Too High, Too Wide and Too Flat

Layout had now been completely dismantled.  I had it too high, it was too flat and too wide.  I have started building some benchwork at a height of 1050mm and can take it higher if I like by using additional material.

I think I will take a break from the model railway scene for a little while as my interest has really nose-dived.  I will wander out to the shed when I feel like it and do some odd jobs every now and again.  

Multi-Level

Here is a plan that includes multiple levels.

It consist of three levels, with staging on either side.  It's not continuous run I know, however the nature of the long main-line run may be enough to see some action.  It has a station and its a through run rather than a terminus.  I can shunt and make up trains at either staging end  (active staging) - with the idea being that this will be where operators will be placed to make up and break up trains during op sessions.  The emphasis is on these areas rather than at the main station area.

Industrial Shunting or Branch Line?

Yesterday Craig gave up his Sunday morning to assist me in drawing up some ideas given my druthers.
The best idea Craig suggested was to draw up a scale grid say 2cm=1 and then use a compass to draw the curves.  I found this to be the break-through I was looking for.  In the afternoon I drew up the plan we discussed in the morning and it was plain to see that it would not work.  Un-phased and with my new knowledge to use a compass to draw accurate curves I pressed ahead making up some further plans.
Eventually I came up with these two. (Both have an oval of track only for those occasions when I like to see trains running round)
One is an industrial shunting layout with industries based in Western Melbourne such as Sunshine and Brooklyn, whilst the other is more of a branch line run, from staging.
I am not sure which one I like better although I like both of them.  The branch line run gives me some nice main line run with scenery, where-as the industrial shunting schematic probably gives me more engagement time.
The branch line probably utilises better use of the space, and I could run a variety of engines and trains, e.g. railmotor, X class, T and Y, where as the industrial shunting layout I would be left with a Y or T Class as motive power.  Hard choice!

Industrial:

BranchLine:

Some footage

Some footage of the layout.

Track Plan - Amendment

I have removed some extra track and created a siding that serves four industries.  This track is at the front of the layout as I intend to operate from that side.  It is separated from the main-line. The layout now looks alot less crowded and I have some space to build/model some non-railway related buildings, such as houses, a park, a creek, maybe a road intersection with working traffic lights.  Haven't really looked into this too much, but at least now I have some space to depict something other than a railway related structure/s.  The idea, be it an exaggerated one, is that these industries are just outside of town, hence the need for the Pilot working.

I also have space for a turntable but not sure whether I will go down that path.

Not sure whether I really need the cross-over marked X.  Initially I was going to use this to run-around locos but it looks like I can have one track spare at A.  I did this my removing alot of the rollingstock which just made things look too congested.  It has freed up quite a bit of space.  I have 11 wagons on the layout now, and may max it out to 15 so I can make up an Through or Express Goods that I can run round when I feel like.  Just like I did with the track, I culled my wagons, which was very hard to do.

For the last two weeks, I have been running basically with one loco, a VR second series T Class and I haven't really had the need to see anything else on the layout.  My Y class sits in the draw, but I am sure will get a run later when I feel like a change.


This is the current plan:

A Track Plan for Consideration

Here is a track plan that I have been working on.  I couldn't be bothered using some nice track planning drawing tool so I did this using MyPaint on Linux.  Apologies in advance.

Each Letter represents the following.

A.  Staging - Active staging where Pilots are made up.  Gives some extra shunting movements.  Likely to also include some locomotive stabling tracks and maybe an extra stub ended siding for wagons.  which will be at location B.  Best use of this space?

C.  Industry: Currently Flour Mill
D. Head Shut
E. Industry: Currently Arc Engineering (Steel products In)
F. Industry: Currently Caltex
G. East Staging.  Not sure what to do here, may be I will leave as is with a passing loop.
H. Run-around Loop.
I. Industry: Currently Intercity Foods
J. Connecting track for times I want to see trains roll!

So the idea is to have a train made up at A with the engine being able to run-round using the reverse loop K.  Once made up, all trains leave from point L (why they leave from point L and not point M is a good question).  I want them to leave from point L because of the longer run.  I need to think of a good reason, maybe getting the staff can only be done from point L or something like that.

The first industry that may be shunted is E, any empties can only be picked up on this leg.  Next is F however this can only be done on the return leg and the extra long siding adds extra time to the shunt - nice!
We then travel past the current loop and into H.  Here things can get interesting depending on what needs to be shunted.  If the shunters were helpful back at A, we should have our train blocked accordingly, however at times this may not be the case.  If we don't need to shunt here, we simply run-round and place guards van on the rear, e.g. if we only had to shunt E on this Pilot run.  On our return we may have to shunt at F, before proceeding back to A via K.

The rectangle shows the 600mm benchwork.  Separating the scene from the upper industries (F and E) from the lower ones (H, C and I) will be the challenge.  Note this is not to scale.  I think I can get some good running and shunting with the plan outlined.  Your thoughts?

Pilot Running

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. -- Thomas Edison


How much track/sidings do I personally need to have fun?  This is the question I asked myself and was quite surprised  when I reduced my main yard from seven tracks to just three and I still have main-line running as well as shunting opportunities.

The staging yard currently has three tracks (active West Staging) and East Staging currently has two tracks.  


Objective:


The goal is on short pilot workings.  I enjoy seeing short trains and the engagement factor is quite high since I am at the controls from West Staging (active staging) to the industrial locations and then back again.  I like the idea of actually "driving" for some length of time.  Some of the industries could be an Oil depot, Engineering company (steel in), and a Flour Mill (wheat in), and maybe a food processing company (thanks to Darren for the article on the Wahgunyah branch and Intercity foods!) which receives VLXs and Bs (I love seeing VLXs !)

The concept:

Pilot working only

The pilot leaves active West Staging and works the three or four industries, does a run-around and returns to West Staging.  Time Required - about 20 to 30 mins which is just enough to enjoy myself and to leave me with a feeling of "wanting more" for another time.  I can easily achieve this on a weeknight after work.

I can also extend this concept:

MainLine + Pilot working

If I want to have a longer session, I can extend the run time by having a freighter come from East Staging into West Staging.  Here the motive power comes off and the yard pilot takes over.  The pilot brakes up the consist and makes up a consist for the two/three/four industries which are to be shunted.  The pilot then works the industries and returns.
Once the pilot returns to West Staging, the evening consist is made up which includes the vehicles brought in, returning empty or loaded to Melbourne.

The motive power for this run is added and the train leaves.  This concludes this session and this particular day.  Time required - about 60 mins I think as I haven't run with this as yet.   I can continue this to the "next day" by bringing in another freighter with a different consist and motive power.  The same scenario takes place.  Because the consist maybe different, the industries shunted may also be different.
I will need to add another track here for the loco to run around and thinking about it further, I could utilise the space I have inside the return loop to have a few tracks for loco stabling.  If I want to take it further I could place a small station here as well...but let's not get too carried away.

So, there you have it.  On a weekday after a day at work, I can utilise concept 1 and on a weekend and/or during a formal running session I can utilise concept 2.  And when I just want to see trains run, I just let them roll!

Anyway some food for thought.........