Layout Planning has started with Baltimore

[Ed Kapuscinski]

After Lee's visit the other day, I decided it was time to start putting some sketches down on paper for the NCR Line.

I started in the far corner (the middle right, where it says built-in shelves) in Lee's drawing here: http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=64

Here's the explanation. I'm very curious about your thoughts, since you guys are my sounding board.

http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=65

[Philip H]

Ed, I think this is a good start, and a good anchor.

Questions:
Have you done any sort of operations analysis to know how many cars you might move in a given session, and therefore how much on line capacity you might need?  That could have a big influence on your yard size.

I didn't see any engine servicing here - is it likely to be on the layout somewhere else?  I know that switching a roundhouse is never a really sexy job, but as Lee has shown us repeatedly, it's nice to have a place to show off your loco collection.

Why the loop back on the DC line?  Is there a way to run it to staging for increased operational challenge?

Enough fo rnow, I think.

[Mark5]

One thing I'd look at since you have a stub end yard is how trains from either direction will enter or leave the yard.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Have you done any sort of operations analysis to know how many cars you might move in a given session, and therefore how much on line capacity you might need?  That could have a big influence on your yard size.

No, I haven't. That's actually a pretty fluid variable, because I'll have upward pressure on the number coming from the number of "spots" I can cram into the Calvert St. IT, but downward pressure because of the available yard space and staging space. I really don't think any more than 25 cars or so would EVER need to go into the branch, and the PYSE/ENBA block swaps can easily vary in size based on the space available. I could do 5 cars, it could be 15, it's more about simulating the action than the car count (since it's staging to staging traffic).

I didn't see any engine servicing here - is it likely to be on the layout somewhere else?  I know that switching a roundhouse is never a really sexy job, but as Lee has shown us repeatedly, it's nice to have a place to show off your loco collection.

That's correct, as much as I'd LIKE some engine servicing, that'd all either happen in Bayview, further into Baltimore (for trains terminating there), or in the monster facility at Enola (the un-modeled northern end of the NCR). The only stuff really sitting around would be local power for the branch, which will probably just idle on that little stub I have in the yard, or next to Chaps Pit Beef (down on the branch).

Good question though, because I feel I'll still have an itch for a locomotive terminal, but that's what the Cresson NTRAK module is for...

Why the loop back on the DC line?  Is there a way to run it to staging for increased operational challenge?

I realized staging would just be easier if it all was together, so bringing it back into the main off-scene is fine with me. I'd probably interlock the two switches too, so that they both throw together. The important thing here is that the lines visually separate "on stage".

[Ed Kapuscinski]

One thing I'd look at since you have a stub end yard is how trains from either direction will enter or leave the yard.

Yes, I've been thinking about that. I think I'd have one of the tracks tie back in up at CP Vern, but the majority of the action would actually be reverse moves. The only full train that pulls in is the local from the branch, the rest is just shoving a block in or pulling one out. I think that those functions do require more scrutiny, since, sadly, those trains would be southbound, with one of them going up the DC line.

I figured the train would stop on the main, tie on a few handbrakes behind the cut, take the block (on the head end) and stuff it into the yard, then the power would back against the remaining train, build up air, knock off the brakes, and head along on its way.

[Bob Bufkin]

Ed

I know your doing CR and the line from Baltimore to Harrisburg.  What time frame of you modeling?

Bob

[Mark5]

Ed

I know your doing CR and the line from Baltimore to Harrisburg.  What time frame of you modeling?

Bob

might be 1985!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Mark gets the prize! And december of it (ergo the 12/85).

[wm3798]

Ed,
In addition to the Calvert St. I.T., you could theoretically include Guilford Avenue Yard as an interchange track there to pick up WM traffic from Hillen, which was still a functioning warehouse facility in the early 80's.  That would also be a place to spot cars for connections to the Aliceanna St/Boston St. district via Central Avenue.  Allied Chemical was still on the Harbor East property, plus a lot of warehousing at President Street as of 1980...  Since you're already lying to us about the NCR still functioning, why not stretch the truth there, too...  Two, maybe three tracks about 3' long would do nicely, and give you upwards of 20 extra cars to fool with out of B'more.

And Chaps Pit Beef shall heretofore be known as CP Beef...

It would also be a powerful impetus to build that urban peninsula that deep down you know you really want...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah Lee, the Calvert St. IT basically IS the Guilford Ave line. I've gone back and forth about the name of it.

I forgot about all the cool stuff over that way. Yeah, I may be building that swinging gate over the door yet. And yeah, there's still much to flesh out about that, but that's a different sketch.

I was thinking it'd be cool to do interchange along there somewhere, that sounds like just the ticket. Cheesy painted 44tonner anyone? Lol... actually, I think I DID just find the home for that LL SW I got a number of years ago.

I was also thinking I'd want to do the H&S traffic too. But... wait, that's another sketch...

[wm3798]

Transplant the kidney, and use the door for a removable industrial peninsula that can be installed for ops sessions...  You wouldn't have to bridge the door.  Just "J" it off of Guilford Avenue (which is the proper name of the yard... Calvert St. is on the other side of the Sunpapers.)

Lee

[Bob Bufkin]

I know in PRR/PC days the thru trains were mainly piggyback and passenger's.  What are you going to run besides local freight?  Amtrak was still running trains from DC to Harrisburg on this line until the hurricane wiped it out.  Would look neat to have some Amtrak stuff running.
Bad photo but best I could come up with:

[John]

Ed,
In addition to the Calvert St. I.T., you could theoretically include Guilford Avenue Yard as an interchange track there to pick up WM traffic from Hillen, which was still a functioning warehouse facility in the early 80's.  That would also be a place to spot cars for connections to the Aliceanna St/Boston St. district via Central Avenue.  Allied Chemical was still on the Harbor East property, plus a lot of warehousing at President Street as of 1980...  Since you're already lying to us about the NCR still functioning, why not stretch the truth there, too...  Two, maybe three tracks about 3' long would do nicely, and give you upwards of 20 extra cars to fool with out of B'more.

And Chaps Pit Beef shall heretofore be known as CP Beef...

It would also be a powerful impetus to build that urban peninsula that deep down you know you really want...

Lee

and you could use your existing 1T module for that ...

[tom mann]

Mark gets the prize! And december of it (ergo the 12/85).

funny, I assumed that 1285 was about some sort of Conrail Middle Ages fan fiction...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Bob, I'm planning on doing a what-if that Agnes spared the NCR and took the Port Road.

Lee, the Kidney is going away no matter what, it was never designed or intended to be part of this, and I don't want to force it. However, it may continue to exist in the middle of the room for a while.

I may end up using the onetrak module in some capacity, we'll see.