Andy Stobie’s
Indoor G scale layout
-Original configuration
- Reconfigured Design
Original Track Plan
Outer loop is elevated 6’ off floor – enter under bridge C; to reverse the loop
there was a planned bridge A of 12’ long! Facing switch in bottom left leads to
transition grade to lower loop, tying loops together. I inverted this image to fit
a change in where I needed to enter the layout.
First construction progress – bench work only, open end
Wide angle to show the bathroom I first installed for the layout crew!
I absolutely could not wait to run my new AristoCraft RS-3, so
along the long wall I set up a test track with parallel spur – yippee!
Needed more track to run on! I set out the curves to test the track plan
– so far everything is A-OK!
After building the benchwork, out comes the plywood for the center
section. Need to test the crossover – and that transition track!
Upper loop construction progress – bench work and risers – area
is 26’ long and 12’ wide
Wall side from cab control location – upper switch for cross bridge visible
View of closed upper loop – opposing switch for cross bridge visible on right
Open side view – first attempt to elevate transition track – not gonna work!
This transition grade just isn’t gonna be useable – decision time…
Reconfigured Layout
The upper loop was shortened, eliminating the 12’ bridge across
upper loop (too expensive and too much engineering). With no
switches at all, the upper loop is now isolated – and the
shortened aspect creates tracks crossing at different elevations,
which has more visual interest…
Transition grade has been abandoned – track passes behind upper loop
risers, crossover returns it to inner loop – very interesting solution!
Bachmann 4-6-0 Blue Comet pass set pulls into station loop – upper loop is
visible and now shortened (about 4 ft), so it crosses over the lower loop
Opposite side where dual loops pass at different elevations. Lower inside
track is a storage spur added as part of this reconfiguration. This spur view
will be hidden behind an eventual mountainside, if not all three tracks.
Open side looking at spur switch, and the two lower loops that straddle
this warehouse and watering facility. Two men load flour into a pickup.
The rear track geometry was pushed out to accommodate the warehouse.
Here the Blue Comet crosses the lower bridge, while the MTH Hudson NYC
pulls heavyweights around the upper loop. Eventually all tracks will have
bridges here and a water feature will be modeled high to low.
The Blue Comet will crossover (slide 9) to the inner loop here, bypass the
station. The lamplights between tracks are operational. Note the switch…
The lower loop features this reversing crossover to create eastbound from
westbound travel, and back. One direction will require backing across.
View of the upper loop with the MTH Hudson NYC barreling at us, pulling
three Aristocraft heavyweight cars. I love this loco!
One more view of the MTH Hudson NYC over the shortened end. The
added lower spur is visible below with freight cars backed in. Yes, that is a
20’ soldering gun along side the spur awaiting shipping!
In closing…
Q: Do I continue working on indoor
scenery (which I hate doing) or is it time to
move outdoors – here’s what I have to
work with…
Backyard photos – I have a nice deck overlooking the backyard with a
walkout basement door just visible to the left, but lots of slope here.
Ah ha! This is the future – about a 30’ by 60’ area that starts just past the
lighthouse – the area this side of it is the leach field; better to not build
over that in case we ever need to dig it up.
If anyone has any suggested tracks plans for a 30’ by 60’ area, I would
love to trade ideas with you. Ideally I’d like two separate loops that
parallel each other on one end (or both) with wide (20’) sweeping turns,
yet room to walk into and around the rest of the layout.
I would elevate the track to 24” inches to avoid bending over wherever
possible. There is a slope to this area that drops 1-2’ over the 30’ width.
Some trestles would be cool. I would like to integrate a water feature
down the middle, running out from the house – a natural water
direction.
A long yard somewhere for storage (15’ perhaps) of 2-3 ladders. I love
the idea of lighting this for evening running, so switch stands, buildings,
track signals would all be lit.
Other than that, surprise me!
HOLD THE PRESSES!
2011 brings new additions to the layout (which still has no name…)
Granite chip ballast….partially done here…
South Bend Crossing Signals – the second one not connected yet
Added a passing track/spur off the inner loop – Revolution is ON and we’re talking
to the engineer in the NS U25B getting ready to depart the station…
NYC U25B with Phoenix sound moves through the service end of the yard heading out
The End
Hope you’ve enjoyed the show!