[quote user="Metro Red Line"]This is the track plan for my 4x8' N scale layout. This is my first N scale layout after converting from HO. The layout with feature UP (with some motive power still in SP livery) with some BNSF trains running through. It'll also have some Amtrak and commuter (Metrolink) operations. The layout is ambiguously set somewhere between Southern and Central California in the present-day. Minimum mainline curves are 18" radius; sidings are 11" radius. I'm a pretty technologically-inclinded person but both the Atlas and XTrkCad programs drove me up the wall, so I drew my own dang diagram by hand, scanned it and added some enhancements via Photoshop. So there :P
Metro Red LineThis is the track plan for my 4x8' N scale layout. This is my first N scale layout after converting from HO. The layout with feature UP (with some motive power still in SP livery) with some BNSF trains running through. It'll also have some Amtrak and commuter (Metrolink) operations. The layout is ambiguously set somewhere between Southern and Central California in the present-day. Minimum mainline curves are 18" radius; sidings are 11" radius. I'm a pretty technologically-inclinded person but both the Atlas and XTrkCad programs drove me up the wall, so I drew my own dang diagram by hand, scanned it and added some enhancements via Photoshop. So there :PWelcome any comments, critiques, tweaks, suggestions. do you know how I can contact James Reynolds? Thanks Welcome any comments, critiques, tweaks, suggestions.
do you know how I can contact James Reynolds? Thanks Welcome any comments, critiques, tweaks, suggestions.
Made a change as suggested. added a few buildings and roads and lake. took away one of the runarounds as i didnt think i needed it in the yard, allows longer trains.
My 13x9 L Shape Garage Layout build
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/225242.aspx
Proctous,
I realize now, that you are ''new'' here so, To The Forums!, It would have been less confusing, for anyone to critque, your plan, if you would have started, your own thread, by clicking on, create a New Disscussion Topic, on the top right of the page. You could have used the same title, as this one,but it would have started,with your layout, not all the other replys to the old thread. My response, was to the original post.
Cheers,
Frank
With the plans for the industries and the yard. I only have maybe one question. When a train leaves the yard,with emptys, or loads, getting to the inds. it will be nose first, some how the engine,has to be, put on the other end of the cars, in order to switch the inds. that little run around track there, maybe will hold three cars. Now should you be able to accomplish, your moves and you want to take them back to the yard, you will have the same problem, nose first, how do you get the train in the yard and still be able to use the engine, that brought the train there. Or am I missing something?
Edit: I'll say, I'm missing something. I'm replying,to a 7 year old thread.
I know this post is old But I liked the Layout so much I tried to use Anyrail and create a HO scale of it on my garage 5x10 table. Let me know what you think.
I know this fourm is old, but I liked the layout so much I wanted to try to build a HO layout based off of it. tell me what you think.
SpaceMouse wrote:One suggestion and a comment. IF you are not going to use a software program, you might invest in a N-scale template. IT will keep your turnouts, etc. at the right angles. From the looks of your drawings yours seem a little optimistic.
One suggestion and a comment.
IF you are not going to use a software program, you might invest in a N-scale template. IT will keep your turnouts, etc. at the right angles. From the looks of your drawings yours seem a little optimistic.
I do have one, but for some weird reason it does not have 18" radius curves (my minimum mainline radius) in the template. It does have 16" and 19" though. Also it does not have #7 turnouts, which comprise the majority of turnouts in my layout. So it's pretty much useless to me.
I think (anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong ) that if you use an automatic reversing loop module (like Tony's PS-Rev), it won't matter if the turnout is set or not, the module should take care of it when you cross the boundary of the reversing loop. The only problem is if you were to switch the turnout while your loco/lashup was partway across the gap. That would probably cause a short circuit. But otherwise, when in the loop, which is isolated, you don't care which way the turnout is thrown. You only care when you are crossing the gap. All this is assuming you are using DCC. If you are using regular DC, then I don't know.
FT
About XtraCAD and turnouts flipping. If I remember correctly a turnout can be flipped using a key sequence like shift F10 or something--so all you do is get it close then manipulate it.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Okay, here's my second revision, taking into account a few comments here, in other forums and even from my LHS:
Key changes: 1. Tunnel has been moved. Now all tunnels go into/out of same mountain on right side of layout.
2. Main features of right side of layout are mountain and canyon. Upper tracks are hidden in mountain so as not to distract from tracks running in river canyon.
3. Street underpass will be added to inclined tracks at top left of layout.
4. Industries and street trackage realigned (the turnout degrees are exaggerated, but the sidings will end up in the same places).
5. That unorthodox "yard lead" has been changed to true double-track main.
6. UP yard on the bottom has ben reconfigured, runaround track added.
7. Now here's the biggie: Reverse loop, or is it? In test-laying track, I can add a couple switches that would make it a reverse loop, only problem is that unlike conventional reverse loops, this one is not absolutely isolated and in fact connects with the main. How can I wire this? Because on the bottom half of the turnout pair (highlighted by red circle), if the turnout is thrown to the diverging track, it's a reverse loop, but if it is set straight, it is not a reverse loop! Is that possible (as in wiring?)
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
It's just food for thought.
I eliminated the siding that was going to hide the train for two reasons. First, it really wasn't going to be able to serve that purpose any more as per your last drawing. Second, it was the problem when it comes to the sidings in the middle being workable.
The radii that Atlas uses appear to be arbitrary, but there's a method to the madness. They are designed to fit inside of each other in a curve and maintain proper track spacing. That's why you have a 17.5 curve and an 18.75, then a 20 inch radius. See, it makes sense if you know the reasoning.
I agree, the yard area needs some work. I was really just trying to get something "on paper" so to speak, that would be workable.
If you'd like, I can Email you the .ral file so you can play with it yourself. Just click on my profile and send me an Email and I'll return it with the file.
pcarrell wrote:OK, I tried this in the Atlas RTS program and it comes close to fitting, but not quite. I had to drop to a 17.5" radius, though larger is used where possible. The sidings have a min. radius of 11.25". I also adressed the switching problem in the middle. It's not perfect, but it's workable.
OK, I tried this in the Atlas RTS program and it comes close to fitting, but not quite. I had to drop to a 17.5" radius, though larger is used where possible. The sidings have a min. radius of 11.25". I also adressed the switching problem in the middle. It's not perfect, but it's workable.
I like the plan a bit better. I can see how you're refining things and it looks good.
I don't see any reverse loop though.
Also, switching the industries in the center still blocks the yard lead.
Or am I missing something?
My point on the yard lead is that on the other end of it, in the middle of the layout, you can't switch the industries without blocking the lead and doing some of your switching in a tunnel.
As far as XtrakCad and RTS go, the learning curve can be a little tough. I like the RTS program a bit better myself, though the XtrakCad is more sofisticated.
For the flex track tool on the Atlas program, connect the two ends and then click the shape tool. Now click on the track you just made and in the popup window move the two needles in the meters to the left almost all the way. Now click the optimize button a couple of times (it gets better and better as it dials in). That should get you some better looking curves.
pcarrell wrote:Overall the plan looks workable, but I have one question. There is no passing siding for the industries to be switched from. The track they are now off of is a yard lead, so if you use that, not only are you switching in a tunnel, but your yard is totally blocked and no traffic can leave the right side of it. Also, it might be good to try one of those programs again to make sure this really fits. I think you're onto something here, but that one thing should maybe see a bit more development. Any reason for a 4x8 in particular? Have you read this? http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html
Overall the plan looks workable, but I have one question. There is no passing siding for the industries to be switched from. The track they are now off of is a yard lead, so if you use that, not only are you switching in a tunnel, but your yard is totally blocked and no traffic can leave the right side of it.
Also, it might be good to try one of those programs again to make sure this really fits.
I think you're onto something here, but that one thing should maybe see a bit more development.
Any reason for a 4x8 in particular? Have you read this? http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html