Shunting and watching the trains go by

[ThePurplePrimer]

Hi Guys

 

I first became interested in model railways about 18 months ago and suspect now I am completely hooked - but - I have never built a model railway so I am really going to need your help.

 

I quite like the idea of a shunting layout but I also might like to see the trains go by. The problem is that I want the layout to run along a shelf probably not more than 18 - 24 " deep and my space is just 10 feet long

 

 

My main focus will be shunting and maybe somewhere to store a few diesel locos -  I am thinking green period BR ( even though I don't know exactly when that is )

 

What I imagine is this  - something like ( or exactly ) an inglenook at the front - at the back of the layout will be a retaining wall - in front of that will be a very small through station - a tiny affair that is view blocked at each end.

 

I probably should put my track plan here ( please note this isn't a cad drawing )

 

 

So there it is and this is how I see it working

 

Ignore the front shunting bit at that's all obvious 

 

At the rear of the layout I have a single through line that trains travel along in both directions ( I just realised I don't even know if this sort of thing exists in real life - ooops ) 

 

I have a very short train made of at least 2 things ie a loco and a carriage ( how short can I have and be realistic? ) 

 

Ok this is how it works - at either end of the run ( hidden ) is a offset turntable - so the train runs down the passenger line onto a turntable - it rotates and turns the trains direction and puts it on a different line - then by default a set of points routes it back onto the single line where it stops at the station, then moves off and onto the other turntable where it does the same thing and then comes back in the other direction after a suitable delay.

 

The plan will be to number the loco differently on both sides and maybe weather it differently on either side so I can try and make out its not the same train coming back the other way.

 

If I change the points at the back I can pop something into the storage siding that hides behind a retaining wall - the eventual plan is to be able to have 2 trains both with 2 'sides' if you see what I mean

 

So - I need your help

 

Is this a stupid idea

If "no" then I am guessing its been done before and I can see how it was done if you can point me in the right direction

 

Oh - I would like to automate the whole passenger part of the thing - I want that part to run on its own - if this seems like a good idea I can then go about working that out later

 

Thanks for any help you might be able to give

 

... Rob

[Ray H]

Loco and a coach are prototypical, especially if the coach is a Push-Pull vehicle where the loco stays permanently attached to one end and the driver either drives from the loco or by using controls at the (un-attached to the loco) end of the coach. You wouldn't need to turn the train round so that would save more space.

 

You could replace your two crossovers with a Y point at each end as this will save room. You could have the Y point either way round. If the single (toe) end of the point "pointed" towards the other end of the layout you'd have two tracks side by side at the end of the line. You could then arrange things so that a train arrived, triggered a relay (or two or the electronic equivalents) that changed the point and set another train off, going back towards the station. When that train got to the other end of the layout (with the track arrangement similar to the other end), that train could trigger a relay (or two, etc.) that changed the point and set a third train off, running back towards the station. When the third train arrived at the far end of the layout it would trigger a relay (etc.) and the first train would set off back towards the station, ad infinitum.

 

Automation isn't that difficult, using a relay that reverses the trains direction - equally you can get some electronic based "shuttle" ideas. Likewise, making the train stop in the station automatically isn't difficult either using some basic electronics (or more complicated electronics if you feel like it).

 

You could have the Y points the other way round so that you had your hidden track at the back of the layout and only a single siding at each end of the layout. You could use the hidden siding as extra storage but it wouldn't give you as many options as my first suggestion.

 

I hope that gives you some ideas.

[jon_1066]

If it's BR Green period then a DMU (or Southern EMU) also gets around the problem of turning your train.  

 

I think the turntable at each end idea will be impractical.  If you imagine the turntable will need to be about 500 mm diameter this is pretty much your plank depth.  So you won't be able to have anything in front of it.

 

Do you want to be able to link the two parts of your layout?  If so a traverser or sector plate may be an option.

[ThePurplePrimer]

Hi guys - thanks for the suggestions but I deliberately want to turn the 'train' and have it very obviously moving in the other direction - also due to the numbering / weathering idea so it appears to be two quite different trains and not the same one shuttling backwards and forwards

 

I don't think I need the two sections ( mainline and goods area ) joined

[Stubby47]

Another idea is to have a hidden return track along the back of the layout. So train #1 runs from left to right through the scenic part, then reverses down the hidden track while train #2 runs from right to left through the scenic part. And so on.

You can still number each side of the locos differently - manually turning them round before each running session.

 

Stu

[ThePurplePrimer]

Hi Stubby

 

Yes that's sort of the plan - the back piece of track is hidden - its behind a retaining wall

[ThePurplePrimer]

Based on some advice I think I might mKe my first passenger 'train' a single class 121

[ThePurplePrimer]

Here is a link to a video that clearly demonstrates how the turntables will work

 

I won't be using the same construction method by the way

 

[ThePurplePrimer]

Hi Ray

 

I have just re read your suggestion with the y points - and it's certainly simpler than my idea

 

Hmmmm

 

Are you suggesting this to replace my suggested point work or to replace my turntables ?

[Joseph_Pestell]

Of course, the really simple solution is to model in a smaller scale. You could achieve all this and more in N.

 

In OO, you really are struggling with the length of your trains meaning that the turntables are as long as the baseboard is wide. So with a 10' baseboard, you would only have 6' length left for the "inglenook". So the first and most obvious comment is that you need to be on two levels. You will maximise your possibilities if the passenger trains and turntables are at the lower level, mostly hidden) with the inglenook and loco facilities above with a full 10' to work with.

 

What I think others have not spotted is that you have two tracks on each of your turntables. That is quite a clever idea and opens up various options. It may work rather better if you curve the track on the turntables and possibly even have a third, straight, track through the middle. That way the turntable can be used just as a sector plate or to turn the train and you don't need the pointwork at all.

[ThePurplePrimer]

What I think others have not spotted is that you have two tracks on each of your turntables. That is quite a clever idea and opens up various options. It may work rather better if you curve the track on the turntables and possibly even have a third, straight, track through the middle. That way the turntable can be used just as a sector plate or to turn the train and you don't need the pointwork at all.

 

I too wonder if people have missed that part of the design 

 

I will now have a think about your comments for possible mods to the turntable routes - thanks

[Phil Bullock]

Hello Ray

 

For green diesels you can take a period from 1958 to 1973 ish - although blue started to appear from 66/67 and some classes eg class 47 were mostly blue by very early 70s.  Brush Veteran's photostream on flikr is full of inspiring photos.

 

If your offset turntable is 24 " diameter the offset means the track will be shorter than that so wont accommodate anything more than a 121/122 bubble car or perhaps - just - a short main line loco like a hymek plus 1 coach - or an 03/04/08 plus 4 freight vehicles.

 

This is a nice concept though - look forwards to seeing it up and running - dc or dcc

 

Meanwhile if you like to watch green era trains go by have a look at Abbotswood - link below

 

Happy modelling

 

Phil