Designed a pretty solid track plan IMO and just wanted to get a few suggestions on what could be imporved upon before buying materials. So far the shelf is up and ready to start the actual layout.
Long leg measures 73"x15 3/4" and the short leg is 63 3/4" x 24"
Short spur is a small lumber yard and the big spur will be another Food plant just like my old layout.
And advise is greatly appreciated
Keeping it simple is a fine goal. A bit more will fit in a similar space (5'X7' in HO), as well, if you wanted to explore that.
Best of luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Turnouts look well arranged to prevent S curves through the turnouts.
Switching lead there at bottom looks long enough.
On that curved spur top left, has there been a test track set up to find out if actual model trains will couple on that curve?
cuyama Keeping it simple is a fine goal. A bit more will fit in a similar space (5'X7' in HO), as well, if you wanted to explore that. Best of luck with your layout. Byron
I wish I had the space for that!
KitbashOn30 On that curved spur top left, has there been a test track set up to find out if actual model trains will couple on that curve?
Has not been tested yet but good point. Going to play around with some ideas to get that section a bit more strait
Ringo58I wish I had the space for that!
Not really that much different, length is key. Overlapping elements (runaround, spurs, interchange, etc. – as described on the web page I referenced) can add a lot of operating variety.
But less-complex is perfectly fine, too!
Can you work in a fold-down shelf with a track or two of staging, to allow the introduction of additional rolling stock and dispatching some off-layout? The shelf can fold out of the way when not in use, and only be used when actually running trains.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Having not thought about how you might operate the layout, it might be hard to couple cars on a curve. If you are using the right side tail of the runaround for allowing only a locomotive to run around cars, you might consider lengthening the runaround to get a few more inches of straight track if you plan to couple there.
- Douglas
When I first read this post, I had not realized how much space this plan actually takes. There is indeed a lot of white space there, that could be filled with scenery and buildings for high realism. I guess it depens what you like doing in your hobby. I personnaly cannot conceive having a layout of that size without have some continuous operation. I would consider closing a loop. At the very least, I would do something like Byron suggests. But again, if you like scenery and assembling building kits, then your plan is pretty good.
Simon
snjroy When I first read this post, I had not realized how much space this plan actually takes. There is indeed a lot of white space there, that could be filled with scenery and buildings for high realism. I guess it depens what you like doing in your hobby. I personnaly cannot conceive having a layout of that size without have some continuous operation. I would consider closing a loop. At the very least, I would do something like Byron suggests. But again, if you like scenery and assembling building kits, then your plan is pretty good. Simon
Not sure what you mean. It's a very small space just over 6' long and 4' long on the short leg.
Will have lots of scenery. I really enjoy that aspect and want to get a feel of the area I live in.
Hey Ringo, I was just sharing a few different perspectives. As you said it, if scenery and realism is your thing, then the plan looks pretty solid. I was just saying that one alternative would be to do a 4X6 loop - but I totally agree that the loop format is not particularly good to achieve any kind of realism... I myself operated a 4X6 for a few years and yes, operations can be done with a few slow steamers with a lot of moving parts for fun. But I won't try to convince you, it's pretty obvious that you've been thinking about this for a while.
snjroy Hey Ringo, I was just sharing a few different perspectives. As you said it, if scenery and realism is your thing, then the plan looks pretty solid. I was just saying that one alternative would be to do a 4X6 loop - but I totally agree that the loop format is not particularly good to achieve any kind of realism... I myself operated a 4X6 for a few years and yes, operations can be done with a few slow steamers with a lot of moving parts for fun. But I won't try to convince you, it's pretty obvious that you've been thinking about this for a while. Simon
Much appreciated! I wish I had the space for a full 4x6 but the garage will still be used as a gage and being only a 1 1/2 car ( Its long and narrow ) I need the room. When my trucks in there, it comes right up to the layout as is. Good thing the girlfriends Equinox is short or else my layout dreams would be crushed!
Maybe one day Ill have a continuous running layout!
For looks I think I'm going to remove the run around track. There's really no point to having one as the layout won't hande a train longer than 5 or 6 cars.
MisterBeasley Can you work in a fold-down shelf with a track or two of staging, to allow the introduction of additional rolling stock and dispatching some off-layout? The shelf can fold out of the way when not in use, and only be used when actually running trains.
Ringo58 For looks I think I'm going to remove the run around track. There's really no point to having one as the layout won't hande a train longer than 5 or 6 cars.
That's probably good idea. Your turnouts all face one direction, so there is no real need to run around the train for switching cars.
I like shoving moves more than back-ins. If it was me, I would point the loco North and East like you have that BN switcher, and have it pull the cut of cars from the right side of the layout. Long hood forward if it was a GP/RS loco.
I would assume the interchange or holding yard was just off layout to the right, and the operation modeled was after the loco got the cars in position by using the off-layout runaround.
Also, I would think about making one of the spurs longer, starting down the lead farther. When switching cars, you might need space to park some cars out of the way. No need to add another turnout, simply make one track longer so you can park cars there while not interfering with the industry that's at the end of that spur. A real RR would make a spur longer for that purpose than to go through the added expense and maintanence of building a separate spur and turnout.
DoughlessThat's probably good idea. Your turnouts all face one direction, so there is no real need to run around the train for switching cars.
I'd keep the runaround and add some switches facing the other way. Makes switching more interesting.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I does create space for storing a loco (or two).
Thanks for all the input. Heres the final plan I will be building. Long leg will have a creek with a road running parallel to it.
What software did you use to create this drawing?
-Matt
mthobbiesWhat software did you use to create this drawing?
That's 3rd PlanIt