Skip to main content

Looking for ideas for a small 2 rail switching layout/branchline.   I have some shelf benchwork up that Tom Tee built at midwest O scale meet a couple years ago.  Its time to do more with it like I planned back then.  I finally got a nicely built and unpainted AN NW2 that is gear driven(prefer gears over chain drive).  Will use mostly older Atlas sectional track and turnouts.  My thoughts are based around a beater shortline with a single old NW2 working a couple agricultural industies and with an interchange to where cars are set out and picked up.  Overgrown and rough track  and slow speeds are the rule of the day.   Here where I live, the local shortline had an ex IHB NW2 on friction bearings that was used for the local switching, then was sold/parked/abandon south of where I live where vandals took thier toll and eventually the poor girl was scrapped.  I want to twist that reality and "buy" that engine and restart an abandon branchline. (it really was for sale, but no takers back then).   The back of the "C" shaped layout will be almost 9' across, with the C part being able to extend 6' on one side and nearly 9' on the other with a depth of 24" on the top and bottom of the "C" and up to 36" deep on the back or long side of the "C".    Here is the old 819 awaiting its fate on a siding south of where I live.   Does anybody offer the sealed beam converstion plates for the old golden glow single bulb lights on the All Nation switcher?   

819derlict

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 819derlict
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Check NWSL for the headlight parts.     

For more operation, consider having a track on one leg of the C (or anywhere) as an interchange track with your mainline connection.    Then somewhere else, perhaps the other leg, you could put in a decrepit engine house, single stall.    And somewhere along the way you could put in a short run-around/passing track.    If the interchange is facing one direction, and the industry tracks the other, you have to do a run-around, which adds a lot of fun.    The operation would be to start up the old girl at the engine house and then do the work one of two ways:

1.  do your pickups at the industries, run around if needed, and take the pickups to the interchange.    exchange the pickups for inbounds off the interchange, and head back.    You would have to run around at least some cars to shove them into the industries assuming at least some face the other way.    

2.   the other option, is to run to the interchange and pickup the inbounds first, do your run around and then switch industries.   Take your outbounds back to the interchange.   

An agricultural/farming area might also have a lumber yard to supply local needs and perhaps even a fuel dealer.     A farm implements dealer and/or team track might be appropriate too.  

I recommend not using the old Atlas switches.    I think they are 24 inch radius and that is very tight.    It might work with 40ft cars and the switcher and maybe not.   On longer cars, the couplers may not swing far enough for the curve without modifcations.    AnD tracking on curves that tight can be an issue too.   

 

One I've been modifying a design for my new place that is based on Packing House/Citrus-related rail service. Basically, an Icing Facility, a Packing House, and a Fuel/Smudge Oil dealership to supply the citrus groves off-layout. The mindset going into the original design is the use of complimentary industries. It's FreeMo-inspired with the thought of integrating it into a larger layout at some point in time. The design was done with MTH ScaleTrax, but could be done with cut-down Atlas 2-rail turnouts. Size is 144"x32"

12.0x2.8_Packing_House_District-Single_Track--3-rail-No4_Turnouts_with Fuel_Dealer

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 12.0x2.8_Packing_House_District-Single_Track--3-rail-No4_Turnouts_with Fuel_Dealer

I have been looking thru google images of shelf layouts in O scale.  Yes I know the older atlas turnouts are very tight.  But when in tight spaces, gotta do what I gotta do.  If I was more ambitions in modeling, a steel mill operation would be nice, lots of false front building and tight track work was the norm.  But I grew up with ag style shortlines based around grain, anhydrous tanks, feed mill and so forth.  Granted going full modern wont be real cheap to afford modern grain hoppers and those anhydrous tank cars.  But I could "fudge" it a bit with older style box cars for grain hauling, 40 or 50 foot flats for bringing in farm equipment, 40' box cars for the feed store supplies.  

Mike the Aspie

I was just discussing a 2 rail version of the classic Timesaver, with having to "wrap" it around in a "C" shape, might make it interesting.  I haven't found an O scale plan for it to see how big the layout would be if done exactly as planned, using my NW2 and 40' cars for motive power and rolling stock.   Depending on how big the actual Timesaver would be, then yes, a secondary Inglenook at one end of the line might be possible. 

I built a 3 rail version of Timesaver. It finished-out @144"x32". Curves/switches are 072 minimum. The original Timesaver was actually two layouts joined with switches. This is the "switch to nowhere" on the top of one of the surviving layouts.

Timesaver

To add Inglenook, I would suggest adding it there. 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Timesaver

Here are some pics of my layout. The pic above is one of the HO survivors of John Allen's layout. One (I believe) was destroyed in a fire.

006

024025

I used 40' scale length for my cars. This is run with MTH DCS. The track is GarGraves w/ manual GarGraves switches. There are also GarGraves uncouplers on each siding. I did not include the "Switch to Nowhere" I mentioned above. It is on my to-do list. I did add 5 rail track for a Lionel Gantry Crane just to add some play-interest.

 

Attachments

Images (3)
  • 006
  • 024
  • 025

Jan, I like your idea:  I have mused about the Timesaver and its "game" aspects, that is, the lengths of the spurs and run-around track are contrived in order to make the switching more challenging, but perhaps less prototypical?   So adding a small yard and a connecting track as you have done, elevates the concept from game to something a bit closer to a prototypical situation, and thus more engaging to my imagination. 

Could be three modules that can be placed on folding tables to set up for an operating session.

[Apologies to anyone who feels I have crossed the line into "heresy" with these comments.]

I wonder if a new game (Timesaver+) can then be created that starts and ends in the yard:

  1. Given a random arrangement of cars in the yard.   And cars spotted in the Timesaver.
  2. A set of cards are dealt to choose which cars from the yard are to be spotted at which locations in the Timesaver.   Then the timer starts.  So the game starts with some thinking by the player, about how to most efficiently arrange cars into a train to pull to the Timesaver.   
  3. Player then runs the train over to the timesaver, does the switching, and returns the new train back to the yard.
  4. Timer stops.

So the player can think about the ordering of cars into a train at the yard, with knowledge about the limitations of the Timesaver at the other end (this is prototypical planning).   So the planned switching moves (and time needed) are a combination of A) time arranging the train at the yard plus B) the switching time/moves at the Timesaver.   

Last edited by Ken-Oscale

I tweaked the Timesaver to fit a 30" X 84" door. It's on my "to Build" list. All Fastrack and 072 Y's and 036 turnouts. I ran the SCARM simulator on it and it all works. I haven't decided on industries yet but if I get around to building it I will figure it out. I've seen several with a run out track which I could add to the top left spur on a separate module.

I like Tom's idea of the gantry crane. The top two sidings would be a good spot for a junk/ scrap yard with the crane. My plan was to run either a 44 tonner or S-2 for power with 40' cars.

Bob

switching layoutv2switching.2

Attachments

Images (2)
  • switching layoutv2
  • switching.2
Last edited by RSJB18

Here's a link to an article on Timesaver. The key to Timesaver "working" is the size of the sidings. Each siding has a specific number of cars that you can spot. More or less cars and it really isn't a Timesaver layout. Zoom in on the picture and you can see the cars per siding.

Note from the article how there were actually two tied together. As I mentioned above, were I to do it again I would include the tie-switch and make one Inglenook module and one Timesaver module. Run them independently, or together. We ran the wheels off of a MTH RTR set with DCS RC. It was a lot of fun.

For O Scale, you have two choices. If you're using the claw couplers, make sure you have substantial bumpers (I use GarGraves) so you can push the couplers closed. Each siding has an Uncoupler track section so you can drop car(s)

Or use Kaydee coupler. Only because of a lack of familiarity, I don't know how you would remotely decouple.

Kaydee would be my choice as the layout will be 2 rail.  Kaydee's use a magnet between the rails for remote uncoupling, or a tool that has magnets that cause the coupler to open, allowing the train to pull away.   The local HO club that I was a member of for a couple decades used Kaydee's and uncoupling magnets between the rails.  So I am quite familiar with them.   My NW2 already has Kaydees on it.  I picked up 2 NKP shorty covered hopper craftsman kits and a SP/PFE Athearn Reefer that needs finished.  They were cheap and I have 2 pairs of AN trucks for the hoppers.  The Athearn Reefer came with a set of Athearn trucks.   I have, somewhere, the article in one of my vintage magazines, on the timesaver and it tells the car count for each siding based on each cars length.   I am going to try to standardize on 40' max car length for now.  Not saying I am going to build the time saver, just most modern grain hoppers and anhydrous tank cars are beyond current budget with my other projects going on.   

 

Add Reply

Post
The Track Planning and Layout Design Forum is sponsored by

AN OGR FORUM CHARTER SPONSOR

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×