QUOTE: Originally posted by leighant Aha! ("aha" is the ID of my railimages trackplan image) Aha! I found the key-- well anyway, A key to grandpacoyote's layout. A very small addition to the suggested space makes the difference-- a one foot deep shelf two feet long behind the closet door (behind the door only when the door is opened). The tail of a wye can go into that area. That makes the length of the layout on the right side of the plan 13 feet a a few inches instead of 11 feet and a few inches. The 26 inch radius of the bottom curve of the wye pushes its stem, and with it, the bottom edge of the layout to a diagonal across the bottom of the layout room instead of a straight-across edge. That suggests a "teardrop" shape space left in the central space. What can we put in a teardrop shaped space? That is the shape of a REVERSE LOOP! All of a sudden, then is a way to fit in the wye grandpacoyote wanted, plus a reverse loop that lets trains be turned quickly so an eastbound train can become its westbound counterpart, AND we have staging for 4 long trains. http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aha.jpg What can we do to justify a reverse loop out in the middle of the desert? A prototype power plant is conveniently placed on the real railroad in this area, and power plants often have reverse loops for unit trains. We are not necessarily running unit trains but it gives a little justification for the appearance. And the plan leaves a little bit of "out-in-the-country" open space. I would like a longer icing dock, without a curve in the end of it. Wi***here was more room for town to be fully modeled instead of building backs, but hiding two long long staging tracks, even though stub ended, is probably worth it. I conceive of this layout as being seen from the NORTH side of the tracks, opposite of a usual map view where the right side of the map is east. With LEFT HAND running on the Santa Fe in this part of Arizona in the 1950s, that makes the inside track of the paired mainlines the eastbound track, running counterclockwise. Why? Because I wanted the icing dock to be convenient to eastbound reefer blocks running from Southern California and Arizona's Peavine line in the direction of Kansas City, Chicago and the East Coast, and the only place to fit in the icing dock seemed to be on the inside of the layout. I labeled the very obvious industries-- a bulk oil dealer, the depot with its freight house track., the power plant. The industries on the right wall need to be indoor/ warehouse type industries since the building backs need to hide the staging track. They might represent a farm supply and feed dealer.... and what else?
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
QUOTE: Originally posted by twcenterprises Surely it's just a simple oversight, but where's the crossovers? I don't see any way to go from one main to the other.
QUOTE: Originally posted by twcenterprises Surely it's just a simple oversight, but where's the crossovers? I don't see any way to go from one main to the other. Or did I miss something? Brad
QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpacoyote (In case the image won't enlarge you can see it at: http://mysite.verizon.net/coyote97/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/BedPlan5a.jpg) P.S. TZ I'm often an early riser, as you will see from this post's timestamp. I haven't had a good night sleep in years. [|)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by chateauricher As you can see from the timestamp on my posting, you'll notice I'm awake early, too. However, this is due to the fact I work the graveyard shift and have another half-hour before I can go home.
QUOTE: Anyways, you were looking for come critiques/commentary on your latest plans?
QUOTE: I have only one suggestion and it deals with the staging you have in the closet space. Is there anyway you can put a series of curved turnouts in the curve located in the upper right corner? This would form a type of pinwheel and allow you to have much longer yard tracks (increasing overall capacity by almost 1/3). If putting 3 turnouts in a row takes up too much space, you can try putting one turnout on each leg of the first turnout. I did that on my layout (although I used regular straight turnouts), as you can see in the lower left corner below... http://www.railimages.com/albums/timothyjohnston/aaj.jpg
QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher A lot more storage could be worked into the hidden staging area buy using curved turnouts going in. Sort of like a pinwheel ladder, rather than waiting until the track gets straight before starting the ladder. If you haven't noticed I really like to save space by using curved turnouts. The 198x MR series on the "Jerome & Southwestern" was enough to convince me! Some people will argue that straight ones are more prototypical, but on my last train trip to the East Coast I don't think I saw a single "straight" turnout east of Cincinnati. I think the yard area still needs some work. I think too much space is taken up with run-around type tracks now. Sometimes I make paper scale size "cars and locos" and put them on the track to "operate" it and see how it will actually work out.
QUOTE: Originally posted by jxtrrx May I just jump in and say what a valuable thread this one has been for me! I always enjoy the "evaluate my track plan" threads because there is always a lot to learn from them... but this one seems to really cut through to the essence of what makes a good plan. It's a reasonable size, features lots of operational elements, has a nice yard, runarounds, passing, industry, staging -- all within a space of a normal spare room. (My train room even has the two closets -- now destined to become staging). TZ - your "vision" plan which grandpa has used to formulate his changes is a classic. Thanks.
QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpacoyote Yes Chateauricher also mentioned making more storage in the staging closet. That will be the next project as soon as I finish reading back up on pinwheel ladders and making sure I have the concept firmly in my mind.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher Hmmm, I see his comment now, sorry for repeating it. Somehow I missed it originally. On the other hand, the picture of the layout Chateauricher presented gave me one additional idea that I've been pondering. So now is as good a time to mention it as any. It is an option and/or have you considered totally removing the closet? That would make your "around the room" to be quite a bit larger, it would allow more area for the center pennesula, and/or more space to change to or also encorporate some of leighant's ideas. esp. double ended hidden staging....
QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpacoyote Tell me what you all think of any of these pro or cons I’m always up for input. Right now I favor A and C personally.