Hey everyone. I just recently ran across the Fillmore Avenue Roundhouse track plan from Model Railroad Planning 2015. I've always been interested in passenger layouts, but unfortunately due to moving around a lot I have to stick with modular and shelf type layouts, which severly limits my passenger running. My question is, the Fillmore layout models in detail all of the process an engine will go through with a few spots and opportunities for head end car switching. Has anyone seen or designed a shelf type layout that focuses more on the actual passenger consists? I was thinking an operating session where you begin with an arrival train, break it down and switch it's components to their respective tracks (REA, Comissary, head end freight, service loco etc.) and then reassemble a new train for departure. Obviously you would start with and end with several consists and then pull them into staging as they "arrived" or "departed" in a session. I was thinking you could even have a coach yard on one edge and station on the other seperated by a backdrop to create the illusion of distance. Just wanted to know if you guys had any plans in mind or think this could be a cool thing to go forward with. HO Scale, 24"-36" width and 12'-15' length could be accomodated. Any thoughts appreciated.
clsnJust wanted to know if you guys had any plans in mind or think this could be a cool thing to go forward with. HO Scale, 24"-36" width and 12'-15' length could be accomodated. Any thoughts appreciated.
There have been a few of these over the years. One that comes to mind is in Iain Rice's book Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans. It's a shelf 8' on one side and 12' on the other in N scale.
In HO, your passenger station tracks (and thus, trains) may end up fairly short in the space you are describing, once you allow for the yard throat. Placing staging tracks behind a backdrop along part of the visble layout (as Rice did) is a good idea to exploit.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group