How much planning did you do before the 1st rail was laid?

[medic_149]

still in the planning stage. since this is my first layout, trying to get as much help as i can. I have modelar cardboard and atlas track templates. the templates are actual track size, minus roadbed. so I am actualling laying out in true ho scale. at least this way, I will know what will fit and what wont, before i spend a dime on the track.

[FriscoFool]

At one point or another during the five years prior to retirement and moving full time into the "future home of" my pike, I did all of the above. Primary tool; however, was Cadrail, an excellent layout design software program. Also highly recommend the NMRA Layout Design Special Interest Group primer and John Armstrong's book "Track Planning For Realistic Operation".

Although my model railroad empire still exists only in my head, I have started on the benchwork. I have documented my "planning" on my web site:
www.geocities.com/FriscoFool2003

[n2mopac]

My layout began with inspiration from a real place, namely the industries along the BNSF right of way through Saginaw, TX. I sketched and dreamed for 3 years, knowing that I had no space to build it but also that I would be moving soon. When I did move last summer to a house with a full, unfinished basement (perfece!!!) I put those sketches and dreams into a scale plan on graph paper using templates. That took about a month to complete. I started building benchwork ing October which is not complete except for the backdrop and fascia. The trackplan went through one "minor" revision and I am sure will be tweaked here and there as I go, but those three years of envisioning and sketching really paid off when I went to plan in an actual available space.
Ron

[randybc2003]

On which layout?
My first, I grabbed some track & laid it down. It was good. On my second, I graphed, figured, finagled, and finaly laid down what I thought I wanted. It was good. On my third, same again, w/ computers working this time. It is good. On my most recent work, again, all of the above, with track work in hand.
One thing I have learned. Don't get caught in the paralasis of analysis. Also, the best (laid) plans of men are often subject to reality - ie: you go where the trackwork lets you. The dreaming, sketching, planning, are all necessary - try out different ideas, but you must still be subject to the rule of reality of trackwork.

[decapod39]

Used Pencil and templates to draw initial plan to scale, and to establi***he potential areas for towns, stations, and yards. Began to visualize/daydream specific layouts. As track was being laid, additional new ideas kept coming.

[RedLeader]

I strated buying an Atlas planning book, and bought the material list. After that, I expanded by letting the track take were ever it wanted. No plans (for the expansions), no software, no nothing. Just the thought of: "Wouldn't it be nice if..." or "What about if...". If it worked, it staid, if it didn't then it went off. Just like that. The best things happen by accident! Like the day I accidentaly steped on a wood ramp on broke the whole darn thing, now there's a beautiful wood truss bridge that crosses the "goegraphical accident", a very nice touch with a lot of drama.

[Anonymous]

A 2-3 combo, don't wanna know how much paper I went through...
But it was worth it because now that starting construction it fits together well.

[BRAKIE]

I don't use a track plan since 99% of my layouts has been branch lines or industrial switching layouts(NOT the switching puzzle types) so I work my track around till I like what I see and spike it in place. At the industries I laid my track to the industry instead of trying to fit the industry building to the track..

[Anonymous]

The question is wrong and I was curious as to the answer of this question. The question you pose is "How much...." implying how long or how many track plans. Instead the answers you give us are "What tools did you use..."

[bruce22]

considering that it was 55+ years ago it is difficult to remember!!!

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan


Fergus, thank you for starting this thread. I am finally able get past the block that has been holding things up!

Tom

My pleasure except knowing what I know now, If given the chance I would have done it differently. If there is a next time I'll definately put alot more into high end planning this way I won't have to worry about excessive grades and abrupt transitions. And before anyone says it the answer's NO. I'm not going to tear down and start over again![:D]

[tomwatkins]

Quite a bit. First I drew an accurate measured drawing of the layout room. Then I doodled for awhile to see what might fit. I was also looking at lots of trackplan books for ideas. I got a set of CTT's one inch to the foot templates and gridded paper. and started drawing. Lots of paper got wadded up and went in the trash. Since the paper isn't cheap I drew a one inch grid on a piece of tracing paper and had lots of copies made. After I had what seemed like a workable track plan, I made another copy and used it to plan the benchwork. Once that was done I started building.

The basic plan has worked out well and the concept has stayed the same. However there have been lots of changes worked in along the way. Some because new and more accurate information about the area I'm modeling came available and I decided to incorporate it. Some because I wasn't happy with how some of my locomotives operated and looked on certain parts of the layout.

Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

im wrapping up the planning stages on mine. Its been about 2 months. I will start construction this week

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005
...I know what I want to do, and I know what I need to do, because its on paper...

No offense Elliot...but isn't that what Dubya said regarding those WMD reports he was given ....????[;)]
regards; Mike

[Anonymous]

Mine is combo of 2 and 3. My last layout had lots of hidden staging, 2 levels and grades so I worked the whole thing out down to the exact track piece count. Mocked it up full size in cardboard, which showed me what didn't work. I was very happy with the results. The plan did exactly what I had envisioned it doing at the time. There were some revisions as I went along, but nothing major. I completely finished, sceniked and detailed this layout (L shaped 16'x4' -3'X9'). The problem was that my idea of what a layout should do changed over time. Revisions to the layout weren't possible so I had to tear it down and start over.

The new layout is a double deck (22'X13') with a third level for hidden staging. Planning for this one has taken about 4 months using templates and paper. I am now ready to mock it up in the space to make sure it works.

I have a friend who has a single main Narrow guage layout who changes his track plan as he scenics his way around the room. I feel it is harder to take this approach when there are multiple decks involved that must match perfectly in spots in order for the layout to work at all..

Guy

[Budliner]

I went with a midland layout and I must have went over my head I have a room full of wood and lost a foot on each end looks like the trains will be down for months



someone else made this atlas track plan
B -

[fiatfan]

I voted 4, 5, and 6 but it was actually only 5 and 6. I had some buildings from years ago and when I reentered the hobby last year, I tried the software (too impatient to learn it), tried graph paper, and said the heck with it. I put some of the buildings on the table and started laying track to reach them. Now I have bought some more buildings and am expanded to reach those buildings.

In the past, I always tried to put too much track in the space available. This time, I am not only getting a more realistic setting, I have stumbled upon a plan that will give me hours of switching and mainline running.

As I was reading through this thread, it dawned on me how I could deal with the staging area. I have already negotiated with the board of directors (the motion was unanimously passed in my favor!) and can't wait to start on that also.

Fergus, thank you for starting this thread. I am finally able get past the block that has been holding things up!

Tom

[Anonymous]

Paper and pencil always! There is alot to be said for the thoughts that come gracefully from your trainbrain (a very elusive part of the male cranium!) and flow gently onto the page. I have used various different pieces of software to design layouts (and as a software engineer it comes easy) but, I started planning my first layout on paper with crayon at the tender age of 8... and now at ## its still the best way to get the feel for the space you are working with.

Besides... you cant doodle in the margins with a PC !

Rod

[Anonymous]

Combo of 4 & 5 here...though I used lots of drew lots of layouts on paper instead of napkins...and visualized everything. I see things vividly in my head and that was half the battle; getting a reasonable track plan up and operating was the hard part. This is my first real attempt to construct a layout and I've had to rely on lots of how-to articles. My brother is a source of inspiration as well; his skills are enviable and he's been in the hobby considerably less time than I. I have a double track truss bridge on my small 'empire' and that proved most difficult. Time and patience, hopefully, are on my side.

[ClinchValleySD40]

The new CAD programs are great and once you get the hang of it, really easy to use.

[ShaunCN]

whent where ever the track took me......big mistake. ended up making major changes later on

ShaunCN

[IRONROOSTER]

I started with graph paper, pencil, and compass 30 years ago and I still like doing it that way. I'm not adverse to the track planning s/w, but the package I tried took longer to learn than to do the pencil and paper way.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

skeched on paper.

[leighant]

I stuck the first two sections of Lionel track together, then added the third piece, etc. Actually, Santa Claus did it for me because I was three years old. I guess it all depends on what you mean by the 1st rail.

My main existing layout, started 20 some-odd years ago was a couple months in serious planning with compass, protractor, measuring track, drawing, erasing etc.



I started with a hidden passing siding as a two track staging yard, but the staging was woefully inadequate and all I could add was a single-ended additional staging track. About three years ago, I added a spur addition which could also form a connection to a future shelf addition.



Meanwhile, I built a small layout a couple of years ago following a general idea that I dreamed up more than 10 years previously and finally got around to building, a demonstration that a realistic operating layout can be built in a space not much more than 25% larger than a minimum radius circle of track. I built it with sectional track to prove to myself that I wasn't cheating by bending the track to a tighter radius.



The tiny layout as developed also used several concepts I developed when I designed 3 thematic layouts for a friend's teenager who said he was interested in trains. The kid lived on Navy bases for part of his childhood and one of the thematic layouts I designed was trackage aboard a Navy base with a connection to an unmodeled mainline through a security gate. The kid never built a layout, but I recycled some of the ideas. The prototype of the big dream layout I have been planning for when I win the lottery served a Navy blimp base, and my tiny layout represents such a base so it is called the "Lighter Than Air" railroad.

I mentioned my big dream layout. I have been planning that for 15 years or so, for a specially built train space 20 x 25 with stairway access to avoid the need for any doors or windows in the room. Planned by building 3-D computer models and animating them using the Lightwave program used for some of the effects in the "Titanic" movie. Spent a year and a half staying late at night using the computer at a TV studio after hours. But I haven't won the lottery or saved money to build a train house.

However, my main layout has never run right because of a bad curvature problem that apparently cannot be solved. Eight to nine car trains pull themselves over toward the inside of the curve. And there are some dead spots in turnouts that I don't think can be replaced without tearing up half the layout around them and I don't think it can be made to fit back.

I have thought completely rebuilding my layout would be the only solution, but instead of rebuilding the same layout, I am trying to plan to build about 20% of my dream layout in a space about 20% of my desired size. In a way, I have been planning this for 15 years. I want generous curvature easemented track in a moderate space so I am using full size track templates and model-of-a-model mockups for planning. Need to start building soon. But I need to keep planning too.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GerFust

Fergus:

I started designing with sketches on paper, then moved to Atlas Right Track software. I found it cumbersome since you don't know the radii of the curves and cannot easily insert curves unless you know the end points. It also doesn't display as square on some PC screens.

I was about to do a full-size drawing, when my wife bought an HO design template for me in 1:12 scale. Now that I have a scale drawing, I still plan on drawing it full-size, so make sure I have the clearance I intend around buildings. I approximated transition curves when drawing it to scale, but want to check these for sure before laying rail.

When I start the rail, I will transfer the drawing to the table and go from there! I will probably try to make an Atlass Right Track version to post on my website later. However, scanning my hand drawing might work well, too.

Just an aside, my drawing will also include locations of under-table supports. Wouldn't want to put a switch machine right where the support girder is!

-Jer

I must confess I started out with the first Version of Atlas's Right Track software, found it limiting and cumbersome then went to home made templates and graph paper and found this limiting. I start something and change mid way. I do sketches and visualize It seems to be the only way that I can work.

[BNSFNUT]

I had a drawing for the main line and and the yard when I started. But most of my
industral spurs where just add where I could find the space for the structure.
My branch line sort just happen as I found the space for more bench work and I extended it as I when along.

[CP5415]

I started out with a 3X8 modular setup & grew from there.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I'm not done with my layout yet! I do draw my plans on paper, though.

[CBQ_Guy]

Combination of 2, 3, 4, and 5.