DoubleDAZ posted:George, keep in mind that design was just to show what moving the grades to the front of the layout to reduce them would look like. I didn't intend it to be a final design in any way. I believe I said at one point that I thought the tracks came too far out, but I didn't have time to do anything with them before I left on vacation and Kevin was away on business, so he couldn't review them and comment. It was just to give Kevin some ideas.
Kevin, like George pointed out, you need to look at the reach implications if you expand the layout space. Like I told George above, the design was just to get a look at how things might be done and it was done before I had the latest space specifications. Once you decide how wide you want the access to be, we can work on fixing the layout space and moving tracks around to fit.
As far as the TT goes, it's placement doesn't really affect the grades all that much. The problems are the bridge in relation to the turnouts and the placement of the tracks leading to/from the hidden yard. The closer the turnouts are to each side of the bridge dictates how steep the grade will be. Move the turnouts further away and that reduces the grades on each side. Also, something that hasn't been looked at is exactly how high you want the bridge to be. Right now it's at 18" and the main track is at 12". I don't know if 6" is enough for the cars you want to run, etc., we haven't discussed any of that. And I don't know if 12" is going to be enough clearance for the yard once you consider the benchwork. Still a lot of things to consider.
Hi Dave,
I agree with you. I was just thinking of the reach issues with a deep layout. I have a TCA friend who is 74 years young who still does duckunders and access hatches on a large hi rail layout, that works just fine for him.
