I am in the process of designing a layout for a 11’ x 13’ Room (usable space for layout). The door is in the left bottom section. You will also see two blacked out spaces, one for a Hobby desk (bottom Right) and one for a Computer Desk (top right). The “niche” in the center section at the bottom will be filled with a Storage Cabinet. See below room drawing.
Some key characteristics/desires:
- HO Scale
- Freelanced Branch Line, 1900 -1930 time frame, running small steam engines (2-6-0 and 4-4-0, maybe a 2-8-0, geared engines) and 36-40’ freight cars.
- Continuous running - I built an earlier layout (all track operational, but no landscape) as an out and return back in loop, and did not like that I could not let a train just run and watch for a while without intervention
- Minimum radius 18", max grades 2%
- My favorite part of the hobby is building craftsman style structures, so I want to make sure I have room to put at least some of my accumulated collection on the layout
See below my draft (as drawn in SCARM):
After trying to initially plan something around the wall, I decided on a peninsula. That makes it easier to a) implement continuous running and b) have wall space available for desks, storage, etc., c) avoid any duck-unders or lift-outs and d) have full access to the window.
I am using Atlas code 83 track, because that is what I have available from an earlier layout. I planned the curves with sectional track, but will likely use flex track.
With a back-drop through the center, that also lets me separate scenes, a more urban scene at the bottom, and a more country-side scene at the top. While operating is not my desire, there are also some traffic patterns that can be included for operation. Besides switching the town with Fabrication shop, foundry, machine shop and brewery, the wharf will allow incoming and outgoing traffic. Logs will be transported from the logging camp (top left), into two and then to the sawmill. Lumber can be picked up there for further transport via rail (or I will turn the machine shop into a furniture factory …
Below are a couple of 3D impressions. Any input is welcome.
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Looks like an interesting track plan with good scenic possibilities. If it were me I would try to scootch the peninsula down a foot or so (while keeping about 2 1/2’ aisles at the bottom), to allow a narrow shelf with 3-4 tracks of staging along the upper wall.
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Thanks Gurkemeister, that is a great suggestion. I think even one or two tracks or a cassette might do the trick to bring in a train from or connect to the “outside world”.
I am assuming that you would suggest to go in under the logging camp area, and connect in the hidden part of the loop?
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Modified version with staging. Idea is that I build “cassettes” of 48 inches, so that so that I can feed a whole train into the layout from the outside world, or have it leave the layout.
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I like it Swisstrain. I also agree on continuous running, especially in that size space. With that capability, you can “make” it take a certain number of laps to officially go from the town on one side of the layout to the (mill?) on the other side. Increases play time.
Gurkemesiter- Welcome to the forums!
If you like roundy-round (I do, because I tend to railfan my layout more than do actual ops most of the time), I think you’ve made good use of your space. The similarities between your plan/space and my layout is uncanny. Mine was originally designed, using Model Railroader’s Bedford Valley RR as the basis, with staging yards added. To pull this off, I put a short side of the layout up against the wall, creating the peninsula.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a track plan, but this photo may give you a good idea of what I did to use the space. I also didn’t have an option of around-the-walls, which led to this design. It also kept the layout at a reasonable size and something that I could actually complete.
Oh, it just occurred to me that there’s a good description of my layout on Trains.com a few years ago that includes the original Bedford Valley track plan (before I modified it): Built by Others: Dave Foxx’s HO scale Carolina Sandhills Lines layout - Trains
Hope this helps,
DFF
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Thanks, Water_Level_Route and Dave.
Dave, I agree that there are a lot of similarities between our plans. I have not decided yet if I want to go with a ridge (like you did) or a background down along approximately the center line. I will sure read up about the Bedford Valley track plan for additional ideas.
I too feel that this size will be something that I can reasonably complete without the need to make my sigificant other a “train widow”.
Urs
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Dave - thanks for the link to the article describing your layout, I enjoyed the article and will keep the link for reference.
A question I have is the width of the aisle in the picture on the right. I am guessing it is approximately 24"(?). How comfortable are you operating in that space? I was trying to stick to a 24" minimum aisle in my plan, but I am curious about practical feedback.
Also, what are you using for turnout controls - Bluepoint Switch Machines?
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That aisle averages an inch or two over 24” with one brief pinch point down to 21”. I’m a lone wolf operator, so there’s no problem for me to operate in that aisle. It’s a dead-end aisle, so I need to turn around in there. Again, not a problem. If this were operated by a few people, it would get tight. Also, the layout height is about 53” from the floor to the railhead, so that prevents damage from inadvertently leaning over the layout or clothing snagging something on the layout where the aisle is tight.
My turnout throws are Bullfrog Switch Machines from FastTracks.
DFF
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Thanks for that feedback. That aisle width is pretty similar to what I have planned, so I am glad to hear that you are comfortable when you are running trains as a lone operator (which is what I will largely do). I am more of a builder/train watcher anyway than an operator.
I was considering a 48" layout height, but may go a few inches higher.
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Giving advice on track plans is not what I do as we all have different ideas. What I do say is ‘do not have complicated trackwork’ and have easy access to all track. Things go wrong in the most awkward of places; believe me.
Make a list of what must be on the layout and not what you think must be there. Everything has to have a reason to be on the layout.
If you make a mistake do not ‘beat yourself up’. Learn from it. (We all have.)
Remember it is a hobby; a hobby to enjoy. Treat it as such and it will repay you far more than you will ever imagine. HAVE FUN.
David
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Appreciate the input, David, and those are good points to keep in mind in general. I will also use them as a checklist.
The one compromise I made re: “easy access to all track” is the short hidden track to close the loop and divert to the outside world/cassette. I will have to figure out how create access from below, or simplify and just make it a loop.
Re: “reason to be on the layout” and “no complicated track work”, I believe for now I follow those principles. The test will come later on that, when I want to “squeeze in” more stuff.
Yes, we all enjoy different aspects of the hobby and have different ideas. This also makes it so interesting to get others perspectives - there is always another idea out there that I have not considered …
Cheers
Urs
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Swisstrain:
I agree with the others that you should keep it simple and leave lots of room for structures and such, since that’s the part of the hobby you enjoy. I’ve seen WAY too many medium/large layouts drift out of focus and attention due to “just too much to do.” And not wanting to correct mistakes that were found after the layout was “laid.”
I’m 71 and just starting to finish up the wiring on my 2x16 ft shelf with staging tracks at each end. I hand lay all my own track and turnouts, so the rough part is over. But I can tell you I wasted 15 years of time with a larger complete with helix double decker layout that seemed good at first, but was a real pain once I started to scenic and run trains on it. Your approach is MUCH better in order to keep the hobby challenging.
The only place I find that might deserve a look is that section against the left (paperwise) wall where the two backdrops meld into one…The reach over to your working areas on the top half of the divider looks OK, but the reach on the other side, the lower half of the layout, in that area where it comes together- well, I’m betting that will be a problem or at least a real pain. My layout is at 54" or so, and my reach to the back of the sides that face the walls is just comfortable enough. When you spike down your own rail and build the turnouts, that’s a big consideration!
Haven’t had the time to study that “staging track” idea yet. Will keep this thread under watch and see what others come up with. I really do think your vision of a manageable layout is RIGHT ON!
Pat Flynn
Leland, NC
Thanks for your input, Pat. I hear your pain with your previous layout, but I am glad you now are well into a layout that is manageable for you, and will give you what you want.
I am going to look at the area that you are talking about, and will think about that whole lower left quadrant including the turnout in the hidden section and access to that area. While I will not hand lay track, and so that aspect will not be an issue as much as in your case, there are still scenic features that need to be installed which require reasonable access to work. I tried to keep it under 30" reach, but that might be pushing it pretty hard.
Also, while I like the staging track idea, I might give it up again if I cannot find a way to ensure I can access the hidden area that leads to it with reasonable effort.
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Back to the drawing board after Pat’s input. Thanks again for the input on reach in that area withe the fabrication and foundry business. It would have been a pain.
This led me to slightly (3 degrees) turn the whole station area and yard, as well as turn the orientation of the wharf (it’s the Foscale Red Hook Wharf that is on my shelf waiting to be built). Also, I flipped the location of the Engine House with the two businesses, and for now, I included a turntable to turn engines coming from and going to staging (would be nice to have, otherwise I need to reverse them back out).
Overall, that reduced the reach in that corner by about 10" plus, I won’t have to reach over the wharf.
See below new track plan and 3D view of the “City Side”.
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My concern is that hidden turnout, because guess where they’re going to derail. Not at the turnout right in front of you, but rather at the most inaccessible one. It’s an undeniable law of model railroading, 
Perhaps you could consider redesigning the Railroad Camp to extend the line through and to the desired staging?
DFF
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Yes. Trains love to derail in the most difficult of places.
Have easy access to all track.
David
Thanks for the continued input, it is much appreciated. I was scratching my head about that hidden turnout. You are right, I was inviting trouble with that.
I considered extending the area of the railroad camp into a staging area, but the type of traffic coming out of staging through that area would really not “fit”, since that intended to be more of a “back-woodsy” area (logging, etc.). So I gave up that idea, and for a moment, was giving up on the staging.
However, I found a very doable and practical solution in that I can divert into staging directly from the station area. This way, the necessary turnout is easily accessible and right in front of me! See below revised track plan.
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That’s gonna be a real arm stretch pleaser! Moving the pier down the side a bit makes that corner much better to work on. Yeah, have operated on many layouts in the Kansas City area, and if the staging tracks aren’t readily accessible, that’s where you’ll have problems as others have mentioned. One I ran on quite a bit had a five or six track LONG staging yard under the main layout portion. And you can imagine what would happen when you had problems getting the DCC consisted locomotives to get going, whether just one wheel derailed, or worse. Dead frogs are the death knell for hidden and hard to access staging!!! And dirty track, well…
I guess you’ve figured out you should install that staging track FIRST, and be able to sight right the rails and make everything bullet-proof. It looks like you’ve got plenty of track run coming up the inside of the two “parallel” tracks between the station / yard area. The grade can start right off after they diverge between the “lager” maker and the “fabrication” industries. That gives the line to the railroad camp plenty of run to get a decent difference in track elevations for the lead to, and the beginning of the staging track.
By laying that staging track first, you can figure out the grade the railroad camp line needs to give you access under the other “Point” of your point to point operating scheme up top. Since you will have been been able to really lay that lower track PERFECT (or as close as us modelers can get!), the determining factor will be how much room your hands and arms need between the two lines to “reset” or rerail any errant loco or cars…Be generous as possible, since I assume you have no direct access to the lower level track from above. Maybe even try some rough mockups directly on the wall to see how it’ll be. No need to attach anything while “experimenting” and you’ll save yourself some grief later.
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Thanks for the additional input. I am still fiddling with the staging track idea in my head. One idea I am playing with is to not go the full distance along the wall, but rather go along the main line in the tunnel and then turn under the wing with the the railroad camp and go along its front.
Or I just may drop the staging idea altogether, it just makes my plan more complicated. I can generate enough traffic on the line itself logging camp via town to saw mill, wharf to town, plus I am more of a builder than an operator anyway.
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