Exactly what I'd do with the space. One of the best examples I've ever seen of this in a small place was... .... the desk layout above and below ... .... It is a basic... .... loop that doesn't ... .... look like one. A town, industries and country side in a very small area to boot. More pictures ..... https://www.reddit.com/r/modeltrains/comments/l35jqe/almost_done_with_my_desk_layout/#lightbox Another layout that had a lot in a fairly small space (can't remember how much) is GGNInNScale's layout. Been some time since I saw pictures and don't have a link to any but he put a lot into a small space and to me it seemed to all fit and had purpose. Maybe here or on a separate post he would post some pictures or links to some. Sumner
@Sumner - That desk layout is impressive! @Sumner and @BigJake - Y'all made a lot of good suggestions. The track plan below isn't done but it's all I'm gonna do tonight. I incorporated some of your ideas. Thoughts... Right now I still have the lift shown but it's optional. Well, sort of. It's optional for running trains on the mainline. It's not very optional if I wanna use the yard. Still pondering this. Not sure how to work the yard without a long yard lead, though I might be able to work one in on the other side. Door - Good thoughts on removing or making it a rolling door. I like the idea of doing that and making the closet its own scene. Yard - My original intent was to use the closet for hidden staging and have a small yard on the layout. Maybe I'll still do that. I have to stare at it for a while and decide where the best place for a yard might be. One side or another will likely be a small town/city, so maybe a yard could go there. Just gotta figure out how to fit something in. Dogbone with Reversing Loops - Not gonna lie...reversing loops kinda scare me because I don't know how to wire them. I do like the idea of turning whole trains around though so I'll figure that part out. Another option is a long passing siding and just running the engines around the train to switch directions. Thanks for the input. It's always welcome.
I'm starting to like this plan a lot! Not that it still can't be improved... I suggest flipping the yard left-to-right in the closet, so that "Broadway" (the back-back ladders) is directly connected to the left side of the layout. This would make the lift-out far less critical, and perhaps even dispensable, given the full, folded-dogbone topology you have now. But that would also eliminate that nifty double crossover/slip. Truthfully, expensive trackwork like that was only undertaken when space constraints required it. For example, where extra real estate for less expensive trackwork either did not exist or was too expensive (often in urban environments.) I would also move the turntable to the center back of the closet, since where it is now is very hidden and there's no room for a round-house. Without a round-house, wyes were more typically used for turning locomotives, since they are far simpler and cheaper (but required more real-estate). I would also move the left side reversing track outside the mountain. Tunnels are expensive, so it is unrealistic to create one that really does not need to exist with only a slight realignment of the track. If you really want the tunnel, then make the terrain demand it.
I'm somewhat fond of that nifty little double crossover/slip. It's kind of hard to tell in the screen shot, but that's actually six different components. A 22.5 degree crossing (red), four switches (green), and two connection tracks (orange). There are double crossovers available in the program I'm using but the geometry didn't work out as well using them. In theory, two trains could go through this at the same time if the switches were thrown right. Great suggestions again from you and @Sumner. More to come. I'm at work right now and my layout software is on my home computer, so for now all I can do is read and ponder.
I've looked at building one of those. Fast Tracks has a template... https://handlaidtrack.com/wp-content/uploads/tt-n-s-6.pdf?v=7516fd43adaa ... but only one train at a time . It wouldn't be an easy build so I won't do one unless I really need to. Did so something similar.... https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Trackwork/page-53.html .... and not sure I'll do another one of those either Sumner
I use a Unitrack double crossover in my Spaghetti & Western plan*. The four approaches are parallel, not converging. Whole lotta frogs in a small space! They sure can solve traffic problems when you don't have a lot of space. When space allows, railroads use less compact arrangements (two opposing single crossovers in tandem) that are easier (=cheaper) to build and maintain. *Just when I'm about to start unpacking my trainroom boxes after our move, the ceiling light fixture starts flickering. In the process of investigating that, the entire electrical ceiling box (made of bakelite?) begins to crumble away at the mere touch of it! Ugh. At least now I can replace that with a box that will support a ceiling fan. A new fan-rated ceiling box will be delivered tomorrow from HD.
Not sure I'm ready to take on hand laying track just yet! Maybe someday! Here's a clearer shot of my non-hand laid nifty little arrangement though...
I didn't make any changes to the yard yet but I did mess around with @Sumner's double reversing loop idea (which can also act as a siding or two the way I have it now). I'm using mountains/hills/tunnels to sort of hide the spaghetti bowl effect in places or sharp curves in other places (I was hoping for a 24" minimum radius but had to go down to 18 inches at the lower left end of the dog bone). I have some 20 inch radius as well but I think it will look fine. Gonna digest this a bit and then start tweaking on the yard.
Here's an alternate yard idea I'm toying around with. I'm not a huge fan of curved yards and this would make this town a bit more of a railroad town than I had envisioned, but with the rest of the layout being mostly rural maybe that's not a bad thing. With this I could probably eliminate the closet yard entirely or keep it as hidden staging to bring new trains into the layout. Or I suppose it could make it a different scene...maybe a coal operation or something.
Yep, not going to be doing much coupling, uncoupling on those curves. I meant to post the image in my prior post earlier but just realize a minute ago that I hadn't hit the 'post button'. Your latest with the yard in/by the town will have the same consequences on the reversing section as long as the tracks go to that outer loop track that continues down on the right side of the town. I'd enlarge the opening to the closet (probably not hard to do at all) and keep at least one yard there and look for another option like you had earlier for a yard on the left side if you want another one and the long reversing track could be on the back side of it. Sometimes less is more and there is always the future to change things. Sumner
The other point about reversing the direction of the yard ladder in the closet is that the current yard orientation puts the yard lead on the lift-out. I can foresee a mad scramble to clear a long train spanning the lift-out, for a dash to the bathroom by the operator. Might not end too well. Especially if there is a derailment in the train your trying to pull out of the yard and across the lift-out. Flip the yard lead/tree direction left-right, and now the lead is on terra firma and not blocking your path to the toilet. But maybe you're not old enough to worry too much about that yet.
Couple of new configurations taking into @Sumner and @BigJake 's comments. Both can work with or without the optional lift out (at this point I've got it as a separate layer so I can hide it or unhide it as needed). But the way, to Jake's point...I'm 47 and capable of just ducking under that thing if I need to get out in a hurry, but I suppose one of these days it will be more challenging. I'm pondering on whether I want to enlarge the closet opening as Sumer suggested. It wouldn't be hard to do. Just not sure if I want to. For purposes of this layout it would be better to open it up. For purposes of selling my house someday there are pros and cons both ways. One with coal in the closet and no yard (lift out hidden)... And one with a yard in the closet (lift out shown)...
How about expanding the closet to the same size as the room, then removing the wall and door altogether. If you sell your house, you can buy a free-standing wardrobe to replace the closet. Just a thought...
I've built the last three houses I've lived in, living in the third now and hopefully till the end. I've built them all to my/our needs and they haven't been real traditional and had no problems selling the other two. It would take about 2 seconds for me to consider opening up the closet. If it is that long with only one door making the opening longer and putting in bi-fold doors down the road would probably constitute an upgrade. I think you are close to starting bench-work . A couple ideas, minor ones and I think the tracks I did in blue and red would be the reversing sections as it is laid out now and probably before.
Great thought but there's no room for expansion on either side. The right side has a small hall closet and the left side is laundry room.
This looks very similar to the zoomed in photo I posted above. Is there a significant difference I'm missing?
