Envision this clean design-in the #2 pencil design phase at this point.
Around the wall single track loop with a single passing track projected around 45 feet in length with a run through house/team track for non rail served customers. Several crossovers are incorporated to further enhance operations and divide this siding into smaller blocks as required Access to a two track stagging yard possibly 40 feet in length or more with a third spur almost equal in length serving as an interchage spur where cars can be fiddled on and off the layout diverges off from the opposite end of this siding, three stub spurs also diverge from this point to serve a projected dozen industries, a second single industry dedicated house track that could double as a passing siding as conditions warrant serves a large lumber distributor and shook plant that would be a backdrop structure, my only use of this feature…
One train a day operation is my goal, hence the lack of excessive sidings and related trackage, trains begin and terminate their runs at the modest stagging, the loop design is not intended to be used in the traditional manner, it provides room to conduct switching movements and train makeup and will provide a fix when one just wants to let them run. Benchwork is not to exceed 26 in width with the exception of the trackage behind the interchange spur which cuts diagionally at this location, some type of access will have to incorporated into the design as I suspect it wll be a difficuilt reach. On the plus side no turnouts or difficuilt to maintain features are located on this isolated section…
you have very well described your vision of your future layout. I can follow the overall theme, but I find it somewhat limited in terms of operation. To add just a few more spurs would not hurt the overall concept, but opens up a bundle of more ways to run the layout. After all, letting trains go roundy-round tends to get a bit boring after a while.
Let´s see, how things look, when you post your track plan!
Last night I toyed with the idea of re-doing the continous run feature to function as a a run through yard, as a pleasent surprise the proposed interchange and stagging spurs are in the correct location to enhance operations of this proposed yard. Don’t fret, there is plently of operating potentional with two dedicated switching districts with substanial car capacity at each customer ( for one example, I have a packing shed that requires 18 reefers if functioning at maxium capacity).
The third district is for customers who have a requirement for smaller car lots, two team tracks, one for produce/citrus the second for general use is provided at this location in company with a freight house and several independent packing houses and a grocer warehouse, this may also be my location for the wine & barrel distributor as well. I agree with the boring aspect normally associated with the continous loop design, in my world it would function as a point-to-point design, trains depart the yard in one direction, return after the days work is completed to the opposite end.
In some ways that’s not too far from what keeps running in my head. I’ve done some hypothetical plans for the “dream basement” if I ever get one, yet basically end up with the same concept I have now, just stretched out to more prototypical train length, sidings, and industries.
Not interesting for me, but we all have our choices. I much prefer my 3 deck railroad, with lots of switching areas, point to point (yard to staging) mainlines and such.
But, if your plan will keep you happy, go for it and let us know if you get bored with it in the future.
Coming from having a 50’x100’ basement layout in the past that layout will get boring real fast. Trust me there are only so many times you can watch the choo choo go around in a big loop even when it has stellar scenery to pass through. Switching operations and having different way the train can run so you don’t pass through the same scene twice makes things a lot more interesting. You always have the option to go out and run around on the big loop when you get boarded if you want but to not have any choices nope sorry not for me.
I’m not sure that a siding or trains 40ft long look any better than 15ft long. Iain Rice writes in one of his articles that a train of about 13ft long looks long from the normal viewing perspective because it exceeds our peripheral vision angles.
I do heed the advice of others! I have eliminated the continous run in favor of a point to point design, interchange now feeds a modest stagging yard that represents the small yard SP maintained at Oxnard, CA. to be determined is the decision to replicate the modest PFE ice dock and facalities once located here, conversely the interchange with the Santa Maria Railway was also nearby, yet more traffic potential.
A new site has been established with the addition Ojai Ca. and its the small yard for the numerous packing houses and the turning wye, my local citrus modeling group provided the missing link in the form of photos and drawings of several packing sheds once located here (for the record, a shopping mall and housing developement now occupy the site, although the roadbed is largely intact in the remote canyon locations, sans ties and ballast of course ) . I’m now firming up my secondary trackage at this location and at Monte Vista which is dictated by Val and Sandborn maps. With the Ojai wye I can proceed to research the Ojai Inn, a posh resort for possible inclusion once located here of which excellent sources of material are available, Pullmans were turned on the prototype and backed into the resort, obviously it was also employed to turn locomotives and the occasional carload of supplies.
Now i’ve got to determine when the waste treatment plant at Monte Vista was placed in operation, SP hauled chlorine in and sludge out once upon a time by the tankcar.
80ft.x40ft. sounds like a warehouse. What occupies the 76ft.x36ft. central area? I have never seen a club layout of this size. My 24ft. x 24ft. garage loft HO layout is roughly 1/8 of 80ft.x 40 ft., yet has 260 yds. of track, 110 turnouts, six reverse loops, three wyes, two towns, eight industries, two harbors, three rivers, two 7 track yards, and 18 different routes that any of eight DCC locos can travel around the peninsulas, (with smooth curved bench work and 32inch wide aisle maze), and around the room main line. It is divided into 4 power districts, with tethered Super Chief Digitrax. operated by a crew of 6. No chance of being bored ! But, to each his own idea of an operating layout. We are all anxious to see the final plan of your layout. I have been working on finishing the scenery on my layout for 8 years. How do you plan to ever complete scenery on your huge layout ? Bob Hahn
Sounds like either an agricultural branch or a ‘two men, a dog and a diesel switcher’ short line. If you operate point-to-point (even if there is a continuous loop capability) and set up a random car selection system (car cards and waybills, hand or computer-generated switch lists…) it could prove very interesting to operate.
If I modeled only my Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo and made Tomikawa into a staging yard, I’d have about what you seem to be planning. Of course, I would have one thing you obviously don’t need - a double slip switch. That’s the only way my prototype found to cram a station, and passing capability, into the 30 scale meters between a bridge abutment and a tunnel portal.
Theme is branch operation with emphisis on the citrus industry and related industries as it existed in the Ventura Ca area in 1927 with particular efffort devoted to doing justice to the Ojai Branch which I believe no one has ever modeled , no massive freight drags or grand passenger operations are required, nor are they protoypical, additionaly it does not require a great investment in motive power or rolling stock beyond my existing fleet as only one train a day operation is intended.
What occupies the center? Absoutely nothing, nor is anything in the offing keeping with my theme of a flowing, open design. I might add the current changes have increased my turnout count to a acceptable total of 22 which will have a minium degree of 8 and be built to fit the location. I’m considering incorporating flex track for all other trackage.