Trying to come up with a simple Ag layout but simple/Ag = boring operation really. It's going to be based on some historic buildings in my small farm town but with some more entertaining switching operations. I came up with this one and would love some input.
I'm glad to at least see the slight "s" curve. That gives a bit of a break in what could be all parallel tracks. My only concern with these designs is how so often many have the tracks following the straight lines of the benchwork sides.
That's one concern of mine as well. I tried all different options with curves but it restricted operations a lot and I ended up with just two or three turnouts and one mainline. But in the end, a small farm community is going to be simple that way as well.
Here's something that's not so "parallel". It's small enough that hopefully it won't ever get 'in the way' and I won't get too discouraged through the process and I can finally complete it.
This looks much better. Will allow for more interesting placement of your structures, plus eliminates those two single car stubs.
Keep thinking and designing. I went through at least 10 iterations of my Weaver Junction before I settled on the final "final" plan. It looks nothing like the original and is also much better. The folks here on TB are the best
Assuming that the train has to come from somewhere and that this wouldn't be the end of a branchline, you might consider extending the track at #1 to the end of the module so it simulates the mainline, using a different color ballast. The green dashed line is the main. My other concern is the short length of the tail track at #2.
You also have the option of eliminating the switchback at the top and just treating that as a spur. That's probably more realistic for an agricultural community and you could put a town/scenery along the backdrop.
I like your second option a bit better. I was actually thinking of the top long straightaway as the mainline in the background, but perhaps the dashed green line would better represent a mainline running through the middle of town...
That option provides a run-around track. There was a Gordon Odegard layout back in the 70s, the New Lisbon module, that might provide some inspiration. (Model Railroader, October 1976). I had used it as inspiration for a branchline, but mine was a bit wider and the mainline turned and looped behind the backdrop.
I've decided to extend it to 8' long now. It makes sense for where it'll go. That extra 2 feet really changes things up a bit now. Should I make a double mainline in the back and the little farm main up front? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
What are you going to do w/ those tracks, especially the switchback? The right end looks like it can only hold 1-2 cars & a short loco. Looks like only the spur on the right will have anything on it to be switched. The yard has 5 spurs but looks like it can only hold about 10 cars since they are so short. Don't worry about having the tracks following the edge of the layout since it's only 1' wide. Get rid of the curves & the yard can be longer. Take a look at some aerial pix of some Ag towns & you'll see most of them have straight tracks. You can find a lot of aerials on Google maps. Most spurs & sidings parallel the mainline if the customer didn't request otherwise. What kinds of Ag products are you going to have on your layout. If you have grain, produce & livestock you could have boxcars, covered hoppers, reefers & stock cars. Those cars can be used to take stock to packing plants &/or back & forth to grazing areas.
I think the track density would be too much for an agricultural setting, but it's your layout. If it were me, I wouldn't add any more trackwork complexity. If there was any way to add a dropdown or clamped on extension for the single track on the bottom right to a turnout leading to a two track yard, you'd be able to have a freight come in, drop a few cars to interchange, and then have a switcher work the sidings. The freight would pick up cars and then exit the scene. I think that could provide a good deal of interest.
FiveFlat Here's a few revisions to your plan. Straightened out most of your spurs & mainline on left side. You should be able to fit in a few more switching spots now. You don't have to build them all at once. Do some more research on Ag switching to find out what you want to put on your layout. It's your layout so do what YOU want! The two spot on right side could be grain or produce. If grain the hoppers could be loaded on both spurs. If produce the reefers on out side track can be loaded w/ bridge plates between the cars.
What got me motivated to make this smaller shelf layout was MC Fujiwara's Summer Shunting thread. http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/summer-shunting-shelf-project.57765/ He has a very nice layout in a small space. I wanted to represent more agriculture in my local town but if I tried to truly represent it, I would have a single straight track and one parallel spur, that's no fun in my opinion. one or two cars on a spur is what I visioned...
I often repeat myself a lot on train board and I am by no means an expert. But my small amount of experience has led me to think in terms of actually laying track out and placing buildings on a layout. Structures are like mountainous landscape on a small layout. Their size and shape may dictate how your track has to flow. If you have track on hand try laying some out and seeing how it feels actually on the layout area. If you are doing a foam base you can use sewing pins to hold it in place and even do some test running.
I like this version for what it's worth, but like to have the main follow the straight side of the turnouts so the main in my opinion would be the track on the bottom. I'd as long extend your siding tracks to as close as possible to the ends and use creative scenery to hide the edges. Hope that's clear as mud. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
