Here is what I hope to be my final trackplan, Tell me what you think!
I am freelanceing a tourist railroad and museum with some small industry for freight operations. Now I know this is not to scale, I have tried to use several track planning programs and I am just not computor savvy and do not have the patience. Any suggestions or critics would be appreciated, and if some one has the time and the knowledge to scale this out with a track planner would be great.
As to the specifics I am using Atlas Code 83 flex track, all switches are Atlas Custom line #6 and one Atlas Wye switch. Main line curves are 26" radius with a 24" radius minimum, Highest elevation is 3 1/2" with a 3% or less Maximum grade. The bench work is 1/2" plywood on 2"X3" framework consisting of five modules so that it can be dis-assembled for an anticipated move. I am going to be using 3" wide 1/2" plywood for the sub-roadbed with wood risers in the old cookie cutter style.
The 4 staging tracks will be set at 3" on center so I can add walkways between them, for engines and cars to be on static display. On the right side of the layout I may add some industrial spurs if the space permits, I would like to have a small paper mill and a food or beverage distributer. The railroad will be using both steam and early diesels for motive power, that is the coaling and water tower next to the station and I will add the diesel fueling station later.
After being absent from the hobby for nearly 35 years the idea is to get the mainlines up and running and then to either add this to a much larger layout or start over after an anticipated move. Any input would be appreciated Thank You for lookin.
Ron
:550:0]
I think I’d remove the inside loop and add a couple of sidings instead and make the outside loop a double track main so you can run 2 loco’s the same time.
Hi Hamltnblue,
First Thank You for the reply.
There is two seperate main lines so that you can run two trains at once, but I realy appreciate the input. This is basicaly to get me started back in the hobby, the bench work is done I just need to finalize the plan for the station and mains so I can start laying track. I can add some sidings later as things progress.
I agree w/Hamltnblue. I would not have the inside loop. It makes the layout way more complicated and adds little benefit. Also, you may not be able to build the layout exactly as planned, since to me it looks like most of the turnouts in the SE corner of the plan are either too close together or have too sharp of a diverging angle.
Ron
The first big issue is whether or not you have access to the outside of the layout on both the East and North sides. If you don’t, the plan has major accessibility issues. For one, the turntable can’t be reached from the inside pit.
The second question, which is related to access, is where do you intend to enter the operating pit from. You are showing 2ft wide segments everywhere - which is quite a wide duck under. Invariably, you will hit your head, shoulders, or back entering or leaving the operating pit because of the 2ft width that you have to duck under. I recommend mocking it up with a 2ft wide plank across some cardboard boxes at the height you intend to build the layout at. Practice going back and forth without disturbing the plank. Now imagine a derailed locomotive headed for the floor at the north end of the layout. See if you can duck under without disturbing the plank under those conditions.
A third related issue is planned layout height. If you build this high - near eye level to make access to hidden track and ducking under easier - you may find your sight lines for the outside track blocked by scenery and higher track on the inside. This is to me a hidden flaw of twice-around track arrangements. If you build it high, you will have blocked views by higher track and scenery in front of lower track and scenery.
My next thoughts are about operational issues. Your 3 spurs are basicall
[quote user=“DrgnTrappr”]
The 4 staging tracks will be set at 3" on center so I can add walkways between them, for engines and cars to be on static display.
[quote]
Do you mean the yard tracks behind the museum station? Speaking of staging it seems you could add at least a few hidden staging tracks along the left.
Like some of the others I see an extra loop in there. Or maybe I do not understand where the lowest track ( 0" ) curving to the upper left goes. I was assuming it joined the 2nd inside track coming from the far right curve.
Anyway, I would reduce the main layout to the outside loop and a twice-around up and over inside loop.
I do see an issue where from the control pit one must reach across the elevating track on the inside to get to the museum tracks. Might not really be an issue except shirt sleves often like to grab things unexpectedly. More so when the thing being reached across it taller than the target.
Hi Fred W and Texas Zepher,
You are right it is not easy getting in and out, the bench work is already built, I guess operation pit is not the right word, I am going to put a control panel in there but I am also putting a control panel on the outside left. The bench work is low at this point, it is moduler and right now is only 38" , I am not allways able to stand for long periods of time so while I am doing track and scenery work I wanted to be able to sit and do some of the work, but I do plan on replacing the legs with taller ones when it is complete.
That extra loop is more of an after thought and this realy is a rough sketch I am still trying to figure out how to use one of the three planning programs I have on the computor, but I am also a little in- patient and would like to start laying some track. At some point there is going to be another small town with a small station and possibly a small paper mill based on the one here where I live and a beer distributor or a meat packer (so I can use some of these refers I have accumalated over the years) on the right side of the layout and that extra track was a possible line to get there.
Thank You All for the input I am allways open to hearing your views since I am starting all over in the hobby after such a long absence.
Ron
:550:0]