I'm using Kato Unitrack with built in switch machines, otherwise as you mentioned there would not be enough room for ground throws or switch machines. I have had a reservation with the chemical plant concerning the spur for unloading of sodium hydroxide (lye) in the main building and the load / unload tanker station spur. The revised trackage shifts the unloading of lye to the mixing facility building and combines the main building's dock with the load / unload tanker station spur. I know this is not much of an improvement in terms of clutter, however if you looked at the prototype P & G plant in Cinncinatti, Ohio it would totally blow you away with clutter. Same goes for the Harvest States flour mill in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I may be able to trim one industry track from the flour mill that was set up for transloading. Thank you Ken and y0chang for your pointed observations. As I study this further I will keep your thoughts in mind. Jerry
Thanks Jim, however as I mentioned earlier I cannot take all the credit. Professional assistance has played a large part in expanding my creative ideas. The danger of learning how to improve your layout can lead to the desire to make changes. I can certainly attest to that problem. You will also notice where I resectioned curved sections to come up with 5 degree, 7 1/2 degree and 10 degree curves using the desired radius. This makes using sectional track much less restrictive. I also resection straight track to replace numerous small sections. This provides a much cleaner look and smoother running of the trains. Jerry
Ah I should have read that you are using unitrack. That does help a lot with the switch machines and track maintenance. Your smooth trackwork fooled me into thinking it was a flextrack layout. I definitely think that the clutter is part of the charm of the industrial areas and an important prototype feature, but changing arrangements like you did with the lye plant trackage will help give you a happy medium of interesting clutter vs operationally frustrating clutter.
I have been working on designing in one last element of the layout. It was suggested that I place a tall industrial building in the lower right hand corner to help separate the upper and lower levels and provide a transition to the beginning of the more urban upper industrial level. I decided to go with the rail served Geo Roberts Printing Co Inc structure and place it on the upper level. It looks like the new layout design is finally ready to go to the bench work phase. Halleluiah! Jerry
It has been challenging the last few months tackling my mother's estate problems since she went into a nursing home. All is well now that we have her house sold and belongings in storage. Bench work sub roadbed is finally complete and all the track is in position with trains running. There have been a few changes to the track plan to improve reliability and appearance. Grades are under 2.5% with the mainline and staging using only #6 switches. Surgery was performed on various curved sections of Unitrack in order to fit with the #4 switches and in order to obtain 5 degree, 7.5 degree and 10 degree curved sections. Photos start with the engine service terminal and engine storage tracks on the west end of the layout and progress to the peninsula. N-joy, Jerry
View blocks are not yet in place for hidden staging and between the flour mill and chemical plant on the peninsula. The fascia also needs to be cut / contoured to follow the terrain.
The upper level is 2 inches higher than the lower level and the lakes / ponds are 3/4 inch below the lower level. The chemical plant building will wrap around the scenic divider providing a scenic transition from the flour mill to the lower level.
It looks like it's all coming together, Jerry! I like how you've simplified a lot of the trackage: I can already see those long trains you like slowly snaking through the scenery! I am sorry to see the interchange go: not only would it add more of a "off-layout / somewhere else" sense (in addition to the two sides of the staging yard), but it'd also an (extra) operator stage a train right there out of the way of the other operating positions. But sometimes less is more! Though just one more track in the intermodal yard would be very nice: isn't part of the joy of intermodal yards the great look of two (or more) lengths of stacks side by side? Seems like one is lonely, while two suggests much more activity beyond the pair of tracks. Funny how Kato released a wye after all of our discussions! I think you have a groovy plan as is, though. Can't wait to see your progress!
Thanks MC for your thoughtful ideas and support. Once I started to set aside space for the buildings and scenery it was apparent the interchange and second intermodal track had to go. The interchange took needed real estate away from the upper level foreground industry and added a third railroad bridge in an already overcrowded area. I also wanted a larger lake / shore line and fuller hillside. The second intermodal track also required additional real estate between the first track for container crane movement. Instead I opted for more depth on the upper level making room for a run around track and substantial back ground buildings. This also provided enough depth between the upper and lower level for a mixture of transitional landscape. I wanted to avoid one long retaining wall / rock facing. The release of a wye did not cause me any grief, however a curved switch would have! Jerry
Adjustment for a suedo second intermodal track MC, You got me thinking of how I could have my cake and eat it too. Realized that I could integrate a second parallel track for the intermodal yard with the adjacent passing siding. Thank you for the eye opener. Jerry
