My new layout part drei

[swapilot]

 Sorry it has been a while since my last post.  Things get a little hectic in our lives and hobbies go to the back burner.  I really appreciate all the help so far on this layout.  Words can never say thank you enough.  Here is the latest revision after Stein's last gem, I like the way it looks:

 

  I really like the way that the North Bank Railway now looks.  In my opinion, it now has a purpose that the earlier versions didn't and I am really excited about moving on.  My focus now is to get some time set aside so I can get my bench work from Sievers put together.  More updates as time allows and again, thank you all for your time, help and patience.

[Doc in CT]

 My early morning coffee 3 cents... like the new photos much better than the earlier threads.  More room for context (and scenery) .

steinjr's suggestion really improves things if getting some street or road into the layout is important (even industrial areas have streets/roads/driveways) which may mean mirroring imaging the suggestion on the photo right side of the layout.

mcfunkeymoney made an important point, butt corners on narrow shelf layouts are problematic when trying to work in suitable curves.  The triangle extension allows many more possibilities.  (If you think about it, this is really a modular layout, and almost all modular layouts have substantial corner elements.  It also means the track is at the back of the layout -  been there in some of my thought layout designs - which is OK in a shelf layout, allows room for scenery in the front. ) As the layout matures, put some thought into extra detailing effort on some of the structures and scenery (e.g., interiors with lighting, lighting in general). 

Keep up the work, this is YOUR layout and it has to suit YOUR needs, vision and skill level.  I am glad to see you are getting the positive/constructive type feedback you wanted (yes, I read part dos).

Doc

[mcfunkeymonkey]

If you could put in a triangle at the juncture, you would have more wiggle room in terms of coming around the corner.

This is what you have:

 

But if you put in a right triangle (1' legs), you can move the entire layout this way:

Or that way:

I'm not suggesting a simple sliding over of the whole layout, but you can see all the room a small triangle can open up.
Even a 6" triangle would help.
Would give room to angle the tracks as well as create space for whatever you want on the other side of the curve.
The only issue might be reach to the back of the back.

Food for thought.
--Mark

[swapilot]

 Selector,

  I will post some photos of the revision tomorrow.  Family activities take priority tonight.

Thanks,

Craig

[selector]

Stein came through exactly as I secretly predicted he would.  Incidentally, he has essentially duplicated the orientation of those tracks as per his suggested trackplan that he posted a week back.

If you are happy with this arrangement, I would say you are well on your way for this end of the layout, minus some further refinements.  In that respect, I will remain an interested observer since others are more skilled and knowledgeable than I.

-Crandell

[swapilot]

 Stein,

  Thanks, the picture really helped.  I like it.  Back to the layout.  I don't mind, let's get it right the first time.

[steinjr]

swapilot

I placed it that way so I could build a small town along the one side of the 2x8 piece of particle board.  I am open to suggestions to make it better

 

 One easy way is to continue the corner curve a little longer and then let the straight part run diagonally across the 2x8 board on the left instead of straight down along the wall. Creates room to model that your train is running through town, and at the same time also provides better reach from the aisle to the tracks.

 In principle something like this - but you will have to work out the details of structure sizes etc:

 

 Smile,
 Stein

 

[swapilot]

 Selector,

  Good point and you are not being obtuse.  It is not a terminal at all.  It's just a mainline entering from the west with a couple of tracks to hold boxcars either waitng to be picked up by a train or placed at the respective industries.  I placed it that way so I could build a small town along the one side of the 2x8 piece of particle board.  I am open to suggestions to make it better, remember I want to do this correctly the first time and avoid having to rip up a nightmare later.  What I want is room for a mainline, a couple tracks to hold empties/loads and room for a small town.  Those are the only prerequisites that I have.

[selector]

swapilot, I hope we can all stay so highly esteemed as we begin to tear away at this new version.

I am unclear what it is you had wanted to achieve with the newest version as depicted in the last image.  It looks like a terminal to me, with perhaps an industrial area added.  I don't mean to be obtuse....

However, that question aside, why would you place all your tracks in that image/location behind scenery?  It is all against the wall with ostensibly urban build-up or industry closest to the operator.  It isn't a hard and fast rule by any means, but few of us would recommend having the railroad elements (of a railroad layout) obstructed from both view and reach to the extent I fear you may be contemplating here.  It is rarely a good choice to have to reach over carefully placed and finished structures, including utility poles that take some work to sit upright on some bench surfaces, trees that may not respond well to getting knocked over....you get the idea.

[swapilot]

 First, before I post the before and after photos, I would like to say thank you to Selector, Stein and Tomkat-13.   They are saints with great patience who have helped me out a ton.

  Here are some before and after photos of my new layout.  I am looking for inputs, not atta boys and sunshine blown up my nether regions. I like the third version much better, but I only see the layout through my eyes.  Please, constructive comments on the track work.  I want to get years of enjoyment out of this not months of frustration when this layout is all finished.  The bench work, roadbed, scenery, etc. will come once I am happy with the track work.