I need some help

[270weatherby]

I'm planning to build a layout, for now in my son's room, later to be moved into a garage when we move. I was going to build it along the walls so he has room to get around. I'm thinking an 11' X 7' long 3' wide L-shaped bench. I would like to be able to have a yard, leave room to expand, the ability to run trains in a loop to make operation easier for the kids and operate two trains at once. I plan to use a DCC setup to operate. I'm thinking that since i'm modeling in HO in order to do a loop and yard i'll have to make a double layer setup running trains to a lower level to make the loop around. I haven't built a layout in better than 10yrs so your help is much appriciated.

[selector]

Hi.  The first problem I can foresee is the very tight radius of curvature you'll need to keep your loop away from the edges of your 3' wide bench.  Eighteen inches is about the tightest a person should realistically go in HO, but that will have your centrelines hovering near or at the very edge of your bench....not thinkable really.

If you could devote a lot of attention to a modest yard, and then have some trackage to a couple or four industries nicely distributed around what is left over on the benchwork on either side of the yard, it would be a super building block from which to extend to something more in the way of a looped mainline and grand scenery.

I guess I am suggesting to start with a principle element, get the child familiar with the layout and purpose of a yard, and with the need for operations in the industrial parks to provide revenue.  It would be an excellent foundation, and a good stepping stone on to finer scenery with lots of forest and open spaces, bridge, streams, and the other stuff that makes a person go "gee whizzzzzzz!"

[MisterBeasley]

There are two "dimensional" problems that I see.  First, there's the tight radius at the end for the loops, as Selector mentioned.  The second is the length of the human arm.  If your layout is 3 feet deep, you won't be able to reach the back without disturbing the front.  The practical limit is 30 inches, or 2 1/2 feet.

But, you can make some changes and solve both problems.  There's nothing that says a layout has to have nice square dimensions.  Instead, think about expanding the ends of the layout to 3 1/2 feet, while reducing the depth of the rest down to 2 1/2 feet.  This will take up about the same amount of space, but should give you better access and let you make reasonable turns at the ends.  Still, those wide spots at the ends might require some sort of "pop-up" access hatch in the center.  With good trackwork and rolling stock, you shouldn't have very many derailments, but during construction and scenery building you'll need to reach to the back a lot.

[270weatherby]

Thanks for the help. I made some changes to my plan and hope to start cunstruction in the next couple weeks. Thanks for your help again.

[Medina1128]

And remember that anything over 24" deep that runs along a wall limits your access. Reaching over that to reach the back of it will be a pain in the back. Another alternative is to make the loop end wider with a removable access panel (section).