Hello, I've finally had time to design a layout for my new home. HO scale Rio Grande Denver to East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel. 2 levels, 18" between levels, Lower track height will be 40" off floor, Upper track will be 60" off floor; 36" min radius curves. 8 staging tracks, 12 yard tracks. 1 % up from the tunnel district to the Moffat Tunnel, 2-2.5 % down to staging yard. More than likey Tolland will be abandoned for more main line run. Will be running 18 car coal trains and 12-14 car freights. Let me know what you think, good or bad. Thanks Lower level: Upper level:
Doesn't look bad at all! One question- on that long straightaway, have you thought of making it a series of esses- just some very large-radius curves, so as to give the illusion of following a creek/river along the canyon floor? What time frame are you modeling, BTW?
Bob, I was going to add Tolland, but decided there wasn't enough single track between Cliff and East Portal. So I will probably do the river trackage with a campground. I'm also going to add a couple industries like they had in Arvada at Lamar St. Maybe even the BN's Golden Branch at C&S Jct. I'm going to model the late 1960's to the SP. Basically the era I grew up with. F units, Zephyrs, Yampa Valley Mail, tunnel motors. Plus all trains still had cabooses, except the RAILBLAZER. I have almost all the rolling stock finished so I can devote time and money towards the layout.
yard design looks great. I assume the tunnel district is is two sided - that is you can view it from the right and left side of the peninsula? This is a great way to go from one level to another - without a helix - a nolix as our co-moderator Rick likes to call 'em. Is the staging designed on a grade? I don't have any experience with staging on a grade - does anyone here have any? Curios idea, I suppose it would be good if you don't do any fiddling - but if you fiddle cars on and off I'm seeing runaways every now and again. Might be a good place for a two lap helix to get to the upper level?
We had partial staging on a grade on an old UK show layout but that was staging of complete trains with loco's attached, we never had any major issues with that set up, but as you say, not a good idea if you are switching or leaving cars with no loco attached! All the best Edit: Sorry in re-reading that it was misleading, on that layout we had a large staging yard that was mainly on the level, double ended and at one end there was a branch at a higher level, we had a couple of staging tracks that sloped for the whole length of staging so trains entering staging from the high level branch could re-emerge later on the main line and vice versa, it was good for through loaded & empty coal trains! [ 05. August 2002, 15:02: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Rob, "I assume the tunnel district is is two sided - that is you can view it from the right and left side of the peninsula?" There's going to be a duck under where it says "to Lower level" , so looking towards the yard the tunnel dist will be on your left and Cliff on the right. The backdrop for the scenery will be at the most 18" high to afford viewing from that angle also. "Is the staging designed on a grade?" About half the staging yard will be on a grade. I'm going to use Tortise switch machines with a rod attached to hold cars in place. There won't be switching in the staging area.
