James River Branch: Track Plans

Franklin & Manchester

The Franklin & Manchester remains a favorite of mine. It's designed to satisfy aficionados of big coal haulers, featuring a branchline up to a substantial mine, four industries and a small yard, all in only two by four feet! The space is visually divided by a long wall of trees, although a double-sided backdrop would be an option. With its grades and tunnel, it ought to be an enjoyable challenge to build.

Notes on operation: This layout can support one continuously-running train plus a switcher working the yard and branchline at the same time, assuming insulators were added where the branchline meets the main; the second locomotive could be stored in the yard on an isolated siding as needed. DCC would make the operation of two trains much easier.

PLAN OVERVIEW
Overall size: 24" X 48"
Gridline spacing: 6"

LEGEND
Insulated joiners
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 11 #902 straight sections and the 12 #912 curved sections required come with the switches.

TRACK PARTS LIST
903 R195 30º curve: 1
904 R195 45º curve: 6
905 feeder: 4
906 uncoupler: 8
910 left switch: 8
911 right switch: 5
913 R220 45º curve: 6
917 220mm straight: 12
950/951 bridge: 1

CUT TRACK PIECES
A: 902 cut to 1.25"
B: 917 cut to 5.25"
C: 904 cut to 36º
D: 917 cut to 6"
E: 902 cut to 1.9"
F: 917 cut to 7.5"*
G: 902 cut to 2.15" X 2**

*Special case cut track 1: since this is a stub end track, the part simply needs to be cut shorter, with no need to splice the connecting parts together.

**Special case cut track 2: these two stub end track parts are made by simply cutting one piece of track in half.

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