I have posted two version of my layout. Can you please comment if the second one is better for operation?
[G2:53352]
This is the current layout as it is being built.
[G2:53855]
This is the modification.
Does it make it more logical to connect the industries to the yard instead of to the main line.
Thanks for your suggestions
Tomas Keri
I actually think that your first plan is better. Here's why I think that. You have a decent sized yard for operations, and a decent amount of industries to switch. In the second plan you've got about 85% of your industries clumped together, this means that you would probably have one large local train serve them. In the top plan, they're separated, which means that you can have 2 or more locals serve these industries, which in turn will keep the yard nice and busy but not overloaded.
The only thing that I would suggest changing is the extra runaround/passing track at the bottom of the yard. I added on of these extra passing tracks to a layout years ago and found it was just a waste of space. Add some details like a yard office or something instead. You will also definitely want to make your yard lead separate from the main. It should come right off of the arrival track:
-----------Passing/arrival--------\---Yard lead-------------------------------------Main---------------\---Main-----------
"\" signifies a turnout. I hope that diagram makes sense. The reason for this move is to avoid your yard engines from blocking the main line. This way trains can arrive and depart with the yard engine on the lead out of the way until its clear. You could also benefit from having the yard lead parallel the main instead of going straight. It'll also give a bit of length to the lead. I also think that you could take one of your Arrivel/Departure tracks and make it a storage track. The need for 3 A/D tracks isn't called for. Your storage capasity just isn't enough; 2 and your passing siding is more then enough.
Overall, great track plan though. Hope this helps.
-Joe
I agree with Joe, I much prefer the first track plan. I am wondering if you have your heart set on having a turntable. It looks to me like you could put a track over to one side on the one loop and have reversing capabilities for entire trains if you wanted. Just a thought, I do like the plan. You have alot of possibilities there to operate with. Nice!
Jacko
Thank you all for your comments. My thoughts on the second plan was just to connect the Karolville industrial side with the siding and storage tracks of the yard at the left side (West?).
I like the suggestion of moving the yard lead from the main and will try to implement it.
With the turntable, i have not bought it yet and I am not totally convinced about it. I just wanted a way to turn around engines without pulling them manually. I am using DCC but am still afraid of reversing loops.
Just one thing, the tracks on top are 2" higher than the yard on Miriamburg. The two long curves at each side provide the up/down ramps.
Is this what you guys mean?
[G2:53877]
Tomas
I like it. Exactly what I was saying. However, I don't think you really need the reversing track (blue). You've got east bound and west bound travel from the yard with an interchange track. I liked the turntable idea in the original track plan. It really depends on how prototypical you want this layout to be. I would recomend that if you want this layout to be realistic, get rid of the blue reversing track, and keep the turntable and most of the yard configuration (with the exceptions of what I stated in my other posts) from the original plan. It's a great plan overall though.
The operation possibilities are amazingly great with this. You could definitely operate by yourself or with 2 maybe even 3 other people.
-Joe
Thanks Joe for your comments. I see that you also like the north east RR. I do not like reversing sections. The TT or the reversing section will be the last thing I build. For now, thanks to you I will go back to a TT and remove the Reverse
Tomas
Joe and everybody who commented on my layout design
I used RTS 8 to do the track, then I used MS paint to add roads and other details. I have a gallery here with photos of the layout as I add tracks and structures. I also have a blog that uptade once in a while.
Finally, the layout is a free lance imaginary branch of the Boston and Maine located somewhere between Mass and New Hampshire, during the 60 and all the way to today.
Tomas
I found your blog. Looks great. Too bad the gallery is down now so I can't view the larger images. I like the idea of a modern day B&M that's not a Guilford RR. I'm currently modeling the Maine Central from the 60's-mid 70's. It's a fictional industrial branch based on the Danica papermill track plan in Model Rail Roader, Realistic Yards I think (Blog and pictures are on the way). Any way, I can appreciate a version of a New England rail road. I'll be sure to check in to your blog often.
-Joe
Hi Tomas - a bit off-topic: would you care to share the address of your blog?
Note: You can find any mermber's blog by viewing their profile and clicking on Recent Blog Entries! If you don't want to do that, note the format of the URL: http://www.nscale.net/blog/<user-id>. Remember that blog is singular - first time I tried this method I made it plural and it took awhile before I figured how I had screwed up!
Thanks for giving the link to the blog.
I also have a gallery here :
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=52792
There are pictures of the layout and of some of the structures already in place.
The main reason I am doing a fictional RR is because my locomotive roster is too diverse. I even have a beatifull German steam engine that I love to run in DC mode. I also have 1 Gearman diesel engine and 4 American diesels. A CSX, Union Pacific and others.
Doh!
I just assumed it was a blog hosted by a third party provider. Thanks... 
Michael wrote:I don't think such a request is off topic at all! Tomas really should have included it in his post; but here it is: http://www.nscale.net/blog/tokeri51Hi Tomas - a bit off-topic: would you care to share the address of your blog?Note: You can find any mermber's blog by viewing their profile and clicking on Recent Blog Entries! If you don't want to do that, note the format of the URL: http://www.nscale.net/blog/<user-id>. Remember that blog is singular - first time I tried this method I made it plural and it took awhile before I figured how I had screwed up!
Michael
www.modelrailroader.ca
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