The Train Room - Design Criteria

Track Plan Design Criteria
Era	To be modeled between the late fifties and modern time, diesel will be the power plant of choice. Although steam is not being considered at this time, I do find those Shay and 0-4-0 Switcher engines very interesting!
Stock	Although a passenger unit will be included, running stock will consist mostly of freight cars (tank, box, flat and hoppers).
Design	Freelance layout that is to include industrial, commercial, residential, farm land and scenic areas such as the gorge that will be created under the Dual Rail Bridge. XTrkCad from Sillub Technology has been selected as the software tool to aid in design of table frames and track layout. Unless necessitated by the absence of a required track configuration, the design will be developed using flex track and Peco turnouts. Models depicting industrial, commercial, residential and farm fixtures will be added as necessary to achieve the desired effect.
Table Design	Tables are to be constructed using a girder and joist frame with a 7/16" plywood table top. The table top will be installed at a height of 38 7/16" above the floor. This height will be referenced as zero elevation on all track plans. Most track will be elevated to a distance of at least 1.5" above zero. This will result in an average floor height of at least 40". A cookie cutter approach will be used as a means of changing elevation and adding scenery. With exception of areas where the table top extends into a room corner, the table top will be designed to accommodate a maximum reach distance of 2' 6". Laminated "L" girders are to be of a 1" x 4" / 1" x 2" construction. Laminated "L" joists are to be of a 1" x 3" / 1" x 2" construction with adjustments being made as necessary to accommodate changes in elevation. Table legs are to be of a 2" x 2" construction with a leveling mechanism made from a 5/16" carriage bolt and "T" nut installed at the floor end. All permanent joints are to be glued and screwed.
Track Reach Zones	Shown as the area between the thick green line and the wall on all track layout plans, this area is meant to guide the designer in track placement. Areas in these zones may be difficult to reach while standing in aisle ways, thus track should not be laid there.
Aisle Ways	With exception of the doorway into the room, all aisle ways will be of a minimum width of 36" (3 feet).
Elevations	Elevation's will be limited to a maximum of 1.5%. Elevation dimensions shown on track plans are based on the table top representing zero elevation.
Trackage	Curves in mainline trackage will incorporate; - standard easements - a minimum radius of 21.5" - a minimum segment length of 20° Curves in yard and siding trackage will incorporate; - a minimum radius of 18" - a minimum segment length of 25° Reverse curves will require insertion of a tangent track between opposing curves. Each opposing curve will ease into the connecting tangent track. The minimum length of any tangent track used between two opposing curves will be 7". Centre to centre track separations shall be a minimum of; - 1 3/16" for parallel mainline or yard trackage that is straight or maintains a curve greater than 86" - 1 13/32" for curved, parallel tracks having radius' between 18" and 21.4" - 1 11/32" for curved, parallel tracks having radius' between 24.5" and 28.9" - 1 9/32" for curved, parallel tracks having radius' between 29" and 42.9" - 1 7/32" for curved, parallel tracks having radius' between 43" and 85.9" Switches installed; - between main lines shall be a minimum of # 7 - between secondary lines shall be a minimum of # 6 - in curve sections of a main or secondary lines shall be a minimum of # 7 - between a mainline and switch yard shall be a minimum of # 6 - between a mainline and spur line shall be a minimum of # 6 - within a yard shall be a minimum of # 6 Clearances; - from the centre line of any track to the edge of any structure shall be a minimum of; - 2.5" from a table edge - 19/32" for parallel mainline or yard trackage that is straight or maintains a curve greater than 86" - to overhead objects shall be held to a minimum of; - 1 21/32" from railhead or; - 1 15/16" from sub-roadbed to overhead objects Vertical separation of track will be held to a minimum of 2 7/32". This measurement permits accommodation of standard bridge structures while maintaining NMRA's suggested minimum clearances. Joints leading into and on curves will be made with solder. To allow for expansion, joints within straight lines will be avoided. Sets of track feeder wires will be affixed with solder to each section of track then extended through the sub-roadbed to an appropriate electrical buss. Solder and tape is to be utilized at each connection on the electrical buss.
Yards	A minimum of six yard tracks shall be constructed. The average length of yard tracks shall be 84". Freight yard switch leads are to be held to a minimum of 12".
Operation	A Command Centre will provide a central point for installation of a PC, its' peripherals and software that will be utilized to monitor and control operation. My old Pentium PC will finally be put to good use! As well as being located at the Command Centre, Plug-in points for Walk-Around throttles will be installed at each switch yard, industrial and commercial area.
Construction	Construction will be completed in several phases. The first phase will see construction of table frames, the table top and installation of a double loop track. Referring to the "Latest Track Plan", track shown in dark brown and green will be laid first. This will provide a double continuous loop with a single siding. It will also provide a place for me to run my existing stock while working on other phases of the layout. The second phase will see installation of track shown in dark orange and black. Subsequent phases will see installation of a dual siding and single spur lines in the West Industrial Area. This spur line will be configured to allow selection between DCC operation and decoder programming. Subsequent stages will see installation of; - the two north-west (Aqua) yard tracks and some additional stock - the two south-east (Blue) yard tracks and yet some more stock! - the secondary track (Dark blue) on the south-west side of the layout - the secondary track (Purple) track on the north-east side of the layout - track adjacent to and East-north-east (Mauve) of the coal docks - the two spur lines (Fir Green) in the South Western Commercial area - the remaining spur lines (Olive Green) in the South South West Industrial and South Western Commercial - electrical buss work for track, turnouts, accessories and Loconet - stationary decoders for turnout control - block occupancy detectors to facilitate computer automation - signals and associated electronics - scenery necessary to complete the stage of the layout With any luck, the above noted work should be completed just in time for retirement and the addition of a second phase!