So I’ve been battleing with this layout for a couple of weeks now. It sure sucks up alot of time and energy.
I started the whole process with the Atlas RTS layout software. I found it very hard to do what I wanted. I came across XTrxCad software on a suggestion from a thread on one of these forums (may have been this one, I dunno), and that has been a real life saver. Very short learning curve, and very flexible.
I have an entire room to build this layout. Only problem is it 14.5’ square, doors on 3 walls, and a window on the 4th. I fought with a peninsula coming out of the corner, but it proved entirely too difficult to fashion a layout with a decent mainline a workable yard, and still be able to reach everything in the middle. I sacraficed the window, I’m going to build in front of it.
Here is the layout, it is 2 levels, the lower being nothing but somewhere to stage trains for the mainline. I incorporated a helix to get down to the lower level (the peninsula on the lower right).
Upper level:
Lower level:
I appreciate any comments. It isn’t set in stone yet.
dunno about photobucket but i just right clicked on the image and selcted view image from the popup list and it blew it up to easily viewable size
i know it’s unusual to suggest adding a duckunder or removable bridge section , but i think using one across the door in the north wall would allow you to extend that return loop several feet , adding to your mainline run and giving room for another industry or two , and maybe a passing siding/runaround track .
continuing that line of thought … similarly bridging the doorway on the south side of the room as well let’s you run the upper level all around the room . i’d limit the staging level to the area between the doors so you don’t have to do 2 level duckunders . if you did a twice around the room plan you’d significantly increase your mainline run
Were do these doors goto? if one is a closet then maybe you can remove the door and put some staging in there or close the door and build in front of it.
Allright, I have them so you can click them and should be able to view them a little better.
ereimer- I was really hopeing not to have to duck under. I’m 6’2" and the gut isn’t getting any smaller, lol. I really don’t like the idea of bridgeing the doors either. Just dont want to engineer a liftout, lazy I guess. I agree with you though, by bridgeing from one peninsula to the other would give me a really long, continuous double mainline. Hmmm… Lemme think about that again…bridge…
Roadrat- those doors go to attic space. Those are kneewalls So the doors are only 5’ high. Cannot remove the doors and keep it open, as the attic spaces are not insulated and the cat would have a ball trouncing around in the blown in insulation. I know what you are thinking, no, the spaces are kinda narrow, and full of junk, no room to build, LOL.
I was aiming for a dual mainline with the ability to turn around at both ends, as well as have a somewhat workable yard, and a few industry spurs to boot. If I wasn’t so worried about the duck under idea, I could have a continuous main, and I am going to think about that. Thanks guys!
You are going to have a long reach to get to the turnouts inside the left side loop. According to Murphy’s law, that is where you will have your track problems. Maybe consider moving that spur to the other side of the loop for easier access?
Hey there RevMatt! Yep I see what ya mean. The table edge can actually be moved toward the loop some. That will get me closer. But yes, I will be sure to take a closer look before I build.
I got a few pics of the track running through downtown New Bern. I’ll get them posted up for ya sometime this weekend.
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying your time with family today.
I have one question for you to fill in some things. What’s your maximum and minimum radius on your curves. Also, the small straight section in your lower returning curve (i.e. the one at the 6 'o clock position, or on the X/Y coordinates 12/3.5), how long is that? General rule of thumb on opposing curves:
They should be separated by a straight piece of track.
And that straight piece should be as long as your longest locomotive or car.
Otherwise, you run the risk of potential derailments there.
Lastly, Glenn, what are you wanting to accomplish with your layout when it is done. (Sorry, I guess I had more than one question, didn’t I…)
I would also smooth out the inlet into the “lagoon” It’s best if you can make it at least 2.5 or 3’ wide. A minimum of 2’ is a must. All you need to do is to knock off the corners at a 45 degree angle. You’re hips or ribs - depending on how high you want your layout - will appreciate it…[:)]
Thanks for responding. That area you are asking about has no straight section in it. It is an honest to goodness “S” curve. I know, I hear the critics already, lol. To top it off, the curve is kinda tight (19" radius) just past the transition of the “S” to where it swings back into the long area. I have the same problem on both levels. I have been playing with the bridge idea on the main level, thereby eliminating the problem there, but I’m kinda stuck with that on the storage level. Any curve you see in pink is below my min radius of 22". On the main level in the yard there are 2 but I dont plan on having to take a loco in that far. One more in the yard on the right is about 18.5" but I am hopeing it will be ok being as it is a small one, and I will be going slow through there.
The idea behind this layout is to have a busy mainline with moderate to small switching yard with various industries located throughout. The lower level is used to store the larger trains that are just passing through on the main. This eventually will include coal drags, an intermodal, an autorack and Amtrak passenger service. I am going to tweek the lower level so I have more trackage to park another long train. Unfortunatly, I just don’t have the room to actually have destinations for these on the main level. I would love to have an intermodal yard, but I figure I need at least 10 straight feet to make it look good.
The lagoon entrance is 2’ as it is drawn, but the corners will be relieved on the actual layout so my big gut doesnt get hungup.
since the doors lead to attic storage space i think you should take a really good look at the removable bridge idea . i’m curious now , where is the entrance to the room ?
I have a couple of suggestions to eliminate your non-standard curves on the upper deck (eg: the one near the reversing loop on the left side of your layout; and the one near the yard in the lower right corner).
Reversing loop area curve:
Merge your double track mains into a single track main at the point where you have a straight section of track at co-ordinates 12;0. Your reversing loop would come back and rejoin the single track main near where you have a turn-out (co-ordinates 14;3). You’ll have to relocate the existing turnout, that gives access the tracks inside the loop, slightly further along the main.
Yard area curve;
I’ll try to describe in text what I think will result in better access to those yard tracks while eliminating the non-standard curve.
At the turnout located at co-ordinates 1;2, replace the non-standard curve with a standard curve. (I know this will mean that you will swing further out from the other track; but you can minimise that by relocating the turn-outs currently located at co-ordinates 3;1.)
Near co-ordinates 1;1, locate a right-hand turn-out (or a curved one) so that the diverging (curved) portion aligns with the existing tangent (straight) track. (Note: you may not be able to align it perfectly; but you can always insert a short curved section.)
From the straight portion of the turn-out, go into a curve that will align with the other yard track. (Basically, you’re moving the turn-out currently located at co-ordinates 3;1 backwards to co-ordinates 1;1. You may have to play with this a bit so that your tracks line up with the existing tangents.)
ereimer- The entracne to the room is in the top left of the picture, it’s really a large opening into the room. Along that same wall about where the larger peninsula is, is a door into the bathroom.
chateauricher- Thanks for the input. I will definately take your input into consideration, especially with regards to the lower level and the yard.
Just an update. On the upper level, I have eliminated the S curve and have decided to extend the mainline from peninsula to peninsula using a bridge. I am trying to get my paws on a Walthers Bascule bridge. That will keep me from having to duck down all the way, but it will still be a tight squeeze as it only spans 21". As long as I dont get my head hungup I should be ok.
Actually, my comments were for the upper level reversing loop (on the left). However, they could be applied just as effectively to the reversing loop on the lower level.
I came up with a few ideas on my own also. I couldn’t really figure out what you were explaining to me in the yard area, but i was able to get rid of the non standard curve by rotating my curved turnout further to the right along the long curve and re-connecting. That did the trick. I ended up getting rid of the lower curve issue by utilizing a couple of curved turnouts back to back. As long as I use it like a X type of crossing I shouldn’t have any tracking problems (I hope).
