Hey So I have come up with a rough plan for my L-Shaped layout and I was wondering if people could take a look and give me some tips on how to make this plan better. It is a 10' x 2.5' down the side of the paper and 5.5' x 2.5' along the top... don't know if the dimensions are visible. I don't know how to insert the image to this post so it is attached. Some things about the layout - lumber/logging industry. - HO scale - modern era - min rad. - 30" (is this possible?) - turnouts #8 (is this possible?) I would like maybe to install an area where I could have a MOW outpost but I don't want to have spaghetti layout so I would like to keep the track to reasonable amount. If you need other info... just let me know. Thanks in advance for the help. Cheers!!
No, you can't get 30" curves with the track configuration shown. Why would you need to? You'll probably only have 4-axle power and not the longest cars.
fair enough... I guess I really want a 30" rad on the dual main line for sure. "why?" - I am not modelling a certain prototype so I would like to be able to put a six axle on the track. So I'll play around with it till I find something that works... I was talking with some fellow train nuts at the LHS and they suggested that I added a angle piece to the corner that way I'll be able to pull the main line closer to the edge... I liked the idea so I'll sketch a revised plan and post...
I like your start. You actually could have 30" radius curves if you steeped up to N scale (just kidding). Since you're doing a point to point, make sure you're leaving enough room on the ends after the turnouts for your locos to do a run around move to go the other way. You should be able to use nuber six turnouts off the main and number 5's onto the spurs. You might be able to get away with 5's off the main and 4's on the spurs. If you're using code 55 rail it would probally work and look fine. You've got a good basic setup and with a little tweaking you should have good operational potential with what your starting with.
Revised Track Plan Opinions... is there anything that sticks out that could cause me some grief?? Thanx
Maybe I am misinterpretation the drawing but there does seem to be a over use of of double cross overs. they - seem - out of place in the layout and I don't think they would fit. Basically the turnouts used are not to scale. I could be wrong.
Riverotter - I see what you're saying... that can be changed. Grey One - I agree with the double crossovers i saw that after i posted it on this site and yes my turnouts are not to scale... do you know a trick to drawing them to scale?? I was hoping to use peco code 83 # 6 turnouts does this make sense or is this not possible?? I believe that the turnout going to the furniture warehouse and the turnouts by the pulpmill and sawmill are going to be the trouble turnouts, but my furniture warehouse could go at more of an angle to fit in a # 6?? I realize that it was one thing to put liines on a paper and to actually make it work in reality which is why I need some help with this. Any suggestions on how I could make this work?? Do I need to rearrange how my industries are set up?? Thanx Thanx
I would also be a little concerned with the reach back to the sawmill if a lot of switching will take place there.
Brain is processing information... lol... back to the revising board for this plan. Thanx for the input... new plan should be up later today if all goes well. Cheers
I saw the revised plan. Nice job. I noticed at the bottom on the layout your note "one more train". Is this the room for the engine to run around after switching? Do you have Atlas RR software of Xtrak CAD? That will put eveything in check and tell you grades and what you need.
Alright here is the revised plan... I changed the mainline so that it is a single line... Also the sawmill is switched around (I have a long reach so I am not to worried about the position it is in now. The only concern I have is that the furniture and newspaper area are to close together... am I trying to put to much industry in a small area or are there ways to maximize the space that I have... Opinions on revised plan would be great... Thanx
Shorten the town. Or, put the line to the furniture plant behin or through the town a little more towards the back.
One more train - room for one train so that I am able to move a loco down the mainline to get onto the other side of a set of cars... don't know how prototypical this is but more just so I am able to move around on the layout. I do have Xtrak CAD and the Atlas software... I find them both difficult to use... I guess it is just a matter of learning the program. It is easier for me to just draw it up on paper to scale... this new plan is close to scale the only area that isn't really is by the sawmill and the furniture and newspaper industries... still thinking on how I want to have them positioned. Any ideas???
For the purposes of your model railroad, I would only be concerned about the furniture and newspaper areas if you envision yourself as unable to fit the railcars that you want to use to serve them in those places. I guess what we should ask is how long those railcars are and how many you are planning on leaving at these industries. You can always employ some selective compression on the buildings and such if need be. the other thing you can do is move the spur for the furniture a little bit "up" the plan and have it go through the edge of the town. Maybe you could have it do some street running even. This plan is looking really good. I am excited to see how this project proceeds.
I hear you on this one, but for a different reason. I find these programs not too difficult, but boy howdy do I get sick of working on computers at the end of my week - CAD being sometimes what I do for most of my 40. To get around that, as your plan develops I would suggest getting some butcher paper so that you can draw the plan out full-size. If you have a couple of the key pieces, such as a sample turnout of the sizes you plan on using, you can make sure that you're not "cheating" on the sizes and making something that is essentially unbuildable. You can also then check your key radius measurements, or, if you have a honkin' huge compass, draw them to the radius that you want to have and make the rest fit.
Plan #3 I think I need to put the lumber yard spur should come off of the track that leads to the sawmill.
Paper dolls Tyler, I would suggest doing what a friend did, he resorted to paper dolls as I call them. Let me explain he bought 1 right hand and 1 left hand switch, (he models in N but it dosen't matter) Then he got a big cardboard box and cut it up into the shape of his bench work. I thought he was crazy until I saw it first hand, no room for guessing, he zeroxed about a dozen of the switches and cut them out and tack glued them where he wanted them then drew in lines between them. He was even able to figure out how much flex track he needed. I drew about 12 plans for him using Right track and he just couldn't get it, he's not dumb by any means, just more of a 'hands on' type. Here's the kicker, he layed the track and it ran flawlessly, not one tweak or glitch, must be something to it!! He even made mock ups of the structures he ended up using so his sidings were correct. Just a tip 2slim
