Hi all! So, after many years of hibernation, I'm finally going to start working on my 18x13 room. Very exciting! As I mentioned in my intro thread, we've adapted a plan from Model Railroader to suit our needs. Layout requirements: Continual main-line running (for my wife) Some switching (for me) 22" min. radius curves #6 min. turnouts 30" min. aisle widths (main aisle is approx 48") Code 83 Peco DCC (Digitrax) The biggest change we made to the plan was changing the peninsula into a mushroom. Previously, the mainline passed through a scenic divider over on the left (where the wye is). I'm incredibly fortunate to have a wife who is into the hobby... she requested a longer main run. So, now we have the mushroom. (It's the only spot with 22" curves. All other curves are 24" or more.) Also, there are two curved turnouts on the plan to make this work. This will be a freelance layout set between Alberta an BC. The pass-through on the divider will be hidden with hillside/mountain on the north side, and industrial buildings on the other side. Thoughts?
To be honest, I don't think it does much. And it looks like you have the old duck under to get into the aisles, or is that a liftout bridge or such at bottom, which is still a headache. The yard doesn't make much sense as not enough industries to justify its size. You have enough room for some grades to lift trains up or down to different altitudes and cross over/under tracks. The aisles look overly wide where more bench work could exist. The wye is going to need either an auto reverser or manual toggle switch to match otherwise opposing polarities as trains traverse the 3 legs. Instead of connecting the main line running right below the yard, back onto main at curved switch (T.O.), you could instead have it go slowly down and under to a sit-down-at staging yard which still could be sceniced. You could have an engine house and turntable down here and could add or remove cars inbound and outbound in yard in low relief town down here. You also could have a return loop in here surrounding the other trackage. Radius would be tighter, but would add drama, trains traversing it very s l o w l y. ... Hey, you wouldn't have posted it if you didn't want some criticism over a tentative plan, no ?... I'm the tough love guy around here...Mark
It's a good start I adjust wondering does it have a purpose? do you interchange with other railroads, do the industries serve a purpose? After years of operating a layout that had a continuous loop and a few industries I soon became board with just watching trains run. It just seems to me you have drawn a loop with a few industries and a yard. I can see lots of potential though.
Good start. You have the basics. For the space, you have room for a double track or a raised branch along the outer walls. Apparently you plan on using diseasemals, as I see no turntable. Single ended yards are not as versatile. If I was doing it, I'd move the yard throat and switch further to the left, curve all the tracks to parallel the main, and connect back in before your 22" thermometer bulb. I'd also run drill tracks off each end to give your switched room to work without stabbing the main. You have one short passing/loop/runaround on the far right, I guess to switch the industries on the right corners, one six-foot passing track along the top. Not sure what length of trains you plan on running, but a single passing track of any length on the whole railroad really limits you to one train on the main. For that, you don't even need dcc. Dummy in an interchange track maybe along the right side passing track....another line passing by, disappearing into tunnels or something. Big aisles are good to allow multiple operators to get past each other, but you have one yard operator and one mainline operator, so getting past each other isn't a big concern. Continual mainline running with one train will get you dizzy. Double track will help that. And give you two cabs on main, one could use a local or road switcher turn......
