Layout plan, need critique!

On the long industry track, starting in the upper left hand corner and coming down to the front of the layout, which is stub ended, I would try and incorporate a small run around track by the L shaped building with small blue rectangle, maybe on the left side.

You have two facing point turnouts and the trailing point turnout, by the L shaped building noted above. If you have a run around in that area, it might make it easier for the engine to switch in and out of all the industries on this stub ended branch line.

 

Your layout is making me re-think the basic design I've put together for my layout. I've got a 9'6" X 14'6" room that I'm finishing that will be "mine" when I get the rest of our basment finished. I was planning on building the layout U-shaped around the room to maintain access to the closet and make easy access to the operating point in the layout. It forced the layout to be pretty deep due to the 26" to 28" radius curves. This made most all the track curves, and since I'm modeling mountains, it was either going up or down on the layout. Running the track around the outside of the room and using a duck-under really opens the layout up. I still like the idea of mountains, but maybe I can get the effect I want by running around the room. Trestles, mountains, and high crossings are a passion of mine.

It also opens up a lot more room for switching and sidings, which the old design was sorely lacking.

I've also been given the idea by my wife of running a track around our adjoining family room ceiling. This will force a rather long climb up to the ceiling before it goes through the wall into the next room. I've toyed with the idea of doing some hidden switching or sidings for train storage up high.

Being able to share layout ideas is really a great benefit for all of us.

Some comments on your layout:

1. I like it.

2. It appears that your main-line climbs up and over the "business" line going to your industries. Is this true, or is it a crossing? If it does climb over, it appears to be at about a 4% grade? Will this interfere with your plans on train lengths? With your sidings, you should be able to assemble and store 8' trains. The beter diesels should have no troubles, but the more common steamers might complain at the 4% grade.

3. The benchwork appears to be 18" wide. Pros and cons. The pro is that it'll make it easy to reach and develop all of the layout. The con is will you be able to sufficiently develop the scenery you want? Having a fair amount of industrial areas should make this possible. Mountains can eat up more space.

4. You have plenty of switching to be able to mimic protypical operations. It's nice to be able to put together a train and then "send it on its way" out of the immediate operating area.

Mark

 

With narrower benchwork, you need to be a bit more demanding of your backdrop. I personally recommend photo backdrops as most backdrops I see aren't very good. And, to have a poorly painted scene in a shelf arrangement highlights, even more, the poor quality of the attempt.

A good article for shelf layouts can be found in Model Railroad Planning 2001 entitled "Open Spaces, Narrow Shelf" pp. 8 - 13

 

Sometimes hard to talk about a layout without the other person and the plans in front of you, where you can point with a finger. Give me a day or so, and I will try again....lol.

 

My apologises, I was looking at your first plan. I think your second one looks great. Time to start your benchwork. If you are using Canadian lumber, buy now as the American government has slapped a 29% countervailing duty on it, so lumber prices at your local lumber store will be going up as they bring in new stock.

I find benchwork amazingly cheap and you get a feeling of satisfaction with just a few hours of work.

 

Sounds like we are about even in our layout building. I have purchased the backdrop masonite and had it cut to accept the backdrops I purchased from Faller. I have the lighting ready but not up. All my wiring is purchased but not up. I have bought 180 feet of AMI roadbed, sitting and waiting for the track.

Once I have the backdrop in, I will be starting on my track work. I too have some turnouts already purchased and waiting.

I am a big fan of Peco, but I don't know about the availability of it where you are. I love the code 55, and can live with any imperfections in it. Most of the serious N scalers in greater Vancouver use it. I like the snap action in the turnouts, and will be using mostly hand throws, with some powered turnouts.

I would suggest you try both - Peco and ME. Buy the ME turnouts and some Peco; see which ones you prefer and go from there. I will be using the two widest turnouts of Peco, medium and wide.

I am thinking of starting a kind of support group here in the layout design. A kind of weekly report in of work done on the layout. I am hoping it will be motivational for those who find the arm chair sometimes a little too comfortable (mea culpa). This way we could report our progess and cheer on others. Don't know if it will work or not. It only needs about 5 or 6 people for it to go - maybe try it out experimentally for 3 months.

 

I haven't met anyone who regretted putting their backdrop in first. However, I have met plenty who have regretted putting it in latter. The majority of advise given by those well established in layout design is to put the backdrop in first, or while you are laying your track.

 

MRP 2002 has an great backdrop article. The advise is basically to put in the backdrop and paint the sky (avoid fluffy clouds unless you are a really good artist) but leave the backdrop 'detail' off until you are doing scenery. It is hard to match up the foreground to the backdrop if any photo or commercial backdrop is being used - it is much easier to do the foreground and the backdrop at the same time.

BTW - hemi - the current track plan is great. It has really come along way. My only words of caution - you branch line is needs a runaround track or two and the various switching locations.