- Eric

As for rail height, hold an arm out and measure to the bottom of your arm close to your arm pit. You and I are about the same height and my dimension is 56 inches. Start with that as your top rail elevation then subtract the plan elevations from the top. If Carrollton sits at 22 inches, then Canton should sit at 34 inches. The grade is slightly adjustable between Robertsville and East Canton and can be a little less than 2%. Also, if you add an inch to Carrollton and subtract an inch in the grade between Robertsville and East Canton, then you have gained two inches in height for Canton; 36 inches.

As with any multi-level design, there are compromises to make in order to fit the needs. Note the aisle at Canton Yard is spacious enough for the yardmaster to be seated on an office chair. But would this really be used in an op session? I see a crew headed to Carrollton, maybe another to Minerva and another that handles Belden and East Canton. That is a full room of people.

Why not create some mock up levels from plywood to understand the height relationships? That would be the best way to see how this can work.

- Eric

After noodling and fiddling with this thing, I have to say…. I’m too short and don’t wanna stand on a box to operate. What can you do to keep the upper level at our (we’re close to the same height) shoulder level and maintain a 12″ space from the rail head of the lover level to the bottom of 4″ minimum fascia on the level above it? Talk about a run on sentence - my Mom would be after me in the old days!

So I’m guessing the upper level to be at 60″ - tops. Subtract 4 for the fascia and subtract 12″ for the operators gap (16″ so far), we come down to 44″ for the second level. Do it one more time to get to Canton and the Belden Switch and we are at 28″ off the floor. Kinda low, ya know a desk is at 30 to the writing surface.

So if we’re seated in a rolling chair at Canton and at 30″, we climb to 46″ at the second level and add 16 more (62″) for the stop at Carrollton.

I do not think my Alco S-4 can negotiate that tough a grade and pull a 5 to 8 cars (Crummy included) to Minerva Jct. or direct to Carrollton.

I would love to see or discuss any proposals. I absolutely am infatuated with this concept. No need to get in a hurry here.. I am hoping FreeMo and Jerry will fill my needs for the time being.

Any plans to return to Ohio for FreeMo or RPM? We’ve got Lodi coming up and Williard in October. Gotta pass thru Cleveland to get to NTS in Michigan. Would love to spend some time…….

And thanks for the passing grade on the “test”.

You and John know this branch and have taught me a good deal about topography, industries and operations along it. You mention Stemples is a bit close to Carrollton and I would agree. In creating another version, I would move Stemple more towards the door and try to keep that shelf level 12 inches wide, or less. I’d also curl the two interchange tracks into the corner of Canton Yard; not concentric with the yard tracks but slightly spiralling away from them. This would give just a little more room for freight interchange.

I’ll have to consult the track diagrams for Canton Yard and East Canton again. I must have missed the PRR interchange there. Or was this interchange on the Belt Line to the Ford plant? I also recall John’s desire for junkyard and gondola switching and that’s why the Belden Switch was included along the long wall to the right of the door on the lower level. The added bonus is a brick plant at the far end.

I’m certain there are several tweaks to make this plan more desirable and buildable. I would probably aim the end of track at Carrollton into the corner and keep the team tracks parallel to the main there. This means the benchwork can be cut back in this area and gives the Minerva Junction scene a little more breathing room. Anywhere the track is on a narrow benchwork segment can be built more as a thin shelf with just a 3/4-inch plywood plank. This eliminates depth problems where the railhead height is less than ten inches. Keeping the scene profile narrow and thin enables the grades to work. If you treat these stretches of main line as scene connectors then deep, detailed scenes are not necessary.

I’m very happy that the multi-level plan is being considered for John’s new layout space. He’s got a real jem of a room that few people have. Combined with a feasible prototype and operations scheme, he’ll have a nice sized railroad to keep him and a few friends busy. He may even squeeze in workbench space under Mapleton.

- Eric

Your description of the railroad is clear and accurate. Your design is thought provoking.

I’d consider replacing the East Canton trackage with the PRR interchange at East End Yard. That would give John some place to “bang gondolas around”. Scrap metal going up to East End Yard & Republic Steel was commonplace.

Another thought would be the team track at Stemples. You would almost be “in” Stemples while trying to have room to switch in Carrollton.

Your design is inspirational and ambitious. Thanks for sharing it with us all!

Tim Moran