Advice for a new layout plan?

[Anonymous]

Hi, I was hoping for some input on my layout plan so far.
It's going to be set in an industrial town or area of town, so that it offers plenty of switching opportunities. I tried to avoid going too crazy with adding spurs, but since this is a pretty small layout (for an aprtment), I wanted there to be plenty of opportunity for an operating session, as opposed to just watching the trains go in circles. I don't plan on any long trains. This is in N-scale.
The top has a yard/staging area.
Still trying to figure out location and type of each industry, but it looks like the one on the right-side inside the loop is going to be a cement plant, which is why it has 2 tracks (one for raw materials, one for product)
Any advice, suggestions, demands?
Thanks for looking

[Anonymous]

Oops, it resized it a bit too much, here's a link to a bigger picture of the trackplan: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4cryz/trackplan.jpg

[Jetrock]

Definitely very busy...if you will have access to both sides of the layout, I'd suggest making the industries in the middle tall enough that you can't see over them. That will help decrease the "toy train effect" of a small loop layout, and is more convenient than a backdrop down the middle.

Industrial areas can be real spaghetti-bowls. The single spur opposite the yard seems like a natural place for an end-loading platform for piggyback trailers or other end-loading cargo.

[IRONROOSTER]

This is a very busy layout. I like the way you have the track arranged to be able to run 2 trains at once as sort of a double track loop. A couple of things to think about. The middle curve track on the right doesn't seem to have much operational purpose and you might want to eliminate it. The yard lead is a little short for the length of yard tracks, you might want to curve it around the end to make it longer. It looks like the right hand turnout next to the outer curve on the upper right (which leads into the arrival/lead track) is going to give you a possible s curve problem - you might want to change to a left hand turnout so that the turnout flows from the curve.

Don't know if you have thought of this or not, I would build the table on wheels so you can pull it out from the corner for construction/maintaince.

Overall, I'd say you have done a good job of maxing out the operational possibilities in this space. Post some pictures when you get it built.

Enjoy
Paul

[cwclark]

looks like a good layout but have you considered elevating the main lines in the lower portion of the layout?...that way you can get a sense of real life terra firma instead of the layout-on-a- flat-board look...a few inclines in the track, depressions, and gentle slopes will do wonders for the overall appearance....Chuck

[Big_Boy_4005]

I like it!!! Very nice for a small layout. Two loops for continuous running, yard, and lots of industries. It should be fun to run and switch. Put one train on auto, and switch with another.

To get around Chuck's concerns, perhaps a backdrop running at an angle would break things up. there really isn't enough room for grades on this layout, it strikes me as more of an urban style anyway.

One thing that I see is that you don't have a place to run around that isn't tied to the 2 mains. Runarounds are important in switching and add a lot of good complexity, without taking up a lot of space.

I like Paul's ideas, especially the roll out part.

[Anonymous]

Personally, for a switching layout, I wouldn't double track the loop. It will look a little better single tracked (when you have tight radius curves), be easier to build, be easier to operate, and make more room for the industries. But, if you want the double track loop for double running, and/or if that congested inner-city multi-track look is what you are trying to achieve, than that will do fine.

Regardless, I would move the spur in the upper-right-hand corner up to the top track. This would then allow you to straighten out the yard ladder (and add one or two car capacity to those tracks), and lessen the propensity of the cars to derail during switching.

---jps

[Anonymous]

Thankyou everyone for the help.
I'm still not sure about moving that middle track on the right loop, i kinda like how it gives the impression of a high traffic area, but it'll probably come out by the time things start getting built. I moved the ESS curve that could be a potential problem. The top 2 tracks in the yard were lengthened, by rearranging the switches and that spur.
Bigboy, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you think it would be possible to incorporate the runaroaund with the mainlines the way they are, or should there be only one like Jschuknecht suggested?
My basic idea was to use the yard area as the point of incoming traffic from an off site "mainline" into the city and then use the rest of the board to switch the area, with the mainlines that are on the board as kind of run-arounds and passing/waiting areas. I decided to loop the whole thing so that the opportunity is there to watch them run continuously.
There is definately going to be a way to seperate the front and back areas, probably using taller structures, since it is going to be a high volume industrial urban area.
The idea of a possible shallow contour to it would be really nice, but it would be hard to work around the different spurs, since they approach the middle from both directions and that the whole scene is going to be set in an urban environment. But if I do my homework I think I can pull it off.
The idea about mounting the whole table on wheels sounds great, thats much better than just being a freestanding table. There is a possibility that I may lenthen the whole thing to 7'6" or 8"0' and the surface is only going to be between 49 and 52 inches high, (I'm 6'2" and doing this for my own amusement, not to really show)

Here is the newer plan with the minor alterations., while I figure out a way to incorporate some more suggestions And please keep sending them. I'll check the board while at woek so i have some time to think about how to implement them.

fullsize: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4cryz/trackplan2.jpg

[jrbarney]

Doccm9,
I'm curious, why did you put the yard/staging area in the back ? In my view, that
sort of precludes you from using building flats against the backdrop for some of the industries. I guess it's a wash as to where you'll have more derailments or coupling problems, but think making up the trains would be interesting to watch close up
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Bob, I'm still considering doing it backwards so that the yard is in the bottom right instead.
Basically rotating the plan 180. I like the idea of making and breaking up trains up, so this will probably end up being the centerpeice of the layout. Also, I wanted the yard, so that I have a place to keep cars.

[cacole]

In my opinion, you have too much track in too small a space. We made the same mistake when the Cochise & Western Model Railroad club's 20 x 40 foot HO scale layout was built -- not enough open space for scenery, buildings, and people, so it's very difficult to make some areas look realistic.

.

[Anonymous]

If and when you build a layout, consider the trains you are going to run. it's ok to have tight radius track if all you have is an SW1 and several 40 foot cars. On the other hand, If you are hoping to run Amtrak Passenger trains and UP double stack trains, you may want to broaden the curves. Also, If you must use tight curvature on a mainline, regulate the speed of your train to make it seem more realistic. In your case, city runing will already impose several limitations in speed. hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

SD, I have no interest in running passenger trains, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm just looking for a layout to shuffle freight around.

[Anonymous]

cacole, I'm not overly concerned with scenery. Operations interest me considerably more. There's going to be enough scenery so that it looks liek an industrial area. A toxic waste part of town as Tyler Durden would say. There aren't going to be any residences, general stores or the like. Maybe a roach coach or two for the guys to get lunch [;)] while on break from work.

[Anonymous]

hi doccm,
if your looking for a runaround i would suggest that the crossover and the spur on the bottom right witch places and then you connect the spur on the right with the one on the left with a switch to create a runaround that could sill have an industry on the longer spur on the right. this adds more track but could make operations more interesting.
like the plan, have fun
Chris