Ok. Here we go.
With tax time fast approaching I am planning my second layout. Below you will find my basic plans. I rent so the first thing was to make it movable, the second was to make maximum use of the space. As all things are subject to change at this stage. IE the yard may shrink and the center section may become a stage two thing. The basic frame work well be adjusted slightly as to allow the bench work to fit into the room leaving an inch or so on all sides for clearance.
My layout will be a "HO" scale, free-lance switching layout. I will be using "Caboose" ground throws, Atlas code 100 "NS" flex-track with Mark 3 #4 turnouts (as I already have these items on hand). I currently have DC controls but have been following the DCC thread most intently. And thought that I would let the cat out of the bag so to speak to see what your input would be.
The benchwork
The basic track plan
Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!
My Train Page My Photobucket Page My YouTube Channel
You note two duckunders but I count three. How are you going to get to the closet in the corner? If this were my house, I would not want to block it forever.
I have a similar room with a closet in the corner away from the entrance door. My solution is a 7' long (yes, that's LONG) removable section of layout that can roll out of the way for access to the room without duckunder when I am not running layout, and also for access to the closet. When the layout is running, I will have to duckunder one place for access. My plan is mostly around the walls, but I plan a stub-end peninsula into the center. Once ducked under into the middle of the layout, one can walk around to operate any part of the layout.
Similarly, I would suggest you AVOID the middle...let's see, it is not a peninsula. It is an isthymus, a land bridge connecting the two ends with no break. It has wyes at both ends. I would suggest cutting this "isthymus" somewhere to make it a stub end peninsula for some kind fo industry or terminal. I don't think you have space for the peninsula to end with a turnback curve of reverse loop. You could still keep one wye at one end of the peninsula.
Here is my plan for a layout in a space approximately 11x11. The room is 2 feet longer on the right side but there is a floor-to-ceiling 4 foot wide/ 2 foot deep art cabinet on the wall to the right of the causeway section.
The room entry is at upper right, and the closet is at lower left. Rolling the causeway section away and removing a 20 inch section of the seawall beachfront entertainment district allows access to the closet. This is a view of part of the roll-away causeway section, a long way from being completed.
I don't quite understand the yard plan at first glance - are you intending to have trains enter and leave from the top, where the ladder branches out or from the bottom ? Also, yard seems fairly big compared to rest of layout.
You are obviously "cheating" a little on the diverging angle from turnouts - you need a lot more length than you have drawn in to diverge from a no 4 turnout.
Are you sure that you can get the wyes as small as you have drawn them in ?
I've tried to sketch in some of the elements of your plan in this Xtrakcad figure - I am sure this can be done far better - but just to get an idea about how much space might be needed for sidings, ladders and wyes:
Looks like it could become an interesting layout to switch!
Smile, Stein
As I do not have design software my basic plan was drawn free hand I will have to go old school when I start laying track. And do the trial and error thing on how it will fit into my plan. The yard is from an article in MRR's planning 1999 on using domino design in track planning. As I am at work at this time, I will post a redesign of my plans once I get home.
Thanks for your input as you both have raised questions that made me think.
Benchword update. The benchwork yelds a total of 68sq.ft. of useable space. Layout has changed from a double duck under pit to a walkin with a lift out or swing away bridge at the room interrance.
I liked your first layout, then when the I saw the second iteration I like that even better. It hadn't occurred to me about the closet...but thats why I'm not an expert in layout design. Thats the sort of layout I want when I get my own space to do with as I please. Keep the progress reports coming so I can live vicariously...for now.
J.P.
jep1267 wrote: I liked your first layout, then when the I saw the second iteration I like that even better. It hadn't occurred to me about the closet...but thats why I'm not an expert in layout design. Thats the sort of layout I want when I get my own space to do with as I please. Keep the progress reports coming so I can live vicariously...for now. J.P.
jep,
while I consider myself above average. A expert in layout design I am not.
I am however a "jack of all trades" and a master of none. I have a back ground in auto mechanics, can read and draw blue prints, know wiring (auto, home and electronics) and enjoy a good problem. I have learned to gather as much information as I can before making a decision. If you find out what the problem is and not what the affect caused by it is, you have the problem half solved.
In the word of my father, "son, close your mouth, open your mind and listen". I can still hear theses words today.
He was a very wise man.
But I thank you for the kind words and hope you enjoy the forums as much as I do. My layout is a modular or domino design (each domino or module can stand by itself) as i rent and find that this design lends itself to being moved and or upgraded from time to time more easily then any other design I have found.
And BTW it has taking me three months to get to this stage of development. My personel web site is ""http://devinville-rr.mysite.com/
The software that stein used to re-draw you layout is free. It does take doing a 4-hour tutorial so that you can learn how the software works, but it is worth the time investment.
I should bookmakr the site so I have it when I recommend it, but it is not on the computer I am using.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Benchwork material and cost have been calculated. It should cost around $200.00 USD. Layout top will be 2-inch insulation board glued onto 3/8 CDX plywood with latex caulk and mounted onto 1"x4" box framing ( modular or domino design ). I am also keeping the layout height low, as I have short people in my family that may wish to watch and/or play "Railroad" from time to time. (Under my supervision)