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This plan was NOT approved by the membership.
Author: Denis Meany
Name of Plan: The Mushroom
Looking at a cross section of a mushroom layout, you can see two decks that view trains. The lower is a "shadow box" open on one side. The Top level faces the opposite side. A platform brings the observer up to the same relative level of viewing as the lower level. This doubles the size of the layout for the same space yet looses the unreality of a regular, same facing, double deck layout.
The theme of this plan is "Railroads link the Nation". Raw materials are gathered and are then taken to be processed. From there the are supplied to manufacturers, who ship their goods for distribution to the large city. Along the way are the facilities that support the railroad and we find other forms of transportation that connect to it.
The lower deck would be built first. It’s a double tracked mainline with a return loop on each end. The passenger station is used as a yard during early construction. This level could be set up to run continuously. A panel, such as the one labeled "Master", with controllers on a fifteen to twenty foot tether could be used to run and monitor trains from a single place. A second set could be also used but would complicate control. Industries of every description abound on this level.
A double track helix with three and on half (3.5) loops connects the lower level to the upper level. This deck is single tracked with three (3)-passing sidings and the main yard. From the yard a train snakes through the hills where trees are being harvested, comes onto a valley with a farm town and back into the hills of a mining area before descending to the lower level.
Specifications call for elevations starting at 48 inches from the viewing floor. The mainline curved track radius is a thirty-six inch (36") minimum. Freight tracks can get as tight as twenty-two inch (22") radius. Grades do not exceed one and a half percent (1.5%). Main line crossovers are number eight (#8), while yards are number six (#6) and some industrial trackage can have number four (#4).
Author: Denis Meany
Name of Plan: The Traditional.
This layout is of a standard single level design. The plan is for a walk around control system. If the plan was shortened about two (2) feet from the rear wall, a stationary "Cab" system could be used. The plan is similar to the mainline system we now have but this plan gives us a longer mainline, more passing sidings, longer double ended yards with leads and more industries to switch.
The upper loop shares a logging ling that has trackage rights with the main road. Just below is a coal mine on one side of the mountain and a power plant on the other side. Loads are delivered to the power plant and empties are removed. The loads are removed from the coal mine side and replaced with empties. Railroad facilities include a roundhouse, a diesel shop and a coach repair shop with a transfer table.
Mainline Curves are thirty-six inch (36") minimum while the bench work raises forty-eight inches (48") off the floor. All mainline crossovers are number eight (#8) and there is a one percent maximum grade.
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This page was Created By David Ramos on 5/22/97 and last updated on 05/30/00.