Blackwater Canyon Line - October 14, 2024 - Town and Scratchbuild Planning

Thank you, Bob, Dave, Jeff!  

Dave, that is actually a new MTH RailKing SD9 30-20901-1. I bought it from Pats Trains in Wheeling.  I will try to remember to get a better photograph and maybe a video.

Jeff, Thank you for the offer.  I started marking up a drawing and decided to try my hand at SCARM.  I got the track in, with only a few places it didn’t quite match up.  This afternoon I was working on the grades and fixing what layer each piece of track is on.  I keep forgetting to change layers. I’ll try and post it this evening.  I got thinking as you mentioned that an 054/042 curved switch would be very long and not practical.

Jeff, did you move yet?  How is it going??

Mark, I too sometimes for get to choose the correct active Layer in SCARM before adding new track sections.  The fix is easy. First select the pieces you want on a different layer.  With them still selected, Right-click and choose Transfer to Layer> from the pop-up menu, and then select the Layer you want them to be on.

Mark, I like the process and your working out the solutions in real time. I found that for my layout I found it helpful to use different layers in the drawing. Then I printed out each layer so that I could see them more clearly. In my layout the layers were much simpler. This is a process, but you will be rewarded with a much more enjoyable layout in the end.

Andy

Thank you, Steve and Andy.

Steve, getting the layers straightened out was too easy!  Thank you very much!!!

Andy, Yes, mine can be confusing, but here goes with the whole file and print screen.  I haven't found where to do the nice screenshots.

Mark- next time I'm on my laptop (probably over morning coffee tomorrow),  I'll send you the steps to save an image of the plan from scarm. It saves as a  .tiff file that can be viewed like a photo.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Mark- next time I'm on my laptop (probably over morning coffee tomorrow),  I'll send you the steps to save an image of the plan from scarm. It saves as a  .tiff file that can be viewed like a photo.

Bob

Thank you,Bob!  I searched the help, but never found it.

Hi Mark, I like the plan, but it did make me dizzy at first! I am already thinking of a redo of my layout to change up the city and be able to add more buildings for the trains to run around. After running my layout for a while, it seems like too much track and train traffic can be a bad thing for entertainment. Just thinking out loud! LOL

P.S. Happy Birthday!

Extension are how layouts grow.   Growth is good.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you,Bob!  I searched the help, but never found it.

Mark- so morning coffee turned into evening adult beverages.......

To save an image of a track plan in SCARM:

With the file open go to - File/ Export

A new window will open, save the file where you want as a .bmp, or .jpg file.

This will allow you to post the image on the forum for all to see without needing SCARM installed.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Here's a example from one of my plans. This is a .bmp file

Bob

Thank you, Mike and Ken!  

Mike, the layout makes me dizzy too; especially when I run trains inside the operating area like Jeff mentioned of his on another thread.  Actually, getting used to it and it is fairly straightforward.  I think.  After asking my age, a fellow at old guys Bible study this morning told me I can now “Get my kicks on Route 66”! 🤪

Ken, you are right; growth is good!

@RSJB18 posted:

Mark- so morning coffee turned into evening adult beverages.......

To save an image of a track plan in SCARM:

With the file open go to - File/ Export

A new window will open, save the file where you want as a .bmp, or .jpg file.

This will allow you to post the image on the forum for all to see without needing SCARM installed.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Here's a example from one of my plans. This is a .bmp file

Bob

Bob, thank you.  I will get on that!  

Has anyone tried to open the SCARM file I shared yesterday?  When I tried to open the original file saved on my computer, I got this error message.

The same thing happens with the Backup file and the file I shared here.  Older files open fine.

It's always something!!

Mark,

it’s been awhile since I’ve posted and I’m not sure what happened to my last post. But I’ve really enjoyed your posts and progress. Now that my train room is finished, I’m debating between Mianne and Sievers in order speed the process of getting started. But with the cost of lumber and the likely need to upgrade all of my 20+ years old electronics, TMCC and DCS, not to mention track, roadbed, etc, the tab sure does run up quickly. I’m going to start with 14x25 double track mainline with two switching areas and save the yard and engine terminal for the next phase.
now if I can only get competent on RR TRACK.

Keep up your great work. Your lift bridge idea development has been outstanding, as has been the help of the folks on this board.
I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Rubin

@Mark Boyce posted:

Has anyone tried to open the SCARM file I shared yesterday?  When I tried to open the original file saved on my computer, I got this error message.

The same thing happens with the Backup file and the file I shared here.  Older files open fine.

It's always something!!

Mark, bad news.  When I downloaded the [Back to the Drawingboard 2022-11-02.scarm] you posted and tried to open it, I got the same error:

Not sure how to fix this other than going back to an earlier version and redoing the work.  That stinks.  FWIW, I haven't had this issue with any of the other SCARM files I've worked with.  My guess is the file somehow became corrupted along the way.    Sorry.

Rubin, Steve, Thank you!

Rubin, I’m glad you like following along.  Yes starting again is a task, especially with the costs going up.

Steve, yes I surmised you would have the same problem.  Thank you for looking.  Start over.  At least it would be easier this go round.

Hi, Mark sorry to hear the problem with SCARM, I wish I could help, but I spend most of my time fumbling my way around just trying to get track to line up and attach! LOL

Good luck with your program and cant wait to see it!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Thank you, Mike.  I should be out cleaning up leaves, but I have a bad cold and don’t feel like it.  Negative Covid test yesterday.  So, I worked on a new SCARM drawing for a little bit instead!  It works for me!  👍🏻👍🏻

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Mike.  I should be out cleaning up leaves, but I have a bad cold and don’t feel like it.  Negative Covid test yesterday.  So, I worked on a new SCARM drawing for a little bit instead!  It works for me!  👍🏻👍🏻

Hope you get well soon, Kind of sucks after your birthday! Good thing about the Negative test. I too am working on SCARM this morning before Dr. Appointment.

Mark, I couldn't see anything wrong with the file, so I sent it to Milen to see if he can find something and fix it. I'll let you know what he says. Something may have happened during the save. I opened an old file, made some changes, saved it and it opened fine.

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Mark, I couldn't see anything wrong with the file, so I sent it to Milen to see if he can find something and fix it. I'll let you know what he says. Something may have happened during the save. I opened an old file, made some changes, saved it and it opened fine.

Dave out of curiosity, were you using the latest 1.9.2 version of SCARM when you successfully opened the file?

@SteveH posted:

Dave out of curiosity, were you using the latest 1.9.2 version of SCARM when you successfully opened the file?

I wasn’t able to open Mark’s file. I took a previous version, made some changes and was able to open it after the changes. I wanted to see if v1.9.2 was saving files wrong and that’s why it won’t open. It appears that’s not the case, so something else must have gone wrong when he saved his changes. I don’t know if he has SCARM set to automatically save backup files, so I don’t know if he has a backup one that might have some of the changes he made.

Thank you, Mike, Dave, Steve.

Mike, after 66 birthdays it’s just another day!  😄

Dave, I never thought to contact Milen about it.  I’m wondering if that was the day Windows kept pestering me about an update.  🤷‍♂️  I was running v1.9.2.  I have it setup to backup, but the backup was corrupted the same way.  I’m going to save my work under 2 or 3 different file names as I go, just in case something is still wrong.  I’ll get back on it after a nap!  A perk of being retired! 😄👍🏻👍🏻

Mark,

Here's what Milen had to say: "I checked the file and found a problematic snip-off piece with zero length on a slope. The slope info was saved incorrectly, probably because of the zero length – perhaps, that was the problem." He was able to fix the file and it's attached.

FWIW, I don't know anyone who gives this kind of support, especially from halfway around the world.

That's awesome!  Way to go Dave and Milen.

Wow!  That's great, Dave!  I can believe what Milen found, since I was rusty on snipping!  It looks great again!  I will look it over some more and see what I can approve, then get the screenshots.

Thank you so much Dave and Milen!  You are so right about someone giving that kind of support.  That is taking ownership of a product and serving all the users.

Outstanding work Dave! Now someone needs to remind me how to save it so I can see it! LOL It's been a while!

Mike. Right-click and select Save link as.

Here is the slightly modified file and snapshots. I moved a crossover from under the upper level at the bottom of the drawing to the upper level at the top of the drawing.

Great job Mark! You are always getting better ideas with every step of the process!

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Mike. Right-click and select Save link as.

Thanks Dave, I am working on my layout in SCARM, is there any way to make 2 layers? One for the lower track and one for the upper track so it doesn't get so confusing.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Here is the slightly modified file and snapshots. I moved a crossover from under the upper level at the bottom of the drawing to the upper level at the top of the drawing.

Looks great Mark! Should be fun to run!

Thank you, John!  Thinking back almost 6 years ago to the first couple pages of this thread, I tried to come up with something that wasn’t just circling around and around.  I think over the different iterations of the layout, it is the best way to go in a small room.

I still have to think of whether it would work yo put some holding tracks on the lower level under the town.  Off hand, I don’t think I have enough room to put in switches and sidings.

Mark glad the issues were resolved with Dave and Milen’s help. Easier to make the changes in software.

Andy

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Dave, I am working on my layout in SCARM, is there any way to make 2 layers? One for the lower track and one for the upper track so it doesn't get so confusing.

Easiest way? Send me the file and let me do it.

Seriously, it's pretty easy. You then just have to remember which layer you're working on too keep things on the right layers. If you add a track or something and it goes to the wrong layer, just repeat the steps to move it to the right one.

Steps:
1 - open the Layers tool
2 - rename Layer 0 as Lower and Layer 1 as Upper
3 - select everything you want on the Upper layer
4 - right-click and select the Transfer To Layer option and the Upper layer

Thank you, Mike, Andy, Dave!

I think I’ll like it better this way, or something similar to this.

Dave, thank you for answering Mike’s question.  Like any of this stuff, once you get past the learning curve, it is pretty easy.

Hmmm, so one siding will fit under the town okay.  I'll see what else I can come up with.

Mark I have to say great work been a while since I commented but have been watching your progress and I am amazed with what you did with the bridges. Super nice. But I have to say I think you are getting worse than me with finding more -laces to add track on a layout half my size. The issue I have run into by finding places for more track is never finish what I already have laid. Still have a turntable and whisker tracks to wire and they keep getting put off because I keep finding ways and places to lay more track and turnouts. Keep up the great work.

Rick, thank you!  You have a good point.  If we don’t get on the stick, we won’t live long enough to get to putting in scenery.  😄  Thank you for following along

Thinking about Rick's comment about too much track and following Mike's new thread on planning a layout, I came up with an idea that would extend both passing sidings to handle decent length trains plus allow for the canyon scenery as originally planned.  This is a rough plan as the others, but uses most of the same trackage, so decisions don't have to be made immediately before construction continues.  I do not know why the switch on the upper level far left doesn't show up as track on the 3D snapshot.  I leveled the track there to 5" above zero level is all that is different from the rest over the 'tunnel'

Mark, it's because the tracks below are set to "tunnel" and the tunnel landscaping exceeds the height of the switch above.