Well, I think I have come up with a track plan that I am satisfied with for my 2' x 8' shelf switcher.The track running through the middle, represents a through connection to a mainline, coming from other industrial areas.The top left industry is a freight terminal, top center is a food processor, top right a plastics manufacturer, bottom left is a team track loading platform, and bottom right a non rail served industry.The goal was to keep it fairly simple, yet somewhat interesting, with roof to move the train around.All that seems to work in theory I suck at drawing structures in XtrkCAD though.Speaking of structures, they will be a mix of metal buildings, such a pikestuff kits, and concrete tilt-wall. I'm not sure if there are and tilt-wall kits out there, but they shouldn't be too hard to scratch build.I took a lot of inspiration from Lance Mindheim's book "How to Build a Switching Layout"Turnout are #4, as #6 where just too big for this space, and I used 9" straight pieces of track, because they are not as hot-ticket an item as flex track on eBay. I will however do all of the turns out of flex track, since I tried to keep them all relatively large.Well I would love to hear any comments or criticism any may have :D
ltdan84 Well, I think I have come up with a track plan that I am satisfied with for my 2' x 8' shelf switcher.The track running through the middle, represents a through connection to a mainline, coming from other industrial areas.... Well I would love to hear any comments or criticism any may have :D
Well, I think I have come up with a track plan that I am satisfied with for my 2' x 8' shelf switcher.The track running through the middle, represents a through connection to a mainline, coming from other industrial areas....
Well I would love to hear any comments or criticism any may have :D
Ending the left side of the runaround on the spur instead of on the main is a little unconventional. When making runaround moves, the cars spotted at the freight terminal are going to have to be moved to get tail track space for locomotive and/or car. I don't know whether you intended for this to be the case or not.
But reality is that you have all but one spur facing the same direction. If you don't switch the plastics industry, and always keep the locomotive on the right side of the cars, you won't need the runaround track.
A more conventional alternative would be to have the tail of the runaround on the left side on the main, not the spur. You could use a wye turnout on the runaround to create the spur, and a left turnout on the main to complete the runaround.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Welcome.
That's a nice little plan. I like the concept behind it as well. I agree with Fred about the left side of the runaround. It looks like you don't need as much space as you have there anyway, maybe make it just long enough for an engine escape.
You could also sneak in a storage track between the team track and the main by putting a switch in right after the team track turnout. If you bunched the team and storage track close together, the team track could be served by trucks approaching from the edge of the table instead of between the spur and main, which makes it a bit tight for trucks to move around in real life.
I like the use of a crossing in your plan since it serves a purpose; there is no other place to locate the food processor's switch without compromising the plan in other ways.
Good Luck
- Douglas
hi Dan,
IMHO its quite good possible to use #6 switches. One of the critical points is the length of the lead track versus the length of the spurs.
I don't know if a cassette might be added.
The crossing prevents a double S-curve, which is great; is it really needed?
I always like to build a road crossing through the straight part of a cross-over; leaves more space for the far side.
Just some ideas; the cassette makes the interchange possible, beside having a longer lead. Also in my design the length between the cross-over and the edge of the layout is 2 feet. All switches are #6's.
Paul
Here is yet another way of doing roughly what you were doing - using H0 scale Code 75 Peco Medium turnouts, with the runaround on the other side of the main, and using a crossing for two of the industry tracks:
Smile,Stein
Wow thanks for all the helpful replies!
I made some modifications to the plan using some of the original suggestions, and came up with this:
The Food processor and freight terminal switched, the road has become a truck entrance into the freight and plastics, straightened all of the buildings to go in the same direction so it will look a little more realistic.
Made the runaround come back on the main line, and moved it closer (tracks were 3" arpart and noe they are 2" apart), moved the team track closer to the main line and put the loading platform on the other side with a large road base parking/storage lot.
I tried a storage track between the team track and main line, but it started making the track too dense for my liking.
Looks buildable to me! I like the large buildings too.
My thought about the storage track was that if you have different types of cars parked at an industry on the same spur, like car #33 and #39 you may want an empty track to set #33 and #32 on in order to get to #39 and #43. You'll have to use the extra length of the team track for that now. You could still put a storage track coming off the runaround if you cut the building back. I understand about not wanting the layout to be too crowded however.
Since you will likely have only one, maybe two, cars parked on the team track, you could make that spur shorter and provide more room for general buildings if you want.
Another thought: You could even move the team track switch one track left and put a right hand switch where the team track switch is now and have a spur extend to another industry in the SE corner. But it could only be switched one car at a time due to the lack of length to the left of the runaround. Maybe relocate the team track to the SE corner and use the exisiting (but shortened one track) team track spur for another industry since you'll still have enough length to park multiple cars. Like a scrap yard to keep the profile low. and not impede the view to the back buildings. But this idea might also make the layout too dense for your liking.
Just throwing out more ideas in case you didn't already consider them. Might be something to play with to see how it all looks. The layout looks good as it is however.
Post pics of contruction and such when you can.
Suggest substituting a double-slip for the crossing and cross-over.
Dante
That looks much better than the first plan. I like small switching layouts but am a firm believer that they should never be puzzles. They don't have to be puzzles to be small and interesting. Even the Timesaver was never intended to be a small stand alone layout. It was only ever meant to be a puzzle game.
Well all of my turnouts came in today (already had straight pieces and track), and the shelf is built, so will start laying track soon.Might be a while though since my son was born yesterday afternoon and he takes a lot of maintenance right now :-D
ltdan84 Might be a while though since my son was born yesterday afternoon and he takes a lot of maintenance right now :-D
Might be a while though since my son was born yesterday afternoon and he takes a lot of maintenance right now :-D
What an excellent Christmas present for you guys. A very acceptable reason to put hobbies aside for a bit.
Congratulations!
Smile, Stein
Thanks Stein! Well it's been slow going, and no sleep is tough lol, but fortunately this is a good time of year to take some time off from work. Which also gives me a little spare time for layout construction.
Well the shelf is now built obviously.
I used the shelf bracket / door method, however since 80" wasn't big enough for me, I added an 8" extension to each end of the door to make a 8' shelf.
On top of the door I adhered two layers of 5/8" foam board (thicker isn't readily available here to the warm climate) to end up with 1 1/4" of foam. one layer would probably have been enough, but since the stuff comes in 4'x8' sheets and I have nowhere to store the other half, why no use it heh.
I went ahead and painted to surface so I could lay the track, even though I am still going to go back and use a sander and rasp to give the surface a small amount of uneven-ness, as well as cut in some drainage ditches and the like.
Next step is to get the wiring done and try running some trains, then on to painting the track!
And without further ado, here are the pics (you'll just have to ignore the waterheater and stuff, as the layout is in the garage) :
Oh, you may notice that the angle of the track is opposite of the final track plan I posted. That was necessary to fit the Pikestuf M.A.C. Kit that I got for Christmas as the top right structure :-D
hi
it might be to late, but somehow i had the idea you would have a cassette on the right side.
The drill track at the right is rather short compared to the spurs it has to serve. The drill at the left only need to be an engine long. It's only function is as a run-around.
paul
@ Paulas Jas, Unfortunately in my space now I have no room on either side for a cassette. After building everything I can see what you mean about the right side track could be longer, although right now it is approximately 2' from the first turnout to the edge of the table.
If after I get the wiring and run some trains it just doesn't work, I can always un-adhere the track and move it around (there's the convenience of using white glue to stick it down).
Also, I will be living in my current home only until June, so after that I could end up with more space to add a cassette (or no space for a layout at all lol), or add another wing on the right side of the layout..