I just wanted to run this one by everyone, see if anyone sees any obvious problems i'm missing. All radius are at least 24". All turnouts are #6. The plain lines are the actual layout dimensions with a duckunder on the right side. Dashed lines are tunnels. Anyone who want the XtrkCAD file let me know. Thanks y'all. >>old picture taken out<< Updated version:
What about with the dummy crossing in the right upper corner. I would cross the main line from lower left to the right. This way you get an interchange and keep the crossing. Are all tracks at one level? Wolfgang
you lost me there Wolfgang... move the interchange where? Yes, all tracks with the exception of the upper left scenic piece are at the same grade. im not ready to try and tackle grades yet. Im considering on of the vertical staging systems to use on the interchange line in the lower right corner.
like this: use the black line instead of your dummy crossing. It looks more like an interchange. Wolfgang
I tried and tried and the radius' woul not work like that unless I handlaid some sort of curved crossing. I did rework it to look a little better though, moved some tunnels, and redid the dummy line on the top left, and added proviions for vertical staging off the interchange track in the lower right corner. Thanks for the input.
I agree with Wolfgang. It kinda looks like an afterthought hanging out too close to the edge of the layout to take advantage of making people believe it's an interchange. Why not just use the track leaving the mainline as an interchange track as you did in the lower right of the layout and eliminate the crossover. If you have to have a crossover up there, why not straighten out the track leaving the mainline switch and then cross it. Cam
Another thought...build a small replica out of clay and see what looks good. Or find a suitable place to lay down some track and play with the design until you're satisfied. And allow yourself the flexibility to make additional changes as the actual layout progresses. Cam
Hows this for a thought, by moving the switch for the interchange track you can put the diamond on straight trackage, it also gives you room for a tower (or interlocking huts if you want something more modern) between the Santa Fe main and your shortline. That gives you a nice long interchange track there and a main line to 'pose' some big power on if you feel like it. I'd also like to echo what Conagher said, track plans are a starting place to get the layout you want, not the finished item. They do quite often evolve once they exist in 3-D.
I guess I took a differant approach when I built my layout, I just moved the buildings I had about on the baseboard until they all fit, then added tracks to them...... Maybe not the best way to build a layout but it worked for me
I redid some parts of the design, tell me what you think. I also decided on another one of the industries. Thanks guys.
Is the room 10x10? In most of the diagrams, it looks as if you are creating an 8x8 with a central operating pit of 4x4, and a 1' wide aisle around the outside? Is this the right interpretation? Andrew
Gabriel, why not move it back to the walls, that will increase the size of layout you can have along with increasing your working area in the middle? Sorry, I hadn't spotted that before!
I would agree with Martyn... Since the room itself is 10x10 (approx), and you will not really be able to do anything useful in the 1 foot wide aisle, I would expand everything right out to the walls. This will also increase the size of the operating pit, and possibly allow other uses (a work bench under the layout for example). Keeping the layout itself to about 2 feet deep is good, as it allows you to access everything. One other consideration you might want to think about is the options for staging. "Surround staging" is one concept you might like: http://www.ovar.ca/Mike Hamer/Hamer.htm http://bostonandmaine.blogspot.com/ Mike's layout is a bit bigger than your room, but you get the idea from his explanation in the first link. You will have to deal with a duckunder (which you have planned anyway), any doors that may open into the room, window crossings, and cupboard access (if any). Can you provide us with a sketch of the room with all these features in place? Andrew
The 8x8 would be stuck in one corner. I just went and measured the room..probably should have done that first...lol...anyway, its 10'4' wide by 12' 8' tall. I was planning on building the layout on top of six 2' x 4' bookshelf like stands with room for my work bench and all underneath. This will make part of the layout easy to move at least, I can just bolt these together.
What we're suggesting isn't to move the 8'x8' into the corner, but effectively put the layout where the aisle round the outside is now, that would give you a 10'x12' (and a bit) layout instead of an 8'x8' one. Even if you allowed a 2' walkway on the wall the door is on, that would still let you go either 10'x10' or 8'x12' (depending on which wall the door is on) Even if you didn't use all that space at first having the space to expand into is a good thing! One of the unchangeable rules of model railroading is that no matter how big or small your layout is, sooner or later you wish you had juuuuust a little more space...
Youre telling me, im having trouble getting the trackplan they way I like it and trying to keep 22" curves. I had originally set 20" as my min, but I went to 22" because I have a couple gentle reverse curves and the little bit extra should help. Depending on my interview and test next week, this may be a mute point if we have to move! I HOPE IT IS! Ill have to find another room to build in And back to square one.
Well, it looks like a nice plan, but, i just have one question: Is there any real reason why no yard?
Im going for the shortline / branch line feel which often do not have yards but have to work from an interchange track. Im going to use the passing siding to do any sorting. I've thought about a small three track yard, but just figure out where it would fit and look and work good. Any ideas?
