Q&NE HO Layout Video 163 - 241119

[@alweinhofer5453]

Great trackwork! I had the same issue with double stacks under a structure! Didn't know they are different heights. I'll order some 8 footers.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Al. Typically the 20' and 40' overseas international containers are not excess height so you should be ok with those.

[@grahamstockfeld8210]

Diamond for the win

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Graham

[@HartfordWhaler]

Looking amazing! Since you serve New England, we’d better start exchanging cars! Nice work!

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks. Your extension has turned out nicely as well! Check your curved turnouts for wide gauge, though.

[@Mark-z5m3e]

Thank you for that notification about the Walthers curved turnout. I just installed 3 of them today. I will be checking mine tomorrow.

[@QNERailroad]

Let me know how they measure up. I've been in touch with Walthers. Will be interesting to hear their thoughts.

[@Mark-z5m3e]

@QNERailroad HI! This is a reply to the Walthers' curved turnouts. I placed six boxcars and a locomotive on the layout and ran them through the turnouts without a problem from the turnouts. I did find one couple horn that caught on a track frog. This is my first time using Walthers turnouts. I am an Atlas guy. I will say that I am impressed with the Walthers turnouts and will be trying more of their products on a large scale yard build later this winter.

[@QNERailroad]

Please check your curved turnouts with cars that have semi-scale wheels if you have any. NARC grain hoppers and Athearn Genesis 60' high cube box cars are some examples that have them. Also run the NMRA Gauge between the points and the frog. Curious to know if your experience is any different from mine.

[@Mark-z5m3e]

@QNERailroad HI ! I got out a couple of different cars and ran them through the curved turnouts. They all went through the turnout without derailing. Some shaking, but they made it. I ran Walthers, Atheans , Scale trains, and Atlas. A mix of cars. Boxcar, covered Hoppers, center beam flatcar, and one tank car. I have misplaced my NMRA Guage, so i can't check anything else at this time.

[@mattw9667]

Thats a pretty slick addition to your layout. Nicely done!

[@QNERailroad]

Thank you!

[@AdamPreble]

Diamond, as it feels less puzzle-y - unless you've employed it a lot elsewhere on the railroad (to my thinking). Thanks for detailing your thought process in your videos. I particularly enjoyed seeing the design iterations on the paper mill in your earlier video.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Adam. Layout track planning has always been a sub-hobby for me. Comes from working on the prototype (CN).

[@tracksidemike]

Awesome update I like the diamond idea on the switches Have a great weekend 😎

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Mike.

[@jasonweir6345]

The expansion is looking great Diamond crossings are always more interesting looming, and in this case makes for more flexible switching My vote is to use the crossing option.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Jason. I agree.

[@bartman422]

I like the look and operations possibility of the diamond.

[@QNERailroad]

Me too!

[@billmacdiarmid3018]

Another good video, Sheldon! The diamond is the better approach. As stated by others, a diamond in an industrial switching area always looks good. I would fix that clearance issue in the helix, even if you don’t think it’s a necessity. I wouldn’t want to be the operator that makes a mistake here! 😁

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Bill. Almost ready for our first operating session with the new extension! Your layout is really coming along as well.

[@toddbehrends1373]

I vote for the diamond. Thank you for all your updates I find it fascinating.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Todd.

[@montananorthern]

Glad I found your channel. I also have one of your cars from Home Shops. Great channel.

[@QNERailroad]

I'm glad you like my Home Shops car! I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the videos too. Been watching your layout develop as well.

[@Ace-kr6gu]

Diamond for sure.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks

[@brandonnawrocki9004]

Looking good Sheldon!

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Brandon!

[@davidhenderson9859]

Excellent video. My vote is for the diamond.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks David.

[@garynugent4400]

Great episode! Diamond For my vote sir! - Gary

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Gary.

[@giuseppearditi7963]

Molto interessante la modifica che stai facendo al tuo primo tracciato lo sviluppo delle nuove linee e molto bene studiato a spetto con molta attenzione il proseguo del tuo lavoro

[@QNERailroad]

Grazie

[@highwaylunatic]

Diamonds are usually a girls best friend. Keep it makes life easier. I did it on my last layout and I did not regret it.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Jason. I agree!

[@Lancelot_Jago]

Thanks for sharing. Diamond for me.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Lance.

[@AirwolfCrazy]

Diamonds give nice visual appeal. Fast Tracks hand laid track have diamond kits if you want to build the diamond.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Christopher. I know Atlas has the 19 degree diamond that I need. It will be buried in asphalt, so no need to use FastTracks.

[@AirwolfCrazy]

@QNERailroad oh! Yes, if it is getting covered then no need for the extra expense.

[@johnwhatmore163]

The scene is looking great. If the mill buildings are tall enough, the backdrop could be located back at the wall? Avoids the need to hide penetrations and avoids the visible junction of roofs to the backdrop. Could the conveyor m 36:27 ove away from the wall so the shadow falls on the ground, shadows on backdrops spoil the illusion. The clearance issue is a happy accident that gives a realistic operating restriction - your old 19th century right of way would have many locations that would not have clearance for double stacks, at overbridges and tunnels. Those trains can't go everywhere. The steam era tunnel portal might show signs of the track being lowered or the vault being carved out. Here in Aus 🇦🇺 our east coast railways were mostly built before 1900 so are restricted to single containers on flat cars. A new "Inland Rail" project is slowly rebuilding overbridges and building new track routes to allow 70mph double stacks between outlying city terminals. This network will also link with the transcontinental line from Parkes to Perth which currently runs double stacks across the Nullabor Plain. 90% of freight to Perth goes by rail as trucking can't compete because of the distance. Look forward to the next post.

[@QNERailroad]

A very plausible scenario for the clearance issue. I will consider your "no backdrop" idea, but I would need a lot more buildings and they'd have to be on lift-out sections over the maintenance access areas.

[@ShizenGuardian]

I am a fan of the diamond track plan 👍

[@QNERailroad]

Thank you, Doctor.

[@davidbrown4823]

Great video update.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks David

[@SouthEastRailfan]

The diamond setup would add more operational interest and would probably be more prototypical to a real pulp mill. Would challenge operators to plan several moves ahead. Thanks - Will

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Will. I'm a Civil PE too, but I've been at it a little bit longer than you (40+years), all in the railway/transit field.

[@SouthEastRailfan]

@ I had to wonder if you were by the level of planning and detail of your construction. I really enjoy how much you have to think several moves ahead when you’re planning your layout. Definitely gives me something to think about when I construct my next one

[@QNERailroad]

I'm sure you'll do fine. Looking forward to se what you design/build - Sheldon

[@jacobvoracek2349]

Diamond,but the only bad thing about it is that you would a signal to prevent derailments.

[@QNERailroad]

No need to signalize industrial trackage.

[@KraigSickels]

Sheldon …… there is glass plant in Millvill NJ and they have a diamond in their plant . So go for it and use the diamond …,.. you be glad and prototypical at the same time !!! 👍😊

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Kraig - everyone seems to be saying the same thing!

[@wgommers8882]

You made your choice clear in the video. What use to vote?

[@KraigSickels]

@@QNERailroad thank you for your kindness 😊

[@QNERailroad]

It always nice to get validation for a change to a design element that I never thought I could change. For some reason, in CADD, the turnout geometry never worked with a diamond, which is why the original design had the switchback lead running through the backdrop. Just shows there's nothing like "live" track planning.

[@dijoez]

Great video as usual Sheldon, I tend to agree with Bill, go with the diamond and yes, you need to fix the clearance issue on the Helix staging tracks, should be a easy enough fix with a few passes of a double cut flat file on the over head edges, you could also take out the super elevation on the staging tracks. But, Just curious, why double stacks ? They weren't really a thing in the east in the late 80's other than the CSX / Susie Q's stack trains, I'd also hate to be the one that shears the tops of the containers off, Murphy's Law.

[@QNERailroad]

Hi Joe. No superelevation on the helix/staging tracks. Not in a hurry to increase the clearance for the very reason you mentioned.

[@dijoez]

@@QNERailroad Hey Sheldon, Thought I saw some super elevation shims at the 16:00 mark, must have been the main line. What about shimming the outside supports of the Helix by 1/8 or 3/16ths of an inch and it should solve the clearance issue.

[@QNERailroad]

​@@dijoezYes, main line is super elevated. Shimming the plywood would have a domino effect on the next level above. Not worth it.

[@CraftedJR]

I vote diamond as well.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks.

[@jeffreeves2456]

your just proving the age old "feeder for every piece of track" is indeed, a myth. LOL

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Jeff. Just like insurance - you don't need it until you don't have it!

[@darylhitchcock7680]

diamond for sure...

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Daryl

[@CSXGP38]

I would think that while the diamond may be more expensive to maintain by the railroad, they would probably go that route instead of the switchbacks as they would result in more work to get cars switched out. But if you're more of a puzzle fan, then the original plan works well

[@QNERailroad]

I think you are right.

[@randytiell6853]

nothing says "Industrial switching" more than a set of diamonds in a plant setting. 1 vote for the diamond.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Randy. I am leaning that way.

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

thanks great job

[@QNERailroad]

merci

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

@@QNERailroad Bonjour tu demeure a quel endroit

[@QNERailroad]

a Toronto depuis 1989.

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

@@QNERailroad Merci j'ai ton travail hâte de voir la suite

[@robfoster7797]

If you have a router and a 1/2 round over bit you could fix the Clarence issue

[@QNERailroad]

No doubt!

[@Mark-z5m3e]

What thickness is that plywood ? You may be able to cut a little section out and replace it with a thinner piece of lumber.

[@QNERailroad]

5/8". Yes, I can trim it back if necessary.

[@jeffreeves2456]

you can fix that old turnout very easily. remove the copper strip under the points and then cut a gap ahead of the frog. tadaa, dcc friendly. I have over 40 of them on my dcc layout done this way and they are all about 20 yrs old

[@QNERailroad]

Yes, I was going to do that just to have it as a backup - at least until I get around to ballasting! Lots of time to thoroughly test the Walthers turnout and be confident that it will hold up for the long run.

[@cpflogsubdivision450]

At the 15 min mark you talk about the clearance. you can very easily just sand the bottom of that plywood to make the clearance you need. would only take 5 min then you never need to worry about it.

[@QNERailroad]

Correct. It's 5/8" thick so it wouldn't be a problem.

[@ianknofla4914]

The diamond idea

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Ian

[@portrail3305]

Diamond for me more prototypical and looks better

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks

[@PelhamExpress]

Diamond. Looks simpler

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks

[@stevemd7717]

I like diamond idea.

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Steve

[@adammcintosh8402]

Diamond 👍

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Adam

[@tomsnslayout]

Diamond!!!!

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Tom.

[@craigstaff3197]

Go with the diamond

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Craig

[@johnwhalen3037]

Diamond

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks John

[@johnwhalen3037]

@QNERailroad your welcome and love how the layout is coming along plus the videos of the ops

[@jameskruchten7212]

add crossover

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks for commenting, James. Do you mean the diamond?

[@jameskruchten7212]

@QNERailroad yes

[@pdcweb]

Diamond

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks Bill

[@johnwhatmore163]

Diamond

[@QNERailroad]

Thanks John