Would it be bad if I copied Dave V's updated trackplan for my own use?

[davefoxx]

I don't know if this will help, but I'll put it out there anyway.  This is the yard I built on a 12" x 80" HCD that attached to my former 36" x80" HCD layout.



Counting from the left, Tracks 1 through 4 are classification tracks (at the far end of Track 1 was supposed to be a destination for refrigerator cars), Track 5 is the arrival/departure track (the locomotives near this end have just cut off), and Track 6 is the runaround (you can see the crossover on the other side of the U-boats that allows locomotives to cut off a 10 car train and escape Track 5 to get to the engine terminal at the other end at right via Track 6).  This same crossover allowed a switcher to place a caboose for outbound trains.  A caboose is sitting on a double-ended track (Track 7), which is the caboose track.  If you look close, you can see a turnout at the far end of the caboose track.  That track was supposed to have added another industry and another destination to switch.  I never got that built before I gave the layout away.

My HCD layout had passing sidings that could hold two engines and ten freight cars.  I made sure that the A/D track had the same capacity.  That, however, shortened the yard lead in this plan, which would be the only serious drawback to this plan but was necessary to fit the crossover escape from Track 5 to Track 6.  But, the short yard lead wasn't the end of the world, as I could easily pull four or five cars at a time without fouling the main back on the original portion of the layout.

DFF

[DKS]

Still trying to figure out how to get the New York Central Flavor I seek into this.

Flavor would be more dependent on how the layout is sceniced/detailed. See this clinic for some additional thoughts along those lines (coincidentally by this layout's builder):

Not a valid vimeo URL

Would it be possible to do this layout with Atlas C55 sectional track only? I dont have any problems doing flex, or at least with the C80 flex as I have done a few N scale layouts with it, soldering all the joints etc. but figured I would ask.

Quite possible, I imagine. I'll pop it into AnyRail and see. Be back in a few shakes.

[wm3798]

Hunter,
I've been using Atlas c55 since it was introduced, and can fearlessly recommend it.  The variety of sectional track should get you through any design issue with a minimum of clipping and snipping, and still give you a reasonably realistic flow to your track work.  I recommend using flex, though, mostly because that's what the majority of my experience is in, and I find it extremely easy to use.  One issue I've found is that the spike heads are a tad more pronounced on the sectional, so any larger flanges are going to bump through.

Lee

[hunter_alexander]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Dave, yes, I know that the scenery will really "set the location and feel" for the layout. Would love to do the 4 track water level route, but not sure how I would do that other than just building a module with the possibility of future expansion.

[DKS]

[hunter_alexander]

Wow, thanks Dave.

Do you have a track component list for that?

[DKS]

2002, N Atlas Code 55 2002. Straight 6".   39
2003, N Atlas Code 55 2003. Straight 4.25".   5
2004, N Atlas Code 55 2004. Straight 3".   5
2006, N Atlas Code 55 2006. Straight 1.25".   2
2007, N Atlas Code 55 2007. Straight 1".   2
2008, N Atlas Code 55 2008. Straight 0.75".   3
2016, N Atlas Code 55 2016. Curve radius 13.74", angle 22.5º   16
2018, N Atlas Code 55 2018. Curve radius 15", angle 22.5º   15
2019, N Atlas Code 55 2019. Curve radius 15", angle 11.25º   1
2030, N Atlas Code 55 2030. Curve radius 30.59"   7
2031, N Atlas Code 55 2031. Curve radius 71"   2
2050, N Atlas Code 55 2050. Left turnout#5, 5.98".   8
2051, N Atlas Code 55 2051. Right turnout#5, 5.98".   6
2056, N Atlas Code 55 2056. Wye turnout#2.5, 6.42".   1
2058, N Atlas Code 55 2058. Left curved turnout 22.5º, 21.25"/15".   1

[DKS]

Not sure if you're interested in a yard similar to Dr. V's, but here's one that fits in a 15 x 80 inch space.
 

[Dave V]

Me gusta!

[jimmygolds]

i have the same track plan,i still have the original mr issue dec 93 with that track plan,i built mine a little bigger since i finally had the room to do it. its 8'x 40" i was drawn to this track plan because when lou built it, it was conrail,n-scale,a double track main line and it took place in upstate new york. than i saw Dave's layout and was totally blown away!!!i just picked up july august issue of n-scale  and i can't put it down! Dave,i read you were from long island,(thats where i'm from) where did you used to live?

[Dave V]

Jimmy, I grew up in Greenlawn...  Where are you from?

[jimmygolds]

Hey Dave, I grew up in Wantagh,got married,moved to levittown,got divorsed,now i live out in mastic. not to far from the hamptons LOL.

[hunter_alexander]

Priced it out and should be about 350 for the track. That will give some extra pieces too.

Hmmmm, now to figure out with flex and see how much the price drops. lol

[davidgray1974]

Not sure if you're interested in a yard similar to Dr. V's, but here's one that fits in a 15 x 80 inch space.
 

Really love the design of the yard on this one.

[davefoxx]

Perhaps I'm envisioning the use of the yard incorrectly, but it seems to me that the crossover at bottom left is to be used for the road locomotives to escape, indicating that the track at left is supposed to be the A/D track.  However, that means that the cut of cars is left on the track at left for the switcher to do its thing.  To switch those cars to the class tracks, though, the cut has to be pulled all of the way back to the mainline.  The tracks should probably also be rearranged so that the road power doesn't have to cross over the tracks that the switcher is using, and so the class tracks are easier to reach from the A/D track.  In other words, it seems that the switcher and the road power are going to be tripping over each other.

If you were planning for the second track from the left to be the A/D track, then you could add capacity by reversing the crossover direction.  This, however, still requires the road locomotives to get in the way of the switcher when headed to the locomotive facility.  I would recommend placing the A/D track immediately adjacent to the locomotive facility, so that the road power can escape without interrupting the switcher's work.

Just some thoughts,
DFF