Hello Everyone, This is my frist post and I would like to get your input on a layout that I am working on for a bedroom (9' x 11'). This will be an HO logging layout, running only Shay's and Climax's, with 1, maybe 2 people at the most at one time. Mostly this layout if for me and maybe at times my roommate to build and play with. This will be the frist layout that I try and really detail out. So please let me know what you think and if I need to change anything. Layout height: 55" to 65" Minimum curve radius:18" Maximum grade: 4% Thanks Raymond [ 22. October 2002, 11:13: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Raymond, Welcome to Trainboard it is always great seeing new members post for the first time. I have edited your post so your layout plan can be viewed. Your layout plan looks rather interesting. Is there a possibility of a timber industry being placed on the right hand side to add some additional operations. Once again welcome to Trainboard and i look forward to seeing more of your posts
Hello Colonel, Yes that is where my log loading and logging camp is going to be, and the rest for the most part is mtn and trees. 3rd Planit didnt have what I wanted to use to show that. I use another program called Trainz to get the feel of what the layout is going to look like over all. I should have some images from Trainz uploaded soon. I hope my frist draft is not too busy or that I am trying to add too much in such a small space. I might try and get a mill in if I can find what I like or can get enough pictures to try and scratch build it. and how did you get my image to show up in the post. Couldnt find it in the FAQ. Thanks for you time Raymond
It is quite easy to load pictures into a post. All you need to do is copy the url into the image box whixh is situated below under the instant UBB code box
Welcome to trainboard Raymond. I think that this is the best site on the internet its always good to see more members joining. I liked your track plan too
Maybe you can add alot of trees to the layout and maybe a fueling station, you know equiped with Coal Tower, Water Tower, and Sand Tower. Even though these eletric trains may never need refueling it'll look very realistic. Oh one more thing Welcome to the fourm!
I'd try and move the tracks on the top and the loop on the right away from the wall by at least 4" and maybe a bunch more so that you have room for scenery there unless you're planning to have them hidden. I'd maybe try and visually separate the straight through track on the left hand side so that it doesn't look like part of the town there. It might be a little hard but if you can separate it by grade that might work. The top area could possibly be a good place for a few little loggng related industries? Also seeing that it's a logging you could maybe add a switchback or two. That'll add to the height and really make it look like you're going up the mountain. Here's kind of some of my ideas. http://members.shaw.ca/paul_davis/HO_plan_2B.jpg [ 22. October 2002, 17:14: Message edited by: Paul Davis ]
Welcome to our family here on the TrainBoard Raymond! Glad to have you aboard! Looks like you have planned well. Keep it simple, there is less to go wrong that way. It is more fun to run trains, than having to always fix something before you can. Look at the big red RAILIMAGES button and you will find instructions about loading photos here. Keep us up to date with photos as you go along! OK?
Welcome to TrainBoard! You've got a nice little plan. Here are some resources and ideas for lumber mills: 1. Walthers offers a book titled "Trains, Track & Tall Timber." I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in modeling the lumber industry. It offers info on the prototype, and some short modeling ideas. $49.98 at your LHS. 2. Walthers also offers the Mountain Lumber Company sawmill (933-3058, $69.98). It's based on a lumber mill near Corvallis, OR. It's a neat model in itself. RMC had a article a couple years ago in which the author took this model, cut it in half and stretched it along a backdrop, to make it look twice as big. I can find the issue, if you're interested. Walthers used to offer a planing mill along with the sawmill, but it's not in the current catalog. Ebay would be your best bet to find one. 3. Five Peaks Industries of Eugene, OR used to offer a neat little sawmill craftsman kit for $75. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one. I don't remember the name of the kit, but if you find one, grab it! 4. Suydam (now Alpine Division) used to offer a sawmill kit (there's a lot of "used to" in this post, isn't there! ) but it hasn't been available for at least 10 years. Try eBay again. 5. Most of the other sawmill kits I've seen are small mills, or European prototypes. The Walthers book does have a few photos of mills, and you could probably find more on the Internet. Hope this helps! Pat
How about a working incline (these have very steep grades) of around 70% grade where the two loops are. It would be a bit of a challenge to build, but the working ones (on layouts) look great and work well. Plus the incline gives you some switching action as you take the logs out of the foresty area. AND, welcome to trainboard! this track plan is difficult for me to comment on as my experience is that most logging railroads are often more diorama than operational. So I am not clear on what your expectations are for your RR.
WoW I feel really welcomed with all the post so fast thank you. Sean: I plan to put old growth trees on the my layout 150' to scale and as many as I can without blocking to much of the overall layout, as well as the track side eye candy. Paul: I like what you did with my layout plan and I am going to try and work out ver. 2 more like the single track setup. I didnt really like the double track but I want a loop and not a point to point. Pat: Its funny you should tell me about the sawmill modeled after one in Corvallis, I live around that area. Is that Mill still thier and do you know where it is? And was the kit dont like a mill around the 1900's? I want a Mill if I can get it in somewhere on the layout. If I can find enough pictures I might try and scratch build it. Rick: You are right about most logging layouts are often diorama, and that is what I am going for as well. I am using this layout to fine tune my super detailing skills. I would like the layout to have a looping mainline with some side track logging stuff like loading and small yard. That is what you would see on a real logging railroad own by a logging family or small company. Thank you all for posting and I will keep adding more info and pictures now that I now how. Edit: Just adding a new ver. of my plan. This is a mix of version 1 and what Paul posted. I do like this one better if I can work out the track cross overs, might not have enough space for even 6% grade... Thanks Raymond [ 23. October 2002, 00:59: Message edited by: saktron ]
Second plan is looking better. I was going to comment on the double track main line - that's not very common (if at all) on a logging RR. Usually the 'main line' is built on the cheap and rarely built to last.
You've introduced a few S curves on the new plan. You might want to modify it so that you have a straight peice at least as long as you're longest unit between curves of opposite dirrections or you may have problems.
Still looking good Raymond. Looks like you have a "duck under" two tracks in order to have continuous running. That works OK while you are young. Have you given any thought about moving two of the 2x4 modules along side the town on the lower left corner? That would allow for a turn around curve there on both tracks at the present radius. (One track under the town as shown, so maybe both tracks under, or one up going behind the town?) Looking down from above it does look like you have two main lines side by side, but I suspect they are at different levels which would break up the "double track" effect OK. (If the walls of the room are the cliffs on either side of a valley, then your tracks would be more curvy with several trestles, bridges, cuts etc, winding along the mountains going up to the woods, and back down grade to the town below in the valley.) Over on the lower right hand side where the room door is, maybe you might think about connecting those two "duck under" tracks together at that point. (Another turn around curve.) That would allow the isle to be open for easy access, especially when carrying something, like your prize engine or a heavy box. You would still have the ability to have continuous running. Just a suggestion, because I ran into this as a problem when I got older. It is also easy for you or a visitor to bump the track over-head as you pass under, and break the track loose. When your prize engine derails at this point, it goes to the floor and ends up in the scrap box! Even fold up bridges can be a problem if someone forgets and runs around the corner and starts into the room! I had a 10 year old nephew suddenly come to visit unexpectedly, and he wiped out my bridge and took an entire freight train down with it. He was excited to see my train, but I couldn't get away with mangeling him in front of the family!
Juat had a thought Tunnels are really expensive to build (real ones that is) and logging railroads avoided them as much as possible (hence the steep grades and sharp curves.) This won't effect the plan that much, but try and hide the transitions from visable to hidden track with trees and bridges rather than using lots of tunnel portals.
On the left hand side, if you extend the fourth industry track (to right of industry) and make in interchange track with mainline it would be more operational action. Also legitimitizes the doubled track in there. [ 23. October 2002, 17:55: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Ok I have redone the layout. Please Give this one a look see. I changed the framework around. This works better for me in this room. I am not looking for alot of train operation, looking for more of a diorama with trains running around it. This layout for me a classroom to teach myself about super detailing. On the left side I would like to put in a Sawmill. Looking for some plans and pictures so I can scratch build it. Thanks about for all the input. Raymond
Looks good, a couple of thoughts though: You'll definately need a pop-up hole or maybe two in the 4x8 (lumber mill) section, or you won't be able to work on the rear of that section (or rescue trains, or maintain the track etc) without climbling on the front half, which is not good if you're super-detailing it. Logging lines were generally built lightly across terrain, so long straights would be quite rare as the line would follow the contours of the hills, only building fills, cuts, tunnels & trestles if it absolutely had to. If you added a few curves into those straights I reckon that might help the look a bit, that "long oval" could also climb up to a summit at the opposite end of the room as well. Another thought, you might not be into operating the layout now, but if you added a spur somewhere in the bottom corner to model the actual logging operations, you could operate it as a logging site to sawmill operation if your objectives for the layout change in the future. Generally it looks pretty good though, I like it a lot.
Raymond, I feel the last design lacks real purpose for the main loop line. I would combine the left hand side of the first design to the last and that would just about finish it. I also feel you need an industry on the right hand side of the mainline as well. It's great seeing your design progress
