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Designing Winslow Mills, Another Look Journals/Blogs
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Super User 1,277 posts ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

I have decided to take another look at how I am handling Winslow Mills. [attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/ChrisNH/small_waldoboro_alternate.jpg]I switched the position of Waldoboro and Winslow Mills. This provided me with a number of benefits. Winslow Mills is correctly oriented as far as East and West relative to Waldoboro. The majority of the structures are now on the inside of the plan creating space to include the cannery and a few others.

My original plan and description can be found here: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/4702

Another benefit is that the grist mill is located on the far side of the associated track. This will make it easier to couple and uncouple. Since I am using sergent couplers, this is even more important. Winsow mills has straight track at one end and a bridge at the other making it easier to build on a module. There are no curved turnouts in Winslow Mills allowing me to build straight turnouts for my first effort.

[attach:fileid=/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/ChrisNH/large_waldoboro_alternate.jpg]Booth Brothers Granite can now sprawl out over the helix. Operationally, rather then a stop we pretend is between Winslow Mills and Waldoboro it will probably be switched as part of Winslow Mills. The dispatcher will provide clearance to work through to that point.

Waldoboro is about the same size and the prototype did have a curved lead to the series of turnouts at the top of the track plan. The Corner of the available space will allow for the cluster of industries that need to be located there. The passing siding is a very long 91". I may actually have to shrink Waldoboro. A 72" siding and correspondingly smaller house track (the smaller track to the left) should be sufficient.

 

The new plan is not without its flaws. Switching at Waldoboro will be a pain with the far end of the train disappearing behind view blocks. I still have not provided for any active staging. Having more buildings is not really a plus if I remain indifferent to building structures. Booth Brothers Granite is now a curved siding which tends to look very "Model Railroady". The prototype was a long straight double ended siding.

Waldoboro feels smaller. In my mind, it should feel like the larger stop with Winslow Mills being the village that it is. In the plan, Winslow Mills seems to dominate. Perhaps it will feel different when I add in the buildings and station platforms for Waldoboro.

Sometime soon I need to SOGOTP (start or go try parchesi?). I am really looking forward to conitnuing to develop my track laying skills. Hopefully soon I will have a finalized plan to post.

Thanks,

Chris

 

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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Rio Grande Dan Prolific poster 2,306 posts
Rio Grande Dan

Chris NO Parchesi !!!! I believe you have the right plan

I have been watching your Railroad designing and it looks to be quit sound as you now have it. Though it's not a giant over size RR like many try, it looks like you have put a lot of thought into your planning and have come up with a plan that will be very enjoyable to operate as well as a good size RR to construct. With what you have on paper now, I believe has a lot of room for expansion later. You could add a lift bridge at a later date reaching across the isle to a 8 inch wide shelf around the room for extended running and still not hinder your walk space around the main RR.

I enjoy watching the guys here on the MRH forums as they think their way through building their Railroads. I really think you have a good sound plan, and wish you good luck ! OH yeah cancel the Parshesi party, you have a RR to build !!

Rio Grande Dan
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Thanks Dan

Thanks Dan.

I have the advantage of access to larger layouts which makes it easier for me to be content with less in my own basement.

I am still experimenting with some other configurations.. but this one does have some nice advantages.

I have no idea what I will want to do in a few years.. there is actually some basement space for me to expand into on the Waldoboro side of this layout.. another 80 square feet or so.. but once I take care of some other projects I will doing a partial finish job on the basement which will lend itself to doing an around the walls style layout. At that time I may decide to just do a complete redesign.

Or maybe I will switch to On30 and finally do that HT&W narrow gauge layout I was pondering last year. This layout will answer a lot of questions for me about my desire to do early steam, my interest in modeling that style of operation, and my willingness to take on a larger scale.

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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