reverse superelevation

That's very interesting.  I've pondered that technique, but never tried it.  We run 40 car trains on our helices and do have occasional incidents.  Perhaps we can retrofit ours with the reverse tilt and improve our reliability. 

Helix

Jurgen,

Good luck on a retrofit. It shouldn't prove too difficult. I just used some small styrene strips under the outside of the track to superelevate it in the reverse direction. I don't know for sure if I absolutely had to do this, but it made me feel more confident in the running reliability. I had a previous N scale layout where I built the helix and had problems all the time. In that case I ended up rebuilding the whole helix...ugh! Didn't want to go that same route with this layout. As they say, "A little preventionis worth a pound of cure!"

Paul 

an ounce of prevention

I'm pretty certain your 45 car train attempt would have ended in disaster without the reverse tilt.  Twenty four inch radius and a 2% grade would have put most of the front of the train on its side if not on the floor, judging from my own experience.  It's quite impressive that you were able to run that, and that makes me think it will have to be standard procedure for our future helix construction.  There's a chance it will increase rolling resistance, but that is a small price to pay to keep our cars on the track better. 

We have a few cars with badly matched wheels and trucks which tend to want to tilt to the inside and they are a real problem at the front of a 40 car train.  We have been trying to root them out, but with almost 900 cars on the roster, it's not easy to identify them before they end up causing trouble.

Great Progress!

You've made some great progress so far.  It looks like things are coming along nicely.

You mentioned access and concern about the walls as a big reason you aren't adding a backdrop.  I get this, but why not paint the walls a simple, light sky color?  That should be pretty easy to paint over if the time comes to move the layout and sell the house.

Good work on the benchwork.  That's always been my least favorite part of model railroading and it seems you've tackled it well and to great success.

Backdrop

Matt,

Thanks for your comments!

I thought about your backdrop suggestion. It wouldn't be too hard to do. I guess the reason I didn't was because I didn't want to have to repaint walls later (Guess I'm getting more lazy as I get older!) Plus, I'd still have the circuit box cabinet behind that removable "pink" mountain that would still show, so I just decided not to go with backdrops. As is typical with most modelers though, I reserve the right to change my mind as I go along. Once I get further along, I might just be swayed to your suggestion!  

Paul

Nice progress!

Wow, I really like this layout!  I've been a big fan of the N&W for a long time.  Twenty years ago, I managed to amass nearly 80 hoppers, a pair of C628s, a C420, a T6, and some cabooses, all in brass.  I also painted up some plastic Alcos as they became available.  Now they're all living in boxes as my interests have changed and I haven't had the heart to sell them yet.  I basically wanted to build the same thing you're working on, so I'm living vicariously through you

You've done really nice work. I especially like the piano wire switch controls.  It's an economical and effective way to operate your yard and keep the scene uncluttered from out-of-scale ground throws. 

I have to second the suggestion about painting the walls.  In my opinion, a neutral background adds an incredible amount of depth scenes.  If you don't want to use blue, consider white primer. It's easy to paint over when you move out.  Feeling the pressure yet

Be sure to post more pics, especially when you get some scenery happening!

N&W

Hunter,

Glad to hear you like the layout! Makes me feel like I might actually be doing something right! 

I started modeling the N&W because I love the Appalachian type scenery, and really enjoy seeing trains of hopper cars snaking around the corners. Like you I'm in the process of collecting hopper cars too...not in brass though! $$$$ In the end I figure I will run about 80-90 hopper cars on the layout overall. I have a long way to go though before I reach that goal. Ah well, all in good time.

It's funny you should mention the difficulty your having in getting rid of past equipment. I don't know why, but as I've thought about this layout some day being dismantled for one reason or anther, I find myself already wrestling with that same sentimental notion. I don't think I'd be able to get rid of the equipment I'm collecting either!

I wish I could have posted a more clear track diagram for you to see. In addition to a few other industries, I've got 2 mines and 2 coal loaders planned for the layout. Total siding capacity for these industries is 56 hoppers. So there should be lots of coal hauling locals to switch these mines. I'm also planning on having at least one of the through trains that will be waiting on the lower staging tracks as a coal drag, with hopefully 40 some cars. That should be a lot of fun watching it make its way around the mainline.

If you look at the track plan you may have noticed there are really not any long sections of main where you can just watch the whole train go by. That's somewhat a result of the smaller size of this layout compared to other basement empires. But it's also something I intentionally plan for. I like to break a layout up into "scenic sections" where you watch a train come into the scene, go through it, and then out of sight. Kind of just like in real life. Some don't like that kind of layout. But I find on a smaller layout with not a whole lot of room, you never quite get enough of the train, and that whets your appetite to see more, keeping your interest high, and boredom with running the layout low. 

As far as the scenic backdrop goes you're right. I am starting to feel the pressure! I'll definitely have to reconsider the wall backdrop! Truth be told though, I think my decision also had something to do with my loving spouse. You know how things work. You barter for room in the basement rec room for a layout, but never get all you want! She wasn't real crazy about the walls getting painted for a sky. But maybe these suggestions by fellow modelers will provide me with some leverage so labor can renegotiate the contract with management!

Your comment about the switch controls is also getting me to reconsider a recent decision. At first I was planning on using the piano wire switch controls for all the turnouts. While they work really slick, they do require more effort to install than a ground throw. So recently I decided to use ground throws for switches that are near at hand and use the piano wire control only for those that are not easily reached due to distance or cars sitting on adjacent tracks like in the yard or engine servicing area. I might have to rethink that issue again.  

Well, this post is getting longer than I intended. Thanks though for taking the time to comment! It's much appreciated. I'll try to post some updates in the future. Hope you will continue to enjoy what you see!

Paul 

Nice...real nice!

It's Appy, I'm happy.

TAG

N&W Coal Hauling Layout

I am impressed. Great attention to details. Thanks for the pictures and keep it up.

Wayne