Layout design
In The Meantime
With no firm date yet for closing on the new house, as the current occupants still have not found a new place, I was fighting a bit of depression as I saw my 2 years of work on the JAM end up in a pile of junk. But then inspiration hit me. I could take 2 of the modules used on JAM and bolt them together and build a temporary switching layout that would keep me occupied and away from Farm Sim 2019.
How to overbuild a bridge module ( ette ).
As some of you may remember I negotiated a closet trade with the House CFO and acquired space for a 2' by 10' yard. Bench work was installed with a 1" foam top and work stalled.
The small, 8' by 8', temporary layout is just out side the closet wall, 5'' actually, and some engineering needed to be done to connect the two. A tunnel through the closet wall will be required.
The space:
JAM 2.0 rev4
Well 4 revisions later and I think I finally have a plan that will work. What's changed?
Yard moved to the front for easier access.
Extended yard lead
Extended run around on peninsula
Adjusted interchange to make it easier to move cars in and out
Moved team track off peninsula to open it up a bit
12’ x 2’ HO Switching Layout
Just finished laying track on my 12’ x 2’ switching layout and getting ready to wire, weather and ballast the track. Had to add an 8” section of track to cross the joint of the two 6’ modules and move the switch further forward. Atlas #6 turnouts used for the entire layout. I also decided to stretch the top industry track to the end on both sides of the modules. I used two window latches to join the two sections, which worked out better than expected. It will be part of a larger layout in the future.
Johnstown & Maryville 2.0
Well as some of you may be aware, I am starting to tear down the current Johnstown & Maryville in preparation for a move to a new house. While its always hard to demo a layout, the new space, a FULL basement, will give me a chance to go 12' x 16', possibly as large as 12' x 20'! Thats almost double the size I have now.
To give an idea of what I have planned, here are some conceptual designs of what I am planning. This is the 12' x 16' design.
BC Rail Takla Subdivision
After much consideration with regards to my time, funds, and available space, I've decided to put my Dawson Creek subdivision layout on hold for now. It'll be a project to tackle in a few years once I get an external garage built with proper space for a layout.
Landform planning and vertical compression
I guess this post is mostly observation, with a bit of a lament thrown in.
Although I was diligent in my track planning and planning for the type, footprint and location of structures, roads, etc., I realize that I mostly paid attention to the spacing and compression in the horizontal plane, and pretty much skipped over thinking in detail about the vertical plane.
Continuous run loop direct to St J
I have found a solution for the West end of the St J and LV that returns things to a continuous run loop on the Laundry room side of the layout. A diagram is attached. The switchback and stub ended siding on the duck under allows for work out of Morrisville. The at grade crossing allows the yard in St Johnsbury to be used as both ends of the rr.
Starting Over
Good afternoon, I've decided to start over. If anyone is interested, take a look at the attached basement floor plan. Anything to the right of the dotted line is designated area for the layout. I'm trying to develop a track plan with the following parameters:
Era: 80's - early 2000's
85 Ft Commuter Cars and Modern 6 axle Engine Freight Trains
Double Track Mainline
Lower Level Staging
Min 30 - 32" Radius Curves
Min #6 Fast Tracks Turnouts
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