This site should help a bunch. There's a ton of info here.
http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/BFSpages/LDSIGprimer/TOC.html
Also, I've done a few diagrams to demonstrate some common track arrangements that might be helpful. Here they are.
The parts of a yard
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/Yard%20Parts/
Switching demonstrations
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/Switching%20Demonstrations/
And here's some track plans that might give you some ideas
http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/
First of all, welcome to the forum.
I can’t claim to be one of the real experienced guys on this forum, but I can tell you what’s worked for me so far.
It’s good that you’re concerned about your layout and its relationship to realistic operations. Before you start buying and building, you really need to think about the bigger picture so that you can get there even if you start out small and build on things gradually. My first advise it to get yourself John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operations. I’ve gone through this book several times and each time I learn something valuable – it is a bit much to try to digest all at one time.
Secondly, snoop around this forum – search for topics you’re interested in and you’ll find a wealth of good information that can perhaps help you develop a vision. There’s not much you can do that hasn’t been done here by someone else and that experience is priceless.
cbken wrote:A size about 9x17..... running modern equipment won't work too good.
Why not? You easily use 30" or larger curves, and have plenty of room for modern equipment. That is to say, unless you simply cram in all the track you can, then that might not be so good. 9x17 is a fairly good size for a layout. Am I to understand you have a 17' "wall" that you can't use for layout access? I suppose you could build a "C" shaped layout, having the opening along the 17' of open space. The part along the workbench/cabinets should be no deeper than about 30" unless you have very long arms, or acces from the rear.
Are you using a track design program? If so, can you save a picture of your proposed plan as a photo, and post it here? Then, the members can help point out flaws, and help you refine and fix problems before you build them. If you need help posting photos, look in the general discussing area of the forum, where you should find the "how to post photos" thread at the top. You will need to open an account at a hosting service (many of us here use www.photobucket.com), which is free, you just have to register (takes about 5 minutes). Once you upload a picture to their site, you can click on the button below your picture that says IMG, then (making sure the text is highlighted) right click and select "copy". In your message, right click and select "paste", and when we view the message, we "should" (if all goes well) see your picture. If I can do it, anyone can.
As for single/double track, I suppose that would depend on what your interest is. Have you chosen a prototype that has lots of high speed double track mainline, or a smaller regional line that runs a lot of medium speed single track branchline? Most major railroads have both. I re-read your post, and you say you like city, industrial, and urban scenes. It sounds like you want the "Big city" feel. Most large cities have at least one major yard, and today most will have an intermodal yard as well. Sometimes, both are in the same place, that is to say the freight yard adjoins the intermodal yard. Industrial scenes can be different depending on what timeframe you want. Years ago, downtown industrial scenes with street running was fairly common. Many places still have trackage in the streets, with spurs going off in different directions to various buildings. In the 60's and 70's and early 80's, industrial design was to set up industrial parks, often with a rail yard at one end, and tracks would run between buildings with spurs to serve customers as needed. Today, industrial design is usually for trucks, rail service is often only considered for customers alongside the tracks (or close by, maybe 1/2 mile or so). In model form, you could have some of each, with the older city scenes still in business.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
Chuck
http://www.chuckcondron.com/CCLayout/index.html