So here's an idea...
I was looking up David's build page for the Newport and Rock Falls
http://davidksmith.com/modeling/layouts/NewportRockFalls/nrf2.htm layout, and ended up wandering around the treasure trove of small layout plans he has always had a talent for, and realized I already have a major chunk of one of them in the form of the Lightning Bug diorama he so graciously gifted to me earlier this year. He had cannibalized the rest of the layout for other projects, leaving this as a stand-alone scene with the animated mill wheel and spillway, a functioning fly fisherman, and a few lighting effects, and of course, the dazzling field of fireflies.
Here's his plan for the "Last White River Northern"
http://davidksmith.com/modeling/layouts/WR&N-10/lastwr&n.htm, an homage to the first WRN he built as a teenager. Like the original, it's a 36" diameter circle, with roundy roundy on the perimeter, and some cleverly laid out switching in the middle. I read through the build carefully and started conjuring up a way to reconstruct the whole shebang so it would again be a functional railroad.
The trick would be to dumb it down to accommodate my rapidly fading modeling faculties. David built it in his usual meticulous way, hand laying code 40 track, scratch building turnouts etc. This portion had been fully scenicked and detailed, and the result is just stunning. Unfortunately, in separating it from its original form, the tracks were simply cut off, and it became a static display.
I was chatting with DKS yesterday about it, and he assured me that nothing is sacred, and if I chose to alter it there would be no sweat off his nose. As along as the goal was to enjoy it, anything goes.
So I got to thinking... What if I could work it out so the perimeter track could be installed as a TTrak balloon track, so I could attach it to a larger set up, where other modelers could enjoy seeing it? Something like this:
This came about after pondering keeping the circular concept, and building a slow-rotation turntable so the whole layout could rotate in one direction while a short train traveled in the other (sort of the scene passing the train, rather than the usual vice-versa), which is still a cool idea, but not something I would be achieving anytime soon. But altering it to a variant of TTrak standard could make it something that might actually happen, and would definitely be a crowd pleaser.
So for this to be functional, yet properly in keeping with the level of modeling David prefers, the main issue is the track.
Kato Unitrak won't work at all, not only because of its looks, but the geometry and available turnouts simply can't fit as the plan is drawn. There are two curved turnouts shown in the plan which might be adapted from Peco c55, but there's still the issue of tie spacing. The main loop could be constructed entirely of Peco c55 to make the transition less jarring, but a better answer might be to go with Micro Engineering c70. I'm not sure if there's a curved turnout available from them, but it would be worth looking into. Worst case, I could contract out a couple of hand made turnouts to one of our more talented craftsmen to take care of that.
Another option would be to say "Thanks for the memories" to David, and tap his enjoyment of retro N scale modeling, and just do the whole thing in C80, and do the best I can to make it look as good as it can, and move on with track I have on hand. (The accountants at the Laurel Valley home office are leaning in this direction).
The critical TTrak interface would be off stage on the transition piece, so that can be buried in some other scene of my own making.
I would wire it as a reverse loop, with a separate circuit to operate the branch line. Since there isn't a run-around where the branch meets the main, perhaps I could have a block that allows the train to head over to the transition section where cars can be picked up and set out.
Bottom line is, it's unfair to the world for me to keep this squirreled away in my office.
It needs to be enjoyed by the undeserving masses. It will make the world a better place.
Or, maybe I've just lost my mind completely, and should get back to work.
Just spitballin'
Lee
