Track Planning Exercise

Discussion in 'General' started by w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021), Aug 28, 2020.

  1. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    As I'm nearing the end of the road (hospice), I've decided to try some track planning for our 14x20' store room. The layout won't get built, but track planning is fun hard work. Here is a recent plan developed from one published in the October 2002 MR. HO. 24" & 26" radii. Point-to-point with an oval option. Town names derived from locales around Dixon, MO. Non prototypical - in fact, Dixon is backwards. Passing sidings for ten-car trains. Comments are welcome. I've included a footprint in case any of you want to try drawing one.
    DJ&H Footprint.jpg DJ&H No. 3.jpg Doug
     
  2. kenmc

    kenmc KenMc Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug,

    So sorry to hear of your condition's worsening. We pray for your healing as God wills, and especially for his comfort at this time.

    It's great to see that your model railroading passion is still there. When Marsha and I became engaged, I confessed to her that I had this MR disease that I had been born with. However, I told her that although it would be terminal, I didn't think it would be fatal. She married me anyway. So far that's still true.

    Ken McElreath
     
  3. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug - Hang in there. Caroline and I are thinking and praying for you. You are a good guy and did a terrific job spreading the word about the Frisco back in the old days with your FMIG. I remember how excited I was when I was given membership, and how neat it was for son Kurt and me to attend the 1980 FMIG meeting in Memphis, our first meeting. The large crowd of Frisco supporters who now exist in frisco.org and other SLSF groups largely lead back to your FMIG in one way or another. Thank you.

    Ken - Your confession to Marsha about your hobby is about the same as I did with Caroline in 1966. I took her down to Lindenwood Yard before our wedding and confessed that I have an addiction - the Frisco railroad. She grew up in Webster Groves, and lived close to the SLSF tracks. She understood. So far, she still does. She went along with me on a number of SLSF 1522 trips and trips to the tracks to watch something run by, usually in Webster or Kirkwood. I got her to join me down in Springfield once. Glad that there are good women who understand!

    Bless you Doug! We didn't know each other at MSM, but I'm very glad we hooked up in FMIG.

    Ken
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2020
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  4. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug,
    Wish I'd done something more like this when the kids were little. I think it has a lot of the "fun" elements that would have drawn them in.

    That said: I think the operating possibilities of something like this. And if I were to be planted in one spot on this one to watch, I like the look of the Fox Crossing wye.

    Any particular industry/town in the upper left hand corner? Don't know why I'm fixated on that one. :)

    And I'm really at a loss for words, other to say "I'm sorry." And as long as you're willing and able and are getting some joy out of it, let's keep this track plan discussion rolling.
     
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  5. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Chris, for an ops type, there's always another small industry that can be added to the railroad as a traffic generator. This plan would work great for operations even with the narrow 2' aisle. Every model railroad has a car-saturation level. This one could be operated a few sessions to determine saturation, then remove 3-4 freight cars. Newburg would not be staging. Classification.

    Thanks for the well wishes. I'm at that "feel-good" stage that follows ending of chemo treatments. Time will tell how fast the lymph nodes will last, although I've been told this cancer is rather aggressive.

    God bless, Doug
     
  6. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Doug,
    I too, don't have the words. I am a relative new comer to the web site. As the generations before me have said, "We stand on the shoulders of Giants", and so do we here.
    Your contributions will never go away, and as times goes on, we will meet that end, that awaits us all. You have been a inspiration to me, I only wish there was more time.
    I hope the best for you, we will meet again...
     
  7. Doug, very sorry to hear it. To echo the other comments I hope you can keep your spirits up, glad to see your still thinking about modeling. Amazing how long we have all really know each other. I am certainly glad my dad responded to your adds looking for Frisco fans all those years ago. Those early conventions were very formative in my modeling passion without a doubt. I might have just been a kid but it sure made an impression. So many of the people from the early days are still here too showing it is a lifetime of enjoyment for many of us. Hopefully the Frisco torch gets carried on for a long time.
    I wish you the best my friend. Ship it on the Frisco!

    Steve
     
  8. rcmck

    rcmck Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug, I like this layout! It has lots of operational possibilities.

    I wish that I would have joined FMIG back in the day. The Frisco has long been one of my loves, having lived here in Lenexa, not far from the mainline. Our first house was on a street, parallel to, and directly behind, the main.

    My wife and I have taken many trips down to the Ozarks and into Arkansas where the Frisco has so much character. We enjoy camping, and our travel trailer. Our first trip to the Boiling Springs area, on the Gasconade River, was so enjoyable that we've been back several times. I remember our first little day trip, exploring old Route 66, and seeing that massive wooden trestle on the Ft. Leonard Wood line. This past June, we visited Newburg for the first time. Only pictures and our imaginations can do justice to what it once was.

    From what I've gathered, this region around Dixon is your "cup of tea" on the Frisco. I really like it as well. When I'm in this area, I think of you and regret not getting to know you and talk about our shared interest.

    What does comfort me is that your effort, your modeling accomplishments, and your love, of the Frisco has inspired people like me to learn more and maybe do some modeling. Thankfully, we have a digital preservation of your contributions, and so many others in this web-site.

    I hope and pray for the very best outcome possible Doug.

    Bob McKeighan
    Lenexa, KS
     
  9. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug,

    A great plan. I would stretch it to ~18ft X 18ft for my garage if I had the ability to keep a permanent layout (vs modular/portable now). Maybe even tuck in some staging. I wonder if I could figure out height adjustments in AnyRail and make a drawing there....hmm.

    Take Care,

    -Bob T.
     
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  10. I got kinda wrapped up commenting to Doug. But I too have been lucky, my wife knows I am a modeler. You guys have seen she gives me time to do it and tons of my stuff is right at the kitchen table. I’m afraid when the kids are grown she will want a nice table! Ha. Then I head back to the basement I guess.
    Cassie even lets me take separate vacations so I can make pilgrimages to St Louis for models. Or when there were still contests head to as many as possible. Even our family spring break trip involved one night of filming at Ken Patterson’s. She knows I have the same disease. I have been fortunate. This year after many many years of a job that paid great but was gradually killing me,she agreed to let me change jobs for less money and SHE even said “you would have more time to make money selling models”. We have an odd relationship with our schedules but it works for us.
     
  11. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Here is the latest track plan. It's based on a C&O layout published years ago. A tremendous amount of HO railroad will fit my 14x20 space! This one is a large folded dog bone that can also be run as a double-track loop-to-loop. It has staging in three places. It also includes a branch line (Ft. Wood). The key was moving the two blob away from the walls and into the room center. It is also more walk-in/-around than No. 3.
    DJ&H No. 4 Upper.jpg DJ&H No. 4 Lower.jpg
     
  12. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Doug,
    I really like this one. A lot. I think the back drop with towns on either side (Crocker and Dixon) really makes great use of the peninsula. And the placement of Bundy Jct. with the one leg going down to the lower level is quite inspired.

    The boxed numbers: elevation in inches?
     
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  13. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    This is great. Could there be a lower shelf all along the right and top to connect the lower level with a couple of long staging tracks? Too much elevation change?
     
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  14. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes, that would improve operations to include much more staging. 14x20 is turning out to be a very nice HO layout size. We should have had the store room finished years ago prior to my getting sick. Oh well, track planning will suffice.
     
  15. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Here is design no. 5 based on a smaller plan published by MR April 2007. You Bootheel-area modelers should like it. There are some tough grades on the R.H. side and access issues on both sides, but about half the room is still available for storage. 22, 24, & 26" curves. Point-to-point-to-loop via a wye is a design feature not used much. Allan Keller uses it on his huge Bluff City Southern HO railroad here locally. Interchanges are included for the Cotton Belt, MoP, and JLC&E.
    Design 5.jpg
     
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  16. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    That's an interesting plan there Doug. I like the looks of this one too. I should have asked you help me design my own layout.
     
  17. I need to hire Doug now. Fear of a dumb design holds me back.
     
  18. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    No secrets - just buy track plan books, envision your space, and twist good plans to fit the space. These three were all published in MR's 102 Realistic Track Plans. One was mirrored from the published version to allow for my room door.
     

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