Mark--I updated the post with the original design.
Yes, more and longer staging would be nice, just having troubles figuring out how to add it.
Oh yes, I remember now that I see the original! Yes much better indeed!
Orind posted:And of course--in the realm of simple is easy, and sometimes better--a dogbone with yard: I could add an engine house in the yard.
Better yet! Looks like you have room for it. How long would the staging tracks be? Should you try to make the shorter ones longer?
Those are 30 inch track sections--the longest be 4 sections. I need to keep space for entrance to the living room--(right side room). Pony wall creates a partial separation between rooms too. I find 50 inches (given the table height) is as tight as I want to go, but yes, I will push it as far as I can.
ORIND, this may not be a good idea but what if you came down a bit further off the mainline, not much, put in a wye off that curve but instead of coming straight across with the staging yard curve it or angle it up toward the other corner of the layout leaving enough space to walk around that wall that juts into the room. Hope that made sense.............Paul
The pony walls create a constriction point--add to that that I want a minimum of 3 foot isles for the layout, and 4 feet for egress through the rooms, and crossing the threshold between the two rooms is not realistic--Played around with that idea back in the early design stages.
Orind posted:Those are 30 inch track sections--the longest be 4 sections. I need to keep space for entrance to the living room--(right side room). Pony wall creates a partial separation between rooms too. I find 50 inches (given the table height) is as tight as I want to go, but yes, I will push it as far as I can.
That's fine. Don't want to crowd.
And so we come back to something from the original designs--the ability to change direction of travel--It is going to remain cold for a while (-20F) so I will likely get the bench work reconfigured this weekend. This should add a bit more variability and interest into the operation.
Attachments
Images (1)
Ah, now that I am looking at the plan on my PC and not the smart phone, I can see what you mean about the clearance at that corner that caused you to have the angled bench and shorter yard tracks. Sorry I didn't see the wall corner on the small screen. So the marsh is at the other end, and you can turn trains both ways. I'm looking forward to seeing this plan come to life!!
Orind, I have to laugh because we've come full circle. When you started the planning thread, I remember offering some designs that included ways to reverse directions. When they were taken out, I was disappointed, but understood. However, I never stopped wondering how long it was going to be before the capability was added back in. I guess I have my answer.
I'll be watching to see how you decide to scenic that area because I think there are ways to "hide" the switches along the back with either a grove of tall trees or something removable for access in the event of a switch problem.
Thanks Dave--yep, full circle.
Hiding the switches will be easy. Where the train splits from the front edge of the layout to the back--going to have to punch a hole "under" the highway--cool tunnel portal opportunity. I am going to try and work in "Bird Creek" in the extra space formed by the turnaround area, and the mountain rise I the back ground should hide the switches (access from underneath in case of issues). Here is a picture of Bird Creek:
Attachments
Images (1)
That is going to do the trick and look really nice. When you first started this I had a hard time envisioning your vision, but it is coming along very nicely.
I can understand that--I am a put it in place/action and adjust type of thinker/doer--
There are folks who can perform thought experiments and then put together a very cohesive project. I start with a concept/idea, have to get some things to touch--watch how it flows and fits, then continue.
I have been running the layout for several months. I started landscaping the areas I knew were fixed points in the design, and left the other areas--now that I have more data points defined, I am adjusting. When I started this I really did not anticipate having 5 locomotives and as much rolling stock as I do--famous last words.
The left lobe is likely going to be Girdwood--I need someplace to put my "Hippies"
I can identify with you. I can picture a landscape in my mind, but fail at getting it down on paper. Our older daughter, the artist, can look at something and draw it exactly or just visualize and be happy with her results. We each have our own abilities!
I will have to post an updated track plan--installed a reversing section so the train does a twice around--get to see both sides of the train/passenger cars now. Once it started snowing here I was back to winter activities--xc skiing, snow biking, so train work stopped for a while. the layout will get a bit of work here and there over summer--especially on raining days. Here is a video of the current state of the layout:
Really taking shape and I'm glad to hear the reversing action is working for you. I was going to say something different until I looked back at past posts and saw I already made the "full circle" comment regarding the loops. It's been almost 4 months and I had forgotten that.
Looks great Orind,
Im glad it has worked out very well
The marsh came out really nice. Can you squeeze a turnout in front of you switcher to tie that spur into the main a make a siding out of it? I also wanted to note how athletic your people are. So many attacking that rock wall, it must attract them from miles around.
I thought about tying in the siding, but that puts the switch on the bridge, and I did not want that. The rock face along Turnagain arm is very popular with climbers--ice climbers in the winter, and rock climbers in the summer. The inlet also sees a lot of kite boarders, and during the bore tides, surfers--so many features and so little space to model them.
I'm looking forward to see it in place. 
I just took a look at the May video - a mirror of the left side photo would have worked.
It really didn't look bad.
This one will definitely look good.
Enjoy the warm weather!
I finally got out to Potter Marsh and took a panoramic picture--used a DJI Osmo +. Ordered up a panoramic print on canvas--30 inches tall, 130 inches long. I really like that it was cloudy when I took the picture-I think it really adds depth to the image. Next up--I need to build a glacier on the other side of the layout and a bridge over the corresponding ice field.
Attachments
Images (2)
That did provide a good result.
Is it time to move on from Potter marsh?
it looks good. Please post a picture once you've got it mounted and tied in to the mountain on the left side.
Potter Marsh does look great! I'll be looking forward to seeing what you do with the glacier! I can't recall ever seeing anyone modeling one.
Yes, it is time to move on from Potter Marsh. This fall's project is the other side of the layout--I have a rather ambitious bridge to build that will be 3 sections of O-48 and 30 inches of straight--it is the front of the layout. Behind the bridge will be a glacier scene--All still a thought experiment currently, but it starts with opening up the front of the layout--building the bridge and getting rid of the front part of the board.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
ORIND, I have enjoyed watching your progress. That print really brought out that corner and the angle which the land goes back in it works well into your scenery. First I am not a knit picker for sure because I have no room to throw stones. But in your second picture the back ground hill in the new mural ends abruptly. Is there any way you could blend it into the backdrop next to it. All and all great job..........Paul
That is on the to do list
It has been raining for a few weeks, and will rain for a few more, so I am actually getting some work done on the railroad. The left corner of my layout has been a thought experiment for a year now. I did not like how much the table intruded into the room, and I just wasn't not sure what I was going to do with landscape. I am trimming the table back and building a bridge for the front 4 048 and 30 inch straight section of the loop. Not necessarily going for an authentic looking type of bridge, but I want to install a mountain, glacier scene in the corner with a melt runoff stream--I will drop the stream some two feet or so below the bridge--will give me access to the back track from behind the mountain, and give some nice depth and openness to the corner--at least that is the image in my brain. the 3/4inch stock is epoxied to the track and I will build up a beam (from 1/16x1inch stock laminated) to run under the 3/4 stock. One support post should be sufficient (about where the curve goes to straight) to support the structure.
While I am at it, I am reconfiguring the track a bit too.
Oh--and all that stuff in the corner--the wonders of children moving out and not taking all their stuff--time to put it in containers and get it into the crawl space.
Attachments
Images (2)
Looking forward to seeing the finished bridge, what you have so far looks really nice.
As for kids moving out, as long as you keep some of their stuff, you risk them moving back in.
One of the aspects of model railroading I enjoy is the creative problem solving. How to make my beam to curve 4 o-48 sections and a 30 inch straight--now, there are all ways to do this, and I enjoy an excuse to by nice tools, but sometimes you just need to try the cheap creative approach. 1/4 inch is the thinest our home stores carry, and without steaming or planning down 1/16 it did bend nicely. I traced out the track on some scrap plywood, and screwed in screws to act as bending guides. A liberal coat of wood glue on the wood strips, clamp, and we will see if it holds it shape in the morning.
Attachments
Images (1)
Looks good.
Orin,
In all my years, I have never seen anything quite like it!! It looks great!!
