Revised the 1957 Super-O Catalog Layout with Atlas-O. Added return loops and modest grades. Roughed-in. Continuing the design discussion from this FasTrack thread: FasTrack Layout.
Easier to do with Atlas-O, looks like a better layout in a few ways (more wider diameter track). I was able to squeeze-in one more yard track. I added a small tunnel on the high line on the far right.
Turnouts are O54, except on the small O36 loop, and the #5 cross-over at the top of the layout.
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A few fixes:
Added some roads:
What if, instead of having a bridge over the yard, that track is on a ridge and the turn below is in a tunnel? Would have to shorten the yard a bit, but the mountain right now feels a bit forced, so that might be more natural. Literally changes nothing, just how I'd do it.
Lots of operating and switching possibilities. Thanks for posting.
@BurkusCircus52 posted:What if, instead of having a bridge over the yard, that track is on a ridge and the turn below is in a tunnel? Would have to shorten the yard a bit, but the mountain right now feels a bit forced, so that might be more natural. Literally changes nothing, just how I'd do it.
Burkus, it gets tighter toward the top, where the lower loop curves to go left. Fit problems. But interesting. Would eliminate grade issues. BUT, then it is no longer a version of the 1957 Catalog layout, its is something else.
If I was to build: this version. O54 outside loop and trestle over the yard. Mainline turnout minimum is O54. O54 locomotives can reach and work the yard. The inside route is O45 (running O42). Max grade is 3.5%.
Deleted the inside O36 loop, a departure from the catalog layout. The loop now uses O45 curves and O45 turnouts.
Refinement, added roads, an engine service facility, oil storage tank, water tank, and a grain elevator.
I revised the steam loco service track to come off an O54 turnout accessible from the O54 mainline. Now four tunnels through the mountain. A modern RR would consider daylighting some of all of these tunnels.
Checking to see what it looks like with two tunnels "day-lighted":
Hey Ken,
What if you removed the power plant and added the service track off the last years track. Keep the wye and add the third tunnel back in. I know this removes a rail-serviced industry, but I think it might look better then the daylighted tunnels.
Just a thought.
Sure, that would work and be an option. The power plant comes off the O45 loop, so O54 locos would not be able to get to the service track.
Revision to the tunnels through the mountain, no daylighting. Ash from the ash pit go up the conveyor to a waiting truck, to be removed elsewhere.
Here is a layout build video with trains running, but using Ross track and turnouts: Cool! The platforms are expanded to 6' wide to accomodate O64/O54, and the layout expanded to 9' x 16' space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWLmHJHnuY
Here is the last Atlas-O version that I worked on back in 2020:
Keith's Build:
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