After building a layout over the past 4 or 5 years I decided that it is now time to start over. Aisles were to narrow was the biggest problem. It took me about 3 days to tear it all apart and organize and catalogue my inventory. It was kind of amazing how easily it came apart. Some of that had been planned. I was able to save all my track with the exception of one snap-track turnout and one section of curved track. The only thing I threw out was the cookie cutter board and the foam board and dry-wall mud scenery. I saved all my structures and roadbed as I generally do not glue too much of that down. And even some of the wires. Several of my snap track turnouts have really long leads on then now.
I have been using the Anyrail software to work on designs for a new layout for about 2 years leading up to this and as I got my space cleaned I decided to measure the room to make sure I had the demensions right. Well I did not. I found I was 6 inches short in one direction and 7 inches short on the other end. All total it equals slightly more than 10.5 square feet. Just what everybody wants right? More layout space!
The dowside of this discovery is 2 years of plans will need to be redrawn of started over. For reference I model in N-scale and use a Didgitrax DCC system to power my road.
Modeling a railroad hypothetically set in time.
Maybe not the way we usually think of as adding much to the layout, but, it does. I don't really see a need to redo the whole plan. 6" only adds 3" to each side of the track plan, though in N that is a reasonable amount of space, it's not like a very large space. Just use the space as added scenery space and in a few places you can add a couple of inches to your track to give you a little more mainline or yard storage space. Track plans should be a little flexible.
Good luck,
Richard
Drew4950 . . .Aisles were to narrow was the biggest problem. . .
. . .Aisles were to narrow was the biggest problem. . .
Just curious, how narrow was "too narrow"?
Richard,
I had one aisle that was about 20 inches and one that was 12. It was fine if you were the only one in the room. But I was also knocking things off the track when I would turn around.
Also when I added the measurements to my room and a plan I was working on it added them all on one side of the room. So while it seemd like 3 inches or so it was actually 6 on one side. Same with 7 inches on the end of the room.
Isle of LION are 3' and 5' wide. The one by the windos is only 2' wide but guests do not go back there. Leaces plenty of room for the LION and his tool cart.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS