A couple years ago I had plans for a really awesome layout, but I kept putting it off and putting it off. It was a little bit more of a challenge that I think I'm ready for (or maybe it's motivated for) and I am going to try again. This is what I've got so far. It's based off of Reid Gap RR (an HO layout from MRR - 2011). It will be a mountain type layout, steam-transition era in N scale. I am hoping to get the "mainline" circle up and running quickly so I can run some trains and then go from there, adding turnouts for the long siding, etc.
Couple thoughts: The passing track is long. Assuming you aren't running trains that stretch halfway around the layout, you don't need it. It'll make runaround moves for switching the small yard unnecessarily long. Considering how long that siding is already... Do you want a single-track layout? By dropping the branch radius, you could have a double main. The branch doesn't lead to anything.
Triplex, thanks for the feedback. I am sorry in that I failed to mention that the branch that elevates and goes off the layout is where I plan to put cassettes (initially). It will also serve to be my "practice" at working with elevations. My main interest is working on scenery, taking photos while trains are running and things like that. I figured a small yard was a decent start and the branch to off the layout would provide an option for somewhat realistic operations should I decide to go that route. Your point about the siding being overly long IS valid. I don't need all of that just to get to that branch that goes off the layout. Perhaps if I make the outer track the mainline to future expansion/cassette/whatever and the inner track could be shortened for better use but still keep a roundy-round. Funny, those first comments always remind the initial poster what they FORGOT to mention. Oh, and I want to keep a minimum radius of 15". I'll make some changes tonight and repost. Thanks again! Greg
I'd say, get the layout done, using whatever suggestions from the forum, perfect it as best you can, and benefit from the experience. After getting your feet wet, you'll get new ideas, and build an improved version of the first one, even using much of the same materials. Myself, I might have suggested trying some sort of over-and-under main line and, although it may make for interesting routes, it might be a little challenging for the first try. Get a simple layout done, enjoy it, and see how it goes. Next, an "improved" version.
Jay, I totally agree! I am really liking this second version after considering feedback from Triplex, I think I now have more flexibility to add to the layout in the future in the upper right section as the mainline is elevating on the outside track instead of the inside. It will also make building & access to trains easier now that the track won't be under a mountain. I'm sure I could do some work on the yard, but I think I'll see how it goes as I build it. The base table is already up and I'm making some cutouts to see how it's going to look. Hopefully once I confirm the design I can get an oval running in a day or two and start making some noise with my Challenger. Getting excited! Motivated to put some track down. Thanks Jay and Triplex. Greg
After spending some time laying things out and visualizing, I've made a few more changes and I think I'm going to lock this design down and start building. I moved the turnout dividing to the cassettes to the "front" of the layout, as the back will be up against the wall most of the time. I'll start elevating the track a little earlier in the turn so I shouldn't have any issues with it going over the "mainline" in the front right. Now it's time to get to work! I'll start another thread in a day or two to capture the beginning of the build and whatnot. If anyone has any input/suggestions please feel free. If anything I can make changes on the fly if it's really necessary or I'll just live with what I've got for a while. Have a great day! Greg
Had one revision, my mistake on the wavy turnouts on the bottom left. I also added where I plan to put the backdrop (blue line), mountains (green lines) and bridge (black lines). I should have some photos of the beginning of the build tonight.
My instinct (but I tend to favor track/operation-heavy plans)... Now that you've got a significant portion of the branch at sufficient elevation to clear the level-0 tracks, I'd change the scenery. Shorter bridge. If the end of the branch is supposed to be in a tunnel, I'd change that. Then there's room for a short runaround and a spur, and you could have an industry on the branch and not just the cassette interchange.
I like the way this is going. The bridge over the yard throat will be really interesting and will take some special work. Not so much difficult to build as uncommon to design. One obvious place to put a pier on the branch line with be right on top of the track below-- and of course you can't do that. What engineering types do is to STRADDLE the track below with two uprights. The uprights hold a cross piece on which the end of a bridge span is supported. A lot of threads will tell you that curved elevated tracks are usually supported on a series of spans that are straight segmemts, not curved. This goes well beyond that, and may easily take as many as three overtrack girders with offset piers holding the ends of bridge segments. This will create a scene at the front of the layout that outdoes the grade separation on John Allen's famous original Gorre and Daphetid. One other suggestion. If you have the yard coming off into the lobe at the right end of the plan instead of the left end, a loco can make up a train longer than any one of the yard tracks or the runaround, and run it clockwise to run around the loop and then continue forward directly onto the branch line. The train can be "reversed" by using cassette staging to turn the direction of an entire train, like an out and back passenger run, or my running an uphill train of "empties" onto a cassette to represent an unmodeled mine, and moving the loco onto a cassette of "loads" ready to come downhill.
Triplex, completely agree with your points. There is lots of space up there for a spur, run-around, etc. The Reid Gap RR this layout was inspired by has those very elements. I'll be the first to admit that my understanding of how to design for realistic operation is fairly limited (hmm, zero isn't a "limit"). So, any suggestions for operation are greatly appreciated! Ken, I will admit that I need to do some further research on how to best address the bridge span. I'm thinking I may actually carry the mountain on the right further, or possibly all the way, towards the "front" of the layout. To your point, it's a pretty long span. I took a look at MMR Jan 2012, there is another RR they built. A 4'x8' HO layout, The Virginian, that is very similar to this layout. I'm reviewing to see what I might be able to incorporate from that to get a better design. I think I follow your suggestion, not sure exactly how I would execute (so, maybe I don't quite follow). I do consider the area to the right to also be future expansion area, just a matter of what. I'm resisting the temptation to complicate the layout and delay getting something started. That said, here is my first photo: This is what remains of my experiment. I will be pulling up the last of this track and putting down roadbed, then laying the track again and hopefully get an oval built before the weekend. Have a great evening! Greg
Well, I did make some progress but not quite what I hoped for... I ran into an issue with pink foam I had put down for a previous layout, some had come a little bit loose so I was going to just going to squirt a little glue under the foam and figured that would do it. Not exactly: With a little lifting, it just popped right off. That lead me to start investigating other pieces and before I knew it a decent sized portion of the layout needed to be pulled up and re-glued: Took some time to cleanup, then get it re-glued (ensuring it's FOAM safe this time). It's done now and got some roadbed laid down, no track however. Will be a couple busy evenings this week which will hopefully result in having some track down that I can run a train on. I'll start a new thread tomorrow with what I've done since I took the photos above and to chart progress on my first layout in N scale. Wish me luck! Greg
