Some context

I teach middle school math and am using model railroading in my classroom as a vehicle for learning. We’re building a sectional layout that gets stored away every summer to make space for a summer day camp that uses my classroom. The layout stays packed up until after a Maker Faire event is held on the school campus in October (this year it’ll be on the 21st). Each year a new crop of students gets to participate in operating and adding scenic detail to what’s already built, plus they extend the layout section by section. I’ve been remiss in keeping my blog posts updated. I can’t figure out how I can be so lazy when I feel so busy!

Here’s the schematic for what’s been built so far (except the Engine Terminal, Car Float and town of Day, all of which are planned for this year).

 

I use a seven-foot long

I use a seven-foot long Inglenook layout to introduce my students to the rudiments of model railroading, which I’ve been doing with my new students since the school year started at the beginning of September.

It is fantastic, but I’ve been wanting them to experiment with facing point turnouts and a runaround, which the Inglenook doesn’t provide. Once the “big layout” is set up the town of Park provides that, but in order to avoid having to wait until after the Maker Faire I was considering building a second small layout based on a plan I found in a thin supplement to Model Railroader magazine called “8 Great Track Plans for small spaces.” The plan is called “The Overhang” and was designed by Dave Husman. I was delighted to find it as I’ve appreciated Dave’s contributions to this forum.

The original plan is an exercise in maximum compression, which isn’t necessary for me so I looked at how I might adjust it to allow a bit more comfortable switching. Once I’d diagrammed the schematic and began to stretch it out, I realized it might make a good basis for the town of Day I planned to build this year. The result is pretty far removed from Dave’s original plan so none of its shortcomings should be attributed to him!

I’ve aligned the curves and tangents so that I can use off-the-shelf Micro Engineering #6 turnouts with a few of their #5 ladder components. My concerns have mainly to do with the traffic flow and car spot arrangements in a terminal town with an icing dock and several produce packing sheds distributed around the area, along with a freight/passenger depot and possibly a team track designation for one of the tracks in the small yard.

To my eyes, this looks like it could keep operators pretty busy. Maybe too busy? Will they have fun or have headaches? All thoughts will be appreciated.

Jeff Allen

Sounds Amazing!

That sounds amazing! I'd love to see some pictures of what you've got so far. I don't have many specific thoughts on the new section of the layout other than the industry in the top left looks pretty crowded

switchbacks = frustration

I hear you

Thanks Scott,

I've been worried about that switchback. It took me several alternate arrangements to get other components into some sort of reasonable configuration (I think), but that one is still a problem for sure. I need to lay it out full size to see if I can get one or two undisturbed spots in there, but I think you're telling me that even then it won't be fun. 

Thanks, that's what I'm looking for.

Jeff Allen

what about one larger shed?

multiple doors

In an earlier iteration I managed to get 3 spots at each shed with room for a locomotive and 3 more cars between switch points and the first spot in each case, but when I realized that my turntable was sitting directly over staging tracks below I had to throw it to the other side of the main into that window bay, forcing a change to the shed tracks. 

Losing shed 1 altogether may be for the best. My other concern is the length of my icing track compared to the number of car spots. I'd like six spots on the icing track to serve twelve shed spots, but maybe shed 2 becomes a larger operation on a simple straight spur? 

By the way Matt, thanks, and I'll be posting some updates to show the progress we made last year when we installed the Idora yard and and enough temporary staging to run trains on all routes. Check out my blog to find lots of photos that show how we got to where we are now. 

Jeff Allen

Like the plan

I agree with Shed 1 and would consider a switch off the main through a diamond to that structure or, as pointed out, a larger Shed 2 with multiple spots. Not only prototypical but challenging to switch as well without the headache. 

Layoit the engine terminal as well. While it may look possible on paper a simple diesel fueling and shed would be easier to fit. I am a dyed-in-the-wool steam guy so it hurts to admit that but, unless it is also a history lesson, may have few that relate to an 0-6-0. (Hope I am wrong. ;- )

No way, Jose (or rather, no deal, Neil)

Hi Neil,

I'm happy to inform you that you're wrong! Although I do start the kids out with diesels on the Inglenook (using Broadway Limited's Paragon 3 Rolling Thunder subwoofer to really give them the feel of massive, powerful beasts), when I bring out the steam they become enchanted by the side rod motion and valve gear geometry, along with all the huffing and puffing, hissing and spitting. 

The visible, animated mechanism of steam, especially when moving slowly, captures their interest enough that many of them are motivated to figure out the reason for quartering drivers, how reversing gear works, even concepts like superheating steam, firebox and grate design, heat exchange in flues, and on and on. 

Nevertheless, point taken: that engine facility is certainly cramped and can probably be simplified a bit. 

Jeff Allen

Turntable

Steam engines have a lot of personality and seem more human than machine as they breath and hiss. You also have a lot of maintenance personnel to help keep them in top shape! The turntable can also be a great tool to work with the kids using Arduino and hall sensors, logic, and human interface. Sounds like fun!

a better example

I've been combing resources that deal with produce packing operations - folks like Tony Thompson - and came across a post in Byron Henderson's LayoutVision site ( http://mrsvc.blogspot.com/2008/10/sperandeos-san-jacinto-dist.html) that discussed an Andy Sperandeo design from the Feb 1980 MR that is instructive:

That switchback in Perris looks like a much more practical (i.e. "fun") arrangement than I have room for. I went back to that article and got some very helpful perspectives (Andy had a pretty amazing way of making operations come to life in text). Lots of food for thought as I refine my plan. 

Jeff Allen

call me crazy

After contemplating the Sperandeo plan and feedback from Neil and Scott, and realizing I could put the turntable at the end of the benchwork and shorten the staging below to eliminate the interference problem, I've come up with another option for the terminal town of Day. Certainly not final, but a positive direction I think. 

I want the switchback, I decided, if I can operate it without having to move cars that are on already on spot. The logical complication is part of my goal for student problem solving. 

I still need to work through car storage, but I'm feeling better about this. I really appreciate the feedback, it makes a big difference!

Jeff Allen

Steam Math in the Classroom

I know this post is focused on the extension of the layout, but with steam power being mentioned I was reminded of a math related question which I had meant to ask last year. Do you use any steam power calculation examples in the classroom?

During our train camp at the museum this summer we had a question from one of the campers about the tractive power differences between steam and diesel engines. For some of the crew we had a great time walking them through the mechanics, geometry and doing the calculations for several steam engines. Those students who stuck it out through the extended class learned (mostly without realizing it) some mechanics, fluid mechanics, gas laws and more).

Steam Math

Ken, 

At present I'm not doing any power calculations, but lots of mechanical geometry which, just as you describe, entails some intuitive learning about fluid mechanics, gas laws, etc. It is very cool to see the lightbulbs going on when kids start to make sense out of steam running gear!

A wonderful book I read over the summer is How Steam Locomotives Really Work (https://www.amazon.com/Steam-Locomotives-Really-Popular-Science/dp/0198607822/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539112973&sr=8-1&keywords=how+steam+locomotives+really+work). Each year I've been adding individual lessons and activities on different topics, and power calculations will certainly be worth some time. I want kids to be thinking about that when they assign motive power to trains on the layout!

Jeff Allen

Looks like progress

Blair Kooistra examined a lot of the questions you are posing when he built his Walla Walla Valley layout years ago. He still has some data on his page at http://northofnarrabri.blogspot.com/2011/02/bedroom-sized-layout-version-2-walla.htmland there's a feature on it in Model Railroader's "Great Model Railroads 2005."

Coonabarabran memories

What a wonderful link! I've got that issue of Great Model Railroads around somewhere, I hope I can find it. I especially appreciate Blair's discussion of his movement towards more prototype-specific modeling, a sort of gravitational tug I feel as well though I very consciously unhook myself from it as a practical concession to my more immediate goal of representing a variety of operational scenarios. 

I hung out for a few weeks in the Coonabarabran area back in 1987. The images of his modeling and the atmosphere he conveys give my memory a warm tickle. Thank you for bringing his work to my attention, it opens up a world I've been overlooking!

Jeff Allen