http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t454/Brentdavies/Layout%201_zpsjw0zkfox.jpg
If you are truely an absolute beginner you would be better off going with a published plan for your first attempt. There are many land mines waiting for you in layout construction - most of which are avoided with a good published plan. Look for one of the books or a MR series on "how to build this layout", not just some guys trackplan from an article.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
just to make it easier to see
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
You may run into some reverse loop issues if you had not thought of that already. Also if you like continous running you will become trapped on the inner loop at the bottom of the plan and not be able to get to the rest of the tracks with out a backing move when runing on the other tracks.
Your four track yard on the bottom inside loop has very little value for the turn outs. I would suggest a pin wheel ladder where each switch connects to the next switch through the curved leg of the turn out. Your yard will be curved but much longer and will hold about 3 or 4 times the number of cars.
If this is on a table, you are going to have problems reaching everything. Plus, I suggest that you start with something smaller so you can test and hone your skills before doing such a large project. I would advise you to start with a loop of track on a 2x4 piece of plywood. Maybe put a one inch layer of builders foam on top of that. Add a couple of sidings, and a passing track. Put on a mountan, a lake, a river, and a small town, plus some roads. All these things make up the building blocks that you can use later on a next layout. If you mess something up on this small layout, try and fix it. Try to make it perfect. Once you have done that, then you should have the skills to build your bigger one.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
The first thing I noticed was the reverse loop. But, there is only one reverse loop, and you can only enter it while going clockwise in the lower section. To reverse going counter-clockwise, you would need a long backing movement. Since you're in N-scale, you may have a lot of truck-mounted couplers, and those can give problems when backing up.
The small yard is the only switching available. I would add a few sidings distributed about the layout for industries. This will provide a lot more operational interest.
Consider giving up a bit of space to provide room for some staging. Staging tracks let you have trains arrive and depart from your layout. When combined with the yard and some industries, a train can enter from staging, pick up and drop off cars, and then leave, getting in a good day's work instead of just looping around.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hi,
Welcome to a life long hobby! And congratulations for spending time on the planning phase (and asking for critique) beforehand.
OK, just my opinions.....
Your design will give you a lot of operating possibilities for running trains, but not so much for prototypical operations. That may not matter much to you, but to some its a big deal.
If your interest is primarily freight trains, put in more sidings and plan for structures and roads and the like. Again, if you just want to run trains, what you have is fine........ but I suspect you will tire of it soon.
If you will use DC power, there will be a lot of reverse loop issues (as mentioned earlier). With DCC it is easier, but more expensive to get the proper electronics.
I prefer more narrow or L shaped or "circles" (operating from the inside) as first layouts of size. Yours may be a bit difficult to access stuff but not a deal breaker.
Whatever, take your time and do it right. By that I mean build good benchwork, lay smooth and quality trackwork, put in plenty of electrical feeders (esp if using DCC), and so on. Spending your time and money on benchwork, track laying, and wiring will truly make or break the layout. Expensive locos and fancy structures are great, but without those basics, they will mean little.
Hey, most of all............. ENJOY !!!!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Hello All,
Welcome!
"A model railroad should probably start with a concept, but seldom will a first model railroad have one. Why? Because much knowledge about railroading, experience in model railroading, and thought are required before a proper concept for a model railroad can be formed. These requirements are seldom possible on a first pike. Mine was no exception.” -- John Allen; 1913-1973, Gorre & Daphetid Railroad. (Do an internet search on this amazing modeler.)
As I scrolled down to the posted track plan my first impression was that there were actually two separate track plans joined together with no real continuity between the two.
Adding a crossover between the two loops would facilitate better continuous running. However there is a jumble of turnouts in this center area already.
You might consider adding turnouts and a link between the two ovals on the right side. This would allow continuous running on an outer mainline loop.
The yard in the center of the lower loop also seems disjointed. You might consider moving the turnout that feeds this yard down and to the left, just above the doubble-track turnout. This would bring the yard closer to the bottom of the loop and allow for another ladder to tie into the mainline loop on the right.
The reversing section is not a problem you'll just need to install Auto Reverse controllers DCC; just more $$$$ or manual toggle switches DC; more wiring.
It is an extremely ambitious track plan, not just for a beginner. But I wouldn't dissuade you from trying.
As has been suggested, I'd do a little more research on other track plans and see what comes closest to what you are looking to achieve for your first layout.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
You asked that we not hold back so: I would start over, the layout has a toy like look to it. You have a nice space but are not taking advantage of that space, sidings are too short, not a fan of the two loops. You are using a good approach to planning by asking for advice, it's just that in my view you could do so much better. Decide what it is you want from your layout, continuous running, switching possibilities or whatever. Suggest that you investigate track plans and John Armstrong's book Track Planning for Realistic Operations is an excellent guide. But any track planning reference would be helpful. Kalmbach has some good ones. As a newbe starting out, information is your friend. As suggested above, maybe something smaller and less permanent would be a good starting point to learn some skills. It isn't rocket science but a little experience goes a long way.
Just how long *is* your arm anyway?
that is how wide half of your table can be, or as wide as your table if you build against the wall.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
If you are interested in operation, scenic opportunities, and/or realism, there are other track plans that might serve you better. Just as an example, this 4'X8' N scale out-and-back plan (which could be a little shorter) offers a yard, independent locations to work, a double track loop, etc.
A more thorough description of how this layout would work is found on this page, describing an HO 5X9 version.
If you are planning to design your own layout, you’ve already received some good advice to study John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation.
Best of luck with your layout.
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