Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Working from a prototype location or trying to fit a specific space? Everyone loves a good trackplan...
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warbonnetuk
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Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Post by warbonnetuk »

Hi all

Having been overtaken with the urge to buy a set of the recent Kato Metra commuter cars and F40PH I now need something to run them on. While I'm planning a 2 unit module for the Seaboard Southern set up that will incorporate a small Metra commuter station I'm also kicking around a plan for an eventual replacement for my current show layout 'Galatia, KS'. From a bit of fiddling on Anyrail I've come up with the below plan

Image
Batarvia v4 by warbonnetuk, on Flickr

Inspitation is Batavia, IL which is a suburban area between West Chicago to the north and Aurora to the south. The area's industry is served by a single track BNSF spur running from Aurora that previous connected into the UP at West Chicago (was still intact in 1997 according to my old edition SPV rail atlas)

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll ... oramio.all

The line has quite a number of on-line shippers (not sure if they are all active)

General Mills – food manufacture: Covered Hoppers
Portola Packaging – plastics: covered hoppers
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Batavi ... 7,-88.2883

Partylite – candles etc: tank cars (if still active?)
Proex Carlisle – plastics : Covered hoppers / chemical tanks?
PPG Industries – paints or plastic?: tank cars – white for chemicals
Millard Refrigerated Services – cold storage : reefer cars
Maxon Plastics – plastics: tank cars – two short spurs on side of building

Or with some Modellers Licence a couple of industries around Aurora
Selective Agents Recycling:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Batavi ... s&t=h&z=20
Scrap / recycling – gondolas (poss off scene)
Butterfield Colour - decreative concrete / concrete products
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Batavi ... s&t=h&z=19

In my modelling reality I'm supposing there is a connect to UP is still intact and a connecting runs METRA service to / from the UP West and BNSF lines. Also the concentration of on-line industries have been shifted a little further south and west that real life

Overall length is currently 16ft with 2 4 ft traversers at each end to allow thro running. BNSF, as line owner is the main operator but UP can visit on occations. The 3 industries planned at present are Butterfield Colour (cement), Millard Refrigerated Services and Proex Carlisle (plastics)

At this stage this is v much in the planning stage so any comments / suggested amendments appreciated

Dan
Dan Spalding

Galatia KS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Galatia- ... 5487154282
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Gloriousnse
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Re: Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Post by Gloriousnse »

Looking forward to seeing how you get on, a nice looking prototype and a credible addition to the commuter service as Metra are reportedly looking at 'orbital' commuter routes already.

Is putting a gentler S in the 'main line' possible, that would give you visual clue to it being the main track which you could reinforce with ballasting/weathering etc, and visually with the main track then taking the straight(er) route on the turnouts?
Martyn Read
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warbonnetuk
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Re: Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Post by warbonnetuk »

Thanks for the feedback chaps

Mmmm....have the agree with you Martyn that the alignment of the 'main' could do with a rethink to get it a bit straighter- back to Anyrail for a tinker. I've also considering turning the cement spur into the lead for some off-scene industries as the existing spur is likely to get shorter if I need to move the main track 'up' the layout, plus I'd like some low relief residential buidlings on the backscene to give a clue to it's suburban setting. The off scene spur would also give me a bit more variety to be able to run scrap metal or cut timber so that loading cars can be swapped for empties 'off scene'

Will have a play over Christmas and hopefully have something a little more solid then to re-post

Cheers

Dan
Dan Spalding

Galatia KS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Galatia- ... 5487154282
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Gloriousnse
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Re: Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Post by Gloriousnse »

warbonnetuk wrote:Mmmm....have the agree with you Martyn that the alignment of the 'main' could do with a rethink to get it a bit straighter
If not straighter then a 'smoother' S curve...(nothing wrong with curves) ;)

Lots of potential still though, the off-scene industry is a good idea I think.
Martyn Read
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warbonnetuk
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Re: Layout planning: Batavia, IL

Post by warbonnetuk »

Following my initial post and the resulting feedback I went back and had a think about the design and also, given the amount of modelling time time and money I currently have, how could I get the maximum usage out of a layout. From a combo of comparing design specs for Seaboard Southern and NMRA modules, a comment made to me about Galatia at Benson and the recent debate on this forum re: modular meets it got me thinking.

My original design was around 15" width but it wouldn't be a problem to go to 18". Where I had a full width traverser / storage yard at one end this could be alternated between a converstion board that would close off the loop and industry spur for modular use (as a stub end to a branch) and the original storage board for stand-alone operation.

So.... the below trackplan revised my original to straighten the s curve somewhat and also show a rough idea of what the 4ft x 2ft "converter" board would look like track wise

Image
Batarvia v6 NMRA Module Spec by warbonnetuk, on Flickr[/url]

Once again any comments / suggestions welcome

Cheers

Dan Spalding
Dan Spalding

Galatia KS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Galatia- ... 5487154282
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