Group,
Here is a revised layout plan. I posted the origonal version over a month ago but I think I have a better version now. What do you think?
You have a nice railfan type layout with a large engine terminal. You can run long trains, the largest engines, and the longest cars since you appear to have a 42" minimum radius.
You might want to add some staging tracks along one wall (the right one looks available) so that you can have a variety of trains to run. You could hide them behind a view block if you wanted.
Enjoy
Paul
I agree. Other than the engine facilities you have all scenery. Nothing wrong with that if thats all you are after. Is there to be any towns, bridges or other points of interest?
On the bottom where the table gets narrow there will be a dropdown to enter the room thru the door. Yes there will be several towns but I like scenery. Farms, houses and just plain old woods.
The suggestion of staging is a good one. What will add to your interest is having different trains running through your layout: passenger, mixed freight, unit trains, coal drags, etc. If you can store them on staging tracks, possibly set them off in different directions, it will add to you variety and ultimately your enjoyment.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I would suggest you not cross the tracks at the base of the right peninsula The way you have it, one can't follow a train without running from one side of the peninsual to the other. The tracks should remain along the edges of the peninsula so one can just walk along with the train.
Mark
Besides adding some industries along the route, you should also put in more crossovers. I only see a double crossover on the left of the drawing.
I also agree with not crossing your tracks on the penninsula because it makes it hard to follow your trains.
What is the size of the room and what scale are you modeling?
Craig
CraigN Besides adding some industries along the route, you should also put in more crossovers. I only see a double crossover on the left of the drawing. I also agree with not crossing your tracks on the penninsula because it makes it hard to follow your trains. What is the size of the room and what scale are you modeling? Craig
24 x 31 feet room, according to his previous thread. Looks like H0 scale to me.
Smile, Stein
Yes 24 x31 and it is in HO scale. I posted this to get some more ideas. I was really appreciative of the first round of comments. That track plan was way too complex and had alot of faults.
A track plan is a very personal projection of what the builder thinks is going to suit his interests. I think it is good that you are willing to be flexible enough to post new designs, but firm enough in your awareness of what you want the plan to accomplish that you are at the same time sticking to the rail-fan character that this plan demonstrates.
That said, I would jump on the bandwagon urging you to not have the double crossovers at the bottom of the middle peninsula. Instead, tighten each curve and go up the sides where you can enjoy the trains. But, in addition, I would strongly urge you to use the space in that peninsula to keep you from dropping dead from boredom. Your layout is large enough that you are going to get a belly full of rail-fanning each time you run it for more than 10 minutes. The time will come when you will want more than just fiddling around at the yard or trotting along as you follow your trains. You will be mighty glad you added in some other things to do, something a bit along the lines of what a real railroad does to keep things in the black. So, down both side walls, your east and west, and along your top and bottom, you have tons of beer sipping and pretzel munching opportunities while you admire your moving trains among all those rocks and trees. You want that, and you should have it. But, then what?
Use that substantial peninsula for at least two industries. They don't have to be land hawgs like a steel mill, or a large mine....no open pit operations needed. Just have a small industry, say a small brewery, or a small copper mine. Maybe a pallet factory, or some grain silos...anything that will require you to stop, when you want to, and switch out some cars before you take up the can of beer and another pretzel.
Honestly, for the trouble it will take, it will provide huge dividends, not the least of which will be the first time you decide that you'd finally like to do some car swapping there. We're talking the time it takes to built a fairly flat setting, lay a total of 6' of flex...maybe...and another turnout or two, and build a structure to plunk down there. If nothing else, it will add some realism to your scenery.
Good luck with your layout. It is an ambitious project.
Oh well, it's all a learning experience as we evolve. So will his layouts if he stays interested in the hobby. My 5x10 layout in the mid-1960s had three versions in about as many years. From an early 1950s John Armstrong plan, changing from a circling track climbing to the upper town (Excelsior) to the use of a switchback, and except for similarity with the original schematic, a complete conversion to dual gauge and addition of a second deck.
So, start building the layout. The basic framework can serve as a platform for infinite variations.
Well, it looks like you have just about what you want. My only things about the plan are the track crossing at the bottom of the peninsula, and the plan you posted should be more of a rough draft of the final plan, IMO anyway. I would suggest laying out a more precise plan in XTrkCad (Its free, just like the RTS program you used.) It is available at http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
I should warn you though, the program does have a bit of a steep learning curve. But once you get used to it, it is a really great program!
You might want more crossovers between the main lines. Also, if you want realistic operation, you should probably add some sidings for switching and a staging yard.