The Adirondack Line
The Adirondack Line
Track Plans
Layout Home
The home of the layout is a purpose built wooden shed in my back yard. This is 15' square; and 10' high at the peak, with a 8' suspended tiled ceiling. I would have preferred a more rectangular shape, but it had to be sandwiched between the garage and a fine example of a 80ft redwood. The shed is insulated completely, for whilst we do not have the extremes of temperature for long periods, we do get to 80F and as low as - 10F for short periods. Humidity is also a problem (yes, I know the image of the UK is rain, rain and yet more rain!!!), so I have installed a dehumidifier which keeps it at about 50%. There is a single entrance door and a high window for ventilation.
Design Concept
My previous layout designs were based upon the concept of central control panels (no walkaround in those days), looking over extensive views of the layout. However, with the advent of DCC and radio walkaround throttles, this changed my design concept. Now, the engineer will walk with the train, and his line of sight is focussed to just in front and around the loco (with an occasional look back at the end of the train). This meant to me that the layout design concept was no longer extensive views of the whole layout, but narrower focussed views. Consequently, the layout is planned around this concept with narrow scenes, just enough to convey the countryside that the train is passing through.
Design Plans
The original concept for this layout was developed and drawn by John Armstrong, based upon the historical research that I had collected. This called for a 'mushroom' design, which eventually proved to be too much of a benchwork challenge. However, I was able to retain some of John's excellent design in many parts of the layout.
I eventually settled down, after one and a half years of my own paper squiggles, with a 'round the 3 walls and a peninsular design'. The major challenges were the satisfaction of the following 'givens and druthers': 1) Engineers will always walk in the same direction, whilst in charge of a train; 2) All interchanges will terminate in a staging area; 3) Maximum visible bench height 60", lowest 38"; 4) Minimum 3' wide aisles; 5).Maximum visibility of all trains - minimum of tunnels (except staging)
Track Planning Tool
Having completed my squiggles on paper to decide the fundamental route of the Water Level Route and the Adirondack Line, I decided to use a CAD tool to speed the actual track planning. At the time that I started in 1996, only Cadrail was widely available and having tried to use it, I decided that it was too complicated and an overkill for what I required. I was not looking for 3D displays; run your trains etc, which are now available with current software offerings. Hey, they are great for those who want this - I didn't.
I was looking for a 'simple to use' software package, that would enable me to easily place the track components, create printouts in various scales including 1:1 with elevations and grades. I decided to use XtrkCad which completely satisfied my needs and was, and still is, a lot cheaper that the competitive systems. The output from this software is demonstrated in my trackplans section.
This enabled me to create the track plan, layer by layer, overlay all layers to determine benchwork requirements and draw the required benchwork. Having finished the trackplan, I was able to printout full size sections of the layout and by taping the pages together, build templates to cut the roadbed and then using the same template, mark the actual track and switch locations. This was so easy once the final plans had been decided. When one uses 1:1 printout, one can define the width of the roadbed and on the printout are shown printed location marks every 3", on both 'x' and 'y' axis, to enable correct placement.
Before you cut the wood !!!
I had always wanted to build an scale model of a final layout, so that I could view the whole thing in 3D. I built a cardboard model of the room at a scale of 1 1/2" to 1ft, and printed out all of the track in 8:1 scale. I glued these track elements onto thin cardboard and glued these into the model. Well, standing back and looking at this, some things that seemed ok on paper - ouch!!!. Back to the computer, adjustments to the plans, new printout, more gluing and hey presto it was ok. I became known as the 'Pringles Kid', as these containers are exactly a scale person at 8:1 (you get the face an moustache for free). I was able to move these around the aisles and make sure that the operating team would not fall over each other.
Would I do this again, you bet. Ok, it takes time, but the end results are really worth it.
Design Help
I am a member of the NMRA LDsig. A collection of really helpful experts in this field, who have some important advice to those of us less experienced. They produce 4 journals a year, packed with useful information, all for $15 !!. Also, for those of us on the Internet, there is a great user group to whom you can fire you questions and the world responds.
I carried my cardboard model across the Atlantic,to the NMRA National Convention, and set it up in the LDsig area. I made many new friends and gained some great free advice from the members.
NYC track usage
Before I talk about the track plan, a word about how
the NYC used the 4 track main line - i.e., what went in what direction on which
track.
As you can see from the diagram, the westbound freight and passenger were on adjacent lines, this I found unusual.. I expected the passenger to have the same orienteering as the freight. Once I had realised this, the prototype track plans made sense!
Final Plans
The track plan is developed on 6 levels,with the major climb around 3 walls and the centre peninsular. The lowest two levels form the Water Level Route, with Utica as the main division, and the remaining 4 levels climb into the mountains. The peninsular houses two separate staging areas; upper and lower. It is designed as a 10 year project (at least), with serious operation possible once the 2 lower levels are completed
Placing the mouse over any plan will bring up an enlarged plan and additional information.
Level 1.
The lowest level (El:35") is the hidden return tracks of the main Water Level Route (Level 2), that sits above it. It connects to Herkimer in the east of Utica and simulates all routes east to New York. At the other end from Utica, it is 'all points west' to Chicago. The track includes 2 tracks in both directions, which will act a serial staging holding a total of 16, six ft long, trains. The western end of Utica vanishes into the lower staging area (El:39"), holding 6 trains, in the peninsular, with a fiddle track to enable consists to be easily changed. More about this later.
If you trace the possible routes through this lower staging yard, you will find that trains arrive from both Utica and Herkimer (coming from the level 1 return tracks) and can depart in either Utica or Herkimer. This is a true 'reversing' staging area. This explains the unusual crossover tracks at the exit of Utica / Herkimer into the level 1 trackage - I had to get the 2 eastbound and 2 westbound water level route onto one track each!!
Level 2.
This is the main Water Level Route trackage, extending from Utica in the west, to Herkimer in the east and is completely visible. The main Utica Yard (El: 39") is 15ft long, and is a reasonable selective reduction of the prototype. All of the interchanges with the Adirondack Line, O&W and DL&Ware included in the correct geographical orientation.
Level
3
This is the first part of the climb into the mountains. It starts from the north-west side of Utica yard and passes through three small townships; Marcy (El: 42"), Stittville (El: 44") and Holland Patent (El: 48"). Beyond Holland Patent the line continues to Remsen in Level 4. Most of the line is visible except for at the start from Utica, where I had to get round the helix (helix - what helix? - more later) access base.
Level 4
Continuing the climb around the wall, the Adirondack Line eventually arrives in Remsen (El: 52") on the peninsular. Here there are interchanges to the H,N&P to Herkimer and the RW&O to Watertown and beyond. Both of these interchanges end up in the upper staging area via the helix. The Adirondack Line continues up to Thendara (El: 54", where helpers can be cut into the consist if required. Beyond Thendara, the Adirondack Line continues to Carter in level 5 up the helix. The train only vanishes for two thirds of the helix turn.
Level
minus 4 (below Remsen and Thendara)
It is about time we talked about the upper staging area. One of my givens and druthers was that all interchanges must end up in staging. This was a major challenge and took most of the time in the layout design. The upper staging area serves the interchanges from Remsen for the H,H&P to Herkimer, RW&O to Watertown and most importantly the route from Big Moose, the end of the modelled prototype, through Lake Placid to Malone and onto Montreal. This is a six track staging area, again with a fiddle track.
Level 5
This is Carter hidden in the forest, which is the interchange between the NYC and The Raquette Lake Railroad.
Level
6
Eventually we reach the top of the mountain. The separate lines from Carter reach Raquette Lake and Big Moose, where there is a 'Y' for turning helpers from Thendara. The NYC continues from Big Moose to all points north to Montreal, vanishing down the 4 turn helix to that upper staging area.
The helix is a 4 turn 36" diameter helix, and at one point is a double track. This occurs on the Thendara to Carter Adirondack main line where this is the outer track of the pair and only exists for one revolution. The inner track is the Adirondack main line from Big Moose down to the upper staging area, where it is joined on route by the interchanges from Remsen. Tricky !!
Fiddle track
Ok, we Brits are famous for our fiddle yards - but I have planned a fiddle track. What I wanted to achieve was the ability to change train consists entering the upper and lower staging yards in the peninsular. Both entry tracks to these yards, give the option to go direct to the yard or enter the fiddle track.
This is a 3 ft removable section of track, contained within an aluminium 'U' channel which is slid out on runners to gain access. The train enters the channel, 3 ft of foam rubber is placed above the train trapping it to the track, with end pieces to stop it falling out. This is slid out, unclipped (phono plugs as locators and track feeds at both ends) and removed as a complete train. This can be replaced by another aluminium channel with a new train prestaged ready to enter the staging area. If the train is greater than 3 ft, a lead track is provided to accommodate the extra 3 ft and manually pulled onto a new channel.