mikebo wrote:The right end is one of the limiting factors, there is a wall there and I can steal some space on the wall but there is an 8 foot wide set of windows (48" from floor) that I can't block.
The right end is one of the limiting factors, there is a wall there and I can steal some space on the wall but there is an 8 foot wide set of windows (48" from floor) that I can't block.
Could you run a removable shelf along there that could hold your staging?
Chris
The grade changes for the crossing will be 2% or less. I have the loops at both ends built today with about a 3% grade, but it will be moderated by elevating the back section. Based on the comments I have gotten, I realize I have a good bit of work to do before I start building otherwise it won't be a very long lasting layout. I'll post some new ideas after the beginning of the year and I've taken time to play around with some of the ideas. I also want to see if I can come up with a way to add some staging track.
Thanks again.
Mike
mikebo wrote: Interesting thought, my only answer is have a longer run and to look at the inside and outside loops as different places. It's not one bit prototypical.
Interesting thought, my only answer is have a longer run and to look at the inside and outside loops as different places. It's not one bit prototypical.
mb:
I think that's a very good idea. Build scenery at each "town" as though it was one place, but treat the trackwork as two places, depending on what you can get to at each point on the long run. You get twenty imagination points. *chalk squeak*
I'd say it could be very prototypical. If you modeled the two separate lines very carefully, and operated as you describe, you could be prototypical in appearance and prototypical in operation, just not in the very same way. We have to do that all the time.
The only thing I am wondering about is the grade leading up to those loop crossings at the left. It looks like everything is restricted to one level in the middle section, so that doesn't seem to leave much room. Would a level crossing be better?
On the other hand, I think that track on the back side should definitely be elevated, to keep it in view and separate the scenes a little more. Reality can be bent a little to justify two lines in one scene, but four in one scene might cause permanent damage to the spacetime continuum. :D
Good work on the plan.
Chip,
The right end is one of the limiting factors, there is a wall there and I can steal some space on the wall but there is an 8 foot wide set of windows (48" from floor) that I can't block. The room is actually about 14.5' by 15.5, but doors and windows and the need for work area and storage are the limitations that have made me scale back. I have a design for the whole room that I spent many hours on but have come to the conclusion that it while it makes a lot of sense from a model RR sense, it would not be practical since it blocked access to the windows and didn't leave me enough work space.
Thanks for your comments, you've convinced to me that I need do a lot more homework. I'm going to switch gears and work on building my first module for the club (Four County Society of Model Engineers). I'll come back to my layout in January when I have to babysit my wife from a knee replacement.
It's hard to help with staging etc. because I don't know what's on the sides of your layout. I'm assuming you have space to the left because 4 foot it too far a reach for it to be against the wall. If you do have space over there, I have an idea.
BTW: figure you can reach 30" max on a sceniced layout without breaking anything.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Your comments have made me think about what I'm doing. If I redo things with a single loop, I'd like to factor in a staging area and I haven't figured out how to do it.
Here's a quick and dirty attempt to make a single loop, it has some problems but it illustrates the point.
I don't like the way the sidings are situated if I just convert the two loops to one, I need to spend some time playing with it. I probably need to start over with a single loop and see what I come up with.
mikebo wrote: Interesting thought, my only answer is have a longer run and to look at the inside and outside loops as different places. It's not one bit prototypical.Mike
As an experiment, draw the same layout with one loop. Get a feel for it and post it for us to see.
I have a question and I'd like you to think about it.
Why do you have two tracks next to each other going to the same places on the layout when one will get the job done?
I have added and enlarged the sidings that you guys have suggested, see if this looks better? I generally like it. It will change some of my ideas for scenery but that's only in the early planning stages anyway.
Thanks for the ideas.
You have it! Your track plan looks familiar, I have used a similar pattern with-in a 9X12 foot bedroom (- bed) and went with the "U" shaped design.
Refering to your plan, my BR door which I removed would be in the upper Left corner of your plan with a drop down section hinged to the wall single track return loop, which connects to the two main yard lead tracks, These in-turn connect in a similar way as yours to the return loop on the opposite end of the layout. As with any track plan in HO there are many methods and the return loop on each end seems to work in a small room.
I have many 1:35 scale armor models on shelving at the left side to the room and 1/48th scale aircraft hanging from the ceiling, nothing like a bunch of hobbies!
Great track planning!
johncpo
Paul,
I see what you mean, I'll step back and see what I can come up with. Passing sidings were not really in the forefront of my thinking when I started playing with this layout, but you make a lot of sense.
Thanks,
I keep forgetting there are gauges other than HO, It's HO gauge and the inner loop in the lower right is 18" radius, most of the rest is 20" or greater. I'm looking at generally running one train at a time.
You are running a long twice around with 2 short sidings. This will work well for 1 train, but the short sidings will limit your train length if running 2 trains and having meets. You might consider lengthening the sidings. A bigger problem for running 2 trains is that your 2 sidings are very close together schematically which means one train is mostly waiting on the other. You can use the crossovers in the lower right for a third meeting point, but you still have all three sidings in one loop of the twice around. I would add a passing siding on the inner track at the back through the curve in the upper left. This will give you a fourth meeting point and put it in the middle of the other loop breaking up the long stretch that currently does not have a siding.
Enjoy
Paul
Yes, the two loops at the left end are different elevations, they do cross. The engine servicing is more like a storage area, it exists now and doesn't really work.
I'd like to lengthen the siding in the back but I have to think about whether I want to tear up some of the existing track to do it. I'm going to play around with making the siding bigger by lengthening to the right, that section hasn't been built.
Here's a larger version of the graphic as well.
I'm thinking about expanding my present layout to add more switching opportunities but retain the abilty to run continuously. The loop at the upper left and lower right currently exist and I plan on separating them and reconnecting with the many sidings added.
This will take up over half my room but really can't afford to take any much more room. The layout just under 16 ft wide and a little over 10 feet high. I'm running mostly small steam and early diesels and I am planning my scenery to to central and western Maryland in the 1950 and 60's.