Tracks in the Bottoms
Topic: Track
Doug has been hard at work with track in the Bottoms industrial area. The on-going evolution of my track plan for the Bottoms has saddled him with the unpleasant task of removing the some of his earlier work to realign tracks and turnouts for a more satisfactory arrangement.

Initially, I had thought there would be only industrial spurs in this area. But then I realized the locomotive service facility for the Manufacturers Railway would not fit in the location I had planned for it. I also had noted that the space under the long bridge by which the mainline decendes into the Bottoms was going to waste. I finally recognized this as a good place for the Manufacturers shops and a small yard.

However, the double track mainline was already in place as well as a two track siding opposite the mainline from where the relocated Manufacturers yard would be. Those siding tracks also were the origin of the spur to G K Metals foundry and to the grain terminal and city water pumping station located on the riverfront. Now, these tracks, despite their awkward location across the mainline from the yard, would also function as arrival and departure tracks. Another unfortunate circumstance was the yard ladder attached directly to mainline track. Thus, switching the yard required entry onto the main.

Space was starting to get cramped when another turnout had to be cut into the mainline to give access for tracks to serve the chemical plant. With the development of more customers to be served in the Bottoms, it became evident the only way to reach them was via a new track. The first thought was to cut yet another turnout into the mainline. Whoah, too much congestion! Another solution was needed.


Doug pointed out the best solution was to move the two mainline tracks putting the arrival/departure tracks on the same side as the rest of the yard. A yard lead should be created and all industrial spurs should also have their origins separate of the mainline tracks. Obviously the best solution!
However, that would mean rebuilding all of the existing track. No, no, no we can't do that!

I was looking for a simpler solution. That seemed to me would be to extend a yard lead to connect to the new industrial spurs. A crossover between this track and the mainline rather than two separate turnouts could then serve both yard and industries. This new track, however, would cut across the already installed connection to the chemical plant. Glenn suggested doing this with a crossing rather relocating the existing turnout. Okay, that seemed like an interesting solution.

The new plan: eliminate the exiting turnout connecting the yard and mainline, install a crossing in the chemical plant spur, further on cut in a crossover connecting the mainline and yard lead, and extend the lead track around the end of the Bottoms penninsula to become the spurs serving the remaining customers. Removing the yard turnout from the mainline was easy. The crossing appeared to present a problem, however. The available 11.5 degree crossing appeared not to match the intersecting angles created by the turnout from the mainline and the track connecting to the chemial plant spurs. The existing turnout was a number 7. What about a number 5? Aha! problem solved, the angles matched.

One last thing to do. The existing crossover between the two mainline tracks was left-handed to cross to the now non-existant turnout to the Manufacturers yard. All other crossovers on the double track main are also left-handed. A right-handed crossover would allow a train to overtake and pass another. The right hand movement would also be more convenient for Manufactures crews to reach the flour mill. So the crossover was replaced.

The completed track alignment isn't as elegant as Doug's ultimate solution. But unless operations prove this current alignment to be too unwieldy this has saved us a lot of work. The sidings (now also arrival/departure tracks) are on the left and the spur to G K Metals and the riverfront are visible at the bottom of the photo. Both the mainline tracks and those of the yard curve beneath the bridges. The tracks serving the chemical plant, furniture factory, and luggage company are to the left of center. The spur which will serve the industries to the right can be seen hooking around the penninsula near the top of the photo. Laying those spurs must wait for the arrival of additional switch machines.

Doug has also completed another significant project in the Bottoms, i.e., the trestle leading to the brewery, warehouses, and other industries in the Hill section of Mound City. Well done!