James River Branch: Track Plans

Triangle Industrial Park

Here's something you don't see every day: a layout measuring only 24" X 50" that has a wye. This will keep switching puzzle lovers busy for hours. Note that the grades are pretty steep, but the trains will be short anyway.

Notes on operation: While the layout can only support the operation of one train, there are both leading and trailing sidings, plus a runaround and wye, for loads of switching challenges, assuming that uncoupling ramps are installed on the sidings.

Important: This plan has a wye, which is the functional equivalent of a reverse loop; the right leg of the wye must be isolated from the rest of the track and wired properly to prevent shorts, even with DCC.

PLAN OVERVIEW
Overall size: 24" X 50"
Gridline spacing: 6"

LEGEND
Isolated reversing section
A cut track
910 "special case" switches

Elevation in inches

TUTORIALS
Working with switches
Cutting sectional track
Burying switch machines
Measuring curved track for cutting

NOTES
*The 8 #902 straight sections and 10 of the 14 #912 curved sections required come with the switches.

TRACK PARTS LIST
903 R195 30º curve: 1
904 R195 45º curve: 3
905 feeder: 2
906 uncoupler: 5
910 left switch: 6
911 right switch: 4
912 R490 13º curve: 4*
913 R220 45º curve: 8
917 220mm straight: 7
950/951 bridge: 2

CUT TRACK PIECES
A: 912 cut to 6º X 2
B: 912 cut to 7º
C: 902 cut to 2.25"
D: 902 cut to 2.45"

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