I am preparing to build a fairly large basement layout. I have gone through well over 100 different designs and settled on one. However, I keep feeling like I'm not making the best use of space available. Here is the Lower Level (Click to Enlarge): Upper Level: My railroad is a freelanced regional carrier base in the early 1970's in the Southern and Central part of West Virginia. Primarily a coal hauler with plenty of steel, manufacturing and chemical traffic. Also features bridge traffic from the PC and N&W. My design is a two-level layout that mostly runs around the walls from point-to-point. The current track plan is of a nolix design, but if I proceed with this design, I believe I will be building a helix instead to maximize scenic space around Big Chimney and Elkview. The basement ceiling is about 86" and 80" at the center beam and lowest ductwork, so a mushroom design may be out of the question. I feel like I'm not maximizing the available space, especially in the area of staging yards. Questions, critiques, changes all accepted. I am also attaching a blank floor plan in case somebody wants to try sketching something totally different. I'm an open book, thanks in advance for your input!
NOTE: The length of staging tracks and the classification yard at Charleston are based upon 50' car lengths with a maximum train length of 24 cars. I would like to have freight trains to typically be around 20 cars and coal trains at 24, as hoppers tend to be shorter.
UPDATE: I made some small changes on the lower level; adding the helix between Big Chimney and Elkview, as well as building in a pair of turn backs so that I had the option of continuous running for the kids to be entertained. I also managed to work in a 6'3" stone arch bridge that was bought from a friend of a friend from the estate of a Pennsy modeler who had passed a few years back. At the Upper Level, I rearranged Elkview and the mile at Wills. I also redesigned all of the track work at Spencer and Grantsville. It seems to have better flow, I didn't note any elevation changes here, but the grade should climb just a little over 1% from Speed, clockwise through Spencer and gain about 4-1/2" of elevation before reaching Grantsville and leveling off into staging. To minimize the helix, there is a 2% grade from Big Chimney into the helix from the lower level and around 1% from the helix to Wills on the upper level. I did start from scratch on a whole new plan, but stopped when I realized I needed three helices to split up staging. I don't think so, scooter!
Sometimes you just need to say: "That's enough designing" and just start building! During the process of building it will probably come to light that a change of something might make sense. Be ready to make that change, because it will make your design even better. I have given your design a cursory look and it appears to be an interesting design. It is a point to point, so no continuous running is planed. It also appears to have plenty of industries providing for operating interest. Have at'r and have fun!
I can say with a great degree of confidence that I have absolutely way over-thought the track plan. Heck, I even made a schedule and typed up all of the waybills! Unfortunately, there are about 12-15 more steps I have to take before I can focus on construction, but hopefully I can make some headway soon!
