Howdy yall. My father and I are starting in on a new layout in a garage we built last summer. It's my first layout and his 3rd or 4th (however he's been out of the hobby for almost 30 years and was a member of a large club in California when he lived there). I've been using the Rio Verde layout (its in the database) as a loose template and changing a few things to adapt it for HO and our room size/tastes. Looking for general feedback as well as fixing the scenario below. We're running 24" main line radius' (there are couple spots where we dropped it to 23" to make it fit) and 20" yard/spur/siding radius'.
The main problem I'm having is laying in a logging camp however and am looking for ideas. For the logging camp/lumber mill area I plan on using an two EMD SW1200s as my main power with either skeleton bunks, flat cars, or possibly indepentant trucks. Help?
Below is a big overview of the layout, and then two close up shots of the lower and upper portions. Main access will be from the South. Garage door on the West, East side will be a wall walling off the back portion of the garage, however we plan to build a access hole/hatch/window/something to get at the deeper parts of the layout.
Also a list of things that are have to's for us:
Try to make the walkways 30" or as close to it as possible, this can be done with a little modification.
Welcome to the forum. Your first few posts are moderated, so it may take a while for them to appear, especially over a weekend.
In your space, fewer turnback curves ("blobs") would improve access and aisle widths as well as eliminating the tightest curves on the mainline.
Tracks are likely too close to the edge of the benchwork in a few spots as-drawn, adding a safe distance would reduce aisle widths further.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Welcome to the forum. Good to see multi-generational interest in the World's Greatest Hobby.
Just a quick observation . . . The sketches don't show access hatches or popups, but the reach-in distances might be a concern. Pretty far to the back corner tracks. And as Cuyama mentioned, I like to keep at least 3" clearance to the aisle edge of the layout. You know, for overhang.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK And as Cuyama mentioned, I like to keep at least 3" clearance to the aisle edge of the layout. You know, for overhang. Robert
And as Cuyama mentioned, I like to keep at least 3" clearance to the aisle edge of the layout. You know, for overhang.
RR_Mel ROBERT PETRICK And as Cuyama mentioned, I like to keep at least 3" clearance to the aisle edge of the layout. You know, for overhang. Robert Robert might be referencing my pot belly overhang, it does get in the way even with the track at 3” in. Mel
Hey Mel-
On behalf of us high-caliber men everywhere, I'm gonna quote the late Tip O'Neill, " . . . there's no shame to shop in the Double XXs."
RR_Mel You didn’t mention DC or DCC, if DCC you will need a lot of auto reversers.
RR_Mel You didn’t mention DC or DCC, if DCC you will need a lot of auto reversers. I like the track plan! I always wanted a large layout but never had the room of one.
RR_Mel If this will be a long term layout make sure you figure on old age problems. I did and if I had not done so I wouldn’t be able to work on my layout now. Knee and back pain don’t give you warnings early on.
cuyama Welcome to the forum. Your first few posts are moderated, so it may take a while for them to appear, especially over a weekend.
Thanks! Roger that.
cuyama In your space, fewer turnback curves ("blobs") would improve access and aisle widths as well as eliminating the tightest curves on the mainline. Tracks are likely too close to the edge of the benchwork in a few spots as-drawn, adding a safe distance would reduce aisle widths further. Good luck with your layout. Byron
That was something I actually discussed with pops after I posted this. I think I may drop the upper of the two right 'blobs' down and make them overlapping. This would make more room, but also give me an enlongated space to lay in the logging camp. Also this'll make walkways larger.
ROBERT PETRICK Welcome to the forum. Good to see multi-generational interest in the World's Greatest Hobby. Just a quick observation . . . The sketches don't show access hatches or popups, but the reach-in distances might be a concern. Pretty far to the back corner tracks. And as Cuyama mentioned, I like to keep at least 3" clearance to the aisle edge of the layout. You know, for overhang. Robert
Thanks, as a kid we'd go train chasing up in the Sandpoint, ID area and along the Columbia River. I jumped to aircraft as a teen and haven't looked back. Since the parents moved in to a mother in law we built, and with a grandson now in the mix, we're looking back into trains now as a family activity.
We shouldn't need access as on each side (except the North side, is open to either the garage door, or a drop away backdrop. I did a test for reach, and for me I could easily reach out and grab a car at 34" at that table height. To put in some wiggle room I dropped that to 30". More? Bench work was a rough sketch, that'll get adjusted down the road.
Hi Contrails!
Welcome to the forums!!
First, I will say that I love the overall idea of having lots of depth in your scenes and lots of single track mainline, so please don't take my comments too harshly.
I will second Byron's suggestion of making your aisles wider, especially if there are going to be two (or more) of you operating the layout. There are currently a lot of places where two people simply cannot pass. You will constantly be having to get out of each other's way. Also as Byron suggested, if your track is that close to the fascia and your aisles are that narrow, you will be knocking trains off the rails on a regular basis unless you use plexiglass to protect the trains.
You are also using a switchback in the upper blob to feed an industry, and the tracks leading to that industry have another track crossing them. That arrangement may make for some interesting operating, but the whole thing seems to be very awkward. In order to keep the crossings clear you won't be able to drop more than a couple of cars at the upper industry.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
ContrailsI think I may drop the upper of the two right 'blobs' down and make them overlapping.
That will likely help, but a different footprint overall would also be worth considering, in my humble opinion. A spiral something like a "G" often creates fewer "mandatory" turnback blob curves and allows more room for broader, more realistic curves to suggest a mountain locale.
Newcomers to layout design often jump to the details too soon, I believe, which can limit the opportunity to consider a broader range of options.
Playing the Devil's Advocate here, the aisles are fine. I have one aisle that's 18" for 5 feet before becoming 30, so at worst case, people walk slightly sideways. Most people don't have shoulders wider than 21".
kasskabooseMost people don't have shoulders wider than 21".
Snork (the sound of a beverage coming out my nose) The issue occurs 2 feet lower on the body, front and back, a little lower on the back side.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy kasskaboose Most people don't have shoulders wider than 21". Snork (the sound of a beverage coming out my nose) The issue occurs 2 feet lower on the body, front and back, a little lower on the back side.
kasskaboose Most people don't have shoulders wider than 21".
Got it! You win the Internet my friend. So needed that laugh!
I think I actually LOLd.