Jeff Wilson's Guide to Industries along the Tracks #4

This book includes information on quarries, although I'm not sure it's the aggregates type.

http://www.amazon.com/Model-Railroaders-Guide-Industries-Tracks/dp/0890247714/ref=pd_sim_b_1

I have the fortune to live somewhat near a rail-served aggregates quarry. There is a single spur down to the quarry where the Rock Train (seemingly the generic name for trains of this sort) runs the cars under the loader, and then heads out to their destination.

The train has a locomotive on both ends - the trailing locomotive is controlled by an RC (remote control) set. In that, it's something like a commuter train that has a locomotive on one end and a cab car on the other - it never has to turn around, it just goes back the other way.

Matter of fact, on a recent flying trip with my father-in-law, we got some shots of this facility - Reed Pitt, near Hopmere, Oregon, on the Portland & Western RR (click for Google Maps view).

I hope this helps!

Edited for size

a basic track plan

This is my basic track plan for the quarry. A engine comes pushing empties from staging and uncouple on empties track. Now, the engine couple and pull the loaded cars to staging. An industry switcher couple the empties and takes them to a loading track. Basic and not very interesting but I only have 2x9 space.

I think Iwould dispense with staging.

With only a 2x9 foot space, you probably have more staging than layout.  2x9 should give you room for a mainline or industrial lead through the entire layout, with a run around track near the center, and a few industries to work.  You would need to use an "0-5-0 switcher" to stage before each operating session, but I think you would have a layout that is more fun to operate.  Just my $.02.

Mmmm - you also posted this

Mmmm - you also posted this to the MR forums under the nick of "soller", right?

Don't know how often you go back to read followups on threads you start, but there is a small pile of suggestions for you over in that forum

Grin,
Stein

Load in Mty's Out

Just a thought... This would be an ideal place for a classic John Armstrong "loads in/mtys out". It should be doable in the space you say you have available.

-George

Detailed Requirements

There is a thread on the other folk's forum that has some very good concise information. Scroll down to Railway Man reply to OP.

cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/forums/thread.aspx

track plan

This is my new track plan:

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb325/postman38/quarryrunaround.jpg

I think that is a good start.

The thing that I notice is that it is not quite balanced.   The "loader" tracks have twice as much capacity as the "empties" track.  The only place to leave "loads" is on the siding, which might work, but again the "loader" tracks appear to have twice as much capacity as the siding.  In addition the tail track that allows you to push empties to the loaders is too short to fit a loco and cut of empties into the bottom loading track.  I think you should have the same capacity for empty hoppers as you do for loading and storing loaded cars waiting to be picked up, and any tail track used to access either any track needs to be long enough to handle a loco and cut of cars to match.

new design

Ok. I have been thinking about all this and now I have a new design:

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb325/postman38/quarryrunaround-1.jpg

 I would suggest just using

I would suggest just using the design Paulus Jas drew up for you over in the MR forums - it is way more balanced, has more variety, and do not have a runaround longer than your main, so you cannot use the whole runaround.

This is what it looked like:

If the whole picture doesn't show up (I am not too fond of the way Drupal deals with pictures ....), here is a link to the picture:  http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/Paulus_Jas/QUARRY3.jpg

Or alternately - instead of modeling a gravel pit, model a place where bulk materials are transloaded from rail to barge (or the other way around) - you can do flatcar loads, tank cars, gondolas and open hoppers, and model all kinds of interesting unloading/loading machinery.

Here is e.g. a link to a picture from the Municipal Barge Terminal in Minneapolis in the 1950s:

http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=213577

Smile,
 Stein

Switchback

Given the space available, ditching the switchback could give you a nicer scene.  Plus a railroad isn't normally going to throw in a switchback unless absolutely necessary due to the inefficiency it introduces into working the industry, especially not a modern railroad.

The loader tracks could just come directly off the run-around.  Any extra track for "empties" or whatever could be parallel to those, run against the main or runaround, or instead be an extension of the loader tracks.

Just another couple of ideas.