In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.
Structure. Structure identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 3) Resources available, and 4) Layout planning.
Under the element Layout Planning, the following area is considered: Layout Oriented Parameters.
Back in the 90's when I was a member of the Layout Design SIG the organization had a series of articles discussing the need to develop layout-oriented and people-oriented parameters to aid in the development of sincere layout design. In particular was an article written by xxxxx describing 'state of the art' model railroads. As I was thinking about the Western Washington Short Line v1.0, I used that article to come up with parameters to guide my thoughts.
Theme
- Freelance prototype. Uses one or more prototype railroads to establish a set of guidelines and then create a railroad within the chosen framework.
- A variety of natural resource and commercial customers (lumber, grains, fertilizers, chemical, wood chips, logs, sand, gravel, cement, coal, etc.)
- Believable train lengths of no more than engine 8 cars and caboose. Not more than 75% of train’s cars to be to one industry.
Layout Configuration
- Walk in with no backtracking.
- Walls to the ceiling in a spiral pattern allow an around the room type track plan to be extended to a point-to-point distance of 100 feet.
- Multi-tier bench work: Double decked to provide the increased main line running time.
- Shallow design - not more than 24 inches in depth.
- No duck-unders. No pop-up hatches
Track plan schematic
- A point to point route, preferable avoiding any repeated use of the same track. No continuous loop operation desired.
- Single track with multiple passing points. Several intermediate stations with passing track long enough to hold a train while others pass or meet it.
- Terminals. A terminal at each end with facilities to accept arriving trains and hold them as well as release departing trains when required.
- Yard Placement and Design. Small yards of no more than 3 or 4 tracks with a divisional point yard placed near the class 1 interchange.
- Junction and Interchange. A non-operational junction with a working interchange with a Class 1 railroad.
- Sufficient spurs and sidings to provide interesting operations.
- Engine servicing facilities. Appropriate sized engine-servicing facilities at terminals for all locomotive types. Turntable lengths of 75 and 90 feet are suitably short for regional steam locomotives and first generational diesels.
Special features
- Helix. Starts at 36 inches at its lowest and 60 inches at its highest . Two tracks 18 and 21 inch radius with crossover located on level 3.
- Staging yards are provided in each end of the line and a division point yard is provided, approximately in the middle of the main line run.
Right of Way
- Standards will be based on prototype ROW/MOW operations for appropriate class track. In the absence of prototype standards, ROW will follow NMRA standards.
- Easy access to all turnouts and track. No hidden tracks.
Technical Standards
- Track Work. Track, turnouts and special works is Code 83. Main line curves are a minimum radius of 24 Visible and 21 (hidden) with spiral easements on each end. Track work will be constructed for operational perfection, but sceniced for appropriate Class I and Class III standards.
- Grades. Grades prototypical on viewable sections. Helix grade no more than 4 percent.
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