I got most of the main yard laid and wired now. I still have to do the diesel shop tracks and some industry, but for now, I can run trains into the yard and switch them out on the yard leads. ( now progress will slow! ) There are a total of 17 tracks, with 3 leads on each end to yard and switch. Here is the west end of the yard... This is the east end... And this is looking west at the yard leads. The one on the left will go to an industry. And heading into the yard...
I wanted to get the track down, so I could start running trains, but now I guesswill have to paint the backdrop sometime soon.
I did salvage all the track and swtiches from the old layout. I'm using Peco Long radius switches. (number 8's I think)
Looking forward to seeing those nasty, grimey, well-weathered SD40-2's on the point sometime soon! Looks like its coming along real nice. A question, how long do you expect your average "road" train will be on this layout? I recall some big-un's on the former layout. my best, Jan
I'm running between 40 and 50 cars on this layout. The sidings and staging yard will hold them, and most of the tracks in the main yard will too. ( If someone yards a train and it doesn't fit, they may just have to 'double it' to another track!)
I finally finished the track around the entire layout, and made the first complete loop with a train. I'll post some pictures soon.
I'm using the foam board method cut and carved then covered with plaster cloth. I'll try something different this time! It's amazing what a little green does! These are all the industrial areas on the layout. This is going to be a car repair shop / small industrial yard. This is the diesel shops at the east end of the main yard.
This will be a particle board factory. Loads of wood chips and tank cars of glue in, finished lumber in box cars or center beam flat cars out. Here is a drywall factory, they will get empty center beam flats and box cars in, loads will be pulled. This will be a cement plant, they will get approx. 12 loads of cement. This will be an auto compound. Someone will get the lucky job of pulling 10 empties and spotting 10 loads while crossing the mainline!
This will be a small grain elevator. Approx. 14 cars to be spotted here. This will be a large grain elevator, it can handle 36 grain cars. During an op session, 3 road units, will be sent out here to pull both elevators and robotize a 50 car grain train, ( I haven't figured out if I will use a mid train, or try and put a tail end pusher on) they will then bring the loaded grain train back to the yard. If time permits, they may run the train to the staging yard. Ignore the unit tank car train on the main line, they are waiting for a better signal!
