This post is about another trackword addition if you will, that came out of the Novemeber shakedown. Speaking of which, here's two photos from that session, courtesy of my friend Dave Oleson -
Looks like a good mix of confusion and goofing off!
What it's all about!
Now, back to the new trackwork. The LVRR had a small yard just inland to the main flaot yard at Washington Street, collectively referred to as West Yard (on maps), and as Grand Street (to the men who worked this area). This yard was connected to the Main Line off the wye at Johnston Ave (see map below) and parallel to the National Docks Branch. It also led to the Edgewater Branch, the Grand Street freight station (LCL), and also was the base of the LV's original TOFC yard and ramps. These three "features" were important operational "givens" of the layout design, so having this yard as part of the layout was key.
West Yard, aka Grand Street Yard. Wye to Main Line at bottom, Hudson River to the right, National Docks Branch parallel to the left, Grand St. LCL station at top, Edgewater Brach to to top right
Same yard, looking the same direction (North). That's the NJ Turnpike extension leading to the Holland Tunnel to the right (which conveniently serves to hide the hole in the backdrop on the layout). Also, notice the tracks full of early TOFC flats.
And here's the model, looking the other way (south). There was about 12 tracks wide, but the layout has only 8 tracks. That's the mock up of the NJ Turnpike viaduct to the left, disguising the hole between this yard and the main yard at the upper left.
So, now that we have an idea of what we're looking at, let's get to those track changes.........The problem with the above yard is that when switching the four tracks to the left, it requires you to pull back on a stub ended switching lead on the other side of the backdrop. Not a problem per se, but not exactly convenient all the time. So, in a break from the prototype (and this time, one I'm OK with making.....I think), I decided to make the rightmost track another thru track leading to/from the Edgewater Branch, as seem in the "before" and "after" photos below, looking "north", as in the map above.
"Before"
The third TOFC track now becomes the new thru track in this track change (notice the two chalk lines where the tracks will be realigned to. the tracks leading off to the top are the leads to Grand St. LCL freight station, and the Monmouth St. team tracks. The track curving off to the top right is the Edgewater Branch.
"After"
The tracks leading off to Grand St. and the Monmouth St. team tracks are now on their own singular switching lead. I'll have to cut some of my track power leads in order to make sure the tracks flow smoothly, which as you can see, they do NOT do now!
Here's two more before and afters, looking the other direction ("south")
"Before"
"After"
I think this'll give me a lot more flexibility with this yard, especially when switching the Edgewater Branch, which until now, had only one track leading to it from the yard. And better yet, unlike my last post about the main flaot yard, I had these turnouts, AND it's a simple "cut and replace" job, requiring no fancy or otherwise destructive trackwork work to change things. I hope this will make a difference for the next shakedown!
1 comment:
Post a Comment