| Last updated on January 19, 2021
Download this track plan from Model Railroader
Name: Airlake Industrial Park
Layout owner: Alan Saatkamp
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 3′-0″ x 13′-4″
Prototype: Progressive Rail
Locale: Lakeville, Minn.
Era: present day
Style: portable walkaround
Mainline run: 13 feet
Minimum radius: 26″
Minimum turnout: no. 5
Originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Model Railroader.
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I've built the layout now as a full sized spare bedroom to include Northfield, Twin Cities staging (behind the Lakeville backdrop), and Faribault, another station 13 miles south of Northfield.
Actually it does/did work as a stand alone when I built it in South Dakota, Tafuta (as the owner, I know)–the mainline provided inbound traffic, only a couple cars at a time could be shoved into the park. Check the October 2014 issue of NMRA Magazine to see how the newer version works even better with an "L" shaped layout to allow for the entire consist coming from Northfield (staging) to be shoved into the park.
Per the prototype which I modeled several years ago, two switch engines are required–Progressive Rail doesn't have a runaround track within the Airlake Industrial Park. Stay tuned–next year, I'll have an 8' x 9.5' update with lots more detail including custom PGR sw1500s, and still offer my crews the challenge of working a park without a runaround (just like the real one still does!)
i think this track plan is great…a tiny tweak or two, and you can put in a run around track.
Permit me explain the layout here(Airlake Industrial Park). This layout is intended to be an extension to an existing layout. Not to be considered as a standalone track plan.
there is no run around track, its unworkable as a standalone
this is a very good track plan