Oh.. that all said, I'm also thinking of starting a 4x8 that can later be incorporated... just so I can start SOMETHING.
No link. I'm scrapping that plan, and asking for a little help/direction with a new plan without return loops. Perhaps I should start this as a new topic.
Nothing wrong with return loops... I think you just have to situate them so that it's easier to reach. The return loop on the right side of your original plan is too inaccessible IMHO. I would put the return loop in the peninsula and make its neck skinnier, and simplify the lower right side of your layout plan (put the staging area there or something). Just my $.02! [ February 28, 2006, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: LongIslandTom ]
H LongIslandTom! Thanks for that suggestion... kinda like Benny's suggestion from way back? Yeah, I'm looking at that again. I'm starting to lean towards doing that. However, I still have the issue of the left-hand return loop that exits the room and goes under the staircase. I don't think I'm going to be able to do that, due to the way the stairs are constructed. (I'd have to cut parts out that make me worry about the stability of the stairs. *gulp*)
Yep, kind of like what Benny proposed, except the peninsula would be even more simplified-- If you make it a return loop, you don't need a curve-within-a-curve there. I would pull the left-hand return loop out from under the stairs if accessibility is going to be an issue. Believe you me, if you got a derailed train 6 feet from the edge of the layout, you are going to have a frustrating time retrieving the derailed cars.
Ah, but they should all have pick-up and drop-off points... if I can work it out. (I wasn't very clear on that above.) The current layout plan includes: Coal: Mine, dealer & power station Fruit: Team-track/orchard & canning/packing plant Brewery: Brewery & grain So, right there I've got 7 possible industries. (The plan we're currently discussing (and that I'm thinking of axing) also includes a sawmill & lumber yard... but I thought maybe I was getting crowded.) Tom: Yeah, I really need to pull the loop from under the stairs. It's actually a u-shaped staircase, and that area where the loop is is directly below the first landing. Accessibility will be an issue, as will constructing anything in that area. (Plus I wanna lose that 18" inner loop.)
