Realistic Small Switching Layouts

Transcription

Realistic Small Switching Layouts
Realistic Small
Switching Layouts
Looking Beyond the Timesaver
Classic Switching Layouts
• Timesaver -- John Allen, 1966
3 cars
2 cars
3 cars
2 cars
2 cars
About 10” X 56” in HO
• Inglenook Sidings -- A.R. Walkley, 1926;
Alan Wright, 1980s
5 cars
3 cars + switcher
3 cars
3 cars
About 9” X 48” in HO
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Classic Switching Layout
Switchman's Nightmare -- Linn Westcott,
101 Track Plans, 1958
About 16” X 72” in HO with # 6 turnouts
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Moving Beyond the Norm
• “Best practices” design and operation
ideas
Apply to layouts large and small
• Staging, major industries, interchange,
prototype inspiration (Four Cornerstones)
• Scenic opportunities
• Fine scale operations for lasting interest
Copyright 2015 Byron Henderson
Four Cornerstones
Staging
Major Industries
About 18” X 72” in N scale
Copyright 2003 Byron Henderson
Inspired by San Jose, CA
Fine-Scale Ops Examples
• Based on prototype practices & situations
• Timing and sequence of moves
Shifts and access to private tracks
Perishables / icing
Intra-plant moves
Repair-in-place (RIP)
Weighing cars
Cleaning cars & testing ladings
• Seasonal and temporal variations
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Fine-Scale Ops Examples
• “Sure spots”
Positioning cars to doors, spouts, dumps
Re-spots, off-spots
• Simulating crew roles
Positions on the ground
Uncoupling, throwing switches
• Cutting train for grade crossings
• Less time focused
Lacks competitive element
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
P.E. “Orphan” Spur in the ‘50s
Sepulveda Blvd.
Runaround
Mission
San Fernando
Team
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Lemon
Packing
San Fernando
Road
Map
Orange
Juice Plant
Orange
Packing House
SP to S.F.
Brand Blvd.
Cannery
(after Signor)
Interchange
SP to L.A.
P.E. “Orphan” Spur in the ‘50s
Sepulveda Blvd.
Runaround
Mission
San Fernando
Lemon
Packing
Team
San Fernando
Road
Map
Orange
Juice Plant
Orange
Packing House
SP to S.F.
Brand Blvd.
Cannery
(after Signor)
Interchange
SP to L.A.
Schematic
Runaround
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
“Orphan” Spur Schematic
Orange Juice
Plant
Cannery
Team
Orange Packing
House
Runaround
Lemon
Packing
Resembles “Switchman’s Nightmare”
• Facing-point and trailing point spurs
• Runaround
• Room to work – not a puzzle
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
SP Interchange
P.E. “Orphan” Spur Layout
Runaround
Team
Orange
Packing House
Lemon
Packing
Orange
Juice Plant
Cannery
Interchange
7.5’ X 6’ X ~18” wide in HO
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
West San Jose on the WP
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
West San Jose on the WP
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
WP Inglenook “Plus”
Team Track/Crane
Auto Ramp
Hinged switch lead extended
Del Monte Plant 51
Freight House
Scenery and switching variety from 2’x6’ in HO
Storage space and
operating space need not
be the same
Copyright 2015 Byron Henderson
Distilling a Prototype
Alameda Belt Line – Encinal Terminal area
Alaska Packers
Wharf
Pennzoil
Del Monte
SP Interchange
Yard and Car Float
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
ABL “Extract” in N
Hinge points
Del Monte Cannery
SP Interchange
Wharf (Alaska Packers)
Switch lead (“main”)
Team
Pennzoil
“Yard”
Approx 1’ X 6’
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Removable car float
(ATSF/WP)
ABL Storage Option
Right side is narrower to fit
inside industry flat on left
side when folded
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
M.C. Fujiwara’s ABL
M.C. Fujiwara Photo
M.C. Fujiwara’s ABL
M.C. Fujiwara Photo
Prototypical Traffic Flow
Cars arrive and depart from connections
… and are switched to- and from industries
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Realistic Traffic Handling
Adequate leads …
… sufficient run-around length …
… and a place to sort ‘em
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Overlapping Elements
“ALCOs in the Alcove”
Model-Railroad-Hobbyist
July 2009
About 5’x7’ overall in HO scale
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Overlapping Elements
Overall
Runaround
Industries
Leads
Length is precious … use it more than once
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Give me the Runaround!
Runaround allows us to switch Oil
and Interchange with engine
?!?!?
No runaround means that all but Mobil must
be in front of engine and Interchange can’t be
used except for Mobil
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Switch crew heads in
Rather Fight Than Switch(back)
Common on logging, mining branches in real life
for grades in tight spots
Long lead allows
pulling full track
Not uncommon in real life – often for grade or tight
urban areas
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Rather Fight Than Switch(back)
Short lead
engine + 1 car
Virtually unknown in real life, overused in
published plans
Industry must be emptied
to switch others
Virtually unknown in real life, extremely overused
in published plans
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Rather Fight Than Switch(back)
Model switchback
A
Typical real-life approach
A
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
B
Crossing allows
independent switching
B
“Sure Spots”
1
Unloading grate or
loading spout
Tank rack – loading
or unloading
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
2
Numbered doors
or dock spots
Dock and/or end
ramp
Industry as Switching Layout
Copyright 2003 Byron Henderson
Budweiser Brewery; Van Nuys, CA
Industry as Switching Layout
Mike Osborne’s drawing of Budweiser in Van Nuys from LDN-20, Summer ‘98
(served by SP / now UP)
Copyright 2003 Byron Henderson
Industry as Switching Layout
Beer Loading
(Insul. Boxcars)
CO2
(Tanks)
Beer Loading
(Reefers)
Grain Unloading
(Cvd Hoppers)
Beechwood
(Boxcars)
Diatomaceous
Earth (Cvd Hppr)
Storage
Main Line
Switch
Lead
Mike Osborne’s drawing of Budweiser in Van Nuys from LDN-20, Summer ‘98
(served by SP / now UP)
Copyright 2003 Byron Henderson
Industry as Switching Module
Bottles, Canstock,
Cartons, etc.
Beechwood
(Boxcars)
Storage (when not
used as main)
Beer Loading on two tracks
(Insul. Boxcars and Reefers)
T-Track N scale module ~1’X4’
Copyright 2013
2003Byron
Byron Henderson
Henderson
Copyright
Diatomaceous
Earth (Cvd Hppr)
CO2
(Tanks)
Main Lines
Grain Unloading
(Cvd Hoppers)
Need Switch
Lead
Industry with Support Yard
Industry Switch Lead
Yard Switch Lead
Yard Office, Engine Service
Yard Switch Lead
Industry Switch Lead
Copyright 2013
2003Byron
Byron Henderson
Henderson
Copyright
T-Track Curve
Modules
Cement Plant HCD in N
N Scale 36X80” overall
12” Min. Radius, PECO C55 “Small” Turnouts
Permanente Cement Plant; Cupertino, CA
Read more in Layout Design Journal #54; 1st Qtr 2015
Copyright 2015 Byron Henderson
Auto Plant Shelf in HO
HO Scale 10’X12’ overall
24” min. radius; PECO C83 #5 turnouts
Milpitas, CA Western Pacific Yard and Ford Plant
Read more in Layout Design Journal #54; 1st Qtr 2015
Copyright 2015 Byron Henderson
“Micro” Layouts
• Around 4 square feet or less in HO
• Can be more than a puzzle
• “Fiddle staging”, moveable elements
Jack Trollope’s Box Street Yard in HO
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Secluded Staging
Viewblock
Fiddle Yard
Traverser
Cassettes
Visible
layout
Classic Switching Puzzles
• Timesaver -- John Allen, 1966
3 cars
2 cars
3 cars
2 cars
2 cars
About 10” X 56” in HO
• Inglenook Sidings -- A.R. Walkley, 1926;
Alan Wright, 1980s
5 cars
3 cars + switcher
3 cars
3 cars
About 9” X 48” in HO
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Puzzle, not Model of a Railroad
• Basically moving an empty slot
• … but the prototype railroad is built to
facilitate switching, not hinder it ….
Copyright 2015 Byron Henderson
What Makes a Challenge Fun?
Game and puzzle theory
• Sequence challenge
Specific steps to reach result
• Ordering challenge
Multiple paths to solution
• “Fair Test”
Not frustrating or tedious
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Operating Suggestions
• Don’t overload the layout with cars
• Plan for seasonal or shift variation
• Maximize long-term challenge, not
puzzle complexity
• Consider moveable sections if storage
space is different than operating space
• Watch for scenic opportunities
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Beyond the Timesaver …
• Pick a theme or locale
• Explore key options
Staging
Major industries
Interchange
Prototype inspiration
• Fine scale operations for lasting interest
Friends don’t let friends build Timesavers …
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Additional Examples
Variations in HO 2’ X 9’
Designed for operating interest, specific Walthers Kits
Based on Westcott’s “Switchman’s Nightmare”, Walthers Kits
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Variations in HO 2’ X 9’
Inspired by Shreveport, LA and Bill Baumann’s 3rd St. Industrial District
End-of-line terminus
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Engine Service Area
About 18” X 92” in HO scale
Based on Westcott’s “Switchman’s Nightmare”
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Not Always Shelves
Major
Industries
4’ X 4’ in
HO scale
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Straight turnouts
(PECO C75 Small)
17” Min. Radius
Staging/
Interchange
Erie
th
149
About 6’ X 6’ in HO scale
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Street Station
My Next Project
2’ X 5’ in N scale
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
The Island Challenge
Copyright 2013 Byron Henderson
Thank you!