Seems like everybody is giving progress reports at the moment, so I want to share my progress also. About 3 or 4 month ago I decided that I wasn’t happy with my first design that I had been working on (on and off) for about a year or so, so I decided to dismantle whatever I had done and just keep the basic benchwork, but raising the track level about 10 inches. There were several reasons why I didn’t like the first approach, one was that it was designed as 2 levels along one wall, using the 2 walls and the peninsula as a nolix. With the 2 level design (and upper level as deep as lower the level), the main yard would be almost hidden visually by the upper level (I had 15 inches separation), and at the same time, I felt that the lower level was too low, so there was no way that I could lower it even more, so lesson learned : do not use same width benchwork for upper level as you are using for lower level. Well, I decided to go for a one level twice around the walls design. I quickly finished the new benchwork, but since then nothing has happened until last weekend when I finally started laying tracks. Several reasons, summer (it’s hot in my room upstairs), vacation, and waiting for Atlas #7 turnouts to be released. So, last weekend I finally started laying tracks, and by now I have almost completed the mainline run, with the 3 sidings, and I hope to complete the main line next weekend (have to spend some time at the GATS show in Ventura though), and maybe start on the wiring. Even though I will be using DCC, I am still planning on wire it as 5 groups for debug purposes. A few pictures of my progress is in my Layout folder at http://photos.yahoo.com/jkristia When that is done, I guess it’s time to start thinking about what industries I want, how to design the main yard etc, for now all I know is that I want to saw mill in the area shown in IMG_03. And I want some industry in 2 levels in the area shown in IMG_05, and that the main yard will be in the area where the fan is in IMG_07. Sorry, but it ended up being a rather long post, but I’m just so proud that I finally made some progress, and I simply had to share it with you guys. Jesper
Jesper, Hi from another Simi Valley resident (I was starting to think I was the only n scaler in this town). Congrats on getting started with your track laying, as I've realized that coming up with a layout plan you're satisfied with is one of the hardest things to do (and you can't lay track until you do this). Saw your pictures. That's going to be quite a layout. I wish I had the space that you do. Do you have layout plan pics I can steal ideas from? I'm currently restricted to the garage (and I still need to leave enough room for both our cars). I'm planning on attending the GATS show as well. Maybe we'll run into each other. Good luck with the layout and keep us updated on your progress. Dan
Hi Dan, and I thought that I was the only Simi Valley resident here on the board No, I don't have any trackplan, only an overall idea, and then I'll go from there. When I did the first "attempt" I had an almost finalized plan, but I realized that what looks good on paper doesn't necessarily looks good in real life, and I also realized that it was hard for me to visuallize how something would look, or how big it would be, even when using a 3D layout program. So I decided to go without a trackplan, only with a concept of continous run twice around the room, 3 passings, one main yard and industries. By the way, did you read my post in the railfanning forum about the freight train schedule ?, wouldn't it be nice to have a schedule before you go railfanning . Jesper
Jesper, I know what you mean about a track plan, mine rarely end up as initially drawn on paper! I like to have a rough idea what I want, then modify it to suit as I lay the track and locate structures, etc. It sort of evolves as tracklaying progresses
Glad see I'm not the only one who's struggling to get a track plan on paper ( or software, as the case may be). Every time I come up with something I like, I find that it's missing a key element or it doesn't allow for long enough trains. In my case, I'd be happy with a 20 car train! I have one design that allows for staging, switching a major industry, local peddling, yard, and reverse direction loop. Only problem was the 4 % grade between the staging/reverse-loop level and the upper level.
