Layout Under Construction - Tour, Comments?

[ljudice]

I cleaned up somewhat, turned on some more lights, made more progress and offer this tour of my current layout for your comments and ideas.  This is more of a "railfan oriented" layout, not operations intensive.  Concept is modern day NS on a proto-freelanced line that more or less parallels the Clinchfield - although older.  Single track, but it will be obviously former double track in some places. There will be some abandoned lines, re-purposed industrial sites and the clean, pared down look of modern railroading.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like that town scene in the beginning. Reminds me of Cresson in PA. Is that going to be an embankment?

Those gons are awesome.

What's the radius on the spur across the road? Looks sharp.

I really like what you're doing with the non-traditional industries, like the aggregate plant at the end of the branch instead of the omnipresent coal mine. If you're going to do a truck stop, I think you might be hard up for the the lot lizard figures.

I don't see much mention of staging though. Not doing staging?

[ljudice]

I like that town scene in the beginning. Reminds me of Cresson in PA. Is that going to be an embankment?

Those gons are awesome.

What's the radius on the spur across the road? Looks sharp.

I really like what you're doing with the non-traditional industries, like the aggregate plant at the end of the branch instead of the omnipresent coal mine. If you're going to do a truck stop, I think you might be hard up for the the lot lizard figures.

I don't see much mention of staging though. Not doing staging?

Ed, yes, the tracks are elevated through the town on an embankment...   Thanks on the gons!

The spur is really sharp, but I've tested RC centerbeams on it....  Again, an industry that only occasionally has a load - when it was built 40' boxcars were probably no problem. Might need a spacer car?

Staging: the plan is to build in the next room or expansion in the next phase - I'll do without it for now. Again - a railfan type layout.

Re: Truck stop - gotta get those "truck stop crack hoes" from Noch or Woodland Scenics or whatever...   

- Lou
 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sounds good. The road scene actually reminded me of Lewistown PA too:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103328750375507168249/CRHS2011BoardMeetingTrip#5565991671305466370

[robert3985]

Interesting.  Lots o' WS shtuff eh?  I might be wrong, but my eye tells me that most of your overpasses, both over roads and over tracks are too low.  At the beginning, it appears to me that after the bridge is in, only cars and not semi's will be able to go under the tracks unless you lower the road.  That might add visual interest since topography, even in towns, is rarely perfectly flat.

Always good to see progress on a layout!

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[ljudice]

Bob - thanks for the comments!  The overpass right now is too low, so the road will be cut out a little bit to fit under the tracks - don't want a semi getting stuck!  Will need "roadway floods in rain" sign or something.

The highway overpass over the tracks is high enough to support a road that will clear doublestacked domestic containers, but not by much....   

- Lou

[Bsklarski]

You would be surprised what center beams can do for a curve IRL. The drawbars are long and have ALOT of play in them. They are easy to cross too LOL