8’x12’ is a good size- have a loop around the outside (maybe even doble-track it) and a turnout going to the inside and even more turnouts and there you go- My layout is 4’x12’ (soon to be 4’x20’) primarily continuous running but i do switching too.
My layout is in N and is 2’x4’. It’s an oval with various spurs inside. I selected the plan because I didn’t know if I preferred continuous running or switching. I now know that continuous running bores me and will do a switching layout next time.
You’ve had layouts before. What turned you on the most?
Kind o the same for me but also kind of not. I have the space to build a monster but not the $$$. So i went with a 4x8 with a 36x84 extension to make the layout a backwards L . it has a lot of mainline 2 yards and other spur tracks (coal,grain.gas passenger) The only thing i like better in Ho is more DCC freindly stuff but can not really afford Dcc so… N scale detail is great in my opinion. Be sure to have a good sise yard. plain single track ovals getr annoying FAST!! so what im tyring ot say is think some about N.[:)] Tim
I have to agree. Now that I have nearly a year with this current layout, built largely for roundies, I still enjoy that aspect immensely, but I made a serious error in a couple of ways, not the least of which is …no yard or switching.
I can’t imagine that a person who sticks with model trains, and spends time with them, doesn’t eventually want both modes of operating. Pure switching would be fine by itself, but it would be like a beautifully crafted gold ring with a zirconium crystal vice a diamond. Kind of missing something.
If you put your mind to it, I bet you could build that switching bench, but also leave open curves to the facing edge on each end, and then have a “folding” 8’ temporary bench with its own supports, that could be added and powered in something like five whole minutes for the occasions when you just wanted to stand and watch while you nurse that beer or coffe. It is only too doable, but you have to want it.
Guys, I’m enjoying your tips. Keep them coming!!!
Jetrock - I like your style of layout very much. We’re in a similar boat. We have a 2 car garage, but one half is my wifes - she parks the family car in her half, which is handy for removing groceries, etc. with the baby - instead of parking in the driveway.
So I have 1/2 of the garage, but I have my drums in there (you’re a music guy, it sounds like - and I think I recall seeing some drums in a layout shot of yours - I have my drums with those rubber sound-off pads on them).
Now, I could use my whole half of the garage, but I want my drumming area to be train-free, so I’m never slinging dirt, plaster, spring glue, etc. near my drums. And as with my trains, I want to be able to sit down at second’s notice and play, not go through some setup procedure.
In any case, please keep the ideas coming. I’ll tell you what I’m leaning towards at the moment is a double decker shelf layout. David Barrow made that cool layout in 96 - two 8ft x 18" wide sections, connected with a corner piece. Then he later rebuilt the layout with a sector plate cart kind of thing instead of the corner piece.
Each half was independently operable - one operator on each half.
What I could do is have 2 decks to the layout, and have a big sector plate where I lift a train of cars from the lower deck to the upper deck. Or maybe I could rig up a contraption - like an elevator, for raising the sector plate.
Another thing I forgot to mention in my original post is that I really want to do a “shadow box” style layout - where every square inch is well lit by dedicated lighting that’s contained within the individual modules.
There’s always N scale too…
I don’t use my garage as a practice space (very much) but I do store things like my drums and speakers and such in there–a nice thing about a 1 foot shelf layout is that it isn’t in the way. If you have half of a garage, a “dog-bone” or C-shaped layot with loops (or helixes) on either end becomes more practical.
I definitely like the shadow-box style too–from fascia to valence is about 16", which keeps the light sources (there are three: compact fluorescents, rope lights, and 20w halogen spots) pretty close to the layout surface and helps maintain the illusion of long horizontal distance.
Jetrock - thanks for the info.
Here’s what I’m working on: also see my “helix” The helix has a 2.6% grade - 3.5in elevation per turn, with 1/2" thick roadbed + track, and 3" vertical clearance for trains.
See my post in the other thread re: the helix.
Bottom line, you can’t have everything you desire: dust-free environment for drums; full shop; continuous run; lots of switching; HO scale; no duck-under/liftout; etc; etc. There is not likely a perfect plan that provides it all without violating the space/time continuum.
At some point, you’ve got to pick from some reasonable set of compromises and move on.
Thanks for the advice Byron, much appreciated!
You’re right - I’ll definitely have to give up something. At the moment, I’m steering away from continuous running. This helix deal just gives me a point to point. It may just be a brain exercise more than anything else.
A more likely scenario would be to have two 2ft x 8ft sections arranged in an L, and call it a day.
Hey, wait a second, you’re the X-factor staging guy, right? I read your articles in MRP a year or two ago. This may be a great opportunity for that. Like each section could maybe be 2.5 ft wide instead of 2ft wide, and have staging behind each section, with the “X” in the corner.
Do you have any tips on accessing rolling stock behind the backdrop, etc.?
I’m doing shelf modules. Around the room, but 8x10 seems small for this.
Older Modelr Railroader mags might have some good suggestions.
A lot of designs were about the operator being about the middle while the track design kinda wafted around in sight, some are really good with decent switching, and continuous run.
Running a train meant making a train, then run it a few laps around then head in for some switching fun.
I despise the circle of track, I prefer it loop around, rise up and down and do some twists and turns like in a mountanous region.
You can make it look a point to point system and hide the bit of track that makes it continuous.
I would pour over track designs see if one fits a flavor you like.
I have a rule of thumb, keep all track non-hidden accessible. I figgered out a concept, front trackage non-scenicked but gets you where you want to go, it is lower, like 4 inches.
only 1 track width wide or more based on the need.
You just pretend its hidden.
Well, I cetainly didn’t invent X-factor staging, but I did write an article about the concept (MRP 2004). And it could work great for you if you wanted to use shelves on a couple of walls in an L, for example. Here’s a crude sketch of the concept.
And a layout in a larger room based on the idea (from the MRP article)
http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/gallery/id20.html
As far as providing access to staging tracks in the back, lift-out backdrops and flats seem to have worked well. Or if the shelves are near eye-level and not too deep, a fairly low backdrop will do. When you need to reach over, a step-stool can provide the extra height to make access easy.
And to see over, a mirror over staging angled toward the aisle can provide a good view (a great idea I first saw in photos of the the Reid brothers’ layout).
regards,
Byron
Thanks Byron.
I’m currently sketching an X-fact L shaped layout. The Left wing of the L represents Santa Barbara, CA. The Right Wing Represents Oxnard, CA.
As an operator, I’m sort of standing where the ocean is, facing North-ish.
During one operating session (small operating sessions, I’m guessing), I’d make up trains on the Oxnard Side - and send them into Staging behind the Santa Barbara side.
Next operating session, I slide them over to staging behind the Oxnard side, then pull them into Santa Barbara and switch the small yard and some industries.
I’m using my imagination to say that there’s still industry switching in Santa Barbara (which there is not, of course). But I have witnessed cars getting slammed together into trains in Oxnard - this gave me the Oxnard-Santa Barbara idea.
The X-factor thing could work for me - it enables me to have very few curves on the layout.
Alright, I just uploaded a couple rough pictures (track represented only by thin lines).
I’d put a bunch of buildings or something between the Santa Barbara and Oxnard sides to sort of act as view blocks or something - so the trains would disappear behind buildings in that area.
This may really be onto something - the X-factor staging, provided I could figure out a way to access the staging. I’ll be able to access the right hand side of the L, as that end of the layout won’t be up against a wall. The long end will be up against a wall, however. Hmmmmm
Thanks for bringing it up!
Alrighty, now I’m getting somewhere…
Here’s the latest - it’s not as cool as X-factor staging, but I now at least have some staging - the two tracks on the right.
So the left is Santa Barbara, the Right is Oxnard, and the staging tracks are behind Oxnard.
Also, the width of each section is now 2ft, 6in, rather than 2ft.
I put in a hard backdrop between Santa Barbara and Oxnard to make them seem more separated. As you’re switching one, you may peek the loco through to the other, but that’s life in my small railroad world.
This is getting to look like something simple enough that it could be reliable, yet some fun.
I’ll of course still have room for my workbench - future airbrush area, etc., and of course my drums!!!
Bye-bye continuous running for now. I do believe my tendency in the hobby this time around will be towards building realistic looking models, weathering, diesel detailing, etc., so I think the non-continuous running will suffice.
As I said earlier, I could take a 4x4 piece of plywood and tack down a loop if I’m dying to burn in some equipment, or if I just have to let-er rip sometime.
Thanks for everyone’s help.
Looks better!
IMHO, though, SB and Oxnard are both pretty large and kind of far apart. Completely fine, if that’s what you want, but you might consider instead SB and Goleta (which had a few interesting industries and some switching).
Just make the backdrop in front of the staging area(s) removable.
Good luck and have fun …
Been spending a lot of time in the garage today - doing some painting for things in the house, and some garage cleaning.
I’m now again thinking the lift-up sections may not be so bad. In which case, I could have continuous running again.
With liftup sections, I could also have larger radius curves, and have 2 trains running continuously.
Whichever way I go, there are pros and cons to all approaches.
I have always been a fan of continuous running.
I agree. In fact with the above hidden level, you could add a shelf, (up to 12" wide), above the main level to result in THREE levels, and the upper level, by it’s narrowness, would be perfect for some serious switching operations, or passenger station or engine service facility, or any combination, depending on the shelf’s length…
Wow. I’m starting to feel insulted.
There is nothing wrong with a pure switching layout. Just because you don’t have the room for continueous running, does not mean that you can’t have amodel railroad that will keep your attention.
As a kid I didn’t just get bored watcing the train go around in a big oval. It literally put me to sleep. I can still remember at least one time when I woke up in bed, after watching the train running laps. My parents found me passed out on the floor (train still running, no doubt) and put me in my bed.
I have a 4 1/2’ by 1’ N switching layout, with some staging on the side. I haven’t gotten much done on the layout lately, because I’ve been running trains. To bring a short train onto the layout, and switch my indistries (both, picking up and dropping off) can take an hour or two, if I keep the speeds realistic. It engages me on a level that my childhood trains never did, and holds my interest.
Sorry. Felt the need to defend myself. waves sharp stick, menacingly
I’m not sure if I totally undederstand your space layout, but would t be possible to run a track off one endof that L shaped layout, let it run across the back of your workbench on a narrow shelf, and across a lift out section, back to the opposite end of the L? That would give you option of a continueous run, and when working at the workbench, you could have that train going past every few minutes. Just a thought.
I’ve got your back, fellow shelf layout enthusiast…real trains go BACK AND FORTH!
Would it be possible to build a sort of off-center T-shaped layout and still have enough room for drums? By adding a third “scene” to the layout, you could add a wye for reversing locomotives, have direct access to your staging area, and potentially model a third “intermediate” scene.