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….......--- New Track Plans for UP's Canyon Division ---
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NOTE: If you are looking for the page that use to be here with my intended layout 2 years back you can find it ( HERE ). I finally realized that it was too large for the age I'm at and didn't like the part of the shop that it was in as it was difficult to heat. So moving on to a simpler layout that still probably won't ever be finished but hopefully to the point of running trains on it.
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Having finished my test layout where I was able to test hand laid turnouts I had made; various ways of throwing them and basic track laying I'm out of excuses to not move on to building my main layout. At the same time I've decided to go with a more simplified track plan that at my age (almost 78) I might have some chance of at least getting most of the track down and some of the scenery.
I was going to originally build the layout in a smaller part of my shop that is harder to heat, smaller and more depressing, since it seems more confined. In the larger shop section I have a space I could use that is about 6 ft. X 24.5 feet. Currently I still have a race car I had been building to run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in that area so it has to go. I'll also have room to walk around the whole layout so no side will be against a wall.
Above is my current idea for a track plan that I've been working on for some time. There is a lower level that will consist of a large yard and engine facility along with a passenger station and a few industries on one side of the layout (top above). A train leaving that area in one direction ( East )would enter a hidden staging area (right side).
Leaving in the other direction ( West ) the train would enter a tunnel and proceed via an elevator track section (more on it in a minute) to an upper level of tracks. It would then proceed around the upper level tracks. There would be long scenic sections and a couple industrial areas. It would end up back at the track elevator section. The elevator would take the train back down to the lower level where it could continue on to the hidden staging area on the right or if it is an empty coal train proceed to the coal mine. At the coal mine the empty train would appear to go into the coal mine loading area and disappear to the hidden staging area. At the same time a duplicate train with loaded coal cars would emerge from the coal mine and head back eastward on the main line. Hopefully the illusion would be a train being loaded with coal at the mine. More about that concept ( HERE ).
The elevator track in the lower left above will move a train up to 10 feet long between the lower level tracks and the upper level tracks that will be 10-12 inches above the lower level. The upper level is shown in blue above. Depending on the finished terrain height there might be a divider between the two long stretches of blue upper level tracks to block ones view between the two sides of the layout or maybe the terrain in that area will accomplish that.
It will be possible to have continuous running on either the lower level or the upper level or maybe even between them depending on if I can automate the elevator section of track.
The layout will be located where the 'build table' and Bonneville Lakester race car shown above are now. For TrainbBoard's 2021-2022 Winter Layout Party ( HERE ) one goal of mine is to finally get the car and build table …..
….. removed from this area so that the layout build can begin.
The other goal of mine for the Layout Party is to work on the elevator section (bottom left above) that will hopefully allow a train to move between the lower level and the upper level. At first I'd considered a helix to accomplish this but then decide to try going this route. If this works it will save about 50 feet of track and the time it would take the train to move from the lower level to the upper level on the 50 feet of track. One negative I've read from those who use a helix is the long wait for a train to travel the helix between levels.
The plan is that the train would enter the elevator section from either direction. If the elevator isn't going to be raised or lowered on either level the train wouldn't enter the oval on the elevator but would continue on around the bottom side of the elevator and stay or either the lower or upper level as if there was no elevator.
If the train was going to move between levels it would enter the elevator and one of the turnouts would be thrown and the train would enter the oval on the elevator. Before it reached the opposing turnout it would stop. Then the elevator would rise or descend to the other level. The elevator could hold a train up to 10 feet in length.
On to how I see construction of the elevator going.
There will be an outer box, shown above, with particle board sides. The particle board will give me a box with a smooth inner surface that small castor wheels can roll on. This box will be secured to the main layout structure in the corner of it and won't move.
The center section of the elevator that will have the track base and the track attached to the top will move up and down inside the outer box section. There will be 4 small castors one each side of the center section as shown above.
The castors are quite small at under ¾ of and inch in height (1.8 cm). I have these on order as I write this so this might change if I don't like them.
I believe that the following pictures should explain what I have in mind but ask questions or make comments.
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The elevator will be pinned at the end of its travel on the upper or lower level to hopefully line it up with the tracks on each of those levels.
I'll post pictures as I build this and we will see how it turns out. Might be a failure.
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