Using SCARM wanted a basic, starting layout, far from finished, that will fit 2 4X8 subfloor boards (12' across top X 8' deep on left) with still a lot to fill in. The roundhouse (9 bay) & turntable is "in the mail". . . am told the RH track is 8"(6"+2"?) the extensive instructions are here. Am still collecting needed track/wire/switches/controls . .
firstattempt.scarm Parts List List contents: All parts in the project No. Image Number Name Scale Producer Pcs. Note 1 168 168/Flex HO Atlas 1 2 175 60° HO Atlas 1 3 177 12.5° HO Atlas 1 4 281 #4 L HO Atlas 10 5 282 #4 R HO Atlas 16 6 305 Turntable HO Atlas 1 7 821 9" HO Atlas 37 8 822 6" HO Atlas 25 9 823 3" HO Atlas 12 10 825 1.5" HO Atlas 6 11 831 15"/30° HO Atlas 43 12 832 15"/15° HO Atlas 4 13 833 18"/30° HO Atlas 4 14 834 18"/15° HO Atlas 5 15 835 18"/10° HO Atlas 4 16 840 9" TS HO Atlas 1 Terminal Track 17 843 Bmp HO Atlas 7 Bumper 18 847 0.75" 0.75" HO Atlas 11 19 847 1" 1" HO Atlas 6 20 847 1.25" 1.25" HO Atlas 3 21 847 2" 2" HO Atlas 11 22847 2.5" 2.5" HO Atlas 10 Total: 219 Tracks count: 219 Generated by SCARM 1.9.2 - www.scarm.info
Nice plan! Will you have easy access along both outer sides? There is an S-curve that may be a little too sharp on the left side, in the middle, between successive 15R30 and 15R15 curves. Most roundhouses have approach tracks from the turntable that are almost as long as the tracks inside the roundhouse stalls (and as the turntable bridge itself.) This allows room for the roundhouse stall approach tracks to spread out and go through separate doors for each roundhouse slots. In between those doors are the structural columns that hold up the roundhouse roof, too. Therefore, you may need more room for your turntable and roundhouse than your plan shows. If you need more space for your round-house, try rotating it by 90 degrees, and approach from only one side. There is really no need to have the approach track directly opposite the roundhouse on the turntable. There are usually locomotive service (fuel and water) tracks before or adjacent to the roundtable entrance/exit track. These service tracks are often double-ended, rather than stub sidings, parallel to the lead to the turntable. There would also be caboose service track(s) (cleaning, etc.) somewhere between roundhouse and arrival/departure tracks for the yard. Yard goats would be responsible for handling the cabooses between their assigned train and their service/storage tracks. Very seldom would a locomotive proceed directly between the mainline and a roundhouse stall. Thus, I'm doubtful of the purpose of the turntable approach to/from mainline on the right? If you have not read "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong, I strongly recommend it before you start laying track for your yard and roundhouse, . It goes into depth on how railroads and trains operate, and trackage to support them. It also delves into customer facilities and their trackage.
Aye! I was trying to avoid using the flex-track pictured in the middle but that 12.5 crossing toward the top dictated the weird angle . . Layout will be in garage (poor choice really due Southern humidity) but but . . will allow room around. Will also look at your roundhouse suggestions as, come to think of it, my diesel's trucks will fit on table but the body itself is l o n g e r than the 9" platter track which means it would be hanging outside the doors and render interference with another on table, wouldn't it! Well DUH! Will replace the 6" with 9"s (+ 3.5" bumps do I need these inside")) == 12.5" better? (lol MAJOR ADJ find room!) Haven't received 3 bays (X 3 = 9) RH yet an open track between is ok? Thanks! Will update & keep posted . .
You'll likely have to wait until you receive the roundhouse to see how long the tracks should be from turntable to roundhouse, unless you can find the documentation/instructions online. If you rotate the spoke tracks around the turntable by 135 degrees CCW, then slide the turntable up and to the left (off-center to the left), that will provide more room for spokes and roundhouse on the right. Or vise versa, which would give a better view of the front of the roundhouse, assuming you will primarily be operating your layout from the left. Lots of layouts have been built in garages. I would plan on covering the layout when not in use, and perhaps painting the garage's floor (with purpose-made paint) to keep down dust from exposed concrete. Assuming your garage floor is slightly graded downward, toward the garage door(s), I would take care construct the benchwork such that the layout is level, so railcars will stay put where you left them, especially on sidings or in the yard.
Updated layout . . wadda ya's think? Improvement at least? Turntable & roundhouses (3 == 9 bays!) came yesterday test wiring has been fun . . (more later) I need a SouthWest 'yard exit' away from the turntable . . (edit: layout update three... added middle crossing above tbl in order to back rolling stock into yard AND deleted third 'NE' approach/exit from table in favor of less track, more flexible direction choice. It still disturbs me there's only ONE WAY IN/OUT of yard (removed turntable conx)
Generally, steam locomotives travel mainline <-> arrival/departure tracks <-> ash/water/fuel tracks <-> roundhouse, sometimes skipping the roundhouse if they are not due for significant maintenance between trips. The arrival/departure (A/D) tracks are where an arriving train is dropped, or a departing train is picked up, by the road loco. A/D tracks are double-ended, so a train can enter or leave either end to go the desired direction on the mainline. Switcher locos will move the train (sans road loco) between A/D track(s) and yard, as well as dis/assemble in/outgoing trains in the yard. An arrival/departure track should not be the yard ladder. This allows yard goats to dis/assemble trains uninterrupted while the A/D track is occupied. Thus, there is no use for your tracks directly between the mainline and the roundhouse. If a loco is not in maintenance, it is out on the road, or waiting to go on the road. Your yard is... unconventional. Double-ended yards (with switch ladders on both ends) are more typical, because they are more efficient in use, but sometimes a single-ended yard, with a run-around for at least one track, was used at small sites. A single-ended yard would not often be associated with a large roundhouse like yours, and may even use a wye and run-around instead of a turntable to turn the steam locos and swap ends. I would put the roundhouse at the far right end, with a parallelogram-shaped yard to its left, alongside the upper tracks. The A/D track(s) would be on the bottom track(s) of the yard (away from the main at top), giving you more room between them and the roundhouse for the ash/fuel/water track(s). The left end yard ladder, with the switch ladder's lead extending down along the inner track on left side of the layout. I would move the reversing track to the short leg (lower left.) In a dog-leg layout, a space-efficient route for a reversing track is an L from outside lower left, up and over to inside lower right. Then you have room for industries in the lower left end, and perhaps (depending on yard/roundhouse complex length) on the far right end of the long leg. But this is your layout, not mine! These are only suggestions, and you get to decide whether you like them or not.
Update 3: Figured out how turntable/roundhouse wiring works but added a twist I call . . Ready for this / DRUMROLL -> "Impulse Control"! Ok I explain: I have 1 Atlas (Y-loop) Control & 2 Cab power/Track Selectors (8 positions total) BUT am only using ONE Selector for all turntable/RH operations BECAUSE . . Am using SWITCH (momentary) CONTROLLERS instead. 1st switch (left) powers approach track & table rails (right currently unused) and 2nd switch powers two stalls within the roundhouse proper with one wire run per track and 'B' side negs all tied in common. Polarity on table track power is "B" side reversed as well. If I use a 'A" side approach (which currently don't) then it's the unused "1st switch (right)" SAVVY? The idea being everything STOPS by simply letting go!
Jake, appreciate your suggestions .. will 'ave to reread THRICE! Yes, at best the one-way in/out yard position is untenable might try yet another revamp it was originally across the top (lol forgot why it got moved)
