But really, I decided to stop just watching what you guys are working on and start working on my own layout. The area I have is a 4x8 resting on sawhorses while I have to get my door level with this for a hope to be yard extension. Here's what I have to work with, not to scale. I was hoping for a point to point, but yet able still to run continuously. I was hoping for a coal mine, double track mainline. Just a switching area on the other side of the 4x8. Minimum radius 17". Go wild.
An enviable amount of real estate! What locale, era, prototype are you modeling? What motive power do you plan to run? 17" curves are pretty generous, although with a 4x8 space on one end, you could open them up beyond 20". The wider they are, the more pretty they are. Do you have a plan sketched out, any specific areas you plan to build? 2MT (two main track) is pertty nice, but not really necessary for a small layout. PRR was famous for the Horseshoe Curve, with 4MT. In some prototypes it is, but most can do well with single track mains. It certainly boosts operational challenges. Sidings length? Crossovers?
