The Kicking Horse Pass to Field Sub

SYROUS Feb 24, 2013

  1. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Hi guys I am still rather new to these forms and as such I would like to contribute some of my ideas and past experience. I am returning to model railroading after a 10 year absence.

    Currently I am working on planning a 36 by 96 inch layout. I will be modeling the CP line between Field BC and the famous Kicking Horse Pass. Although, I am putting my own spin on it scenery wise.

    The layout is two sided with the town of Field on one side allowing for yard switching. As of know I am planning a depot and maintenance shed. With more to come. On the other side its the river valley of Kicking Horse Pass. Allowing for long trains and train rail fanning.

    Below I have added some 3D renderings of my future layout. Let me know what you think.


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    Attached Files:

  2. dexterdog62

    dexterdog62 TrainBoard Member

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    Your concept looks like it would make for a nice layout. I'm not much of a track planning expert at all, but your curves seem to be very sharp, especially if you're looking to replicate mainline running. What radii did you use in the plan?
     
  3. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Minimum is 11 and up. I am still tweaking things. My issue is I dont have the room for anything larger layout wise and I want the longest mains possible.

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  4. TJS909

    TJS909 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice design. I like the computer graphics. I wish I was computer literate enough to do some designs of my layout like that.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Excellent concept. I can see where folks might wonder about easing curve radius where possible. Also how close to the edge in reality will tracks be located? The drawing shows some right on the brink.
     
  6. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    A good 1 1/2 to 2 inches its the way 3d renders

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  7. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Its a free layout program called scram it renders 3d for you. However you have to plot and draw your buildings bridges and land scapes.

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  8. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rather beyond my abilities I think! My track planning is done by using actual track on actual boards, and shuffling around until it fits!

    Your plan looks like it would make a great layout for exhibition at shows (if it were made sectional), as visitors like to see trains running. What are the overall dimensions?
     
  9. Kenneth L. Anthony

    Kenneth L. Anthony TrainBoard Member

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    Syrous said 36 by 96 inches in his original post. 15 inch radius might work on this plan with some tweaking.
     
  10. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ah! Thanks Kenneth, it looks quite do-able as a "watching the trains go by" type of layout. A little bit wider would help the curve radius, but if he is restricted in available space it could work ok.
     
  11. glakedylan

    glakedylan TrainBoard Member

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    welcome SYROUS and greetings!

    if you are OK with the tight 11" radius 180 degree turns and the equipment you want to run on it has no operating problems with that radius,
    all well and good.
    what you might want to do, then, is place most--if not all-- of that 180 degrees in tunnels (which have access from below or outside.
    it simply gives you what works but makes it more pleasant for the eyes!

    i myself in my designing, which is still as far as i have gotten this time around, hide all turns of more than 45 degrees and less than 24 inch radius
    in tunnels, buildings, or hidden staging.

    i like the 3D renderings as well.

    respectfully
    Gary L Lake Dillensnyder
     
  12. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the tips guys. Will to some more adjusting. As for what I am running? Its all modern day stuff, consisting of mostly GE gevos and some dash 8s also the odd emd 70 and 90macs. As for freight, mostly coal and ore cars and intermodel container cars. With the odd mixed freight consist and odd Via rail train. All proto type stuff. From what i researched tightest I can go is 11 radius. What you guys suggest.

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  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interesting. I did not know the software would do that. The number given is a good minimum distance.
     
  14. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    It inclines the base to meet outer edge of road bed along the long stretches of straight track. Dont know why it does that.

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  15. mr.dean

    mr.dean TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, I think that software is called SCARM... Not scram. I like the layout. Looks like it has a lot of potential!
     
  16. TrainboySD40

    TrainboySD40 TrainBoard Member

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    Criticism from someone who lives nearby...this looks a lot more like the Kicking Horse Canyon west of Field than the area between Field and the pass. Between Partridge and the big slide just west of Cathedral, the railway doesn't follow any watercourses at all, although it crosses the Kicking Horse river twice. Upstream from Golden, however, the line goes over bridges and tunnels, many of them shortly after one another as it navigates the canyon. In fact, while we're at it, Field hasn't had any locomotive maintenance facilities since the steam era roundhouse, but Golden has a maintenance shed similar to what you've got pictured (albeit much larger.) Plus, Golden is where all the coal traffic comes onto the mainline!

    Can you tell I'm a prototype modeller?

    One concern I have is whether 11"R curves will take big GEs and Budd cars, especially the latter. I don't know the minimum radius, but I would suggest looking into it if you want to have such long cars on such tight curves.
     
  17. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the radius info, and as for modeling real prototipical spots. Thats my dream for my future large scale layout which will come years down the line. I am planning to model famous CP spots including rogers pass, the spiral tunnels and more.

    Since I am limited to space I wanted to model some of my favorite spots in a small space. Although Field has lost most of its railroad glory. It still holds a special place to me during my past road trip through BC years ago.

    Non the less thank you for your input much appreciated. You never know I might end up modeling Golden as I like it as well just love Field more.

    Hence I am putting my own spin on it. I wish I had the space for proto modeling.

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  18. TrainboySD40

    TrainboySD40 TrainBoard Member

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    If I had to choose a place to model, I'd do Field as well. It's an absolutely beautiful area, and you can really feel some remoteness despite being on the trans-Canada highway. A couple years ago they were cut off from the rest of the world for a couple days by avalanches, save for the railway.
     
  19. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    So after buying the Kato M2 master set to start running some of my trains. I realized that I needed larger radius curves on my layout. So once again I went to the drawing board. I also have decided to go with unitrack over flex track as my M2 set will provide a third of my track needed and I like how reliable it is.

    I will have renders and track plan of the new layout soon.



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  20. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Here it is my final final track plan for my 3x8 foot layout. It is a long s curve loop with one spir siding and a small yard/ bypass for the main line. Also I have incorporated one long main line siding for trains to pass each other. The layout will have to bridge sections spanning the river canyon and two tunnels. As for the bridges I might go for a modern concrete steel viaduct look using kato viaduct track pieces.

    Building wise I will have a small station below the mainline and yard, a yard office above the yard and a loco maintenance shed on the spir. I might add some building fronts to the dividing backdrop.

    Let me know what you guys think. [​IMG]

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