Will the trains be visible for part of either helix? Hope you keep us up to date on your progress, Sumner
You might check your local building codes for clearance requirements in front of an electrical subpanel. Even if the layout is not fastened to the wall, it would be difficult to argue that it is portable/movable to provide required clearance. The peninsula creates a 36" reach requirement to the upper level track, and a sector of the helix, in the middle. Depending on upper level layout height, and your own height and arm length, that trackage may not be reachable. Measure the length of your arm from armpit to the tip of your thumb. That is the maximum grasping distance for you to reach and grab anything on the layout that is nearly as high as your armpit (including scenery like trees or structures). Will the helixes allow you to stand up inside them to access derailed trains or adjust trackwork?
Love to get all the other neighborhood playmobil guys together for an operating session. Is this going to be double deck?
This will be double deck, unfortunately the only way to show a separated deck in Anyrail is create a new file. I may do that just to clear things up and add labels. Those funny blue guys represent a person, ok me, and i'm a big guy. The electrical panel is about 32" from the benchwork, not that OSHA will inspect anyway. Here is a different version. I moved the lower level tracks at the helix to run in front for more visual interest. I also moved the helix back from the lower level track so one can see the trains until they disappear behind some trees or an overpass. In the 3D shot Loma Linda would be on the lower level on the near edge with the small helix to the right. The upper level is San Timoteo Canyon with Beaumont/Banning along the back wall where the large helix is. I have plans with a lift out and duckunder but just don't want them. This leaves more room in the rest of the garage for me to do other things.
OSHA has no jurisdiction in your home. However, selling your home (or sometimes just refinancing or getting a home equity loan) requires an inspection by the local building department, unless the buyer is paying cash.
A few other plans I have been tinkering with. Yes, I am a master procrastinator when it comes to committing to a layout build.
In the last plan, that's a pretty tight squeeze between the Washer/Dryer and the layout on the way to the door, especially if the door opens into the garage, consuming more space there. And if that's the door into the house, through which laundry baskets are carried by one who does not share your enthusiasm in the model railroading hobby, then... Otherwise, I like that plan.
I am also leaning toward the last plan. I like the additional mainline run even though not very long. The door on the left goes out to the back yard trash can area on the side of the house. The door is 32" and can open to 90 degrees. The space from the dryer to the layout is generous. The reason the layout is restricted to the space is for general living and shop use of the remaining space. I think I can tighten up some aspects of the layout. One goal is to have the diamonds and RR Recyclers along the left side wall with Yorba Linda on the next wall in its entirety. I also want to reduce the number of turnouts reducing maintenance a bit. I'll post an updated version soon.
This lacks the labels and many track lengths have been reduced but may still have enough car capacity to make it interesting.
I'd try to extend the ATSF tracks, just for staging interchange traffic if nothing else. And it gives you another road name with an abundance of available motive and rolling stock to choose from. But I'm a sucker for ATSF...
My interest in having the ATSF yard transfer from San Berdo into and out of Colton was my goal with that middle plan above. Now I am settling on an all SP trackplan with no decent(somewhat convincing) way to represent the ATSF transfer. This way I can have Beaumont and Banning, move the Riverside Branch over a bit, and have straight forward access to all the trackage without walking around an island to complete switching tasks. Three locals, Colton/Yorba Linda, Riverside, and Beaumont/Banning. Of course the plan may change.
Did this one ever get off the ground? I'm exploring multiple options for layouts in space I currently have and space I think or hope I might have in a future home. Been looking back through older layout threads for larger n-scale layouts to compare to. I'd love to see how this one is coming along.
Hi Hoss, The layouts above were never built. I decided on a different route which expands the idea of the SP in the IE. I am modeling the same area but everything is much longer needed two decks. The green area has yet to be built and final plan has yet to be ironed out. Here is what I have so far.
Nice! My wife and I are planning to purchase some family land in the next few years. The house on the land has a large addition in the back that is 28'6" x 29'6". I have plans to utilize that space as both a home gym and a train room. Over the past few weeks I designed a 12x20 layout with the help of @BigJake and @country joe (see BNSF Temple Sub thread in this forum), but now that I know the actual size of the room I plan to "remodel" it to be about 16x24. So, I've been looking at other large plans to try and find the best way to maximize the amount of mainline run I can get. I probably want to stick with one level though.
Originally I wanted to keep it somewhat simplified and one level. After sketching ideas and thinking through any kind of operations I decided I wanted bigger. I like to move cuts of cars at a time rather than one here and there, although a couple industries will only require two or three car spots. My plan ended up in the garage but I intended to build in two rooms in the house. One of the kids came back! I do not know the extent of your experience, but if you can gain some operating experience on some layouts you can better assess what you really want. I like long mainline trains and this plan will allow that and have continuous running that I miss so much. I also like running yards and locals while working around other traffic. It's been ten years since I tore down my old layout and have been running on modules ever since. Settling on and committing to a track plan can be tough. Planning paralysis can take over. This is where experiencing other layouts can help. Model Railroading is fun when you can share the layout with others. Oh, and watching them dig themselves out of a hole they create in a busy area.
