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Peavine Layout:
About
| Track Plan
| Guiding Principles
| Engine Roster
| Industries
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| WESTERN OHIO GUIDING PRINCIPLES |
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During the planning and building process (which is still in progress), there are several guiding principles and critical success factors
I followed during the process. Listed below are the items most important to me. The are roughly in priority order, but more importantly
separated between absolute requirements and directional preferences.
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| GUIDING PRINCIPLES: REQUIRED |
| Single Person Operation |
I am not a club person. I did not want to be dependant on a "crew" over to my house to run my layout. The railroad I designed had
to be simple enough, and small enough that I could maintain it by myself.
Ironically, after starting construction, I actually
redesigned the layout to be SMALLER!!!
"Blasphemy" cried all real model railroaders.
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| Focus on Switching |
My preference has always been towards slow switching operations where the railroad is servicing a variety of customers. Branch and
shortlines have always been favorites of mine.
Included in this needed to be a yard where I could originate and terminate local trains. The yard would not be dependant on trains
moving between staging yards. Past layout experience had taught me a yards works well when adding and removing cars from the yard
between operating sessions.
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| Confortable Train Room |
People space versus train space is a constant struggle when layout planning. I decided early I didn't want to give away comfort
for the sake of a few more sidings, another loop or a bigger yard. I also wanted to avoid duck-unders if at all possible.
Another feature I set out to include (this should probably be under "Preferences") was a counter top area that I could sit at and
just watch trains run. Preferably with a TV to watch ball games. I didn't have the space for a full crew lounge, but a table top area
where guest could gather would be nice.
This is taking shape in what will be known as the "Roundbottom
Lounge". |
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| GUIDING PRINCIPLES: PREFERENCES |
| Staging Yards for Expanded Operation |
Now this may sound like a contradiction to the "Focus On Switching" requirement, but I always preferred the option of having
through trains, and originating/terminating traffic in staging yards. The biggest benefits are added operations for the Clare operator
and additional trains for road crews during an operating session.
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| Continuous Run |
With a focus on switching, having a continuous run option was not
necessary. Many of my track plans are actually much simpler
without the space required to create a return loop or helix. But I knew to achieve the level of satisfaction I hoped for, having
the option to just watch trains run was important.
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