First time HO gauge industrial layout advice

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
21

Folks can perhaps see those layouts (and the thinking behind them) more easily at this link.
http://www.layoutvision.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/ldj-52_2x9_ho_switching.pdf

Although I designed all four in response to a client’s request, I don’t think using two of them as-is would be the optimal approach to your design. As I and others have suggested, using your whole space to overlap staging, runarounds, switching leads, and industry tracks has greater potential.

Of the four, I am personally happiest with the Alpha Terminal design (the first in the article). The others were designed in response to specific client requests that somewhat reduced the overall function of the track plans in the given space. The last “Branch Terminal” design is OK – if a longer lead is available on the left-hand side.

But if designing from scratch for your situation, I’d work to make best use of the overall space.

Byron

22

Thanks for that you have all been a great help and i dont mean to come across as been stupid but you mention overlap staging runarounds etc but i can’t seem to get my head around what that actually involves.

23

You indicated in your first post you have not built a layout before, so some of the advice here may not make much sense. For your first layout, it’s not a bad idea to use a trackplan from a book or magazine, or I suppose the internet. The NMRA plans you posted are good though they may not fit your space that well, which is why you are getting some of the advice. There was another presentation with many good layouts recently posted:

http://www.amherstrail.org/ABEL/Downloads/Shelf-Layouts.pdf

I say it’s better to build something rather than be overcome by analysis paralysis, and you don’t have to build everything all at once–start with one side of your U. Feel free to modify plans and post changes you wish to make on this forum for feedback, but remember it’s only you you have to satisfy.

24

Thanks for that Gary sound advice.I just panic about the track layout more than anything else.The scenery isnt a problem plus buildings having spent years on model boats planes etc but track layin is a whole new ball park for me.My main concern is does the track have to function in the way real life would be what im trying to say is does it need to have turnouts and cross sections in specific places or can you lay them down to your own prefrence.

25

Just had a look at the pdf you sent Gary and there are a few on there that actually take my fancy thanks again.

26

It means using the same section of benchwork for all of those elements. Here’s an example from this 5’X7’ HO small switching layout.

This one uses interchange tracks as the only staging, but the same idea would hold true with staging tracks hidden behind a low backdrop

27

How did you do that color switching? [tup] [tup]

28

Overlaid layers in an animated .gif in Photoshop frames. Crudely done, but that’s the limit of my animation skills.

29

Thanks alot that has made things alot clearer[:)] I’lle get there eventually lol