Mainline		Shortline		Sidings

Max Train Length		   7'		    3'		   -

Longest Car		7"(89')		   5"(60')		   -

Distance Between		1 1/4"		   1 1/2"		1 1/2"1
Track Centers 

Min Radius		 18"		   12"2	          12"2

Track Type	      ME code 55		ME code 55	ME code 55

Turnouts			ME #6		  ME #6		 ME #6

				
Grade(Coal Branch)	         2 % 		    -		    -		

Track Height		~50"		    -		    -



1  Track center separation = 2" in staging areas where trains are assembled by hand.
2  The min radius on the Shortline & its sidings is mostly 15", but had 
   to use 12" in a few places.  

I plan to use Digital Command Control to run the layout and in the way distant future I hope to control the mainline through-trains with a computer while human operators run the CSX and SWP work trains. At an average speed of 40 mph it only takes about 3 minutes to travel between the two staging areas on the CSX mainline. I imagine operators will soon get bored running through-trains back and forth on the mainline. Ideally chatter recorded from the scanner will be choreographed with the computerized mainline running. CSX engineers call out blocks as they clear them as well as their train number. Also two talking defect-detectors are located roughly 4 miles east and west of the Connellsville Yard.

Thank you for visiting my web page. If you have comments or ideas to improve the layout please email me.  I have two more pages containing pictures. The first shows Aerial Photographs of some of the places discussed in previous pages and the second shows some SWP Photos