I am thinking of having a 8 x 2 switching layout, that will be two 2 x 4 modules. It will be in the modern area, and have both CSX and NS locomotives running on it. I am hoping to have at least four different industries that receive different types of rolling stock. Does anyone have any good track plans?
Edit: It will be HO scale. I could add another 2x4 module to make it a “T” shape.
There are a lot of track plans, that you can look at and probably get to work for you, or get idea’s from, MRR How To: Model Railroading Tools, click on Track PLAN Data Base, downloadable, but if you are on a I-phone, that really won’t be too great for you, too small a screen. Good Luck!
Frank
Hi,
If you really want to enjoy the hobby, try drawing your own. Get a piece of quadrille paper and figure a scale (i.e. 1 square equals 4x4 inches, etc.) and draw out the outside frame of the layout. Then make several copies, and with a ruler and compass get to it.
Drawing your own will allow you to fit the track to the structures you want, and give you that wonderful satisfaction of doing it yourself.
There are two professional layout designers on this forum, M.C. Fujiwara and Byron Henderson. Their web sites (yardgoatlayoutdesign.com and layoutvision.com) will definitely give you some ideas.
What scale? (I recommend N for that size)? Are there thing you want to achieve? Some nice articles on the above websites also that help.
NP.
maybe you can think of 16 x 1 – Andy Sperandeo’s San Jacinto
If you’re thinking HO, then check out the late, great Steinjr’s many switching layout plans.
If you’re thinking N, then think about going 18" or less and placing it at a 54"+ height.
There’s no reason why the shelf has to be straight across the wall: the depth can vary along the length to accomodate angled track, structures, reach, etc.
It will be in HO.
I really can’t go longer than 8 ft, and the modules have to fit out the door and down the stairs. Thinking about it though, I could add another 2 x 4 module that stick out in the center, so it would be a “T”.
If it was N then you could do something like this:
[can’t remember which German genius came up with this design: sorry!]
In HO a similar arrangement would be tight but doable.
Just not much room for staging / yard on left or right.
Perhaps a better solution would be to have a detachable staging “yard” perpendicular off one side?
(Temp “L” layout?)
That way the “real” shelf could have both industries and a dedicated small yard.
Food for thought.
Lots of choices in that space limitation. First off the timesaver (yes, I know it’s a puzzle, but fits the given space). One I like is the Galveston Wharves from an early 80s MR. My current layout is a trip through the country (staging along one wall) to a 2x8 two domino section (like you mention) based on the Galveston Wharves plan. The San Jacinto someone already mentioned is a favorite of mine that I started building, but had to reconfigure when I lost two walls to the wife’s expanding sewing empire. As a note, though I did use the GW track plan, I transplanted it to the South Caroline piedmont in the 50s so you’re not tied to the scheme originally laid out by the designer.
An L layout wouldn’t work because my bed is on one side and book shelves are on the other.
I have a 2’ X 20’ HO scale switching layout. I only used published track plans to get some ideas. Other than that I just played with the track until I was satisfied with the configuration.
Also, what scale are you in? Kalmback has many track plans you can use as ideas or, just go from the published plan, if it suits your fancy.
It will be HO scale.
Kyle,
If you can, post a diagram of the dimensions of your area, with any furniture, book shelves included, to better assist anyone trying to help you with a plan. Door ways, closet etc.
Frank
Kyle,Your future layout sounds like a CSAO canidate.
2x8’ switching layout can be a pleasure to operate…
I would aviod anything that resembles a time saver and go with a more modern ISL design thoughts set forth by Lance Mindheim.
An easy way to add staging to a shelf layout is to have a folding yard propped on legs and clamped to the shelf layout Free-mo style.
Our Free-moN group needed more staging “off layout” and so I built the “Staging Yard O’ Necessity”: a 1’x8’ yard that folds in half to create a 1’x4’x5" “box” that’s easily stored/transported:
Just make sure that the hinge barrels are above the railheads and there’ll be no squishing:
Add a spacer at the top end, some alignment pins, and a latch to keep the two halves together, and you have an easily portible, quick-setup staging that can come off of the center into the middle of the room, or off one side (along the front of your bookcase or (with special legs/wall brackets) over your bed.
I’ve yet to scenic it with basic groundcover, but you could also have removable structures if you wanted to.
Clamp and go!
Store under shelf layout!
Food for thought.
The layout will be on legs (each module will have it’s own pair). It can be no longer than 8ft, I want 4 x 2 modules because I know I am moving sometime this year (fall). I can add another module to form a T shape. I can have a small piece of track that attaches on the left side, but it would be over my bed. I don’t have thatmuch rolling stock or locomotive so every thing would be left on the layout.
Check out the CSX Ridgeline in last years model Railroad Planning. It was my inspiration for the 2x6 HO ISL I just started work on. My plan is significantly different but I definitely drew inspiration from that plan. I’ve always thought one of the long side modules from the Beer Line project which are already 2x8 would make a nice stand alone switching layout with minor work on the ends for the switch leads.
I have started drawing a track plan. Though I would love to continue to see ideas for inspiration.
I have started planning the third module that will be the pennisula attached to the other two modules that form the 2 x 8. I am planning to build a Asphalt Shingle Plant, like the one on Winter Hill project, on the right side. On the left side I am planning on making a liquid Asphalt transfer terminal like described in this PDF: http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/Files/PDF/Modeling%20projects/2013/06/Liquidasphalttransferterminal.pdf
In between the two industries will be a Modern Small Engine House made by Pikestuff and several