If you use foam like me as a base you can build valleys and mountains and still have level track.
damigg Doughless Much better. I think you will want a crossover from the yellow to blue track on top side of the layout. Also, the two far left yard tracks could just come off the third track from the left instead of starting way at the top. And you might want to make a runaround somewhere for the yard. If it was my layout, I would eliminate most of the yellow track and just have it come off the blue track near the top. The yellow industry track could start as the yard lead and then swing around the curve and down the left side. I would put a runaround on the lead or in the yard. Thank you so much for your input. And yes I am starting to get what I want in my layout. Your ideas sound absolutely perfect but if you could draw some lines on my image to give me a better visual idea of what you want me to do. I work better with pictures LOL Thank You Duane
Doughless Much better. I think you will want a crossover from the yellow to blue track on top side of the layout. Also, the two far left yard tracks could just come off the third track from the left instead of starting way at the top. And you might want to make a runaround somewhere for the yard. If it was my layout, I would eliminate most of the yellow track and just have it come off the blue track near the top. The yellow industry track could start as the yard lead and then swing around the curve and down the left side. I would put a runaround on the lead or in the yard.
Much better. I think you will want a crossover from the yellow to blue track on top side of the layout. Also, the two far left yard tracks could just come off the third track from the left instead of starting way at the top. And you might want to make a runaround somewhere for the yard.
If it was my layout, I would eliminate most of the yellow track and just have it come off the blue track near the top. The yellow industry track could start as the yard lead and then swing around the curve and down the left side. I would put a runaround on the lead or in the yard.
Thank you so much for your input. And yes I am starting to get what I want in my layout. Your ideas sound absolutely perfect but if you could draw some lines on my image to give me a better visual idea of what you want me to do. I work better with pictures LOL
Thank You
Duane
Of course, its your layout. I just did some quick sketches to give you ideas and certainly have not checked and double checked everything for how it fit. You might have to straighten the yard tracks.
I added a runaround at the top using curved turnouts. This allows a locomotive to put itself at the front of a train going either direction.
I gave you a locomotive escape crossover in the yard so you can pull the train in loco first onto a long yard track and then the loco can back directly into the servicing area.
I simplified the industrial spur on the left.
With these modifications, you can switch the yard and the industrial spur using the yellow track while another train orbits on the blue track. You may be able to work in another industrial spur at the top.
- Douglas
cacoleA mistake made by many people --- track, track, track everywhere, and no room for buildings, houses, etc. Where are the people who work for the industries going to live? Any schools, parks, shopping centers, parking lots --
While I agree we all must make a choice on the balance of track/scenery for our layouts, I don't think it's fair to label either extreme a "mistake". I personally believe in scenic fidelity to the degree that I won't have a train pass through the same scene more than once, but I would never waste* precious layout space on a park or a shopping center.
* Just my opinion, yours may be different.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Im still working and I am kind of like how it is going now. I'm really liking the yard and service area. At the north end I am looking to do a city and station and at the west side kind of like a rual type area maybe. and at the south industry stuff.
Hope this ain't sounding too silly.
Thank You All For The HelpDuane
Quick question: How are you planning to access the hidden track sections in the event of derailment or other mishap?
Instead of full length tunnel you might consider a scenic backdrop that you can reach over with the help of a small step stool or one of those Topside Creepers or similar item.
BMMECNYC Quick question: How are you planning to access the hidden track sections in the event of derailment or other mishap? Instead of full length tunnel you might consider a scenic backdrop that you can reach over with the help of a small step stool or one of those Topside Creepers or similar item.
Yes. On the right side it is mostly going to be hidden by buildings and other scenery that I can lift away if I have to. The left may not an actual tunnel but a cut away hill that will hide the train unless you are standing in the right spot to see it . I thought that would be kind of cool there.
damigg BMMECNYC Quick question: How are you planning to access the hidden track sections in the event of derailment or other mishap? Instead of full length tunnel you might consider a scenic backdrop that you can reach over with the help of a small step stool or one of those Topside Creepers or similar item. Yes. On the right side it is mostly going to be hidden by buildings and other scenery that I can lift away if I have to. The left may not an actual tunnel but a cut away hill that will hide the train unless you are standing in the right spot to see it . I thought that would be kind of cool there.
Im not saying you shouldn't have a tunnel at all, just making sure you were thinking about how to access incase of problems. Both of those things should work.
Note:
The S curves at X 2, Y 4, and X 2, Y 8 may cause operational issues with longer equipment.
Any place you have a tunnel or hidden track, try to install a section or two of Atlas rerailer track. In the long run you will save a ton of money on aspirin.
South Penn
If you straighten out the yellow track on the left you might have room for a siding for the coal mine. A fringe benefit of doing this is it will save you headaches (derailments, uncouplings) if you decide to run passenger cars or long freight cars. Alternately if you increase the radius of those double S curves you can reduce problems and retain longer track run.