Jim Kelly's Turtle Creek Central project railroad was featured in Model Railroader in a four-part series beginning in January, 2003. This 4'X8' layout
was based on one of Linn Westcott's plans from the book 101 Track Plans. A 2'X6' extension to this layout is featured
in another multi-part series in MR beginning in January, 2005.
Mr. Kelly has built a very appealing section as the Turtle Creek Extension, which provides lots of room for scenery along with a small coal mine. The layout as he designed it would make a nice complement
to the original 4'X8' layout. But even though the 4'X8' HO "sacred sheet" is not my favorite form-factor for a layout, I thought it might be fun to look at an alternative approach for the extension.
One of the things lacking in many published 4'X8' is any suggestion of staging.
But I think staging always adds realism to a layout, so I thought that it might be a good thing to include in my extension
exercise. In addition, I think larger industries are more realistic and interesting than the typical small ones seen on most
model railroads. And since I love to work a yard, that might be good to throw into the mix as well.
OK, our 2'X6' extension is getting pretty crowded, but it might still be
interesting as a way to add some more operation to an existing "sacred sheet" 4'X8' in HO. I kept the 18" minimum radius and
HO Snap Track turnouts as in Jim Kelly's design, with a couple of exceptions. In the design below, two staging tracks are
tucked beneath a hillside with the mine structure above. I used a #4 turnout to help ease the reverse curve into staging.
These staging tracks might represent another branch of the shortline or interchange with another prototype railroad.
