I have done the basic benchwork and know i am going to the basic level of my layout.This is my plan and as you see there is a space inside the green area where i want to have an industrial area.But my knowledge is very limited.If you have any suggestion or show me something to get started it would be much help.Finaly it will be an american theme in 1930 to 1970.Here my plan and a foto from the benchwork where the industry should be build.
I dont know. Looks like your industrial area needs to be inside that new benchwork loop that is under construction?
You dont want a "Puzzle palace" In there. Your industrial buildings will have rail service docks or "Spots" on your track. You could put a switch off the main, run down into that area and into the railcar spots while arranging the buildings where you can get everything to fit.
Do you know what industries you are using? Some industry heavy in the 30's aint around in the 70's and vice versa.
And finally, do you have one industry? Or several smaller ones that will fit into that area? No use trying to shoe horn a gigantic steel mill into that tiny spot.
One challenge is that railroads are linear creatures and you have an almost square space. I would spread the industries around the layout rahter than make onindustrial "spot" in the middle.
As far as industries , what part of N america are you interested in? The east coast will have certain industries, the west coast others and the middle some other ones.
Dave H.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Safety Valve wrote: I dont know. Looks like your industrial area needs to be inside that new benchwork loop that is under construction?You dont want a "Puzzle palace" In there. Your industrial buildings will have rail service docks or "Spots" on your track. You could put a switch off the main, run down into that area and into the railcar spots while arranging the buildings where you can get everything to fit.Do you know what industries you are using? Some industry heavy in the 30's aint around in the 70's and vice versa.And finally, do you have one industry? Or several smaller ones that will fit into that area? No use trying to shoe horn a gigantic steel mill into that tiny spot.
No, my industrial area will be above that loop on another level.That loop is hidden.So that area is dedicated only for industries.I know it is not very big area so i believe that small industies should be better.I have no industries yet in my head because i don't know anything about industries.The only think that i though is a harbor with the sea on the left side of the green area,but will it fit?
dehusman wrote: One challenge is that railroads are linear creatures and you have an almost square space. I would spread the industries around the layout rahter than make onindustrial "spot" in the middle.As far as industries , what part of N america are you interested in? The east coast will have certain industries, the west coast others and the middle some other ones.Dave H.
I have the impression that my space is small for spreading them around the layout.Now about which part of US depens on the best plan found from you
Railroad wrote:I have the impression that my space is small for spreading them around the layout.Now about which part of US depens on the best plan found from you
I'm sorry to say that you have it absolutely backwards.
Your layout should come from your vision.
Your road name determines your era and location.
The era and location determine your industries and scenery.
Your industries are limited by available models and your scratch bashing skills.
The available models determine the type of track access you need.
The track access needs determine your layout design.
Something that might help is my beginner's guide to layout design. Click the link in my signature. It takes about 5 minutes to read.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Railroad wrote: Safety Valve wrote: I dont know. Looks like your industrial area needs to be inside that new benchwork loop that is under construction?You dont want a "Puzzle palace" In there. Your industrial buildings will have rail service docks or "Spots" on your track. You could put a switch off the main, run down into that area and into the railcar spots while arranging the buildings where you can get everything to fit.Do you know what industries you are using? Some industry heavy in the 30's aint around in the 70's and vice versa.And finally, do you have one industry? Or several smaller ones that will fit into that area? No use trying to shoe horn a gigantic steel mill into that tiny spot.No, my industrial area will be above that loop on another level.That loop is hidden.So that area is dedicated only for industries.I know it is not very big area so i believe that small industies should be better
No, my industrial area will be above that loop on another level.That loop is hidden.So that area is dedicated only for industries.I know it is not very big area so i believe that small industies should be better
Without getting too deep into this. I would argue that one big industry is more realistic than several small ones, depending on the era you're modeling. Modern era would have bigger industries. Consider a transloading center, a papermill or a railcar repair center. You don't have to have all the buildings on the layout and all three of those industries take a wide variety of cars. And the railcar repair center would take virtually everything you have on your layout, from ore jennies to tankcars to commuter bilevels.
Railroad, what I gather from the trackplan and the photo is that it is around five feet from the layout edge where you want your industries to the back wall. How do you plan on reaching the area to build your scenery and place your industries and more important, how do you plan to get to the trackwork at the wall for maintainence, etc? Or you planning a lift-out or drop-down section?
rayw46 wrote: Railroad, what I gather from the trackplan and the photo is that it is around five feet from the layout edge where you want your industries to the back wall. How do you plan on reaching the area to build your scenery and place your industries and more important, how do you plan to get to the trackwork at the wall for maintainence, etc? Or you planning a lift-out or drop-down section?
I am planning a lift out.If you see carefuly near to the corner there is a hole to the benchwork.
dehusman wrote: One challenge is that railroads are linear creatures and you have an almost square space. I would spread the industries around the layout rahter than make onindustrial "spot" in the middle.
I disagree. Industrial area of cities are usually not linear. There is often a group of industries with a sometimes chaotic set of sidings and spurs serving the industries.
Whatever.
In the space he has outlined he only has room for a "fan" of 2 or 3 tracks. Buy a couple switches and lay the tracks. Regardless of how you cut it that's about all he's gonna get. maybe 8 feet total space of spurs. So regardless of whether its one industry or 20 industries, all he has is at most 8 feet of track to fill with cars.
Since he doesn't seem to be concerned with what industries he has or what car mix or what era he has, just buy whatever Walther's Cornerstone kits fit on the footprint based on how he lays out the tracks.
SpaceMouse wrote: Railroad wrote:I have the impression that my space is small for spreading them around the layout.Now about which part of US depens on the best plan found from you I'm sorry to say that you have it absolutely backwards. Your layout should come from your vision.Your road name determines your era and location. The era and location determine your industries and scenery.Your industries are limited by available models and your scratch bashing skills.The available models determine the type of track access you need. The track access needs determine your layout design. Something that might help is my beginner's guide to layout design. Click the link in my signature. It takes about 5 minutes to read.
Here some infos.
I like Santa Fe railway, existing in era III , to the southwest.
Please enlighten me on your European way of seperating Railroad time sets by the words "Era"
The reason I ask is I dont know what Era III means.
Safety Valve wrote: Please enlighten me on your European way of seperating Railroad time sets by the words "Era"The reason I ask is I dont know what Era III means.
Yes,
Era I: Beginning to 1925 Era II: 1926 to 1945 Era III: 1946 to 1970Era V: 1971 to 1993Era IV: 1994 to present
So by Era III i mean around 1950.
dehusman wrote: In the space he has outlined he only has room for a "fan" of 2 or 3 tracks. Buy a couple switches and lay the tracks. Regardless of how you cut it that's about all he's gonna get.
What is in the area above the green area below where it says "1600"?
Railroad wrote:I have the impression that my space is small for spreading them around the layout.
Texas Zepher wrote: dehusman wrote: In the space he has outlined he only has room for a "fan" of 2 or 3 tracks. Buy a couple switches and lay the tracks. Regardless of how you cut it that's about all he's gonna get. I don't know, my first thought was a switchback back toward the larger area by the "wye". Seems like there are some good opportunites there, but also dictating the need for a run around, unless the wye itself is used for a run around..... What is in the area above the green area below where it says "1600"?
Between the green area and the above track there will be a popup for access to the corner.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
I can't help much with the design but that construction is first rate. Nice job!
Tom
Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!
Go Big Red!
PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"
I agree with a previous post: 43"x60" is not going to support a runaround track. But since there is a wye at the entrance to the industrial area, that is not a problem. It should probably have a long drill track on one side or the other, to hold the rest of the train.
Maybe a good track plan inside the industrial zone would be paired spurs that branch in opposite directions and curve away into or between buildings (is there a 3-way switch at your hobby store?).
If you want a Santa Fe 1950's layout, you will have a choice of landscapes and local industries. The railroad covered the area between Chicago IL, Houston TX, and Los Angeles CA. Since you mentioned liking a harbor, look into any of these three cities or think about a river port; the Mississippi River is navigable the entire distance where Santa Fe tracks are nearby. Almost anything made in America could be unloaded from a river barge and moved to whatever industries you have.
Think about industries that provide things people need but have a hard time moving around: grain silo and/or flour mill, house construction company (steel, insulation panels, lumber, electrical wire), tennis shoe factory <grin>, an appliance store's warehouse (refridgerators and TVs are the new 'in' thing), china plates &c factory, a meat packing plant (Americans eat GOOD). Maybe a piggyback ramp along the edge of the table.
Railroad wrote:No, my industrial area will be above that loop on another level.That loop is hidden.
Texas Zepher wrote: Railroad wrote:No, my industrial area will be above that loop on another level.That loop is hidden.So will the industrial area also have a "wye" entrance like this lower layer or just two tracks circling counter clockwise into this area? I am still not really understanding the area avaliable to work with.
Yes.The industial level will also have a wye.What you see in this photo is the lower level and all these tracks will be hidden when i will construct the upper level.
So in this plan you can see the upper level which is an independent construction.
It looks like you are planning to have it in the middle of the layout. You may regret that later. Its best to have major switching areas closeer to the edge so you can maintain it easier. Also if there is a derailment or you simply want to uncouple a car you will be reaching across scenery, structures, and the mainline. Imagine reaching in for any reason and a passing train strikes your armpit or belly.
Keep the action closer. I like your staging idea under and around the layout. Its easy to get to when closer to the edge.
John