Layouts and layout building

Building a few small temporary layouts before committing yourself to a big one is a very good idea.  The small ones can be test beds for things you want to try out, then taken down after getting some practice.  Or kept and built into the big permanent one.

My own layout is 2x6 ft ( 2/3 x 2 m) and HO scale.  Someday I will build more benchwork and extend the track off the ends of the table.  Maybe after I retire I will fill the rest of my garage with railroad.

I don't want to interfere in any process of discovery, svein, so I won't comment on your several decisions.  However, I do like your ideas and creativity.  I like your design, even if I don't see the need for some of the arrangements.

I am a fan of intricate trackwork, as is the fellow from Fast Tracks, Tim Warris.  You may have seen his hand-made complex in his post the last 24 hours or more.  So, I do sincerely appreciate your interesting trackplan.  I also appreciate that you have been careful not to make a track-busy plan because that so many of them seem to forget the value of green space, copses of woods, streams and a beach, a tennis court, or even a parking lot for realism.

I will be interested to see how you develop this plan.

Harold:
Nice website, and a beautiful layout! Your Loads in - empites out solution is roughly the same as I had in mind for my own layout, but I need to do some research first to come up with suitable industries and loads. If I choose such an arrangement I will probably have to remove some of the other tracks, I don't want the layout to be to crowded.

Selector:
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback. Please do interfere whenever you feel like it, none of my decisions are carved in stone and I'm only doing some brainstorming at this point. Tim Warris' trackwork was awesome! I enjoy the look of intricate trackwork, but at the same time it has to fit in with the rest of the scenery and the overall look and feel of the layout. I have studied lots of trackplans over the years, and single track shelf layouts around the walls are my favourites, with several diorama scenes linked together.

The idea of thinking ahead and expanding the layout in stages seems to be a popular one, but I don't have enough room to incorporate an oval like this. A shelf layout would be much better, and I'm working on a couple of other solutions.

This one is a pure switching layout, 65x233cm / 26"x92", with temporary staging tracks alonside the right wall, and a removeable section in front of the door (upper left corner). It's part of a larger shelf layout around the walls I have been working on for some time now, the removeable section is just something I put together to simulate some industries, and is not a part of the final plan:

Thanks Jecorbett, I'll probably do that. I'm working on some minor changes now, and planning for possible future expansions within the space I have avaliable.

I actually BUILT the layout you designed! I was QUITE suprised to see that plan as a layout.

 Here's a link to MY version.. http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=22147&highlight=arguello

 I loved the operations, as you can see, I added a spur for my engine shed, and tucked the yard behind the mountain, but other than that it's pretty identical!

Enjoy!

Callan89 wrote:

I actually BUILT the layout you designed! I was QUITE suprised to see that plan as a layout.  Here's a link to MY version.. http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=22147&highlight=arguello  I loved the operations, as you can see, I added a spur for my engine shed, and tucked the yard behind the mountain, but other than that it's pretty identical!   Enjoy!

... !

Nice looking layout Callan, thanks for sharing. The overall view of your layout gives a great impression of what can be done in such a small place. I like the engine shed in the corner, and your other pics are an inspiration for me. Thanks again

You're welcome! I'd still have it today if I didn't use @#%@ EZ Track...those switches are worhtless!

I'm glad I could provide some inspriation! I like the switching layout you designed too...which would be a better use of space..but you can't just sit back and run some trains! you HAVE to want to swtich, all the time. Be careful, I REALLY liked your (kinda sorta mine too) initial plan, because you can switch AND run stuff. I was able to operate a 2 station passenger schedule, in addition to alot of fun switching. My only addition to my plan, or yours as well, would be a run-around track on the side of the layout with the cross-over spurs, that would have been QUITE a time-saver. Enjoy!

Callan89 wrote:

You're welcome! I'd still have it today if I didn't use @#%@ EZ Track...those switches are worhtless!

My only experience is with Märklin track, and it has been so for about 20 years, it's about time I got a permanent layout... 

Callan89 wrote:

I'm glad I could provide some inspriation! I like the switching layout you designed too...which would be a better use of space..but you can't just sit back and run some trains! you HAVE to want to swtich, all the time. Be careful, I REALLY liked your (kinda sorta mine too) initial plan, because you can switch AND run stuff. I was able to operate a 2 station passenger schedule, in addition to alot of fun switching. My only addition to my plan, or yours as well, would be a run-around track on the side of the layout with the cross-over spurs, that would have been QUITE a time-saver. Enjoy!

That's one of my biggest concerns, and probably the reason why I can't decide what to do. I like continuous run (railfanning) but I also want some operating possibilities, I can't have both so I have to make a tradeoff somewhere. 

I'm working on yet another plan now, with a hidden wye in the corner for a future expansion or staging.