I cant seem to find the right approach to building my layout. Ive started and torn down 2 attempts over the past 5 yrs. Now, I am going ot try it a 3rd time. Of course, during this time, Ive learned different skills that I can apply to the next generation. Also, Ive tried doing building in the past with specific brands of product and Ive decided that sometimes its better to spend a bit more to get a better result.
I enjoy switching more than just running. In my first 2 attempts I drew the track where I wanted it and when I put down the last piece, ran trains, I found things I should have done differently.
This time, Im planning on including some reversing loops so that I can turn my trains around.
All of my power is modern deisel. My rolling stock is mostly northwest road names. No rolling stock over 50 feet.
I tried to add a diagram of the layout but the site wouldnt let me. So I will explain.
Its in a spare bedroom, along 3 walls..Left side is 24" by 96"', center has an alcove window area that is 54" wide and the right side is 122" by 36". I know the 36 is a bit deep and I plan on putting the track further from the back edge.
One of the mistakes I think I have made in the past, is Ive laid the track and then placed the industry (not too prototypical). So this time Im going to arrange the buildings first. I want my payout to depict an industrial area or something similar. Yet, I want a refinery and grain silos. I can do one side one way and the other side another way.
So, in order to avoid a spaghetti looking layout, any good advice is welcome.
First, to post a picture, you will need to host it on a 3rd party hosting site. Many of us use www.photobucket.com to host our pictures. Membership is free. Once you join, and upload your pics, use the [img] tags in your message to display your picture.
Once we can see the space you have along with a proposed design if you have one, we can be much more helpful.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
It's an evolutionary process for all of us. Most of us have built, torn down and rebuilt, some multiple times. Some of us learn from books, some from computer models, and some just by trial and error.
I designed my layout on the computer. I was building a free-standing table layout which would occupy part of a much larger room, so I wasn't starting with any particular space constraints. My initial drawings told me one thing: a 4x8 wasn't going to be enough. I expanded my plans to a 5x12, and that's where I ended up.
I had a bunch of old brass track, and a heap of beat-to-junk cardboard buildings. I pulled them out and laid them on the carpet, roughly approximating the layout plan. No wires, no trains, not even any rail joiners. This was just to see how it looked. As a scenery guy, I then realized the need to plan where my roads would go, so the exercise was worthwhile just for that. More important, though, was that I noticed something that wasn't apparant on the screen - I had designed a layout where a lot of tracks were parallel to each other - 10 of them at one point, including the yard. I altered a few curves and rotated my yard 30 degrees, and got a much better looking design. I put the brass track back in boxes, by the way. I still can't bring myself to haul it out to the curb, where it belongs.
Now, my one question for you: What gauge are you using? That makes a big difference in what you can do with a given space.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I would like to add to Brad's instructions as to how to Post a picture. You must transfer the picture to the Host, which is Photobucket.com/Flock. Add a Title to the picture before placing it in "My Album". You can always go back to the series of pictures that you store in My Album (or some other Album) by clicking on "My Album". When you want to retrieve any picture that you want to place on your Thread in Trains Forum, You Click on the bottom "IMG" option. It will say, momentarily, "Copied". It is, actually, temporarily copied to the Clipboard of your computer. You can either type in your Text in the Post box, or if you Click on the Icon with "W" on it a box will appear,with "Insert" at the bottom. You can type in your Text here, if you so desire. As instructed above the box, you click on Ctrl V , and the lengthy Code for your picture will appear. When you click on "Insert", the picture "code" and Text are transferred to the Post box. After checking for corrections to the Text, you click on Post. Lo and behold, the Text and picture will appear (at the end of the Thread) You can always enlarge any picture by clicking on the picture. To return to normal size, you click on "Close" at the top left corner. Following, is a diagram of my "switching and reverse loop" 24'x24' garage loft layout, with an inside stairway. You may be able to adapt some of the ideas, on a smaller scale. You might consider a "hingd drop or lift-out" room entry. Bob Hahn
I use Imageshack for posting pictures and video. It is rather trouble free with the installed toolbar on the computer doing the uploading for me. I just copy the link off the title bar of the browser of the item and paste it here with a space so that it will activate on this website.
I also agree that Photobucket is pretty good as well.
Im on what I think is about my 2000th attempt at a layout. Maybe I enjoy starting but never finishing them. But this one is one that will be finished if I live long enough.
Running trains is a good way to get a feel for what you like or not like. I like the mainline very much but dont yet have room for it. So I switch. Hopefully with a purpose.
MisterBeasley wrote:It's an evolutionary process for all of us. Most of us have built, torn down and rebuilt, some multiple times. Some of us learn from books, some from computer models, and some just by trial and error....
...
A good book to get is Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong.
If you build the layout as a tabletop you can easily arrange and rearrange your track and buildings without having to rebuild the benchwork. You can set up the track, operate it, change it, operate it, etc. until you get something you like.
Enjoy
Paul
I have found planning a layout is an iterative process where you think of something you'd like to have on the layout, and you place it in your basic outline of the space you have. Then, you may find your bench space is not the right shape, so you modify it...on another piece of graph paper. With the new sheet, you add something else, but find another adjustment is needed, maybe to a curve this time...so yet another piece of paper.
A scanner/printer is handy because you can copy each of these iterations and fiddle with the basic success to that point. You may end up with 4-10 pieces of paper with partially completed layout configurations, but each successive one is a step in the right direction.
Eventually, you will lift off the desk a sheet of paper that has a miracle on it...a track plan that makes you excited and wanting to get at it right away because you have solved the puzzle of how to get what you want in the space you have in a way that actually should work.
It is not a linear process...not by any means. Not any time I have done it. You have to backtrack two or three steps, try another approach to the item you are trying to get right, and when that part is solved satisfactorily, you move on to the next problem. At some point, it all comes together and you won't be able to be restrained.
Heres a look at what I just tore up from my last attempt.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
HHPATH56 wrote:
Hey that looks like the speghetti I had two nights ago.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
SpaceMouse wrote:That looks like it was done on a software program. You should be able to save to a bitmap and post it directly.
I agree with Chip. It looks like Atlas RTS.
Here's what you do,
1) Select a reasonble sized zoom level in RTS. (Say 25 or so) (Lower numbers will make a larger bitmap)
2) From the menu "Select all elements"
3) From edit, "Copy"
4) Start MSPaint
5) Select Paste
Viola, instant bmp version of your layout from RTS
The layout shown in your diagram is very interesting, (as to length of mainline, reverse loops, ability to locate industries with adequate sidings, and good radius curves). I assume that this is an HO layout, and that the size of the room is such that you can go all around three sides of the layout. Have you considered flipping the layout, so that the yard is against the wall ? The "ladder" approach to a yard is fine if you have unlimited space for the "drill" and length of the tracks within the yard. You have the space to do what I did to make the tracks within the yard of equal (longer) length, and provide a lengthy approach track for the switcher,(to build a train length of cars), without tying up the mainline. Personally, I love my lengthy curved double track yard approach, which uses a Y and regular switches, plus (double-slip switches, within the yard, for maximum track access by the switch engine.) One other thing that you might consider are "lengthy passing sidings, so that higher priority trains can pass, or long trains travelling in oppposite directions can pass each other,("as you will note on my layout). It ,also, increases the possibility of "pass through" industrial sidings, where you do not tie up the mainline. Consider 2 "double-slip (possible crossover) switches at the two ends of the two lengthy "closely spaced" parallel tracks. This would be an excellent way to reverse direction, or provide a run-around for the fast passenger train, etc.,etc. Bob Hahn
The layout that you see in the diagram I posted is no longer there. The only reason I posted that was to show the benchwork size that I had dimentioned in an earlier post.
I wasnt happy with this track plan. One reason was the quality of track laying that I did with it. Since I did this layout, Ive picked up more knowledge for getting a better laied track. I guess I was in too much of a hurry to get trains running and ended up with a few areas where derailments were inevitable. Plus, this layout was glued to 2" foam and i want the next one on sound board (painted of course).
So, now Im just looking for ideas for a plan that will suit the style of running that like, which will be a switching layout. Large passing sidings and passthrough industrial sidings are already on my list of must do's also.
Am I correct thinking the track is removed, but the benchwork is still in place?
DigitalGriffin wrote: HHPATH56 wrote: Hey that looks like the speghetti I had two nights ago.
It also looks like something John Allen would do! (Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm still working on the old timers!)
Im going to attempt to redo the benchwork picture with some dimensions on it to help out with what Im trying to express.
Id like to populate my layout with some cardstock buildings. I studied architecture in school so I feel like I do have a bit of knowledge on scratchbuilding alot of my buildings. I just havent found too many pictures or drawings of what I want to model. I think Ill end up taking my camera out and doing some shooting and then transfer that into a drawing that I can pull measurements from to build what I need.
I envision some fake front buildings along the walls to bring the track closer to me and allow some spurs to serve these "customers"