Shelf layout idea blues

hello all
im planing a shelf layout. im trying to forum some sort of a basic idea of what it should look like but not much luck . heres what im working with at the moment. space is 8 foot down one side of the L and down the other side im looking at about 12 feet. im looking at 12 in to 14 in for the shelf and no more the 24 to 36 in for the loops at the ends. ive gotten far enough to know i want nice size passenger trains but i also want switching for local industries along the double . id also like to see a working local that will sort and collect freight cars in the area. id like the passenger opps to be important but not over bearing i kinda what the local freight service to make passenger opps kinda of a pain but not impossible ....example of this would be the passenger train would have pirorty but would have to make sure the local is in the hole and the freight crew would have to make it point to get out of the way for certain meets but not all of them.

down the shorter side of the L id like a small yard for classification and small engine facility. id like a double main but i like the idea of meets on single track ...... im brainstorming here looking for input and ideas stuff ive over looked, stuff i have not even considered ......any advice, direction and or wisdom on this would greatly be welcomed.....

 

If you are considering running passenger trains I personally would go with 3ft wide for a 18 inch radius loops. Now here is another thought. You could make the shelf 24 inches wide at the loops and conceal the loops in a tunnel of some type.
This would allow 2 things:
1- you able to have a tight radius and not have the toy train set look that all 9-12 inch radius have.
2- it would allow you to still run passenger ops.

If you are looking for operations with locals and passenger, personally I would go with a single track main with a couple areas to put the locals "in the hole". Also another food for thought. If you do go with double track main, you almost certainly locked into a 3ft shelf at the loops. My dads layout is 8'X12' with 2' width and I can tell you that there is no way you will get a double track loop with that tight of a radius. There just isn't enough room.

Just my thoughts
Ryan

 

I like Single track idea with passing sidings. Ive been messing around with AnyRail and it seems im gonna have to have wider ends plan and simple. im looking to model in mid 90s to up to mid 2000's somewhere in the Carolina for a scene im not looking for flat nor am i looking for epic mountain ranges , i just want something relaxed with some easy rolling hills. as far as roads go, Im a Amtrak Fan first and foremost but im leaning towards Fright services from NS so well see what happens there ...i need some inspiration pics of models in Carolina's and maybe even some prototype photos of action and smaller towns with local industry for ideas. So with that in Mind please keep the suggestions and ideas Rolling . as soon as i get a better plan layed down with anyrail ill go ahead and post it.

 

A way to squeeze down the loop space, assuming the passenger cars can make the turn, is to use a building or other structure to hide tighter loops at the ends. You could have a passenger station at one end with buildings behind it and an arriving train would enter the terminal, loop back hidden, and exit the terminal. Perhaps the same general idea at the other end but with a hill and a highway overpass to hide the loop. You'd have to make sure you have access to those areas though (removeable buildings?), in case one or more of your cars becomes bored with staying on the rails.

 

Another way to hide a tight radius loop is in a tunnel. My dads layout is 2ft wide with 11" radius and we run passenger trains with no problems. Yes it would look highly unprototypical if the loops were not hidden within the tunnels. But like they say if it is out of sight it is also out of mind.