New Layout - Ideas ?

[Anonymous]

Dad and I are getting ready to embark on a new layout. We just "finished" out 8x8, and are ready for bigger and better things...

I was hoping to bounce some ideas off of everyone here, and maybe get some feedback/ideas in return. Once again, I am coming to the great MR gurus seeking wisdom and advice.

First off, we're sticking with HO gauge. We have two different "room" sizes, or layout sizes that we can choose from. One is 23x7 and the other is 17x8.

There are a couple of things that we learned from our other layout that we would like to do different in this layout: Long straight runs (in an 8x8 you're almost always turning), a large yard that is easy to get in and out of, multiple levels, not much switching except in the yard, 30" Min mainline radii, and last but not least, at least one continuous circuit/track that goes around the entire layout (no switches/crossovers,etc. )

What is the general consensus on which size to run? Has anyone seen any good "plans" out there that sort of fit into this scheme that I could get some ideas from? Any of you have something in mind that you wish you had done on a layout but never did? (I may be sorry I asked that one [:)] )

The Nov 2005 article of MR had a pretty nice layout that the guy from Minnesota made - the Chicago Northwestern/Milwaukee Road layout. Can't remember what it was called off hand, but I saw that layout and was immediately drawn to it for some reason. It's nothing too fancy, not real big, but seemed to have a lot of the aspects that we're looking for... I just mentioned that to give you all an idea of what I'm going after...

Thanks everyone!

[selector]

I would favour the longest run with the widest possible curves. So, that means the first example you provide. Ideally, somewhere on that marvelous 23', you will have that long swept curve that delights the eye. It would be hard to fit into 17' with all the other stuff you are going to need.

Are you going to run steam at all?

[fwright]

To use a 30 inch minimum radius, you will need access hatches or an interior aisle where the turnback curves are. Otherwise, you will have over a 30 inch reach from each side - 30 inches is generally the limit - and that's assuming you have access to both sides.

You didn't specify whether the space dimensions had to include the access aisles or not - I'm assuming there is no additional space for aisles. So given a 7 or 8 ft width, and a 30 inch minimum radius, you are practically forced into a donut arrangement if you want continuous running. If you make one end of the doughnut very narrow - single or double track - for a space of at least 24 inches, you can use a swing-away bridge (opens like a gate) across the 24 inch or better opening to the center aisle. To me, that would be a lot better than a duck-under (what I call head knocker).

With a donut configuration, and 30 inch wide shelves on both long axes you could do a very nice twice-around over-under main line. Put a yard on one side, with the mainline(s) running in back of the yard for good access to the yard and switching.

Of course, my assumptions may be all wet and/or you may have better ideas.

yours in planning
Fred

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys!

You're both pretty much right on the money with my lines of thought on this.

I am planning on running steam. That is the reason for the 30" min and also the desire to have a "standalone" loop.

The 22x8 space is the total area that I can use - so you are correct, the "donut" type layout is what we're probably going to be looking at.

I like the idea of having a double mainline running on an upper level, with a double mainline on the bottom level that you can switch off of - in other words, have the lower level be the "operating" level, and the upper level left for just running steam. We could put a "mountain" city up on the upper level, running the lower level through the mountain and have passenger stations on each corner of the upper level...

[Anonymous]

Are you thinking a double track helix for changing levels? With a by pass at the helix that would allow you to stay at one level or change levels. With the room size I would look at making the top level half the depth of the lower benchwork just for visual reasons.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lee678

Are you thinking a double track helix for changing levels? With a by pass at the helix that would allow you to stay at one level or change levels. With the room size I would look at making the top level half the depth of the lower benchwork just for visual reasons.

I think that at this point, we're going for simple operations. We have some issues on our 8x8, mainly too many switches and some trackwork issues that prevent us from running steam, and radii that are too tight to run passenger services. So, the plan is to have a double mainline up top that have no switches, crossovers, or anything. You can run at least two trains in either direction and never have to worry about them. On the bottom half, we'll run diesel freight operations and switching. I don't think we'll have any elevation changes at all (or at least not "level" changes) - the top loops will be totally separate from the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Room size is different from layout size. If the space you have available (i.e. the room) is indeed 23x7, you can do a "round the walls" that is no more than 2 feet deep, leaving a centre aisle of 3 feet, with no "reach" issues. A 2 foot wide shelf will support 30" radisu curves.

However, if this is actually a 23x7 table layout (table) then the room it is in must be bigger. I would again plan to go around the walls of that bigger room...[;)]

Andrew

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by masonjar

Room size is different from layout size. If the space you have available (i.e. the room) is indeed 23x7, you can do a "round the walls" that is no more than 2 feet deep, leaving a centre aisle of 3 feet, with no "reach" issues. A 2 foot wide shelf will support 30" radisu curves.

However, if this is actually a 23x7 table layout (table) then the room it is in must be bigger. I would again plan to go around the walls of that bigger room...[;)]

Andrew

The room size itself is 25x17. The thing is, we already have an 8x8 layout in the room, which we actually just moved this past week to make space for the new layout. I was very concerned about moving the layout, but it worked out pretty good - we used those plastic sliders that you use for moving heavy furniture (I think they are called "Moving Men") and we just pushed the layout to where we wanted it to go. Pretty sweet.

Anyway, we carved out a 23x7 section that we can build the new layout in. It will be donut shaped. I think I'm going to design something into the new layout where I can have a removable piece of trackwork that will enable us to joing the two layouts together if we wanted to... That should be a nice challenge, and will most likely mess up my upper mainlines from being turnout-free... But it may be worth it.