Greetings! I’ve been a longtime lurker but seldom, if ever, post. However, I have just moved into my new house that has a generous-sized basement that I am planning a fairly large layout for. The link is below:
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/davidfowers/aaq?full=1
The layout is HO and will be based on the DRGW Utah area. The plan is for it to be a fictional prototype of an alternate route from Salt Lake City to Helper, Utah, in the late 60’s-early 70’s. The grid on the plan equals 1 foot, therefore the size of the layout is 45 x 21. This will be the first large layout I’ve undertaken, however I’ve been building layouts of various sizes since my youth.
Only the mainline (black shade) is shown. It will be double-mainline throughout. As you can hopefully see from the image, there are 2 return loops stacked on top of each other at the left (light gray shade). The bottom loop will be 46" and the upper loop will be 58". Both loops will be used for staging with 3-4 tracks on each level. Aisle ways are shown with a light brown shade.
The maximum grade will be 1.5%. Minimum radius planned for now is 30" but I may shrink it down to the 27-28" range due to aisle width considerations. Most aisles will be around 3 feet , but there will be a few choke points where it could get down to 2 feet, hence the thoughts on lowering the radius minimum. I will be running the CZ with passenger cars from BLI. Also, I have a couple of 89 foot auto carriers. I’m wondering if these will be problematic on the 27" radius especially given the fact it is double-mainline. My motive power is first and second generation 2 and 3 axle diesels.
Train lengths will be anywhere from 15-20 cars (I’d like input on a required passing siding length, although this won’t be hugely critical because of the double mainline and there will be several crossovers throughout).
As I develop more of the track plan (i.e. staging yards, sidings, engine facility) I will post progres
Hi David,
Great looking layout, a few yards and industries would help break up the layout scenically and provide somewhere for the trains to “go to”.
[#welcome] to the world of posting!!
Ian
Figure 6" minimum for a standard 40ft box car in HO.
jfugate has some interesting stats at http://siskiyou.railfan.net/model/layoutDesign/layout.html. This web covers a lot of stuff from passing siding length to staging etc. etc. etc.
Hi David.
The plan looks pretty good for the mainline. I do have one concern. You show walls around where the return loops are. Is this by any chance where your hot water heater and furnace are? If so I would seriously consider relocating the loops to one of the two blobs shown in the plan and leaving some access to the h/w and furnace. Speaking as a long time homeowner, they will both need replaced periodically over the years.
Enjoy
Paul
This is a really wide plan. You can’t touch all the track from the edge. This is a concern for building and operation.
UPDATE The plan connected to the link today (2/22) is not the plan I commented on.
Here’s a thought;
Have you thought at all about eliminating one or two of the blobs, reconnecting the mainline to itself, and then installing a small shelf with a siding there instead? The reason I say this is that it would eliminate several problems all at once.
Your mainline radius could be preserved and your reach problems are all but gone. It would also add an interesting diversion to the track plan.
It does shorten the overall run somewhat, but the benefits may be worth it.
I think it looks great for a mainline. I look forward to seeing updates as you put in the yards, staging, towns, etc.
I don’t see any reach problems others are talking about. If the squares are 12", nowhere does the mainline reach far back into the scene and backdrop you can reach from the aisles. I am assuming a backdrop around the ends of the peninsulas.
It’s okay to have the loops around the furnace/hot water tank IF you can remove them. Murphy says you will have to replace whatever is within the loops sooner than you had planned.
Good luck. Do you live in Utah? I know some people in the SLC area that would love to help out.
Maybe I missed it, but how do you get into the room? I see no doorways in any of the walls. Is the rectangle on the left side of the layout where the return loops are located a stairway into the room from the first floor of the house?