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Kato Unitrack Track Plan

Started by caldog, October 28, 2011, 04:35:37 PM

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caldog

New to the forum.  Have been playing around with Anyrail on a new layout that I want to build. Anyway's here is the basic info.  N Scale is my scale of choice. Will have six module units each unit will be 25" x 40".  On my plan each block equals 8". Two for the left side, two in the middle and of course two on the the right.  Reason for this width is it, is the width of the blue foam that I use as my base.

What I would like to do with the layout is run a long train sometimes, but most importantly I want to do switching, hence my plan.  Anyways I am looking for feedback pros and cons about this current plan.

Ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

RhB_HJ

Hi Caldog, welcome to "The Club" ;)

Hmmm, you forgot the ... arrival/departure and the drill tracks. i.e. I have a few suggestions that should allow you to have one or two through trains on the move while you amuse yourself with the switching.
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

caldog

Thanks for the reply.  That is why I posted, I was sure that I forgot something.  Have been working on it for awhile.

RhB_HJ

Perhaps it's me, but ..... I just constructed the footprint for your layout and then imported your track design.

Something doesn't add up, could/would you reposition the two end segments (if my drawing is incorrect!) to where they should connect to the two parallel sides of the "U". Thank you!
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

caldog

I see the problem.  It is me on how I laid it out.  On your attachment the width is correct at 8" which equals three boxes.  The length is where the problem is.  I switch here and used 10" for length, which then equals four boxes.

I tried to change it to the way I have it at home, but the attachment wouldn't allow me to make those changes.  Maybe if you pulled mine back up, you can see my settings and then change yours.  So each module will equal 3 boxes wide and 4 boxes long.

RhB_HJ

OK so we will have segments that measure 24" wide by 32" long. I'll take it from there ;):)
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

RhB_HJ

One problem right off the bat: That 16" aisle inside the "U" is IMHO too narrow, however I'll design using that and then we'll see.

A recommendation: when designing with fixed size segments always try to get the rail joints to coincide with the joints of the segments. That said in your case I would treat two segments as one for moving purposes i.e. each side of the "U" is one combo segment.
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

caldog

Thanks, understand this is my first time using this program, even tho I have had it for awhile.  It was hard for me to understand the system, just figured it out recently.  That is why I was asking for others to look it over.  I was sure that I made mistakes.

RhB_HJ

Here's how I would arrange the trackage, based on what you had as features in your plan.

Explanations to follow.  ;)

Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

RhB_HJ

#9
As planned it should be possible to have two trains running; one a through train, the other a local. In addition to the local switching the industries a switcher could sort and make up consists in Abe Town and also get the interchange cars to and from YNOT junction.

As mentioned the aisle should be wider i.e. wide enough so that two people can pass each other. But it also depends how this will be set in the room, if there's free access all the way around the "U" that will make a lot more sense.

As always, just a few ideas how it could be done and how the traffic could be handled.

PS Just for kicks I'll use the same space and do a similar track plan with Atlas Code55.  ;)
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

caldog

WOW WOW and just some more WOW's.  I'm very impressed.  Really like what you have done.  I'm a lone wolf here, so unless something unexpected happens, I will be the only one working the layout.  And yes it was meant to be a complete walk around.  Reason for the length was I have short arms and got tired of knocking things over on a prior layout, so I came up with my module idea.  Didn't have track planning software back then just laid the track out and just free lanced.

A question how did you get those lines to be so many different colors?  And just inside the armory you have a green color track that has me confused just a bit.  Is that line tying to the other green line thru a tunnel, or is that just the end of the line?  And what to do you mean by 'drill track'?

caldog

Since I now have time to think about the plan that you have come up, I like it so much that I scrapped all of my other ideas.

Now for a couple of questions. 
1.Where should I put the feeder track pieces-I would imagine that I will need more than one-correct?  Or should I just wire each unitrack piece separately.
2.Should I use anywhere the insulators instead of the unjoiners?

RhB_HJ

Hi Caldog,

That green piece could be highlighted because I was adjusting something.  :-\

"Drill" tracks are mostly used in yards to allow sorting/switching without tying up the main line or a passing siding i.e. to keep the flow on the move.

On the wiring ... have you considered going with DCC? that would make wiring much easier since for this size layout the whole thing would be one large block and the turnouts could also be wired with DCC. If not, you'll need to wire different blocks to keep more than one train running at the same time.

BTW As mentioned ... just for kicks I used the same space and designed a similar layout with Atlas Code55 turnouts and flextrack. The green line is the backdrop that divides the layout into three scenes. More on that and a few structures will follow later. I'm heading to the garden to build more of that 1:1 retaining wall for our railway.  ;)  :)
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

caldog

#13
I am modeling in the late seventies to early eighties.  Went to college in eastern Washington state, and that is where I began interested in trains.  Many a time I chased the local BN out of Walla Walla to Pasco, they were running back then GP9's.  All I have are GP7's, GP9's and a few SD7's and 9's in total about twenty engines in all.  Most if not all the engines are older models.  I think I read somewhere that these types of engines couldn't be switched over to DCC, but I could be wrong.  Also I have no clue on how to switch them over if they could be switch over to DCC.  How does switching to DCC as compared to running the layout in DC, effect the wiring of the turnouts?  The running of the individual trains?
Now you can see my very vast inexperience here in modeling.  Just getting over a hard attack, so really can't do much yet, doc's orders, so was just playing around with ideas on a plan.  And now since you have help my design a very good track plan, I will now need to ask somebody locally to help me build the bench work for this plan.  Oh btw if I haven't mention it earlier, I have a ton of Kato Unitrack, so that is why I was going with it.  Because it is simple and easy for me to use.

Also good luck on that wall project.  Do you post pictures of what the outdoor railway will look like.

I have attached one of my favorite pic's of one of my railfanning trips into Pasco.

Jeff

Here's my tiny contribution- I brought the yard drill track back to the main line, so that the engineer can pull a train in there and uncouple without reversing. I also wish there were a good way to make the yard double-ended, but I can't see having the room to do so.
Later,                                                AnyRail Fanatic
Jeff                      and Unofficial Guy Who Knows Almost Everything About It