So having canned the first incarnation of the WGR, I decided to start over - focusing on the area that first caught my eye - Windsor Yard. I reviewed the photos and notes I had collected and decided that I would plan the new layout around this one element of the railroad and this is what I came up with. Overall, I think this is a much better design. While there are no specific industries to model, the prospect working a small yard and simulating the daily traffic is quite appealing. I am much happier with the track:scenery ratio and there is only one grade to deal with - and that grade is HIDDEN. The other aspect of the plan I like is the fact that the scenery rises towards the viewer creating a valley for the trains. As well, not having to negotiate both sides of the layout means that I can push this against the wall saving me some valuable space.
Anyway, here it is. Gonna sleep on it.
Lots of promise
I like your resistance to the conventional oval or the like. The diagonal across the layout gives depth and good scenic possibilites and was one of the really attractive features of the first WGR. A nice layout with some interesting features, but uncluttered. You could even add on to this current version through the leads.
Your comment about the slope rising towards the edge is something I accidentally discovered with my Rio Grande diorama. I did the same thing, with a gentle slope towards the backdrop and forced the perspective with shorter trees. I was very pleased with the effect and gives a very unique sense of place that will work well with the yard too.
I'm all for less hidden track and fewer grades. To make this work, will your hidden yard need to have a grade? It would be OK if you just store trains there, but loose cars will possibly roll.
ScottL
Looks nice. It seems the
Just for fun, here is a sample table of distances needed for a particular elevation and grade. For instance for 2" elevation and a 3% grade you need 67" of track.
Charles
Thanks charles.
Good table: I was was using the old school method...
The math majors can correct me on terrible expression form.
Grade = 100 * RISE / 3.14 / DIAMETER
or
Grade = 50 * RISE / 3.14 / RADIUS
Which in this case, this plan has about 3.5% grade on the left loop - which I'm thinking of concealing from view. I imagine that if you look down the yards towards the left, under the bridge, the view would be that of the prototype - the exception being that I've repositioned the AD track so its usable.
Thanks!
Wow, that's very cool!
Wow, that's very cool! I recognize the setup. :)
While I realize this is just an interpretation of the W&HR yard, the real track in Windsor runs parallel to Highway #101 and both go under the overpass for Water St., with the Halifax-bound on-ramp running between the two. It would be REALLY cool if you drew a plan to include some interpretation of that. Please? :)
Also, if you care to know more about the area, across the 101 from the yard is the old Windsor Wear factory, for which I'm sure there's a similar Walthers brick kit. The old brick chimney for the heating plant next to it used to have an interesting lean until they tore most of it down and replaced it with a steel pipe. Additionally, Irving Oil used to have some big fuel tanks on the river bank across the highway. I remember seeing them from the plane in 1987 but I'm not sure when they were removed. I think a small tanker ship was used to fill those as some point. Boats like that can't make it up the river anymore, which is why the W&HR runs the gypsum downriver out to Hantsport today.
Ok, I'm done for now. :)
-mike
Thanks Mike
Based on what you said I did a little digging and I think I found the mill you mentioned - destined for condo glory!
http://www.millisland.ca/history.html
Anyway, I think these changes might reflect the suggestions you made - let me know what you think!
Michael, The road labels
Michael,
The road labels help, I was not sure what they were before. Looks fun.
But I am sure none of us engineers, physicists or mathematicians would pick on you for your math notation...
Charles
BODMAS
Gawd, I hope not... The shame would surly drive me from the hobby...