Still dreaming and planning

I was really surprised the other day when I browsed through the october 2014 issue of MRH.
In the Questions, Answers and Tips section was a couple of my plan used as illustration for a Nolix, that is "Gaining height without a helix".

This gains traffic on my blog, so I felt I needed to update this blog, although there is not much to say.
My health has not been well the last year, so not much has been done on the layout, except the usual dreaming and planning.
I have installed a Tsunami-decoder in a F7 set and have fun running this with settings learned from the MRH-forum. I have also hosted some op-sessions. The newest guy is a real life locomotive engineer here in Norway.

I am lucky who have a crew of 5-6 guys coming over. They are the reason I am planning and hopefully building a somewhat larger layout than perhaps would have made common sense.
With some help from my friends, this could be a nice layout to operate, which is my goal.

I like yard switching and industry swithing, but I also want the trains to run a little distance with locals or trough freights and the small passenger train. That is why I am heading for a doubledecked layout.

Her is the current plan:

Upper Level:

Lower Level:

Staging Level:

Her is some 3d snapshots from my 3rdPlanIt-drawings:



Simpler is better?

If you are wondering, there has not been much done on the layout since last post.
Since my health condition is far from better, I am thinking that I might have to drop the thought of a doubledecked layout.
I will miss longer runs, and I have to run shorter trains. But now the focus will be on swithcing . And yes, I like switching. It is like a strategy game.

Here is one plan, shaped like an inverted G:

A track plan for the upper level

I was asked if I have a plan for the upper level I could post.
I did find a plan, but are not sure if the upper level will look like this if I ever builds an upper level.
Click on the image for a larger plan.

A plan for the lower level

This is the current track-plan for the lower level. (Click on the plan for a bigger image)
Since the middle of the room is needed for the sofa, I can’t build a peninsula yet.
I do not want long hidden tracks, so I have designed a one and a quarter helix/spiral so I can watch the action as the trains climb the 3 % grade to the upper level.
The grade starts in the curve just after the Wickenburg depot.

This view from 3rdPlanIt shows how this could look like.



I do have other options like a short peninsula, but for now, this is it.As mentioned, the benchwork from Phonix through Glendale is built, and I am working (slowly) with tracklaying here.

Dreaming and planning

I must admit that I am an expert dreamer. I am better on dreaming up a layout than actually building one. Of course I have dreams for this new layout too:

A longest possible mainline – point to point but include some continues running.
Long trains
Helper operation
Switching
Operation is the main goal – but this time I also want some basic scenery.

To achive this I plan for a double decked layout.
Starting south (timetable west) with Phoenix Union station, Mobest yard and Glendale combined to one yard and switcing area along two walls.
The section for this area is built, and I have laid some tracks here.

Next comes the crossing of the Hassayampa river and a combined Wickenburg and Scull Valley siding.
From there the main line has to climb a 3 % grade up to the upper level.
I hope one day to have a peninsula running down the middel of the room, like on this plan (which is not the current plan): (Click on the picture for larger images.)
But for now there probably will be a helix or spiral tunnel between the levels. Look for the current track plan in an upcoming post.
This is how the peninsula could look like:

The trains will then enter Prescott before running into the Ash Fork staging yard, representing points north (east by timetable).
I hope one day that I also could have a short branchline representing one of the mining districts outside or maybe Clarkdale.

Here are some more pictures of my dream layout

The picture above shows the Phoenix, Mobest and part of the Glendale with Ash Fork above.
The next picture shows more of Glendale, the Hassayampa river crossing with Prescott above.
The distance between the decks are 35 cm (13 ¾ '').


As you see, I love planning too. This has always been a hobby within the hobby for me.
Sheets of papers with trackplans fill my drawers and shelfs. Last time we moved, I disposed of a sack or two…..
The last years I have used 3rdPlanIt (http://www.trackplanning.com). The pictures and plans above are drawn with help of this excellent software.

All this might not be realistic, but I have started with the Phonix, Mobest and Glendale sections – the yard and industrial district. Then I will work on from there.
May be I one day fullfill my dream.