Hey All! I've been struggling with a design for a switching layout; constantly deciding exactly what I want then changing my mind.... However, I think I'm done - for now. I've attached an initial plan for my layout, it consists of two (2) 1' by 4' modules and a single corner (made up of two 1' squares on each side of an 18" module). Currently the design of module C (the 2nd 1'x4' module) is incomplete and only a portion of it is shown. The red line indicates a view block hiding 4' of "fiddle track" and hidden staging (representing an interchange with SP). This will be an urban setting, and operationally traffic will move onto the layout from hidden storage into the small interchange yard and moved out to the industries (mostly on module C). (sorry for the crude drawing, I'm working on a new version. The grey area indicates an overpass that hides the fairly sharp curve and the entrance to hidden staging. I'm likely to tweak the angles still (the engine service facility may be pushed back a bit and is one open track and a single track building such as those made by Pikestuff). The top and bottom-most tracks on the left end of Module A are industries. More info to come later, but I was hoping for initial thoughts on the plan (shamelessly ripped off from an example on the LD SIG). Comments? Too many crossovers in Module A? Too much track in general?
I don't think you've got too much track. You said it was an urban setting, so I think it works well. The only thing I see from an operations standpoint is that you don't have a way on the left side of the layout on the mainline to get around your train and go back the other way. Fix that, and you'll be off to a good start. What are the industries you've decided on and where were you thinking about placing them?
Thanks for the feedback. I'm going for the "concrete canyon" look, though I want to squeeze in some low-end housing and a trailer park for my girlfriend. Here is a revised plan attached. Yellow is the interchange with SP Red is the viewblock Green is hidden track Blue is the branchline Grey sections denote overpasses (I'm struggling on adding yet another, the prototype area has 7 bridges in a 2 mile area) Does this make sense? I didn't quite understand your comment about the left side of the layout (there are cross overs in both directions on the main). Module C is being ignored right now, but will contain most of the industries serviced by the branchline. I was wondering about the left end of Module A, the high-density trackage. I was considering: - Having the top siding also being served by the interchange; thus making the interchange traffic serve two different facing sidings. - Reverting the top industry track to a "thru" track with no siding, to be used for car storage/classification (it's end hidden under the overpass) - Dropping the bottom siding from the track plan and making the 3rd track from the top a siding instead of a thru track (sorry I didn't label the drawing) Any ideas? Operationally... traffic moves from interchange and hidden storage, trains service the industries and drop cars off for the branch. The branch line sorts the cars then moves them to the industries (mostly on Module C, missing from this drawing). Seem reasonable? As far as the industries go, the next update will have the initial locations and descriptions of each (mostly still TBD, actually) Brad.
I like your revision. Amd as far as my original comments, I meant the right side, not left (my mistake--sorry!). I can see some possibility of some "street running" which would be cool. A downtown concrete jungle type layout is a cool idea. I still think (now that I've got my directions right) that there needs to be a way to run arount the train on the RIGHT side industries in the front. If you don't have that, it'll be hard to drop off/pick up any cars.
