Hi Stix, I revisited my plan and widened all curves to 24 inch minimum without too much disruption or losing any features. Do you think 24 is wide enough for most larger passenger cars to stay on the rails? I think Walthers often cite 24 inch as a recommended minimum but maybe it's not enough in practise?
wjstix I can't see the images on this computer (problem with the computer, not the images) but a couple of quick comments: 22.5"R curves should be OK for 40-50ft long freight cars and small to medium locomotives, but may be too sharp for many brands of full-size passenger cars - especially cars with body-mounted couplers. Athearn passenger cars, or the old AHM/Rivarossi cars, might work better. You mention your time frame as 1930s-70s, and mention Burlington Northern a couple of times. Keep in mind BN wasn't created until 1970, by a merger of Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Chicago Burlington & Quincy ("Burlington Route") and Spokane Portland & Seattle. The only one of these that connected with the Rio Grande was the Burlington; after World War 2, those two plus the Western Pacific ran the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco.
I can't see the images on this computer (problem with the computer, not the images) but a couple of quick comments:
22.5"R curves should be OK for 40-50ft long freight cars and small to medium locomotives, but may be too sharp for many brands of full-size passenger cars - especially cars with body-mounted couplers. Athearn passenger cars, or the old AHM/Rivarossi cars, might work better.
You mention your time frame as 1930s-70s, and mention Burlington Northern a couple of times. Keep in mind BN wasn't created until 1970, by a merger of Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Chicago Burlington & Quincy ("Burlington Route") and Spokane Portland & Seattle. The only one of these that connected with the Rio Grande was the Burlington; after World War 2, those two plus the Western Pacific ran the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco.
Thanks for the pics again Kevin. I'll check out Bobby's posts
Hi Stix, I'll be running railroads together from completely separate eras that never met in real life just because I like them.
Thanks for your observations about passenger car sizes. I currently run all my existing stock on 20"R curves without derailing problems. The lack of realism on curves I can live with and I don't think I could use 24" curves within my space, maybe I should try again though. I run Thrall well cars and IHC passenger cars with bogie mounted knuckle couplers fine. I know I'll have to be careful when buying more cars to avoid the more prototypical models like newer Walthers that require 24"R . I think I'll try some old Rivorossi sets next.
MurBallThanks Kevin for posting my photos! Very kind. Here are a few more:
-Kevin
Living the dream.
MurBallThanks Cowman, my shelves will vary in depth but average about 2 foot. Il be using IKEA Ivar shelves as the main structure and will cut lengths of 1cm thick plyboard to use as sub road bed.
One of our contributors ,Bobby (AKA Camaro Guy), in Orlando, used IKEA shelves to support his layout with perfect results.
I hope he comes back. His contributions were too brief.
Thanks Kevin for posting my photos! Very kind. Here are a few more:
The mainline where trains enter from staging at top right corner.
The highline where trains terminate and locos can turn around on turntable .
The lowest staging level with the annoying protruding reverse loop.
Thanks Cowman, my shelves will vary in depth but average about 2 foot. Il be using IKEA Ivar shelves as the main structure and will cut lengths of 1cm thick plyboard to use as sub road bed.
I haven't even started to design the swing out door. Do you have a diagram or photo of your club one. Mine will be tricky as it will be holding 3 gradients as well as a double main and a single Highline.
to the Model Railroader magazine discussion forums. We are very glad that you have found us. Your first few posts will be delayed by the Kalmbach Media moderators, but that ends soon enough, usually after just a few posts. Please stick around through the delay and become a permanent part of the discussions.
Making your pictures visible:
I am not the one to comment on track plans.
Please stay with us.
Welcome to the forums.
Your room is very close to the size room I am prepping for my new layout. Summer has stalled progress for the moment. My entry is just slightly to the left of yours and I'm hung up on how to build the entry gate. I have the basic design from a club layout, but doing it....
How wide are you planning to make your shelves? I'm using 2' wide, 2" extruded foam.
I'm not good at track planning (another hang up) so will let others critique that part, just hoping to get you back to the top of the list so others to see and comment on.
Good luck,
Richard
Hello, I'm looking for advice on my planned DC freelance HO round the room layout. Any insights fresh eyes can contribute are appreciated. I'm not sure if I've laid everything out well? I'll mostly be running 1930's to 70's diesels from Santa Fe and other US railroads along with rail fanning a few British steamers. It's designed for a room 2.3m or 7 feet 6 inches wide by 4.7m or 15 feet 5 inches long with a door in the bottom long wall. I've decided against a helix as the room is just too narrow.
My aims for the layout are :
Minimum radius curve 572mm or 22.5". (Now widened to 24")
US freight operations.
US passenger services.
Continuous railfan running of 3 trains on 3 loops.
For operations the layout will work as dead end branch line with a terminus station at the end. The other end in staging has a reverse loop for turning trains for the next session. So loop to point.
The lowest level (pink) at 26" (66cm) represents a interchange with other railroads, Rio Grande , Burlington Northern or whatever else I feel like running. From staging trains climb a twice round the room gradient of 2.5% on the straights and 1% on the curves . This gradient brings trains up to the main level (blue) at 40" (100cm) in the top right corner. There trains proceed anti-clockwise along the double main past the Yard, through a passenger station then up a second once around the room gradient to a single mainline or Highline (orange) at 46" ( 114cm) past a mine, an urban industrial area and finally terminating at the station which has an attached mini Intermodal yard. Engines can turn here and make the return trip along the highline, down to the double mainline and down to staging. All of the main level and the highline will be sceniced excluding the area on the bottom wall next to the work bench and the swing out section in front of the door.
My main concerns are:
Should I move any of the stations or industries around to make better use of the space?
The return loop in staging is going to be a pain to step over and avoid banging into.
Also having the yard lead of the main Yard run over a bridge over the river gorge is annoying.
I think I should be able to run train lengths of five 12"passenger cars and ten 7" fright cars based on the run around available and platform lengths. Is that right?
Thanks for any input.