Great video! You always have to work with what you have. Fortunately you have a great space! I wish we had room for larger radii, but we went "as big as we could," which is what I think is always a good idea. That shot of you by your yard is great!
@TwoRailfans Thank you sir! We all do what we can. Fortunately, I see you guys running a lot of 40' equipment which goes great even in the smallest places. The yard might look a little better in that shot than it does in person. I painted the homasote with a dark brown before I laid track in that Sioux City yard. It needs more work, but we're going to work on other layout tasks before we come back to that!
I’m 77 and my layout has a duck under. A few years ago I bought a mechanics stool from Harbor Freight. It has a tray just above the wheels where I can put tools and stuff. I just bend down grab on to the stool and walk under the duck under
I have one of those Harbor Freight stools. It worked real well until I let it get over extended in a location I couldn't leave without sitting on it first. Bent the main shaft in the highest position. Still works, but not adjustment anymore.
Nice sized room. I'm looking forward to exploring the track plan. Yes, the larger the radii the better. Back in my HO club days, I've heard that the absolute minimum radius should be 3.5 times the length of the longest non-articulated item your running. So a 90' auto rack should have 90' * 3.5 = 315', or 43.4". Not for small spaces, that's for sure. Just think, in N scale the auto rack would need 23.625".
@thomasboese3793 It is mind boggling. The amount of space needed to run a prototypical (modern at least) is more than what I have available. Even in N scale. I constructed my helix (a few episodes back) using that same calculation, but I'd heard x3, not 3.5. Wouldn't have mattered anyway because I was at the top end of the real estate that I was willing to grant to a helix! So I got 36" curves on my almost 5 turn helix. Planning to get a pair of videos out next week. The second one will be the track plan and a question for you guys.
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad Doesn't matter if you're running an outdoor 1:1, or modeling a freelance or strictly prototypical highly condensed subdivision, the name of the game is real estate.
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad These suggested minimum radii, once you get beyond the tightest ones like 24 inches are really more cosmetic than mechanical. There is very little (commercially built) equipment around that can't run around a 26 inch curve, it just looks ugly doing so. Your concern about the look when inside the radius of a curve should be tempered a bit. Your equipment will look good at 36 inch radius on the inside of a curve, but not quite as nice if viewed from the out side of the curve. We built a modular layout that which made the curves viewed from the inside be a minimum radius of 30 inches and the ones viewed from the outside of the curve at 41 inches. The visual effect between the two is hardly noticeable. I like seeing layouts built from the beginning with an operations plan already thought out like you have done here. I'm looking forward to future installments. Don't worry about those curved turnouts. Put a speed restriction on them in your timetable and forget about them.
I'm at the planning stage for my Susquehanna based road where I'm starting to source track components. I noticed you have an assortment of turnouts, including plastic and metal frog types. Do you have a brand preference? Is there a type you would avoid? Are you using all commercial track or have you hand laid things too? Thanks for this pair of videos. They have been entertaining - and helpful in focusing my thoughts. ❤
@ajkleipass Glad to hear that you are finding this material useful or at least entertaining. Sometimes I wonder... I'm using a mix of secondhand atlas code 100 #6 and #8 switches. Also using Atlas code 100 flex track. Will get into reasons why in the next video. I've heard that Walthers / Shinohara switches are frequently out of gauge. I'm not familiar with how to fix that, so for that reason, I've avoided them. If money were no issue, I'd probably be putting in all new Pico switches. What you see in this video is mostly going to be hidden staging. The exception is the Sioux City yard. So I'm not wanting to put any more resources into it than required to make it simply reliable. There will be a third and fourth video next week explaining all this in a bit more detail, and a track plan. And a question for you guys... Also, some special love for the NYSW because IRCC, they have some legacy power from the BN. Also, love to see those street running videos every once in a while on YT! What segment are you planning on modeling? Cheers!
My experience in both N and HO suggests that virtually all commercial turnouts have some aspect that needs adjusting or modifying to have them operate smoothly for a long time. I suggest that if you can a find a local builder that has used them, look at the Fast Tracks system of jigs to build turnouts. Let your new acquaintance show you the tricks he has learned along the way. It might not be for everyone, and the initial cost is a bit frightful, but the jigs create some dandy turnouts. In my experience, you'll throw away the first turnout you build, maybe the first two. the next three will work but will be ugly. About half a dozen builds and you'll be on your way. The rail and ties used for your first 'learning' turnouts is not much, maybe $2-3 a turnout. But what you learn will be worth it.
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad - I'm focusing on the Paterson City and Lodi branches c.1942. I want to capture the war traffic amid the early days of a newly independent Susquehanna. I love, love, love! the ex-BN power, but I don't have the space to do the stack trains justice. I've also got a love for ALCO locomotives. Given my roster, there's a strong possibility that the layout will be built with multiple eras in mind. I'm sure a pair of F45s could make it down an overgrown branchline of codes 70 and 55 without derailing too many times. 🤣
@@cdjhyoung - I'm halfway ahead of you. I've got a stockpile of wood ties and spikes. I plan to learn how to hand lay if for no other reason than to be able to get an NMRA certificate. I'll look into the tools and jigs once I'm further along in the planning process. One jig seemed expensive years ago when turnouts were relatively cheap - say 5+ = 1 jig, but now that's closer to 3 to 1, or cheaper that a diesel with DCC & sound.
@ajkleipass I had no idea the Susie Q went that far back in history! I think many of us have to plan for many eras... Not a new thing! Pre-war would be very interesting. You could always tell a little fib and make EMD -45 series power happen before it really did and maybe in places that it never did!?!?!?!
Looks like a great space to have fun.
@BradLobregt That is definitely happening! The build is entertaining, but the operating when we get a crew down here is going to be a blast!
Great video! You always have to work with what you have. Fortunately you have a great space! I wish we had room for larger radii, but we went "as big as we could," which is what I think is always a good idea. That shot of you by your yard is great!
@TwoRailfans Thank you sir! We all do what we can. Fortunately, I see you guys running a lot of 40' equipment which goes great even in the smallest places.
The yard might look a little better in that shot than it does in person. I painted the homasote with a dark brown before I laid track in that Sioux City yard. It needs more work, but we're going to work on other layout tasks before we come back to that!
Druthers are great. It’s those damn Givens that don’t let us get them, lol.
@derekalexander4030 Funny. Givens are that cold hard reality thing.
Excellent thanks for sharing.
@ericbengtson2822 Thanks for watching, Eric!
Great looking video!
@williamdavid9333 Thank you sir!
I remember Druthers restaurant "I'd Ruther go to Druther's Restaurant!"
Huh. I was unaware that was a thing. Did you have a favorite there?
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad The ones around me closed when I was young but I remember the kids meal was the Andy Dandy Meal
I’m 77 and my layout has a duck under. A few years ago I bought a mechanics stool from Harbor Freight. It has a tray just above the wheels where I can put tools and stuff. I just bend down grab on to the stool and walk under the duck under
That is a really good idea!
I have one of those Harbor Freight stools. It worked real well until I let it get over extended in a location I couldn't leave without sitting on it first. Bent the main shaft in the highest position. Still works, but not adjustment anymore.
Nice sized room. I'm looking forward to exploring the track plan.
Yes, the larger the radii the better. Back in my HO club days, I've heard that the absolute minimum radius should be 3.5 times the length of the longest non-articulated item your running.
So a 90' auto rack should have 90' * 3.5 = 315', or 43.4". Not for small spaces, that's for sure. Just think, in N scale the auto rack would need 23.625".
@thomasboese3793 It is mind boggling. The amount of space needed to run a prototypical (modern at least) is more than what I have available. Even in N scale. I constructed my helix (a few episodes back) using that same calculation, but I'd heard x3, not 3.5. Wouldn't have mattered anyway because I was at the top end of the real estate that I was willing to grant to a helix! So I got 36" curves on my almost 5 turn helix.
Planning to get a pair of videos out next week. The second one will be the track plan and a question for you guys.
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad Doesn't matter if you're running an outdoor 1:1, or modeling a freelance or strictly prototypical highly condensed subdivision, the name of the game is real estate.
Amen, brother!
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad These suggested minimum radii, once you get beyond the tightest ones like 24 inches are really more cosmetic than mechanical. There is very little (commercially built) equipment around that can't run around a 26 inch curve, it just looks ugly doing so. Your concern about the look when inside the radius of a curve should be tempered a bit. Your equipment will look good at 36 inch radius on the inside of a curve, but not quite as nice if viewed from the out side of the curve. We built a modular layout that which made the curves viewed from the inside be a minimum radius of 30 inches and the ones viewed from the outside of the curve at 41 inches. The visual effect between the two is hardly noticeable.
I like seeing layouts built from the beginning with an operations plan already thought out like you have done here. I'm looking forward to future installments. Don't worry about those curved turnouts. Put a speed restriction on them in your timetable and forget about them.
I'm at the planning stage for my Susquehanna based road where I'm starting to source track components. I noticed you have an assortment of turnouts, including plastic and metal frog types. Do you have a brand preference? Is there a type you would avoid? Are you using all commercial track or have you hand laid things too?
Thanks for this pair of videos. They have been entertaining - and helpful in focusing my thoughts. ❤
@ajkleipass Glad to hear that you are finding this material useful or at least entertaining. Sometimes I wonder...
I'm using a mix of secondhand atlas code 100 #6 and #8 switches. Also using Atlas code 100 flex track. Will get into reasons why in the next video. I've heard that Walthers / Shinohara switches are frequently out of gauge. I'm not familiar with how to fix that, so for that reason, I've avoided them. If money were no issue, I'd probably be putting in all new Pico switches.
What you see in this video is mostly going to be hidden staging. The exception is the Sioux City yard. So I'm not wanting to put any more resources into it than required to make it simply reliable.
There will be a third and fourth video next week explaining all this in a bit more detail, and a track plan. And a question for you guys...
Also, some special love for the NYSW because IRCC, they have some legacy power from the BN. Also, love to see those street running videos every once in a while on YT! What segment are you planning on modeling? Cheers!
My experience in both N and HO suggests that virtually all commercial turnouts have some aspect that needs adjusting or modifying to have them operate smoothly for a long time. I suggest that if you can a find a local builder that has used them, look at the Fast Tracks system of jigs to build turnouts. Let your new acquaintance show you the tricks he has learned along the way. It might not be for everyone, and the initial cost is a bit frightful, but the jigs create some dandy turnouts. In my experience, you'll throw away the first turnout you build, maybe the first two. the next three will work but will be ugly. About half a dozen builds and you'll be on your way. The rail and ties used for your first 'learning' turnouts is not much, maybe $2-3 a turnout. But what you learn will be worth it.
@@blackhillsandeasternrailroad - I'm focusing on the Paterson City and Lodi branches c.1942. I want to capture the war traffic amid the early days of a newly independent Susquehanna.
I love, love, love! the ex-BN power, but I don't have the space to do the stack trains justice. I've also got a love for ALCO locomotives. Given my roster, there's a strong possibility that the layout will be built with multiple eras in mind. I'm sure a pair of F45s could make it down an overgrown branchline of codes 70 and 55 without derailing too many times. 🤣
@@cdjhyoung - I'm halfway ahead of you. I've got a stockpile of wood ties and spikes. I plan to learn how to hand lay if for no other reason than to be able to get an NMRA certificate. I'll look into the tools and jigs once I'm further along in the planning process. One jig seemed expensive years ago when turnouts were relatively cheap - say 5+ = 1 jig, but now that's closer to 3 to 1, or cheaper that a diesel with DCC & sound.
@ajkleipass I had no idea the Susie Q went that far back in history! I think many of us have to plan for many eras... Not a new thing! Pre-war would be very interesting. You could always tell a little fib and make EMD -45 series power happen before it really did and maybe in places that it never did!?!?!?!