This is another of my layout design "talks." If you are like me, when you finally get that new room holding potential for a larger layout; track plans - like sugar plum fairies - dance in your head. You plan to have this, this, and some of that, and maybe some of this stuff over there. You can visualize the train running, the beautiful scenery, no flaws in your track work - in other words - layout paradise. Maybe the theme changes, first a port area, then a maybe a change to a classification yard instead, but you will have intermodal, granaries, automobile loading, oil yards, bulk transfers, interchanges and junctions, tunnels and bridges, signals and computers, animation and sound. No doubt about it, this is one of the best times in the layout design process - no reality - but instead lots of fiction in the dreamer's wishes. I find reality is a demanding Mistress. First, the BIG decision - minimum curves. Well we all want 35 inch curves on our N scale layout, but our layout areas soon glare with their demands for smaller curves. So slowly the curve radius drops and drops and drops. And instead of those wonderful sweeping curves, you are staring 17 inch curves in the face. Then the next biggie - double decked or single, or three decks. Now here reality sets in, the room is smaller than you would like and you want an empire. You definitely prefer single decked layouts, but to get that layout empire, double decked it will be - maybe even a third for staging. Reversing loops - didn't want em, but I got em! Inaccessible areas - nope not me - others may do that but I'm far to smart for that. Well I have a couple of hard to reach areas now, hope no one notices. And now the track plan as I draw it on the benchwork, getting ready to lay the track definitely resembles what I start with, but with modifications. I get some good surprises, and some not so good surprises. The good news is that I have more space in an area than I thought which is great, my passenger station and tracks can go there. The bad news, well one area that I thought could house a couple of industries is being eaten up by one. And so it goes, fantasy then reality. Had to scale back the industries I planned on. I had to accept there would be one area of hidden track (planning a tv camera there) were I didn't want any hidden track. Of course, I'm trying to co-ordinate all of this with opps I am planning, working a track that isn't up yet. But I wouldn't have it any other way, better the realities of laid track than the fantasies of the arm chair.
As I continue to slowly finish my basement, I've made numerous alterations to what might be accomplished with the proposed empire. Limitations have been defined by two critical influences: Space available and it's shape. Plus the ever infamous wallet, with it's limited capacity. Boxcab E50 [ 15. May 2003, 17:36: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
I know what you guys mean! I started out designing a proto layout and found if I make it like it really was it would be totally boreing. So I have to take a little modeling privledge and add extra buisnesses and track. Oh well, I would rather have a nice operational railroad than a boring prototypical one!!! I will be keeping all the town names and the double track main, so it won't all be fantasy.
Hi everyone, I think I am going through the same problems as the rest of you. I am in the process of moving from Philadelphia to Houston. I was able to secure rights to a spare bedroom in our new house as a model train room (I have a very understanding wife and there are no basements in Houston). I am struggling with what is the best way to use the available space, which must include allowance for access to the bedroom door, two closets, and an access door to the part of the attic which has the hot water heaters. The ideas I see in here are helpful. I am also struggling with what it is I want to do with this layout. My thoughts are ranging from a modern era switching layout to a late 19th century narrow gauge. Any thoughts or ideas will be appreciated on this.
Rick, This is so very true. Like Don, I have just moved and I face almost all these decisions. I have a 5.5X12 space (plus some additional space in a tapering roof area) and I am toying with how to maximize my space. Looks like a "less-than-minimum radius" helix down to second level staging if I can squeeze the helix in. But, I guess this is why these design elements have evolved, people in the same situation trying to cheat the gods of small spaces.
Don and Doug, Why don't you post your room area, clearly marking out doors, windows, and obstacles and do a rought plan (remembering to state what scale you are in) and let others help you out here.
Don, as to the tapering Roof area, I can tell you what i did.I had an area where 2 roofs met creating a valley in a 1 1/2 story house.Of course it was in a corner of the room.So, i built an L shaped workbench in this area.The layout starts at the end of the eorkbench and i will be running my RIP track directly to my workbench on a narrow shelf.I was also thinking of using a turnout and putting another line inKind os like a siding and using it as a test track.The area works great for a bench and would be a nightmare for anything but. Hope this gives you ideas. Tileguy (Todd)
I hear you! I have a very understanding wife, and she granted me a spare bedroom for my layout. I have a similar problem: window, closet, etc. I have removable doors,a nd no protruding walls in my closet, so it too, is being utilized. Here's my layout space, and the most current plan.
Hey Hemi, You could get much more railroading out of that space if you wrapped a "dogbone" around that room with the turnaround loops for each end straddling the doorway. You could even extend a small penninsula into the center of the layout diagonally from the upper left corner of the room. It could be used for some sort of branch line operation or a mountain division........ You could hide the endloops of the dogbone and have two decent sized terminals over them........ Martin
I could, but the loops, with my min radius of 18 for all curves, would end up eating 40+ inches of room space... I have a liftout planned for cont. operations. I have to keep it simple, as this is a Government house (I'm in the USAF). Also, my workbench area will not fit under the benchwork, so it will remain in the middle of the room.
