prices.
     
    jwaldo likes this.
  13. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    PowerPoles definitely look promising! Unfortunately, the SP Branch is tucked safely in the corner again, while life takes me on yet another detour. Maybe this time I'll stockpile track and supplies before they can double in price again!
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  14. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    A little track plan testing and scenery drafting on the digital version while I wait until I can pull out the real layout again.

    [​IMG]

    The warehouse (center right building) spur's backshunt (I think that's the term? The track the switcher drives onto before it backs up to the warehouse?) can handle 3 50' cars and a short loco fine, but with anything longer than a 57' reefer and/or NW2 it's too short and the train has to be broken up and moved into drop off position one or two cars at a time. The second track on the spur makes things easier or harder, depending on how many cars I have parked and where I need to put them. I wanted a layout with interesting switching, and so far I have exactly that!

    I also added the planned 2-lane road going through the gap between the buildings, and realized it creates its own chaos. A 7-track grade crossing would be a nightmare, but the prototype I'm modeling opts for roadway underpasses wherever there are 3+ tracks. That will look cool and add some topography to my flat blue board, but it would also mean cutting through the foam under the already-laid mainline and installing a (kitbashed or scratchbuilt) bridge beneath it. The real SP also seems to avoid placing turnouts on bridges, but I'll let that slide since they have a little more room than I do.
     
    Kurt Moose and Sumner like this.
  15. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

    4,332
    5,037
    93
    Interesting layout. I've saved it for consideration. I was thinking of adding onto the sprue at the bottom and extend it to another surface for my own plan. Maybe a storage yard.
     
    jwaldo likes this.
  16. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

    2,798
    5,837
    63
    Nice layout plan. If you can do it ....

    [​IMG]

    ... consider adding a run-around-track some place so switchers could move to the other end of the train if they had to.

    Sumner
     
    BoxcabE50, Kurt Moose and jwaldo like this.
  17. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

    694
    2,901
    54
    Whoa, that's an option I hadn't considered. But it looks like I could fit it in without taking up too much scenery real estate, breaking my 9.75" minimum radius, OR having to tear up any existing track. And it does open up the switching options. Back to Xtrkcad I go!
     
  18. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    The run-around can be accomplished with the existing double track curve around the right end. But that's assuming a train or cut of cars is not parked/stored there. Two run-arounds are better than one, but not so much as one is a LOT better than none (aka diminishing returns).

    The switch lead for the two-track industry at middle-right is a little short for the length of those two industry tracks. Whatever cars you want to move to/from that industry must fit, with the loco, on the lead at left (beyond the switch points), or you have to break them up into multiple moves. Not unheard of, and can add more "interest" to serving the industry there. But sometimes "interest" turns into tedium after awhile.
     

Share This Page