Tunnels to nowhere, yadda yadda. I reached out the the guy who posted it, but all he wants to do is sell me his book!
Personally, I don't care for it - but a friend really digs the concept and wants to try it. He asked if I could figure it out.
I support your appraisal. From what I can figure out, I see a double track main that enters a tunnel at the far right, then reappears in the center, where one of the tracks forms a reverse loop and the other swings around a sharp radius curve into another tunnel to perhaps form another reverse loop. I see yet another reverse loop in the distant center area. Looks like major wiring frustration and operational complexity to me, but I'm probably missing something.
It's impossible to know for sure, but here are my two best guesses (A connects to A and B1 and B2 connect to B):
I think you're got it -- good work. You saved Frisco Kid's friend the cost of the book .... and perhaps no small measure of regret.
I believe I remember seeing that one some years ago. On this site I believe. And I also believe that CSX Robert is correct.
It's basically a double-tracked, folded dogbone layout, with a reversing segment. The double-track divides between A and B1/B2 for scenic diversity (and an interestingly meandering creek). Color me old-fashioned, but I like a good folded dogbone layout.
There is something fun about stacking all that track in the same space. Well, until something goes wrong in the tunnels. The other thing I struggle with is the radius of the track going into tunnel B1. It appears to be at least 30% tighter. I almost wonder if it’s a branch line. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
B1 to B tunnel is along the rear edge, so it could have access from the rear, perhaps with a removable panel. The A to A tunnel might also have similar access via the end. And there's always potential access from below, along the insides of the curves... Yeah, I agree on the tight radius between A & B1. It looks like an industrial loop, but with no rail-served industry. I'm surprised there is not a spur there as it exits from under the bridge at A (near end), with an additional industry inside the loop. The banks of the lake and creek are a bit wonky. Banks on the outside of a creek/river bend are steep due to greater erosion from faster moving water there (centrifugal force), while banks on the inside of a bend, or a natural lake, are shallow due to slow/still waters with less erosion. I think a water-powered mill would have been perfect there, and elevate the level of the lake (spring fed, I suppose) with a dam, with water dropping over the water wheel, into the creek below. Raising the level of the lake would also allow the lake banks to slope more gently and naturally. Yeah, that's how I'd a dunnit... ;^)
That's a lot of track "underground" on the 'B' segment. Let's hope there's no derailments under there! (Maybe there is some sort of access panel on the back of that wall?)
I don't see two rail tunnels in back. The lower tracks either come out of a tunnel, or look ridiculous with that mountain built to clear them. But I don't think there's a tunnel portal upstairs at all, except for that other street. The track just curves around the water tower. Not A. Not B. Just one down low. Call it Z. No, Jake, it isn't a double track dog one, which would create a four track boulevard of steel. It does appear both end loops get passing tracks, though, which certainly gives it the appearance of double track end to end. So, double track end loop with three station tracks and three sidings upstairs in the distance. Track comes to near end and goes back to the far end, shedding altitude all the while. Goes into tunnel downstairs at the far end. Comes back to the near end and out from underboard, er underfoot, I mean underground, to separate for the other end loop. This has a passing track too, but it's worthless except to pass four wheel trollies, zoo trains and ore jennies. That hair raising ride of tight curves on curved wooden bridges, over the babbling brook to nowhere, may lead to the only switches inside the tunnel. If so, you can't use the lower level as an oval because there's no crossover to the other track. You can only come out of A, not B2, after short-circuiting your way through that front, downstairs siding. That only functions as a reversing loop. Like most folded dogbones, it's a lot of track that doesn't like running more than one train. It's funny there's not so much as a sidewalk connecting the station and downtown. My car's downtown and I want to park in the station parking lot. Do I pry up a big manhole cover and fall in the tunnel?
I still can't picture it. Perhaps someone could post a diagram of it. I have a region on my layout that has what looks to be a very complex track arrangement, until you have a diagram and an explanation, then it all becomes clear.
A train leaves the station. It goes counterclockwise around behind the water tower. It passes downtown. It swings by closest to the camera. It goes along the brick retaining wall and goes in the tunnel, through the one tunnel portal so far from the camera it can't be seen. It comes out B1 or B2 and goes in A, counterclockwise again, just like a dogbone. It comes back around the retaining wall, but this time on the inside track. It climbs back up to the station. A dogbone.
Folded dogbones often do not have the "shank" tracks parallel and at same grade. So a double-tracked folded dogbone would not necessarily have four tracks side by side at any point. It would certainly help if we had a better view of the far end, as to exactly what's happening down there.
+100 on your last. Without other views, this is a near spaghetti-bowl mystery. Whenever I try to finger-drive it, I get lost "down under" in the hidden track. I can isolate what "looks like" a folded dogbone, but the apparent reversing sections and tunnels to nowhere still have me scratching my head.
Sure wish I could remember were I've seen that before. I think it was in 2008 or there about. I was just getting into H gauge at the time. The plan didn't look much like what is in the photo. Richard
Let's see if I can draw you a picture without drawing you a picture. Take the upper loop, from the passenger station back. Three tracks past the station, narrows to two around the curve, and there's three spurs in there too. Just the knob end of a dogbone. Then take the lower loop down low through the tunnel, the big one, through portal B2. It reaches up the back side of the layout, and the other end comes in portal A and swings in beside it. The B1 line could connect any which way. It could just be a little circle all by itself, and on a timer once a day, the most perfectest model of a Galloping Goose could waddle around it. It doesn't matter. The B1 line is irrelevant. The B2 line is the other knob of the dogbone. Trim all that double track from off the edges like peeling excess frosting off a cake, and pull that tunnel loop towards you a few feet and raise it, and you can see your dogbone just fine. Portal A curves right and connects to the station, and portal B2 connects to the track directly beside Main St. The fact that the double track goes south, goes east, goes north, turns west and goes underground before crossing under itself doesn't change how those two knobs of the dogbone work.
Ladies and gentlemen - may I present the Perry Mason of Trainboard! He can wring a confession out of anybody. Thanx, @acptulsa
