After many iterations, track alignments, research, pouring over maps, charts, timetables, and visiting sites of interest I am just about near completed with the track plan for the 2-level layout scheme.
The layout specifications are listed here:
Name: Norfolk Southern Alabama Great Southern and New Orleans & Northeast Districts
Scale: HO (1:87:1)
Layout Size: 39′ 6″ x 15′ 6″
Scale of Plan: 12″ grid
Theme: Transition Era 1980’s to 1990’s (Sou & N&W form NS)
Style: Walk-in, around the walls
Mainline run: 265′
Minimum Radius: 32″
Minimum Turnout: #6
Maximum Grade: 2.5%
Maximum Train Length: 25 cars with 2 locomotives
Minimum Passing Siding Length: 21′ 6″
The first (bottom) level top of railhead is 34 1/2″ from the floor, and the track plan starts from the southern most terminal in New Orleans with the Norfolk Southern (NS) interchange with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB). The track leads to the NS Oliver Yard, with engine servicing and maintenance facilities, an intermodal facility, with Amtrak (Crescent 19 & 20) passenger staging track (simulating service originating from New Orleans Union Passenger Station), an autorack facility, and a CSX/NS diamond crossing.
The track continues northbound through New Orleans East to Lake Pontchartrain and continues through marsh and swamp land into Slidell, LA. The Amtrak passenger station in Slidell is depicted along Highway 11, with several stub end industries including Manning Lumber and Marine for switching interest.
The northbound track crosses over the Pearl River swing bridge as it enters Mississippi. An 84 Lumber customer is nestled in the corner as the nolix track starts at the curve leading up to the second level. An incline of 2.5% grade continues a 13.25″ rise over 531.14″ of track.
The second (top) level top of railhead is 51 3/4″ from the floor. The nolix continues the incline with a 2.5% grade with a 4″ rise over 162″ of track. The nolix ends at Nicholson, MS which features an NS yard office, abandoned track, and yard. The northbound track continues to Picayune, MS with Amtrak station and two industries for switching interest, Power Dynamics Innovations, and Heritage Plastics.
The track continues northbound around the workbench area with a lift out section crossing the door entrance to the depot. The northbound track enters Purvis, MS with a Lowes Flatbed Distribution facility and Evergreen Lumber industries.
Next is Hattiesburg, MS with the Hattiesburg Station Amtrak with the NS Yard, and a Canadian National (CN) interchange. An abandoned section of the Mississippi Central Railroad interchange is depicted to the north of the station.
Crossing the Leaf River the trackage continues to Meridian, MS where it meets up with the Kansas City Southern Meridian Speedway and interchange. The Meridian Station serves Amtrak.
Northbound track continues to Birmingham with the Amtrak station and interchanges with CSX Boyles Terminal Subdivision, and interchange with the Birmingham Terminal Railway, which serves the Oak Grove Coal Mine (New River Mining Walthers Kit). A loop back track is hidden north of Birmingham to provide some continuous train activity back down to level 1.
