Scotts-dale Division Layout Version 4 - ShadwellTheme: Norfolk Southern coal operations in Southern West Virginia. Goal: The Scotts-dale Division is to be an operations focused layout. The primary purpose of the SDD is to move coal from the mines to the Norfolk Southern's Lamberts Point Coal Piers. Layout Requirements:Space: Our current (and hopefully last) house provides sufficient space that a room in the basement can be dedicated to the model railroad. The room is 11 x 22 which is a good size space. In addition the room is adjacent to the two unfinished portions of the basement which could be annexed. Layout Height: My wife should not need a step stool to see the layout. Since, she is 5' - 1", This translates to a layout height of about 46 inches at most. If the layout is a multi-deck layout, then the main deck shall be the lower deck. Staging: Minimize the need for hidden staging to keep layout as simple as possible. Where hidden staging is required make it easily accessible. Especially minimize hidden turnouts, use Ro-Ro elevator for staging to minimize number of turnouts required. DesignThe goal of this layout design was to provide both mainline and mine turn operations. The concept of operations is that the yard at Scotts-dale is the principal marshalling yard. Mine turns are dispatched from Scotts-dale to mines, 3 on the main line and 6 on the branch line. Mainline operations are primarily moving empties from the port and power plant to Scotts-dale, then returning with loads received from the mine turns. Some unit coal trains will be operated as well. For a little variety, intermodal trains will run to and from the port. Also occasional freight trains, roadrailers, and even an Amtrak train will run. Operations are centered around coal movements and could keep four to eight folks busy for a while. There is sufficient mainline and branch line running to operate both mine turns on the branch and movements to the port, in addition some unit trains could be run directly. The yard at Scotts-dale would be a very busy place. The construction of the layout provides for a two phased approach. Phase I focuses on the mainline operations between Scotts-dale and Port of Norfolk. Staging would be used to simulate mine turn operations at first. Phase II, adding the upper deck adds mine turn operations. Three challenges with this design have caused me to move on to another design. First, this design required the entire space to be finished (dry wall, lighting, and carpet), before the layout can bet started. Currently about half the area is finished and the other half is not. The wall between the halves needs removed before the layout can progress very far. These modifications to the arrangement of my current basement to accommodate this design would require serious negotiations with my wife :-). Second, the size of this layout is a challenge, while the size allows for great opportunities for operations, it is far large than any previous layout that I've attempted. Smaller, more operationally complete phases would better offset this challenge. Third, only the track arrangements for the Norfolk area bear any recumbence to the prototype. More NS prototypical mines and trackage would be better. |
Givens
Druthers
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An detailed version of the layout is available by clicking on the image. |
An detailed version of the layout is available by clicking on the image. |
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Things I Like About this Plan: - Great mine turn operations |
Things I Don't Like About this Plan: - Helix |