I have stashed away my Chistmas layout and I have been looking at my bigger yard project. But first I want to try some ideas on a small diorama. The basic idea was a small double loop pizza layout with a crossing. It will be loosly based on the photos in an article in May 2004 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman that I thought were fantastic. The article is about a small railroad, WAG, Wellsville, Addison and Galeton Railroad. Very nice photos, from 1970 of a weathered Southern Pacific F7 pulling a short train heading off disappearing in behind some trees and tall grass. I have not found the article on the net but a similar photo, now with a newly painted former SP F7. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2617742 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2617736 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2617750 And I can add a bridge if I want to http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2617733 The main idea is a crossing, an intersection between two railroads, a class one railroad and a short line perhaps. And an exchange track between them. An engine is sitting on a short siding next to an old office waiting for a drop off. A train passes on the other track, stoppes and backs into the exchange track and sets off a couple of cars before heading off again. The waiting engine comes to life, couple on to the waiting cars and heads off in the other direction to deliver them to some waiting customer. This is just mockup, a testbench for testing some ideas. It need to be shorter so it fits the size of a standard Ikea Ivar bookshelf better. The back stretch will be hidden by trees eventually. The center piece is the crossing. I'm using as always Märklin track. On my yard I have one cross switch and I have lots of problem with long trains doesn't want to go straight in it. So I wanted to try the cross section instead but it looks just like a striped switch. Can Rokuhan crossing be used as a drop in replacemnet? The angle is right. I have not found what the length is. (I don't know where the thumbnail at the bottom comes from.) This was the first layout, closer to my original idea. Then I added a siding, the exchange track Cheers Mikael
I can do better but here is a quick, dirty and rought video clip on what I have in mind. It will eventually be ready for viewing. [video=vimeo;56726503]https://vimeo.com/56726503[/video]
Mikael, Nice little layout with growth potential. The Rokuhan 13-degree crossing is the same as Marklin, but it isn't quite a drop-in: the roadbed puts the rail head about 2mm higher than the Marklin track so you would need to adjust. Also Rokuhan makes an adapter piece to connect to Marklin track. Looking at your images you can do everything in your layout with Rokuhan track, except for the curved turnouts. I believe try are a month or two away from production. Hope this helps, Mark
I like what I see. The best part is you are running trains before making a final choice on a trackplan. I think that is always the best way to go.
I was thinking that cork under the Märklin track compensate for the roadbed on Rokuhan track. Also Rokuhan has a lower rail profile than Märklin. But the angle and the length is the same, that's good. But when I look at them the Rokuhan crosssing has the same big chunk of shiny metal as the Märklin crossing has so it would not be an improvment. Maybe you need that for such a small angle as 13 degree. Rokuhan 90 degree crossing is more what I'm looking for but using that one would force me to rethink the whole layout. I'm not sure I want that. That calls for some more thinking. And switching to Rokuhan track all the way that I don't want to do. Thanks Mikael
What is the dimension of the train board? I'm helping a new Z scaler build a simple layout and he has 3'x6-7' for his dimensions. He wants to use Micro Track. Not trying to hijack this thread, but where are the layout plans using Micro Track?
A standard IKEA Ivar bookshelf size is 83x50cm, about 33x20". But I have not been able to keep within those measurments yet. Working on it though. For the moment I'm using a wild mix of standard Märklin tracks, I have used most of what they have, and some bending. But later I will use more flextrack, Peco or Märklin, and then I hope I will be able to stay withing the boundaries. A trackplan for MicroTrack that I don't have. I rarely make any plans, I bend and swear until it looks right. Mikael
Testrunning the ideas one way or another is always good, and fun. In order for the waiting engine to come out on the right track I had to switch mainline from what I originally planned. What I need more is either a siding or add a switch and convert the siding to an exchange track for the other direction too. If the train comes in from below, looking from above, pulling a train I need a way to get the engine around to the other end of the train so it can push the cars onto the exchange track, not run around the loop as I did in the video. I looked through some of my DVDs to find where I got this idea of a crossing and one or two exchangetracks. I saw it on a DVD about Green Bay Western. They have, or rather had, GBW and some of its tracks are gone, a crossing and exchangetrack at Merrilan with Chicago North Western. They also had a crossing in Wisconsin Rapids where they crossed the tracks of Wisconsin Central. The crossing was controlled by a gate with a stop-sign. So you stop the train, open the gate, which then block the other track, and then you continue. The DVD was recorded 1992. I will not make a gate with a stopsign in Z-scale. But it would be cool. GBW also had a connection with BN in East Winona but they didn't show much from there in the DVD. That's why I used a BNSF train on the mainline in the video. But no SD40-2 because I use Märklin curvedtrack with the smallest radius at some places. Mikael
I'm almost within the boundaries now. I have shortened the outer curves and I have added one more curved switch so I get an exchange track in each direction. But I'm not sure I like it anylonger now. I have to give it some more thought. Mikael
Happier. Now I got an almost straight back stretch. Managed to remove some of the tightest curved pieces of track too. And almost within the boundaries. Maybe I keep it this way but I miss a siding where I can put some rusty old gondolas or boxcars or something but no room. Hmm, I could have a short siding at the bottom of the photo and some simple loading area. Cheers Mikael
If it is a siding I want, a siding I get. I was also able to run SD40-2 around the layout too. Cheers Mikael
Now all you need to do is find a way to get two continuous running loops! So close. I like the plan, it has good variety.
Yes with some train control I could run a short train on each loop. I have no plans on adding signals but it is a going to be a test bench for different stuff so maybe. I stick with this layout. For the day it has been turned into Milwaukee Road territory. A very short clip on Vimeo [video=vimeo;56857412]https://vimeo.com/56857412[/video]
Milwakee road is a catchy look for sure and you have quite the collection. It looks like everything runs smooth as well. Now for the fun part buildings, scenery, and ballast.
Yes, next step. I want it to be flat but not completely flat. Lots of gravel and ballast and tall dry grass around the crossing. An office building and a small freight shed. And ramp next to the siding. Maybe a forgotten water tower somewhere. I got most of that laying around somewhere waiting for this layout. And lots of trees as background. I think I have most of the pieces needed to get started.
Another fantastic photo, fourth from the top, to get inspiration from for my office building. I saw it on Facebook, from the Conrail Historic Society. It isn't but with that angle it looks like it is sitting out in the middle of the prairie somewhere. http://thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/Locomotives/ALCO/RS11 Mikael
You said something earlier about an old unused water tower. I found this in Northern NJ back in May of 2011, not all that far from the photo's that you have posted. This is on the old LHR RR main. I was surprised to find it in this shape. I'm watching your thread with interest as I am planning something in Z around the same size as yours. Keep up the good posts!
Yes something like that, not concrete though. Looks like there used to be a larger tank there on top before. A little bit interesting with the ballast in the photo. People usually say don't get the ballast to flat, e.g. cut off the 45 degree slope on the corkbed. But it is very flat in the photo. I have saved these kits for this layout. All lasercut from MTL. The watertower kit I use the building for something else and put the tank on wooden support. The mine fan house kit will be an odd storage building. And the barn a little bit behind it. The packing house kit could be a nice office if I remove the cooler on the roof. Don't expect any speedy progress from me but if I keep it small I may pull it thru, But I will post what ever progress I manage. Mikael
Five UP SD40-2 on the old CNW track going thru the diamond at Merrillan 2007. One of my inspirations. The text say hammering the CN diamond in Merrillan. Wisconsin Central had trackage rights on parts of Green Bay Western track. After GBW shut down perhaps WC took over. And after CN took over WC maybe CN is using the GBW track. Lots of colors to choose from http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=190270&nseq=8 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=180783&nseq=9 Mikael
An update. Not much progress but I have started building up the ground. It will be fairly flat but not completely flat. And I have destroyed some switches, that is removed the switchmotors. I will see if I can get them back in shape.
