looking for feedback

[Guest Moria]

Hello again all

 

okay am a long term N gauge modeller, but am now retired and I have my mainline "watch the trains run" N gauge layout in my basement which is still progressing, but now want to start a "OO" gauge layout with a narrow gauge feeder.  (As I'm retired now, the N gauge is getting harder to see)

 

Plus, I currently have approval of the domestic authorities to keep me busy now I am not working so am planning to use that approval before it expires 

 

The space I have in the basement is a rather strange shape and I've been beavering away trying to get something "nice" into the area.

 

The track will be C&L..  I have kept these to A5's  (B6's just really chewed up the space) and a double slip (yeah pretty unprototypical but again, space saving).

 

The main line radii are locked in at 30" radius..  yes I think a bit tight, but this will be small loco territory, oh and whilst were on that theme.. GWR, probably with 2 periods of stock..  1930's whilst building then later building a set of edwardian stock.  so we are into 48xx, 517's, panniers, saddles, prairies and possibly a small tender loco for through freights.  Short coaches, except perhaps an autocoach or railcar/steam railcar.  (The loco release will allow a dean goods or similar to clear,  it's 11.25" long so should be fine if my calculations are correct).

 

Yard will be cassettes.

 

The track plan is based on Brixham, less one siding and with the loco shed approach reversed.   Whilst on that theme..  if I can curve the point leading to the engine shed, it will straighten out the platform line and I see no issue with making the C&L somewhat curved, or even getting templot and doing that one point as a template on it's own.

 

Unlike Brixham, I have added a narrow gauge feeder and brought the line down to docks level...   the dock siding will be dual gauge, and the narrow gauge will drop some from station to tunnel and both lines will cross a valley before the tunnel mouths with appropriate bridges.

 

So..  that's the basis..   but is 30" mainline radius to tight or do we think that for the space, this is a workable, and reasonable idea.

 

 

 

Thanks all.

 

M

[imt]

I quite understand your eyes not being up to N.  It provides so much more freedom for flowing design, but my older eyes I find just cannot cope.

 

You clearly want your layout set in the countryside, and very nice too if you are a good scenic modeller. As to curves in 00, the rule is the bigger diameter the better.  I don't know what full size carriages look like on a 15" curve in N, but that's what it will look like in 00, how about curve overhang and gapping carriage ends?  Only you can decide whether the train looks convincing.  Many of us hide MOST of our curves because we don't have the space to have the 48/56" we would like, and then we use tight curves into fiddle yards hidden under fields, towns or whatever and have the external curves in the scenic area as graceful as possible.

 

In your case it depends how much space you have for the fiddle yard.  If you have plenty you could swing the main line down over the narrow gauge line and have tight curves after the tunnel entrance into the FY.   You might have a problem then getting the narrow gauge back in front of the main I suppose.

 

Your plan looks good. 

[kevinlms]

Hello again all

 

 

 

Plus, I currently have approval of the domestic authorities to keep me busy now I am not working so am planning to use that approval before it expires 

 

 

Thanks all.

 

M

You're probably already too late!

[hockeyshooter]

Have always loved the combination of narrow gauge with standard - will be very interested to see this when you're progressing with the build. Looks an interesting design - I'm not so lucky as you regards space.

[martin_wynne]

I have kept these to A5's

 

Please don't use A-5 turnouts for the running lines. "A" switches are used only in yards and sidings, and even there they waste space.

 

If you really don't have room for something longer, I suggest using a GWR 10ft switch with 1:5.5 crossing. This is actually a fraction shorter than an A-5, but eases the radius significantly from 23.5" to 33" (in 00-SF using regular-type V-crossings in Templot):

 

 

It is possible to curve it a little, and still be no worse off than the A-5 in terms of radius (A-5 turnouts can't sensibly be curved more than a fraction).

 

In all the above you could ease the radius by changing to generic-type V-crossings, at the expense of a longer turnout.

 

Alternatively if you try a 12ft switch with 1:6, you will find it significantly shorter than the B-6, and you may have room for it.

 

regards,

 

Martin.

[Guest Moria]

I guess I'll just have to button down and learn templot then

 

M

[DCB]

That kink between station and bridge looks unnecessarily tight, I would ease that as much as possible, the engine shed road is where I would route the main line.

 

I don't like the mixed gauge siding, I don't see why it would be done.  Narrow gauge sidings each side of Std would be better, one higher one lower so all shovelling is downhill a la Ffestiniog would be good.

 

As with many prototype based track plans the run round loop has been shortened disproportionately, from something like 8 coaches to 3 or 30 wagons to 9.   I would lengthen the loop by extending it towards the tunnel.  

   

Operationally I am sure that stubby little spur off the double slip is useless and could usefully be shortened.  I would operate the goods service between passengers, two to three gaps in the passenger service being common.   So goods arrives at the platform, Engine runs round and starts to sort out the wagons in the yard using the main line as a headshunt.  Having sorted the outgoing wagons it then pulls them onto the main line, backs them onto the wagons in the platform and pulls the whole rake clear of the points and the incoming wagons into the sidings.  It may be In some layouts the whole length of the hidden sidings is needed for this move.  With the outgoing wagons set back in the platform and points set for the loco shed as a trap the loco can then sort the wagons into their right positions.    The loco crew then have a brew before setting off back to the junction.  Takes about an hour or so.

 

Or standard exhibition operating  Percy arrives with two wagons and plays with them until that two timing lothario Thomas arrives with both Clarrie and Annabel in tow......

[Jongudmund]

I agree with David above regarding where the main line route should be to iron out some of those kinky curves. I think the way it is now you'll end up with coaches and wagons pointing in all kinds of different directions as the train comes in.

 

Also, I wondered whether they would build a NG line over the standard gauge line like that. Probably not, because if there was an accident or a breakdown, both lines would be out of action. Can't imagine GWR high ups would take on that risk.