Seaboard Central goes Upper Midwest...

[keeper]

... and shrinked to Z!

This will be my first layout in Z scale, but don't worry, I will not abandon N scale.
I got some stuff from my father because he decided that Z scale is now too small to handle for him.

I really like Dave's Seaboard Central layout so I asked him if I could 'borrow' his plan.
Next I tried to create a plan using MTL sectional track only. This is the current version:



I think the scenery could work for a fictional location in the Upper Midwest and I would like to run Milw/SOO/CNW trains.

The layout size is 1350 x 680 mm which about 53.1" x 26.7". It might be extended at another time.

I'm looking for a location where a station could be placed, maybe one depot for two roads. Any ideas?

So what do you think?

Thomas 

[davefoxx]

This will be fun to follow along.  Not only to see what you do to make the layout design your own, e.g., modeling the Upper Midwest, but also to see what can be done in Z, a scale I have no experience with.

DFF

[keeper]

I always like to find a way to have some sort of 'street running' and I had an image of a Milwaukee train rumbling down a street in mind when I tried to change the original plan to accomodate this.

This is what I had in mind:

www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=220576

And this is the changed plan. The 'street running' would be the track in the middle.



I have to find out how to draw streets in AnyRail. Any hints?

So what do you think?

Thomas 

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

I am sure there are other ways but i just draw a fat line. add points to add curves.

[davefoxx]

Thomas,

I'm worried about your grades.  If the crossing at the bottom left is a bridge, then that will be a very steep climb to get from the passing siding on the top of the plan to cross over that track.  If that is a grade crossing, then I'm worried about the climb to the bridge at the right.

Also, if I'm interpreting this correctly, the track down the middle of the layout will be the street running (I do like the idea of street running!).  But, that's may be on a stiff grade (as mentioned above), plus you don't have the track capacity at the switchback to run anything longer than a locomotive and one to two cars.  This is assuming that you are adding no extensions beyond the rectangular footprint of the track plan.

One idea would be to eliminate the switchback and make a 180-degree sub-radius curve, branching off at the passing siding at the top, as you have in the latest plan.  That would extend the grade and eliminate the switchback.

DFF

[keeper]

The idea was to have a grade crossing in the bottom left corner. That would make for a nice spot to place a station.
But yes, I also fear that the grade up to the bridge in the upper right corner would be too tough.

Ok, back to the 'drawing board'.... 

Thomas

[garethashenden]

The grade may be a bit steep, but it's the switchback to get to the street running that, for me, is the biggest problem. Would it be possible to add a long passing siding along one side and run that through the town?

[keeper]

More plans based on the two suggestions:

1.



2.



Please consider the gap in the siding as closed... 

[keeper]

And now for something completely different:



- Yard
- Street running
- One station building for two roads
- Possible extension for a wye

Thomas 

[basementcalling]

And now for something completely different:

This one wins here, though I would modify it one way.

1 & 2 above have too tight a space between the spur and the yard tracks, which I take it you want to be miles apart in reality?

Take the turnout on the branch to the bridge and put that spur on the other side. Might even make it require a switch back by making it a trailing point move.

[keeper]

Like this?

[Dave V]

That last plan looks much better.  Would it enhance ops if you had a passing siding on the depot side?

[keeper]

Now with a passing siding and I changed the branchline a bit. The grade is now much longer.

[keeper]

A slight variation at the station, bridge and yard.... 

[keeper]

Another variation:



What do you think?

Thomas

PS: Happy New Year everyone....