I know that the World’s Greatest Hobby Track Plan isn’t very good for operation possibilities, but it’s the best I could do with my current budget and space limitations. I would love to add operation to my layout, but it’s been a bit difficult… I would be able to work with a standard Car Card and Waybill system if the layout had two towns. However, the whole layout is basically one town. I once had the idea of using one of the passing tracks as sort of a staging area/town. This way I can add more industries without adding track (Now that sounds familiar doesn’t it? [;)] ) I also tried to use a method of using the passing tracks as loading/unloading tracks for certain industries on the layout. This was a bit easier, but it wasn’t very realistic. [:(]
If you guys have any ideas or suggestions, I’d be happy to hear them! Happy Spring! [8D]
With only one siding and two spurs, operation is going to be limited just by the physical plant. The plan was not really designed for operation, unfortunately. Adding more spurs would create more options.
Another idea would be to define one track of the double-ended siding as a multi-spot industry. Using the two spurs as multi-spot industries would also help.
You could also designate part of the loop as the interchange location with another railroad. You would pick up inbound cars and spot outbound cars there.
Here are some ideas for operating a small loop model railroad layout (although it has more spurs than the WGH plan and could not be built in 4X8 in HO without custom turnouts and tight curves).
Add a single spur in the upper right as an interchange track with the rest of the world. There are a couple of other spots where one could be added, but I don’t see them as very good locations, too short or too many switches in a row.
To add to the above ideas for the two spurs, one could be designated a team track, they are good for a wide variety of inbound car types. You could have an unloading ramp or not, your choice.
