gandydancer19 wrote:Hi All,Well, I am ready for the critics. I am over 60, retired, and this is my second large layout, the first one in HO scale. The plan was drawn with the Atlas RTS program. I am using RTS for reference to see if things will fit reasonably well, not as a shopping list. A track diagram of the layout I am building (planning) is below, and am asking for any input and-or comments, good or bad. It is being built in sections or modules, although there are no standards or desire to interface with anyone else's modules. It is being built this way so it can be moved, if we move. The room is 24 by 9.5 feet. Grid lines are 12 inches. Mainline curves are 18 inches minimum, wider if there is room for them.Modules 1, 2, and 3, plus the coal mine module at the far right, are complete, track wise, and have been operating with some scenery and buildings finished or in work. At present the modules are packed up because we were expecting to move, but things fell through.This layout started as a pre-drawn plan from MR. Modules 1 and 2 were from a switching layout plan called "Two track plans for an L-shaped space" from the booklet called Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader, on page 16. This is the second time I have built this plan as part of a larger layout, so I really must like it. The plan is modified of course. The biggest modification is a wider table section on module 1 so I could add a yard in front.There are quite a few notes on the plan itself and I hope you can read them. I was able to read them on the one I posted as a test. The two staging tracks at the upper right will be extended farther to the left to hold a complete train each. The coal mine module can be positioned at any corner of the room (the entry track is the curved turnout at the top as shown) and I am starting to think about putting it above module 1. The new Wye that is going behind module 1 is being thought of as a passenger terminal right now. 60 foot passenger cars will be used, and I am going to test them on 15 and 18 inch radius snap-track before I start building that module. Turnouts there will be curved types. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and I will have to think of something else. Motive power is 4 axle GP's and RS's.I could also use some ideas for the blank area on the right side.Thanks for your input,Elmer.
Hi All,
Well, I am ready for the critics. I am over 60, retired, and this is my second large layout, the first one in HO scale. The plan was drawn with the Atlas RTS program. I am using RTS for reference to see if things will fit reasonably well, not as a shopping list. A track diagram of the layout I am building (planning) is below, and am asking for any input and-or comments, good or bad. It is being built in sections or modules, although there are no standards or desire to interface with anyone else's modules. It is being built this way so it can be moved, if we move. The room is 24 by 9.5 feet. Grid lines are 12 inches. Mainline curves are 18 inches minimum, wider if there is room for them.
Modules 1, 2, and 3, plus the coal mine module at the far right, are complete, track wise, and have been operating with some scenery and buildings finished or in work. At present the modules are packed up because we were expecting to move, but things fell through.
This layout started as a pre-drawn plan from MR. Modules 1 and 2 were from a switching layout plan called "Two track plans for an L-shaped space" from the booklet called Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader, on page 16. This is the second time I have built this plan as part of a larger layout, so I really must like it. The plan is modified of course. The biggest modification is a wider table section on module 1 so I could add a yard in front.
There are quite a few notes on the plan itself and I hope you can read them. I was able to read them on the one I posted as a test. The two staging tracks at the upper right will be extended farther to the left to hold a complete train each. The coal mine module can be positioned at any corner of the room (the entry track is the curved turnout at the top as shown) and I am starting to think about putting it above module 1. The new Wye that is going behind module 1 is being thought of as a passenger terminal right now. 60 foot passenger cars will be used, and I am going to test them on 15 and 18 inch radius snap-track before I start building that module. Turnouts there will be curved types. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and I will have to think of something else. Motive power is 4 axle GP's and RS's.
I could also use some ideas for the blank area on the right side.
Thanks for your input,
Elmer.
For someone who wishes he has his own house and more space than a 4X8 (but at least I have something!) it is a dream!
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
Hi Charlie,
Don't worry about the negative comment. ALL comments are welcome. Thanks for taking the time to add yours, and I hope to get more....negative or positive. That's part of learning, which never stops.
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.
Hi,
The plan seems a bit 'busy' in some places.
I'd be concerned about the grade at the bottom of the blue yard to the turnout on the red track. That's a 2" elevation change in what appears to be 3'. Thats a 5%+ grade and with such a steep grade you'll need some vertical easements - a foot each leaving only 1' for the grade proper meaning you'll need more than 8%! If your modeling a logging railroad this might be reasonable but I think this is a deal breaker for what you've drawn.
Sorry to be kind of negative.
Regards,
Charlie Comstock
Hi John,
Thanks for your comments. I hear your concerns, and yes, I did come from N scale. I will try and address your comments at each point, and my philosophy with them.
1- Right now the curves in the lower left are 18R and operate flawlessly. I used code 83 snap-track here to make sure. The mainline curve at the upper left (NW) will be no less than 18R. The space here is tight and if there is any way possible to make it larger, I will. The really tight curve will be the inside of the wye at the upper left, and that is a concern for me. I know my freight equipment and locos will handle 15R because I have done some testing before I started all this.
2- Doorway. The lower two tracks are on a swing bridge scene that is mounted on the lower part of a Dutch door type structure that swings inward. The upper bridge will be a lift up. Zero height is about 45 inches from the floor so I can have 18 to 24 inches between lower and upper modules (the coal mine).
3- Grade down to the yard. That is a sticky point and the grade was built just as the plan called for, but the yard was added. This is already built and you are exactly right. That is why I decided to add the curved turnouts to the other end of the yard at the top, and the upper end, inside track, will be the yard lead for classifying cars. That grade you mentioned is the steepest.
4- Staging. Actually, tracks C & D are the same level as the two B track ends. The space between the two B ends will be a town of some sort, TBD at this point, and I am open to ideas, although it will probably be straight forward. The staging track lead, from C & D, will connect in to it somehow.
5- The red track behind the pink track is a grade up to the coal mine module, point A, from a +6 elevation on module 1. The pink track is estimated to be at +8 inches when it diverts from that grade on a #6 or greater turnout. I like to see trains just run sometimes, so that track makes a twice around the room run possible.
6- I already have the ore dock kit. The kit has since been discontinued / sold out. I am fairly certain that it is approx +12 inches. The grade up to it has been started on module 2 and is not that bad. Less than 4%.
I hear what you are saying about the clearances and the grades. The SW corner is built and operating quite well with no derailments or other snags. I am going to be paying attention to the remaining grades so they will fairly shallow and still get the clearances I need. One thing that I read many years ago in MR was an opinion on grades and operation. That was that model railroads at the time had grades so shallow that you didn't have to be an engineer and control the speed of your train while going up and down them. So on my last layout, I increased the grades some, and HAD to use the throttle to control the speed of the train, and use helpers in some areas. This increased my enjoyment of running trains, and that is a little of what I am doing on this layout. I am also finding out that N scale and HO scale are two different animals.
Thanks again for your comments.
Elmer,
With so many levels, your plan is a little hard to follow. Here are some odds and ends from another over 6-0 person:
In any case, I would double check you grades and clearances. Some places where you have tracks crossing at different levels may not actually have the clearance you expect. This is especially true in the SW corner.
Good luck,-John