Hi Guys: I would like to get some input from you guys here on what I have so far. I am new with the Atlas track planner so I could use some help . I am trying to get something ready for Ricks party!!!! The area I have is 36" X 8' X 29" X 8' I do know that at the bottom I have two tracks that do not line up. Flex will take care of that. The yard will have a divider . I do have this posted on Atlas as well Thanks UP Mike
UP Mike, Below is a layout I planned on paper (and built the benchwork for) and then decided to scrap because I wanted something bigger. However, what you have above is VERY similar to what I planned on doing. I'm certainly not saying it's better than what you've got, but I thought it might be something you're interested in or could get ideas from. I had planned to have the hidden staging behind a backdrop so that it would not be seen....kind of like what you are doing with your divider. If you're interested I can probably e-mail the RTS file to you. I don't know how to do that but I think it can be done. I have about eight different variations of this plan (I never could make up my mind what I wanted). Let me know if you're interested in seeing any of them.
Now....to comment on your plan. The first thing that jumps out at me is that you don't really have anywhere to turn a train around. I suppose if you're running MU consists then you can pull the train into the siding and run the units around to the other end. Aside from that, they can pretty much only go one direction. On that note, how many trains do you want to run at a time? With what you have, I can see one train running continously on the mainline, another one switching the industry and possibly a third switching in the yard. If you can find a way to turn the stub ended yard into a through yard I think you'd like it better operationally. Overall, I think you could have some fun with your track plan....which IS what it's all about, right??
Mike- What you have, is a solid basic "L" shape plan. Many a happy and successful empire has been a similar format. I would agree with Hoss about the stub ended yard. If you can somehow make it a t hrough version. The track plan Hoss came up with was talked about quite a bit. It took a while to evolve into the form shown. But the end result sure looks good! From what I can see in the pictures, you have a nice, empty room in which to build the layout. Boxcab E50
Mike I saw your plan and thought I was looking at another revision of Hoss's plan. Hoss has done a good job of designing a track plan for his space, maybe you can get inspiration from Hoss's plan.
Thanks Guys: Hoss yes send me some track plans I might get some Ideas from those. here was my first plan which had a run through yard that I liked. But the rest of the layout needed a twist. I might go back to the other yard and put a twist in the rest of my plan. I want to have 1 yard person and maybe two for the mainline operations. The problem I have is if the yard is ground level then when I come out of the backdrop to the other side of layout It will still be at ground level. With the back part of layout next to the wall I wanted to add a 2" rise coming out of backdrop. I hope I made myself clear Anyways any help would be great Guys!!!!
Mike, if you'll give me your e-mail address I can try to send you some of my files for that layout I was planning tonight. I'm not sure exactly how to do this, but I think it can be done.
