Some type of dogbone would proubly work best. Between ends could be two separate lines or a double main line.
John-NYBW The problem is if you want both an around the walls and a continuous run, you are probably going to opt for some type of a dogbone arrangement. Those loops are going to eat up lots of width unless you want a small radius which would limit the type of equipment you can run. For example, say you settle on 28" as your minimum radius which is kind of in the middle. That's a 56" diameter for the loop plus you'd want at least 2 inches on either side of the loop for a total of 60" or 5'. With two loops at either end of a U shaped layout, that's 10 of the 13 feet of width you have available, which leaves 3 feet for an entry, which is reasonable. If you put one of the loops at the end of a peninsula, that leaves you 8 feet of width for two aisles and the two shelves along the walls. That gets a bit tight. I wouldn't want anything less than a 2 1/2' aisle and that's if I was a lone wolf operator. If you want to have multiple operators, they better be skinny. The other option of course would be an oval with either a lift up section or a duck under to get inside the oval. I don't like either of those options but a lot of modelers have gone that route so it's not a terrible idea either. These are invariably the choices all modelers have to make in designing a layout. Everything is a tradeoff. Now if you prefer point-to-point over a continuous run, then an around the room with a peninsula looks like the best option to me.
The problem is if you want both an around the walls and a continuous run, you are probably going to opt for some type of a dogbone arrangement. Those loops are going to eat up lots of width unless you want a small radius which would limit the type of equipment you can run. For example, say you settle on 28" as your minimum radius which is kind of in the middle. That's a 56" diameter for the loop plus you'd want at least 2 inches on either side of the loop for a total of 60" or 5'. With two loops at either end of a U shaped layout, that's 10 of the 13 feet of width you have available, which leaves 3 feet for an entry, which is reasonable. If you put one of the loops at the end of a peninsula, that leaves you 8 feet of width for two aisles and the two shelves along the walls. That gets a bit tight. I wouldn't want anything less than a 2 1/2' aisle and that's if I was a lone wolf operator. If you want to have multiple operators, they better be skinny.
The other option of course would be an oval with either a lift up section or a duck under to get inside the oval. I don't like either of those options but a lot of modelers have gone that route so it's not a terrible idea either. These are invariably the choices all modelers have to make in designing a layout. Everything is a tradeoff.
Now if you prefer point-to-point over a continuous run, then an around the room with a peninsula looks like the best option to me.
Simon
EDIT: I looked at the M&E Branch plan - it's a solid plan that could be adapted to many industries or urban areas. I recommend a lift out - ducking under something is painful and risky when you are carrying that prize locomotive in the room.
Outsailing86 Around the room? Dogbone? L Shape? single town? multiple town?
Around the room?
Dogbone?
L Shape?
single town?
multiple town?
It really depends on the shape and size of the room. You can't just throw things out without a context and expect rational advice.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Lastspikemike Consider building a walk in around the walls with jutting penisula(s).
Consider building a walk in around the walls with jutting penisula(s).
+1 for around-the-walls with a peninsula.
There will need to be careful weighing of min radius (as it impacts the peninsula width), as traded off against aisle width (try to use 24" minimum with some wider decompression points - it is possible to cheat a little depending on your personal circumference - I am somewhat rotund and have one 20" squeeze in a low traffic area) and the width of the side shelves. I.e. if generous 30" curves are adopted, the peninsula will have to be 5'-6" at the "turnaround", plus 4' for aisles on either side = 9'-6", which leaves 2'-6" (in the 12' direction) or about 15" wide shelves. Orienting the peninsula this way gives a bit longer (+1') peninsula at the expense of a bit narrower shelves.
I'm looking at a version of the M&E Chester Branch, in 9.75'x12' space. on the 9.75' side I would try to get it up to the wall enough I could have my workbench next to it.
Yes, I can see rail going along the 3 walls, with 2 return loops, and a walk in entry in the middle. Draw it out and keep a 24" reach to every space. You could do one or two urban areas in the loops.
Walls on three sides, and invisible boundary on the fourth wall
Put me in the round-the-room camp as well. You might also have room for a peninsula depending on the scale and preferences for operation. A lift-out is way more practical than a duck-under. You mention no doors, but are there walls?
For me, it's around the room also. I like to stand more-or-less in one spot, maybe one or two steps to the side to do something, but otherwise I like to be able to turn and see my trains run with a backdrop behind them, and terrain around them. It's a nice illusion.
Depending on where this will be situated, in a corner, free-standing away from walls, it will require some thinking about a backrop, ingress and egress, and if you're willing to stoop to get under rigidly fixed framing, how high should that be. If you'd like some suggestions, take it from a guy with a few rough welts on his back and some rubbed shirts. Never banged my head, but I shore scraped me back once or 20 times.
Another vote here for an around-the-room layout. Mine is in an oddly-shaped room of about 560sq.ft., with 10 corners...
...the area shown in grey is now double-decked, but I've not yet drawn and labelled that portion. It's operational, but otherwise barely developed, but there will eventually be three towns on that level. Not counting double track through all towns, industrial trackage, or staging yards, there's around 300' of mainline track.
The peninsula was included to provide space for the 45' long grade, at 2.8%, to the partial upper level.
Wayne
Outsailing86I have a 13'x12' section of an unfinished basement, no doorways to worry about
Hi Outsailing86,
Here is my basic initial observation based on the space that you have available, and based on using HO stuff.
If you do a free standing layout with a 2 1/2' aisle around all four sides, that will leave you with an 8' x 6' layout. That means that you will be restricted to either a switching layout or an oval with very short straight runs. Also, if you do an oval of that size, any switching or yard tracks that you can fit into the center of the layout will be very short. Yard track length will be restricted to a few cars. The center of the oval will not be easily reachable so putting any track in there is a recipe for headaches. You will also preclude using backdrop scenery, that is unless you put a short scene break up the middle of the oval.
On the other hand, if you do an 'around the walls' layout you will have the potential for a continuous run that is almost 50' long with reasonable straight runs if you want them, and with all kinds of space for a yard and several decent sized industrial or passenger sidings and run arounds. You could fit in a service terminal as well. You will also be able to keep your reach in distances within reason while maintaining a decent sized aisle. You will have to figure out how to access the center aisle (I strongly do not recommend using a duck under. There are many other more comfortable solutions).
There. That's my worth based on the information that you have given.
Have fun!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
My layout is in a 16 x 12 section and around the walls works good for me. 36" deep at the deepest, other areas vary from 24 to 30" deep. I would have put in a peninsula if I could have found a way but didn't have the room. If I can ever persuade my wife to give me the rest of the basement I will have three times the room I do now...
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
I have a 13'x12' section of an unfinished basement, no doorways to worry about
i like the single town idea, something like the MR Bay Junction trackplan. Commuter trains. Prefer HO scale and have HO scale equipment and previous layout experience.
Do you want to walk around *inside* your layout or do you want to walk *around the outside* of your layout?
Well there are a lot more questions that need answering before tha tone.
How much space do you have?
What scale?
What era are you modeling (mostly in relation to size of locos and cars)
Passenger trains too?
What sort of train operation do you like?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.