Looking for some critiquing of my shelf layout track plan...

[Anonymous]

I'm working on a track plan for my shelf layout.

My goals are:

1) Continuous running and switching allowed at the same time.
I achieved this by allowing a train to "roll by" on the yellow interchange track (SF) line while switching off the red (SP) main, or vice versa.

2) Narrow scene - no seeing trains "turn around". This is achieved with the removable "loop" that is completely unscenicked. I want to make it as light as possible so that it sets up & tears down very quickly.

3) Lots of City scenery - I will cram the area in the back with buildings, flats, paving (lot's of track in the pavement), etc.

The layout is 2.5ft deep by 12ft long - not including the return loop.

The two tracks at the lower left are spurs where the SP will dump off cars for the SF. I have no idea if that makes prototypical sense or not, but it makes sense to me[:D]

Any advice from the pro's?

(Note the small line segment at the bottom left of the first picture is the length of a 50' boxcar).

[rtraincollector]

For some reason your pics aren't showing up for me on my putor. (its old so it may be my purtor not your doing . was interested thou as I'm building a shelf layout myself in my office/room that will go completely around the room at about 10" down from ceiling but I'm trying to decied either just lionel O gauge or HO or both my decision depends on what I do both just a big loop of each O gauge I can put a set of switches in and maske dead track and trips to run 2 trains and let one sit while the other is going.

[Anonymous]

Little squares with red "x"s in them - quite the layout!

Bob Boudreau [:D]

[Anonymous]

CARRfan, I can't see your pictures, either.

CARRfan, how wide is your shelf going to be?

-Dan

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the pic glitches folks - I figured it out...

NOW, check it out please...

[soumodeler]

Looks good to me. If I could add one thing to the plan I would extend the ends all the way to the walls (if possible, or to one wall if an entry is in the way). This will give you some more room to add buildings that are not served by rail, such as downtown office buildings. The tracks can enter a tunnel that goes under the city (cant remember the MR issue it was in). Paint the inside black and you can't tell the tracks curve. Adds lots of room for full buildings and great detail scenes. Also check out Building City Scenery for your Model Railroad, a book from MR.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!

[CNJ831]

CARR - I think you are going to get into trouble attempting to create a believably dense urban scene with all that track, street-running or not. To achieve any sense of reality you'll need at least three layers of structures in addition to any paper buildings ypou might have on the backdrop. All that track certainly isn't going to allow this unless the track is running through and under buildings (often a poor idea). I'd suggest simplifying your trackplan somewhat and building a 1/4-inch to the foot mock-up to see how things (particular buildings) can actually fit in.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

CNJ831 - Thanks for the tips. I may very well have to live with less city modeling in order to keep the amount of track I have for interesting switching.

As for a mockup, being a CAD freak, I'll likely model it up in 3D to see how things layout.(my trackplan shown above is very rough in 2D to get some opinions on the track plan).

This won't give me as good of a feeling as an actual mockup, but since I use CAD day in & day out, I'm relatively used to the real life vs. CAD transition.

My inspiration for this layout includes David Barrow's modules (I may bust mine up into two 6ft sections for dragging it outside for pictures, future moving, etc.), as well as many other small shelf layouts that have been in MR over the years.

David Barrow seems to get A LOT of track on his modules. I'm not quite going for that much so that I could have more buildings, etc.

[nfmisso]

CARR;

Pickup a copy of "Model Railroad Planning 2005", take a look at pages 50 & 51.

[Anonymous]

nfmisso,

Looking at pages 50 & 51 in MRP 2005... is there something in particular you're pointing out?

That is a cool little layout - and it partially served as inspiration for the track plan I've shown above. I like the way it gets away with extensive use of the backdrop to create a big city feel.

Another layout that's serving as a big inspiration is the layout in Feb 2005 MR - "Big City Railroad in a Room". That layout is so awesome!!! That is the type of layout I'm going for, with the addition of continuous running.

[Anonymous]

How about some tips folks?

A question for those with a lot of switching experience: Do you feel there are enough sidings (that will have industries) to keep switching interesting for 20 minutes or so at a time?

Keep in mind there will also be a train "orbiting" on the main that I could have stop occasionally, pick up & drop off cars, etc.

Thanks...