Hi,
I am planning a 4x14 tabletop layout. I can have continuous running for my Son but have switching for me! I plan on running the backdrop down the middle and to help hide the sharp curves. It will be a late 50's layout with mostly 40ft boxcars. Nothing over 50ft. I was thinking of doing a small interchange yard one one side to bring in traffic and a town on the other side. Thanks for any ideas to help me.
Greg
I have been working on a 4' x 18' layout plan that is based on the Manufacturer's Railway in Toledo, Ohio. One of the two branches of the line ran down the center of a street for about a mile along the Maumee River. The railroad serviced customer spurs on either side of the street. The plan is divided down the middle with a backdrop resulting in 2' wide scenes on each side. The track plan is composed of 6' & 8' sections or dominoes on one side and two 7' sections on the other side. To get the track looped at the end, I have planned a twisted loop (I call it a caliper) that joins the segments on either side of backdrop. The "main line" goes under a concrete arch bridge and then swings to the right, crosses a crossover and then swings left into a 270 degree plus curve before crossing back over the line. Then the line turns right and exits the bridge on the other side of the backdrop. This turn back section is hidden under buildings and the bridge that runs across the entire layout. This allows you to have a bit larger radius curve and not be forced to have the track at the very edge of the layout. The loop holds about 15 cars, which is more than one train length for this railroad. Hope this helps.
Jim - Preserving the history of the NKP Cloverleaf first subdivision.
Sounds like you have a basic, workable plan in mind. I would suggest at least slightly angling your scenic divider. it will help break up the square nature of the basic table. I presume you will have a siding or two in your town to serve the customers there. You could also have some customers on the tracks at the edges of your yard for a little more activity on that side.
Glad to see you are bring your son into the hobby too. Give him and area to work on and call his own. Both of your skills will improve and you will redo the first sections that you did. Let him pick out a building or two to build, if he is young, steer him to something simple and work him up as his skills improve. Nothing seems to kill a desire faster (regardless of age) than to get in too deep, too quickly and you feel overwhelmed.
Come back when you have more information on just what you are doing. There is a wealth of information in the heads of some of the folks on these forums.
Have fun,