Looks like a good start

Looks like a good start George.

Can you share your goals for this layout design?

Cheers,

Charlie

MA trackplan

Right now it looks like most of the operation is just running one or maybe two trains at a time from staging to staging.  Do you have more industrial  tracks planned?

(I used to live in Norristown)

MIdland Atlantic Goals

If I had to state my goals in building the Midland Atlantic in a single sentence, it would boil down to something like this: Big locomotives pulling long trains (20 plus cars) through models scenes that are evocative of the former PRR/PC/CR electrified freight routes of Southeastern PA.

As Dave points out, the layout is not that operationally intensive, this is in keeping with the current day Trenton Cutoff upon which the layout is based. I could see myself and maybe 2 or three other operaters running the layout, but that is about it.

BTW, Dave, my C.P. Nest is based on the Norfolk Southern's C.P. King where the old PRR's Ernest Yard used to be. I'm from the area too. (West Chester).

Like the prototype, my Morrisville Yard, once a major classification yard is now mostly an intermodal terminal. There is some local switching there, however, in the form of an ADM plant, and an 84 Lumber distributor.

You'll will notice the large empty space near the West End staging yards. Currently, negotiations are underway to expand in this area and, if successful will allow construction of Abrams yard (a small classfication yard) and more staging tracks. This will probably be "Phase II" construction - a year or more down the road.

-George

Very Nice George!!

As a point to point you will have much to keep you and a couple friends very busy.

Keep us up-dated with your construction and show some photos.

Old heading

I remember watching an E-44 drop its pan at Ernest, as the pan came down a big blue arc followed it down until the pan almost reached the engine, then the arc broke.

I lived across the river from Abrams and rode my bike over there to watch trains.  One of my co-workers here in Omaha lived right behind Abrams yard.  Abrams was originally a coal staging yard where coal was accumulated before it went into Pt Richmond and Philly. 

Will you be installing overhead?

Catenary...

Originally, I was going to model the layout in the Pennsy era with full catenary, etc... however, experiments in building catenary haven't turned out well so far. That was one of the reason I decided to move the time frame into the modern "post catenary" era.

The line stil has the cat towers in place. I will model them using Plastruct "H" columns. Since they don't have to support the catenary and won't be under tension, I can get away with using plastic towers instead of brass.

All of the ambiance of modeling an electric line with none of the fuss of stringing catenary!

-George

Looks good

 The only thing that I might add is try to connect the two staging yards for continuous running to send something around the layout for when visitors arrive. It will also give you more space to stage trains.

I'd Love to!

I'd love to connect the two staging yards...

Unfortunately there is a bathroom, water heater, water softener, a washer and dryer all in the way!

-George

Hmmmm!

And the problem is?

Roy

Add loops...

Do you have the room to curve the staging tracks so they come back to their originating point? This would at least allow you to have continuous running via loop-to-loop. It's also easier to stage trains between sessions.

Cheers!
Marc

Loops

The East End/Jersey City room is a dual use room - it is also my wife's sewing room. Bending the track around to make a loop would take up too much of the available space.

The West end does have room and when I expand the layout to include Abrams Yard I might include at least one run through loop track.

In my opinion, there are a couple of problems with staging loops rather than stub ended staging yards:

1) Loops take up a LOT of real estate for the amount of staging they provide.

2) The number of tracks available are pretty much set in stone, once the loops are built. It is very diffucult to add staging yard tracks to a staging loop area once the original staging yard is built.

3) You need twice as many switches for a given number of yard tracks.

4) Staging loops have to be longer than stub end tracks which will accomodate the same length train - to allow for the switches at the other end.

5) Even with DCC you still need "reversing loop" circuitry for each track.

6) If you imagine a loop track with one side against a wall, access to those tracks against the wall becomes a problem - requiring a duck under so you can pop up in the middle of the loop. (Assuming you've cut a hole in the middle to allow such access.) To quote Obi Wan Kenobi, "I'm getting too old for that sort of thing."

Stub end staging yards are easier to build and maintain, offer better access, use fewer switches and take up less space than do staging loops for a given numer of staging tracks. Plus, as Tony Koester proved with his old Allegheny Midland, if you need to add more staging tracks at a later date, you can!

-George