layout design decisions. more in fo added

["JaBear"]

Second thoughts.

More in keeping with the original design but still eliminating the duck under.

 

Shane Rev1 by Bear, on Flickr

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

gregc

 

 

CharlieM

Also you can work under the layout with a mechanic’s creeper and a headlamp.

 

 

if you make the layout high enough, ~5', you can use a desk chair with wheels

 

I just recently decided to make my new layout a little higher than first planned, but I will never build another layout at 5' did that once, upper level of a double deck - hated it.

As for the OP and his plan, I don't have any feel for his goals, but if I only had that size space, I would build a switching layout like Greg suggested - OR - I would forget all these plans with peninsulas and just go around the four walls witha duck under/lift out. On one wall I would make the benchwork deep, 4', for a yard, urban scenery, etc.

If I am honest with myself, I would most likely regret the choice of a point to point switching layout as my only layout scheme.

Sheldon

[gregc]

CharlieM

Also you can work under the layout with a mechanic’s creeper and a headlamp.

if you make the layout high enough, ~5', you can use a desk chair with wheels

[CharlieM]

From my own experience I completely agree with the general comments above. As we get older the rules should be no duckunders, no liftouts, no hassel, no grief, no banged foreheads and no aching backs. Carefully consider the height of the lowest operating level. My primary level is about table top height. If you have a hard floor you can use a wheeled desk chair to rest those weary bones. Also you can work under the layout with a mechanic’s creeper and a headlamp.

 

Charlie - Northern Colorado

[spidge]

I like what has been suggested to make access easier. I don't know about you but if it uncomfortable to get into the layout and operate or work I am less likely to enjoy the layout. I like the walk in style and your space is fair sized to accomidate some coninuous run and a branchline if desired. I like my layout elbow high or higher but when I am switching pull a stool up to ease the aches. So if you keep a good sized space a rolling chair could be used to operate the layout while in a seated position.

 

Hope that gives food for thought.

[gregc]

NVSRR

So have at it. curious what others would do with this.

what do you want from your layout?

looks like you want a continuos run.   but the following might fit better in your space if you were more interested in pt-to-pt operation

[richhotrain]

I like JaBear's proposed track plan a lot. No duckunders, complete access to all points on the layout.  In JaBear's center peninsula, I believe that he is proposing a wye to permit trains to change direction.  An alternative would be to simply turn the peninsula into a loop so that the track would exit the peninsula in the same direction that it entered the peninsula.

To permit a reversal of direction, a crossover could be installed on the left side and the right side of the layout to connect the parallel straight sections of track on each side of the layout. Those crossovers would be part of two reversing sections, one on each side of the layout.

Rich

[ndbprr]

Duck unders are for young people.  The older you get the lower they get.  Add physical limitations from a couple of strokes and it may be impossible should you experience a second one.  I would err on doing away with them.

["JaBear"]

Gidday Shane, firstly I hope you have a satisfactory recovery from your stroke.

 

Though I see you have one lift out access, (if it is a doorway then my doodle won’t work), I can’t see the second, and like the previous respondents, I’m not a fan of duck unders, especially the older I get!

 

I’ve done a very quick doodle with the aim of keeping the minimum radius of 24” on the main, 2’6” minimum aisle width, and apart from the middle peninsular and the return loops, a benchwork width of 2’6”.

 

Shane by Bear, on Flickr

 

The dotted line is possible benchwork while still retaining the 2’6” aisle.

The mainline radius could be smaller, (22”??) though I see in WPF you have 6 axle locomotives, so perhaps not such a good thought.

The middle peninsular could be used for your engine servicing or split by a divider.

The wye allows you to run both directions.

I have used straight track to join the curves, for simplicity, and haven’t considered any sidings or grades.  I’ll pass the buck on those, after all why should I have all the fun!??!

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[mobilman44]

I would also get rid of the center piece.  Two duckunders is one too many for sure.

Then I would enlarge the peninsula or widen the outside shelves so as to get in a small yard and/or more structures.

But no matter what kind of advice you get here, remember that what you build must make YOU happy/satisfied.

Best wishes!!!

[jpg]

I would get rid of the horizontal peninsula (or isthmus, more properly), widen the stub penninsula so that it can accomidate a return loop, and extend it more so that it takes up the whole center of the room. The aisleway then becomes an inverted U with no duck-unders for operation once you're in the train room. I think that's important not to have duck-unders while running the layout. Getting in and out of the room is one thing, you do that far less frequently than each time the train makes a circuit around the room.

With appropriate trackage along the south wall, the one return loop can be used in both directions as a return loop at both ends of a point-to-point arrangement, or you can just go around the penninsula without changing directions for continuous running, both on the same layout.

[NVSRR]

If you were building this, what changes would you make?   As I recover from stroke, I started wondering if I should make improvements or move on to a new one.   If I do stay with this one, what changes could be made to maybe get more out of it?  So have at it. curious what others would do with this.  

 I added more info in a post below

SHane