The inspiration and design

Here is the track plan as taken from the station PLAT.

The area has a sawmill, warehouses, and an elevator. The only thing that it was missing was a a crossover and some sort of hazardous material. I used a little modelers license to add the crossover and add an oil distributor. 

Here is an aerial view of the area, looks kind of plain from the air, but there is lots of character in the buildings.

This is a screen shot from Google Earth

This is the plan I developed that both meets the base Free-mo concept, fits into the space I have available and will meet the other requirements I have for this project. The main change to the prototype is the addition of the oil distributor and crossovers. This will be a separate module that can be added to the set if needed or be a stand alone piece.

The proof is in the Plywood

I started construction on the modules on the 21st of April and completed the basic modules on the 22nd of April. I now need to transpose the track plan to the plywood top and start gluing down cork. I will use HO scale for the mainline and N-scale cork for the rest of the tracks. I plan on using all Micro Engineering #6 switches and ME code 83 rail.

Your plan

Greg- I like you track plan. Shows lots of switching possibilities.

Question-what about adding a turnout to the right of the crossover and add a track or two in the lower left space for cars either waiting to be spotted or waiting to go out? Just a thought.

Bob

A switching layout- Great!

Greg,

this looks right up my street: compact but bags of operating potential.

Great plan, beautifully presented intro, great start!

I shall look forward to watching this develop.

Jonte

Thanks

Bobart of the design was to use the minimal number of switches possible and create the most operational interest. I agree that adding switches on the one side would make things easier, but the plan is to operate this with a fixed number of cars. This will also allow me to have a "right" way of switching the layout, or more accurately be able to determine the minimum moves necessary to complete the tasks.

Jonte: Thank you for your kind words. The plan is to have the layout operational on or before June 1st as I have a group I want to try it out on. I hope that progress will continue at the pace I have set. I know I will have a few lulls as I do have some upcoming travel that will take me away from the project.

Plugging along...

I took the modules outside and did a little sanding on them. I cleaned up the edges and top to make sure I had smooth transitions over along the modules top. Once the sanding was completed I put the modules back together and leveled them out. My next step was to draw the track plan on top of the modules. My next step was to get some cork to start laying out.

My next task was to get some cork so I went to the local "hobbyshop" to pick some up. I purchased the only three pieces that they had, 2 HO and 1 N scale piece. I asked if they would be getting more, they said probably not. I really like supporting local Brick and Mortar stores but it is hard to do when they will not stock the basics. I am traveling this week so I will pick some up on the road, but it is annoying when places do not have what you need. Here are the three pieces ready to be installed once I get the other 12 or so pieces of cork.

Turnout to the right of the crossover

What´s the purpose of adding a turnout to the right of the crossover?. I´m building and planning my modules and just want to know more about layout design.                          

Run trains in your head

Postman

A few things are going in here that would make it beneficial to have the crossover attached to a runaround. The first thing is that there are multiple customers on the same track. This would allow the railroad the ability to detour or pickup a car without having to move all the cars. Also the industry could be switched by a train going either direction which will also increase efficiency. 

Since I plan to use this to help educate people on switching I also wanted to have different track arrangements to show different scenarios.

Did that answer your question?

"What´s the purpose of adding

He was suggesting it as a  way to add another industry or storage track in the left foreground space....DaveB 

"The first thing I check is

      The main thing I notice about this plan is the short leads on each end will make switching the industries a chore. A couple of removable main line extenders( especially on the right end) would make it a lot easier to operate......DaveB 

Operations

Yes, thank you. When you´ll operate the modules, will you stage the incoming train on the mainline or on the bottom runaround?

To add some information and

To add some information and additional credibility to Greg's design you need to understand who he is and why he designed this railroad.

Greg and I have known each other and have worked for the same holding company of railroads for about ten years. He has worked his way up from conductor, engineer, DSLE, Trainmaster, and now Safety officer so he brings a great deal of prototype experience to the hobby along with wonderful creativity as an artist when it comes to scenery, backdrop painting and scratch building.

He and I became friends and now we work in the Safety and Rules department with one of our responsibilities being the training of new hire conductors utilizing all the technical ability we can find including using a model railroad to teach switching techniques. We have previously discussed his track plan,I agreed his idea was solid and it covers all the bases to keep about a dozen students fascinated for 2-3 hours. This layout, like others I have designed, often is used as the " final" exam for our students. Greg at his convenience can elaborate further on how he uses it as a training tool.

Thanks, for sharing your layout Greg and keep up the good work.

Barry  

Answers...

Dave: When designing this puzzle I wanted it to appear to be relatively simple. Only when the person begins to switch it will they find it is not as easy as they thought. The lesson is that knowing your circumstances and job briefings are critical to sucess. It is a lot cheaper to mess up some HO scale equipment then some 1:1 equipment. I planned it so that they will have to take the cars to top track in a few cuts and also preform a runaround to spot the tank cars at H.S.

Postman: The plan will be to have the train sitting on the main. Left to right will be loco. 2 cars for Jefferson. 1 car for Nicholas. 1 car for H .S.  then cars for Cascade Madras and Flowers in mixed order. Once the first group has spotted all the cars I will have the next group pick up the cars  with the motor on the other end.I can either run the motor around or start as it is for the next crew by scrambling the swutchlist.

Also...

To make it more restrictive I am going to place an absolute on the right side that will be "all red" on the left side will be a red flag. That makes the restriction of physical space more relevant. Also I may take track out of service during the operation.

@ Greg

You can get rolls of cork at your favorite big box store.  You may find that a couple of rolls will be plenty for your switching layout.

Den

Den

I went to a real hobby shop in Missoula and for the cork and blue point turnout control o needed. If they did not have it I was thinking of going to cork sheet route.  

Cork in place

Not a very exciting update, but the cork is in place on my switching layout. I used a combination of HO scale cork for the heavier used track and N scale for the industry tracks. My next step will be to paint the cork and exposed wood on the top of the layout. I can then move on to laying track.

My plan for track is to use Micro Engineering #6 turnouts for all switches with the throw bars replaced with PCB ties. I will super detail them with parts from the ME kits and from Proto:87 stores. I also plan to use Micro Engineering code 83 flex on the main track. For the auxiliary and industry tracks I am using the CVMW ties and ME code 83 rail.  For the transitions between modules I am using the great products from BNM Hobbies, their Free-mo tie strips . I am using both the Free-mo and intermediate strips for this project and will post photos once they are in place. They are a pretty clever design allowing the rail to be soldered to CNC cut boards keeping the rail securely fastened and properly in gauge.

My plan will be to have the track in place by the end of next week and then I can work to get things wired and operational.

Now it is getting somewhere,,,

I have the cork in place, leveled painted ready for the next step.

I then started to lay out the ME flex track, CVMW tie strips and ME switches. I have the rest of my PC board tie strips ordered and they should arrive this week. The plan is to try to get the tracks operational by the end of the week.

Moving along....

Today I was able to get the track in place and all the feeders dropped on the first module. I still need to finish laying the track on the other two moduels, I plan to have this completed tomorrow. I have a lot to do and not much time to get it done.

I like it

Keep the progress reports coming.

Thanks Rob!

Rob: I know it is not nearly as exciting as doing scenery, structures or showing off locomotives, but I am just glad I have something to post.

I was able to get all the track in place and feeders dropped. Next will be to wire everything to the bus and test the DCC. I then will need to get the switch machines working and should have a working railroad...

Here is an overview of the modules with all the track in place

This is a view of the portion that I just finished up.

Another view of the newly completed part o

I have more photos of my progress on my blog for anyone who is interested.

CLICK HERE

Congratulations!

Thanks Nick

Nick,

Well here is proof that I can run trains on my layout. I still need to get the switches working, but still making progress.