The C&HR is a freelance HO layout loosly following an undefined strech of the
Canadian Pacific Railway. It will have an interchange with the Chessie System,
the Pacific Western
and with the Algoma Central.
It is (to be) build for operations in a space of 3 by 7 m. The current concept has
4 levels. Staging at 85 cm, Interchange yard at 105 cm. East deck at 140 cm and
West deck at 155 cm. It will be a walk-in layout and therefore needs two helixes.
A liftout is required for access to the electrical panel.
Minimum curve radius is 73 cm for the helix and 75 cm for visible tracks.
Track is code 83.
I envision it will mostly be operated by myself, but since I joined the
Guelph Model Railroad Society
, I will have no problem finding co-operators.
Two yard operators, and 4 road crews would probably be the limit.
I'll be using a car card system based on
a describtion by Tony Koester.
Draft plans of the envisioned layout:
HO scale with small squares of 20 cm and large squares 100 cm.
Layout room 340 x 725 cm.
Industries are only posible options. (Suggestions are welcome.)
Top right corner remains clear for access to electrical panel. Therefore no scenery is planned in that corner.
East deck (blue) is the top level at around 154 cm.
Top left industry is a paper mill.
Next to it is a station with a passing siding.
Far right is a brewery.
This is the connection to main level.
Bottom left has a way station with a trading company.
This is the connection to staging.
Bottom center (on top of helix) is a mill located.
West deck (green) is also visible at the top level, but track is at 140 cm.
Top center is a station with a passing siding.
Top right is lumber distributor.
Bottom left is a way station with a bottling industry.
This is the connection to main level.
Bottom right (on top of right helix) is a logging transfer.
This is the connection to staging.
The West level is envisioned lower than the East level. This gives more hight for scenery at West level;
more mature trees and hopefully will allow both levels to blend in scenic wise.
Interchange level is at 100 cm.
At top of the interchange yard is a Post office or other LCL industry envisioned.
With to the left storage tracks for empties.
On the right side you'll find an engine terminal and RIP track.
With a van storage/service track.
These tracks have more working space in between tracks.
Near the aisle is a passenger track planned with the passenger station in the aisle.
The minimum radius of the passenger track is 80 cm.
All yard tracks are increasingly larger by 5 cm each.
I hope this should not give and trouble (un)coupling...
At Delina Divide (far right) is an undetermined industry planned; possibly a grain elevator.
Here merges Chessie System (from staging) into the CP East line (from East level).
Bottom Left are two industries planned.
Extending from the Switch lead at Jeroen Junction will be a turn around loop to turn engines.
(This is a diesel era layout.)
Here the Pacific Western merges (from staging) into the CP West line (from West level).
The Algoma Central will share the West level with CP.
Operations will include local trains going East and West point-to-point and back.
CP mainline trains running from staging up the helix to East level,
then down the other helix to Interchange level and up again through a helix to West level
and back down a helix into Staging. (And of course vise versa.)
Interchange trains go from Staging to Interchange level,
turn around and back to staging.
Train lengths of 20 cars should be possible with passing tracks of 450 cm.
The double track helix is really two helixes one inside the other. (thus 4 helixes
in total.) For instance the bottom right helix has an inner helix going from Staging
to East level. The outer loops from Staging to Interchange and again from
Interchange to West level.
Train stuff
