1880s Layout

Are you planning on corner access or middle popup access in Plan A? Pretty deep (most folks recommend 30" max).

Will, I was looking at your layout section. I noticed that you are using 1 by 6's for the benchwork - any reason? 1 by 3's would support your railroad. Also, your layout module are anywhere from 36" to 42" wide - that will be a pretty good reach to work in the layout of re-rail a derailed train. I have a couple of section that are 30" deep at an elevation of 54". It is my absolute minimum - I have to stand on a footstool to work on the layout in some of those areas. I was about 39 when I started the layout, and I am now 54 - the reasons for no duckunder and easy reach are even better now!

Jim Bernier

" snipped-for-privacy@CreditValley.Railway" wrote:

Will, I'm not sure about the size of space you have but my layout is around the walls and has a long center peninsula of about 14' with a back drop that divides it. At its widest the peninsula is about 5' to accommodate an eased

24" radius curve. Since the layout goes around four walls I have a removable duck under so I can have a continuous run but the reason its there is to have staging from both directions. The real TM originally ran from Ennis TX and terminated at Terrell Texas. Eventually it was extended to Paris TX making it a bridge between about six different railroads at Paris with the T&NO / SP at Ennis. I can run peddlers and passenger trains back and forth between Ennis, Rosser, Kaufman and Terrell with out the duck under in place or simulate traffic coming in from points north of Terrell as well if it is. My original plan was to have no duck unders, a 26" minimum radius and #8 or larger turnouts. In my space that could be done but what I've ended up with will provide for a much wider range of operation and traffic. So what I have is an optional duck under, 24" minimums, and #6 and larger turnouts. Though I still plan on having a total of four locomotives and about fifty cars I'll have the ability to expand the roster and operation if needed to keep it interesting. Though my space is larger the track plan was inspired by Andy Sperandeo's "San Jacinto District" in the Feb 1980 issue of MR and is was for a only a 9x12 aera. The basic idea of the "San Jacinto" would work well for almost any Shortline or Branch line and offer prototypical operation as well.

Bruce ( Modeling the Texas Midland in 1920 plus or minus a few years )

Hello Jim, everyone asks me about that. The layouts are only suggestions.

I got the 1x6 size from a website about benchwork construction, the author used 1x6 as his frame, said it gave him enough room to attach the panels where ever he needed them. I guess 1x3 would work as well.

As to the depth, it is set up for a dogbone mainline, 18" is the minimum radius, so I figured I needed the 42" depth for clearance. The 30" rear depth is to allow 24" for the module and a 6" rear gap for return line.

At 50, I am still active and bending is not a problem. But I guess you are correct, who knows what 4 years will bring.

Hi Bruce

The alcove itself is 11.5' wide and 9' deep. I have been thinking about the totally around he room with lift up section. i am not sure I could pass that by the other half. You see, we are in an apartment and the alcove is 1/2 of the livingroom-dining room is in an "L" shape. The living room is 11.5x19 and right now it looks bare. The dining room is 9.5x10. She says I can use

1/2 of the living room, "as long as it is kept neat."

I have to make the layout look good to her way of thinking not mine.

Will, If you can use the whole alcove the "San Jacinto District' track arrangement should be workable as it was designed to fill a 9x12 room with one door. The plan runs from staging with three stops to switch. The last is the terminal with a yard. Depending on how full the sidings are it could take 45 minutes to and hour to get a five or six car train out and back and could keep two operators busy with one switching the yard. If you can get a copy of the Feb

1980 MR with this plan it might be worth consideration. Even though you may want to alter it the operational concept is great and fully explained. There are a number of good articles in that issue too so it won't be wasteful. You also could add a removable duck under to have a continuous run if you want. All I can say is that this was a track plan that struck me from the moment I read the article. It really clarified operation on a shortline or branchline and how that could be duplicated in a very small space. Bruce

Thanks Bruce, I will see if I can find it. Maybe someone at the local club would have a copy.