Here is a drawing of the footprint of my "Land Grant". I will be building a Frisco-themed, free lance design, layout. Current thoughts are: 1) an LDE on the long side, with agricultural industries such as Grain Elevator Feed Mill Stock Pens Implement Dealer LPG/Fertilzer Dealer Petroleum Jobber Grocery Warehouse 2) Staging on the short side provide run through and local trains, freight and mixed-train (branch-line), some passenger service, and the possibility of multi-eras. Train length max will be 6' (Loco+10 cars+caboose) As of today! Glenn in Tulsa
Nice looking space, Glenn...looks almost exactly the size of our tract! Your general plan sounds like it will be a nice free-lance representation. Throw in a team track and a Frisco standard depot and it should turn out quite nicely. I'd recommend using a prototype track plan from any Frisco locale in your freelance setting. My experience is that - even if one's not modeling a precise geographic location - the prototype track arrangements make for some realistic operations. Looking forward to more,
Glenn, since you planning a lift out section, may I suggest a company here in Wichita that custom builds these sections using a bridge held in place with magnets and a power disconnect to stop trains once the bridge is lifted. It is called the Andover tool company. Tony
Glenn, thanks for the update. My poor eyes can't quite distinguish but it looks like the yard on the "south" (bottom) end of things will be staging? If so...will it be "hidden" or open, visible staging? Best Regards,
Yes, it is open, ballasted, staging. The first two tracks are for through trains. The next track is for locals. The fourth track is for passenger trains and a "loop track" for moving trains back into their appropriate tracks after a session. I plan to use a "screen" of trees between the branch and the staging tracks to provide visual seperation. Glenn in Tulsa
Glenn, this is a better space with which to work than that small room with the bay window. Is this in the same house?
No, Doug...it is a different house. I did live in that house 'til 2006 when I re-married. This is our second house together. To tell the truth, I am further along with this layout than any that I've started over the years...and looking forward to running trains. Here is the question currently under consideration...which comes first - feeders or ballast? Glenn(Steel-driving man) in Tulsa
Glenn: I put some of my feeders in after I had ballasted the track. I had to go back with my vacuum and do a little cleanup and then spruce up the ballast. If I had to do it again I would get the feeders in first to save a little trouble later on. Bob
Besides messing up your ballast, there's a lot to be said for operating some before ballasting. I'm going to redo part of Van Buren yard, after folks at first sessions started running out of tracks to classify with. Since I'm adding more destinations, I need to move engine facility and make way for tracks to sort the many "local" jobs. If I was ballasted, It would be a much bigger job. Your operations may be more limited, but principle should apply.
Glenn, I don't know what stage you are at in your road, but with your room it may be possible to place the staging yard on lower level benchwork. (Refer to Rick McClellan's post: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3625) On Rick's layout, there is 8" of clearance between the bottom of Lamar's benchwork (upper deck) and the top of the Tulsa roadbed. With some planning, a main could drop behind some scenery against a wall and make its way to the lower level. If your trains are relatively short (less than 15 cars) you could easily get by with the same grade that Rick has which took just over 16 feet of running distance. Just an idea... If you want to discuss it more, this is the place.
Keith, in retrospect I wish I had allowed for a staging level. But I wasn't thinking that far ahead when I had the benchwork built. It is straight-edged and 2 feet wide, supported by wall brackets for storage under the benchwork. As I said to Doug, after 67 years, this is the first layout I've actually built. Thanks for your comments. Glenn in Tulsa
I am interested in a hinged panel or removable panel on one end of my table but I'm not sure how to put track on it and make it work. I have a 20" x 8' piece of plywood on each side with a 2' x 2' piece inbetween on each end. I'm currently having to crawl on my hands and knees (and it's already not easy in my mid 30's). However, I would entertain the thought of removing one of the 2' x 2's in exchange for the removable bridge Tony mentioned. The only problem I'm having is that I can't find the "Andover Tool Company" on the internet. Any help will be appreciated. - Brandon
Brandon, one type of mechanism you might consider would a lift bridge (http://modeltrains.about.com/od/layoutconstruction/a/Lift-Drop-Bridges.htm). It is a section of plywood, hinged at one end and resting on a lip at the other end. A gap in the rails at both ends allows the section to be lifted for easier ingress and egress. Do a google search and you will find more information out there. Here's another version: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/5551