Track Design with AnyRail

Using the digital sketch that I created, I began transferring the design into AnyRail. I've used a number of rail-CAD applications, and this one is my favorite. It has an extensive library of both track and structures that made space planning quite simple.AnyRail Layout Design

It follows the sketch pretty accurately, but you will probably spot a few changes, especially to curves to adhere to a minimum visible mainline radius of 26". Hidden minimum radius is 23" exiting the staging yard. The entry into the West (right side) terminal hits 24" radius for a short distance just before entering the tunnel.

The turntable and service feeders have changed, with 4 stalls in the roundhouse and another 4 outside. Missing from this plan is a tail track at the south end of the west terminal that now allows simultaneous operation from either/both ends of the yard.

Track

The mainline, yards, and engine terminal are all laid with Walthers Code 83 flex track and turnouts. The yard uses "branchline" flextrack that has wider tie spacing. All of the industrial trackage is Walthers Code 70 branchline track and turnouts. The only exception is a double-slip switch at the entry to the West Terminal that is made by Peco. I had some Peco track and turnouts along with some Micro-Engineering track and rail, but the small differences in the rail base size added unnecessary time and effort when coupling different brands so I replaced everything I had with track product from Walthers. 

There are some significant seaport facilities on the layout, which represent the Great Northern line from the Seattle area north toward Vancouver and west to Appleyard. On the left is a dock to service grain ships and barges; the right side has a dock with a crane for mineral and large freight - coal & gravel into hoppers and machinery onto flat cars. The long narrow slipway is a gas and oil facility / tank farm. This is served by small tanker ships at the dock; 28 and 34' tank trucks, and up to 8 tank cars. At the top is a rail barge (possibly to become a rail ferry) that allows a variety of interchange.

Industries

I've actively planned and built structures for the following industries, many of which can produce/consume from each other. These are the industries currently ready to install.

  • GN Ice House (Walthers) - ice for ice-bunker reefers and a service track for maintenance of all cars and fueling of "modern" mechanical refrigerator cars.
  • Diesel Fuel Facility (3D printed) - for servicing diesel locos
  • Dock and Dockside Crane (Walthers) - various material transfer, including aggregates, machinery, & scrap. Water served by barge.
  • Fuel/Oil Facility (Walthers & 3D printed) - a dock for liquid transfers from small tankers, storage tanks, piping, pumps, a truck fill station, and a tank car rack.
  • LCL Freight Transload (Walthers) - 2 tracks and 2 truck yards.
  • Grain Transfer (Walthers and 3D printed) - receive grain by railcar and truck and ship by water. 
  • Snack Bakers (Walthers and 3D printed background) - receive flour, fruit, bagged goods, ship baked goods.
  • Rural grain elevator (Walthers) - ship grain by rail, received by local truck.
  • Fuel and Aggregate dealer (Walthers and 3D printed) - receive coal and gravel by rail in an elevated coal dump; receive fuel and oil via tank car, distribute locally by truck
  • Car Float/Ferry (Walthers, 3D printed conversion to ferry) - multiple interchange of cars.

There are another 5 spots for industries not yet determined. One will likely be a grain elevator on the SP&S line, a coal dealer, and a fruit exchange. A flour mill is another candidate.