I guess I must have gotten confused. I thought you wanted a railfanning display layout with a mine. I must have missed something about the industrial switching space along the way. Probably too many voices. I’ll drop out. Good luck.
LOL - no, I meant that I am trying to model large mainline railroading with what amounts to industrial switching space - 8x15 makes it hard to do everything I want and not run into the trackage issues that are being pointed out…
No need to drop out - I appreciate all of the input! I’ve actually learned alot from the comments! Paul’s last plan has me thinking of more changes… I’m just going to take a break from it for a day or so and then look at it fresh - I have plenty of time and graph paper!
hi Pennsy
the wish for industrial switching was new to me too. If you make a drawing of your room be more specific about the closet; how can it be used.
Mainline running will always be rather limited on a pike your size. In the latest MR some nice exemples of industrial switching are described.
Have fun designing.
Paul
Doh! I misread that sentence.
I always like to try to work with the plan that the OP originally posted, rather than a complete layout/room redesign. Frankly, I think the shape of your space lends itself to designating the closet exclusively for staging and having the oval portion exclusively for display.
If I could post it I would, but looking at Paul’s first plan, if you connect the lower long spur below the mine to the track coming out of the closet, (crossing the loop) trains could come out of closet staging and head in either direction around the loop (yes, once they head back to staging, you would have to turn them by hand or rebuild a new train, but, you’ve got 8x15, so…). If you eliminate the upper wye (since there is no need to turn trians up there as previ
I know I said I was gonna take a break, but I just can’t stop thinking about it…
Actually, I started looking hard at Paul’s plan at the top of this page… It has a bunch of good ideas in it. I’m working on one now that is based on his plan above. The only thing I’m not happy about is that the passenger station portion is not visible from in the room now. But, in reality, I will probably operate it by myself from inside the pit most of the time anyway.
I’m still drawing, but I’ll scan and post it when I get it done. I could use some software myself… but I kinda like doing it the old fashioned way with pencil and paper.
I roughed in a few of my thoughts on Paul’s plan… The hidden staging will be accessible through the front valance by making it hinged.
The interchange track was made into a double track line with a crossover - this will serve to give me 2 long staging tracks over the viaduct and into the closet (the space in the closet at this height is 4 feet long). Yes, trains will have to be made up manually - but like Doughless said, that’s life with an 8x15… I also like the way the viaduct breaks up the wye visually.
I also added another siding with some industries, near the town by the mine, but all of that area and scenery can be changed as the plan progresses - I’m not crazy about the road crossing the mine leads…
Let me know what you guys think…
Looking harder at my markups to Paul’s plan above, there were some things I just couldn’t get past. So, I took all of the input and what worked already, and took another stab at it…
I really wanted the station at the front (bottom of plan) so that it would be viewable from the main room. I moved that back and kept in mind the comments from Byron and Paul. I know my hidden staging track is in the back again, but I think I can build the benchwork in a way that I can use a hinged valance and get to it from underneath (now that the upper level is the full width of the benchwork).
I liked the interchange track idea, and wanted to have my bridges/water scene. So, I made it look like the Pennsy bought a railroad with a double track mainline that interchanged with them. Then, abandoned the tower and tore out the diamonds. I will have the roadbed with weeds, etc. Now, the old interchange tracks make up a nice long siding/run around track. I will get a lot of on/off layout staging when combined with the closet.
I think I have a good plan now that I really like! I think I got all of the trackage problems taken care of for the most part… let me know if I am missing anything.
Thanks again for all the comments and input!
I think it is your best effort yet. It is the most visually appealing layout plan that has been posted, IMO. I like the way the angles of the mine and upper trackage breaks up the oval benchwork, not to mention having the higher part of the layout towards the back, and everything facing towards the room. You also have room to square off the SE corner of the benchwork and add an industry, or an abandoned building and spur, or general non railroad buildings. Plenty of elbow room in the operating pit too.
It doesn’t look like there are any major no-no’s in the track alignments. You’ve eliminated the need for so many curved turnouts compared to your other plans, saving money. It looks like all of the turnouts should fit where drawn, with maybe some minor adjustments needed as you build it. The overall radii of the curves looks decent. It should be easy enough to build, with some planning needed to properly access the hidden trackage however.
It looks like it could be a layout that could have some switching operations too. Some of the experts here may analyze the plan for that, but you’re looking for a display layout anyway. For that, I think you hit it pretty well.
Thanks doughless! I’m really happy with this one. I tried to learn from the comments and work that input together with my desires. Paul was a huge help in getting me thinking in several areas!
I will probably keep the SE corner the way it is because the entrance to the room is there - keeps me in better standing with the wife if I don’t block that area so much - I may round the edges of the layout/valance to make it smoother than the angles though…
Added in a couple more details and a single slip switch with a caboose (cabin) track.
Also did a blown-up detail of the station area to make sure everything fits.
I think I have it pretty close to how I want it - might be a few tweaks or details later… Going to be awhile before I really get started due to funds. But I might start picking up some of the track and structures a little at a time.
You do love an S-curve. On the right end of your passenger plate form, you have coming from the bottom a right hand curve leading into a left head curve. Why not use a slip crossing there too. Then on the top track you have another S-curve coming out of the curve to the right of the plate form. If you plan to use long passenger cars an S-curve will cause you grief.
I followed this thread with great interest. It was fun to see how the track plan developed, also with scenery in mind right from the beginning.
It is a very nice plan now and I´d say go for it. Johnnny_reb is right with his statement about the S-curve, but that issue can be resolved by using curved turnouts, moved a little more to the left. You also gain length for the platform.
I know what you are saying about the S curves - on a layout of this size, it is nearly impossible to not have any… I guess I was not worried because I don’t plan to take the passenger cars off of their given mainline (long passenger train will be running counterclockwise on the outter loop) except for headend cars going to the REA next to the station. So, given that, I didn’t think it would be a problem. I also thought about the curved turnout idea on both ends to gain some length - might go there if I have to - need to experiment with regular and curved turnouts combined.
Being short of funds is quite normal. It can be a good thing though. When you only get one or 2 items at a time you tend to install them at a slower pace and do a better job. having it all at once it gets tempting to just throw it together.
The plan turned out great.
hi pennsylover
drawn with RTS, so without curved switches.
But the ideas are clear; i used single slip-switches.
Smile
Paul
How about this layout for the lower section? It both extends the engine leads and eliminates the S-curves.
Hi,
I’m far from a master track planner, but I would add a crossover to the two tracks serving the mine. Would make switching the mine more versatile.
Just my two cents worth.
Good luck with your layout!
Frank Bihari
Dorval, Canada
Thanks a lot Paul… my turnout cost for this layout just tripled… [:)]
All kidding aside, thanks Paul! You have really made me think throughout this post! Here is my latest effort - pretty close to what Paul put up… I think the double slip, #6 crossing, and single slip cover all my needs - let me know if I am missing anything. Didn’t think I needed a slip switch where the Peco #6 crossing is…
And here it is cut and pasted in the original plan…
Not sure I follow where you mean Frank…
Check out my latest rendition - similar idea I think… thanks for the input!