layout design

[Anonymous]

I need some help on my next layout design. I plan on modeling Northern California. Southern Pacific railroad. My next layout, I am planning on it being an 8 x 16. Can anyone please help me? Thank YOU

[leighant]

Analysis of 8 x 16 space. I prefer 3' wide aisles, 2.5 minimum.

Island layout would involve 3' main aisle one side, minimum 4.5 layout width for 24" radius curves, leaving six inches for access aisle in back I don't think so.

Around the room layout, 3 foot center aisle, 18" to 24" shelf around walls. I would probably prefer a duck-under or lift \up section in this size of room, but dogbone with turnback curves would not be impossible. It's partly a case of how bad you want to avoid ducks and how much you want to have "train direction continuity". If you want to go double-level, helix might go at one of the end "blobs". That would be my start.

The next question is where you have doors in the room. Now if you are able to climb stairs and you have a room with vertical entry in the middle of the room, and no doors or windows, you should have it easy. But I don't have that situation.

[IRONROOSTER]

You need to tell us more.
What scale?
Is this a room or the end of the basement?
The middle of the basement with access on four sides?
If it is a room where's the door? swing in or out? Can you change it to swing out?
Is double deck okay with you?
Duck unders okay?
What era are you modeling?
Are you planning on big locos like the cab forward? or 80 ft passenger cars?
An around the walls 30" wide shelf with a duck under entrance would be my initial thought - you can use 36" radius curves and run anything in N or HO, quite a bit in S or O, and even some G.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

my layout is HO scale.
room
swing out door
double decker is ok
duck unders ok
I am modeling the southern and union pacific as today

[Anonymous]

-Are you wanting to watch trains go around and around? Perhaps making and breaking trains in a yard? Or are you looking for urban switching? Do you have structures already built that you want to use on the railroad? Do you have a number of well maintained freight cars and locomotives that will run well with your minimum radius and switches?

Do you have idea of area of the country to model? Or do you have a specific desire such as a nice engine service area or a "Signature Industry"? etc

Many things to think of.

Good Luck.

Lee

[StillGrande]

You should look at the givens and druthers you want in this space. Several of these have already been answered (era, location) but others are not. A good place to go for a solid list is one of the layout construction services. They usually have a form that you can print and fill out to see what you want, what you can live with, and what you don't want. This helps to get you organized and will let the forum answer your questions a little better.