Finally the Go was given to start construction. Budget is virtually unlimited, only restriction being space (Lot). Still looking for a name or prototype reference. The design is freelanced, but based on the ATSF and BN just before the merger. Maybe you could help me there. I can still make changes to the track plans while the train housing is being constructed. The design of the “station” is based on a traditional ATSF depot. Everything is dcc and will be PC controlled. Modeling of structures will start a soon as the kits arrive next week. Here are the basic architectural plans. I will be posting pics of the project progress. Please, any observations are greatly welcome.
The “Station”. Turipana is the name of the recreational complex were it is being built.
The layout plan exported to AutoCAD from 3rdPlanit
General Floor Plan
Front View
Side View
Cross section showing the control room and the layout room
Dante, yes, it is open for public. Good observation, the handicapped have plenty of acces from the back entrance, which is at the same level as the layout room. Alleys arround the layout have enough (standard) space for weelchairs. The toilet facilities are at separate building just a few feet away from this building, since this layout is located at a recreational facility that includes a lot of amennities, such as swimming pools, sport fields, water parks, restaurants, bbq, picinics, convention center, a game house (pool, chess, domino, etc.) and many other amenities. The whole building have been designed according to international norms of accesability, fire safety and structural soundness (sismic norms, etc…).
Designing this project have been realy fun. The housing is almost 40% done. The best thing of all is that I’m getting paid for this!! Almost $US10K have been spent just for track!! The hole project must be finished by Dec 15/2009.
Basically, this is a huge figure 8 layout with no way to reverse the direction of trains. If this model layout is basically for public display, a continuous loop is desireable. We are just completing a continuous figure 8 loop for our local Historical museum, which has no switches. One of the main advantages of DCC is the ability to have reverse loops and wyes, that (with reverse loop modules) automatically change the polarity, so that you do not have to use DPDT toggle switches to change the polarity. As I see it, except for the use of spurs and run-arounds, the trains in opposite directions on the two fixed loops, have no possibility to choose various routes around the layout, and if a train uses the cross-over, it must back up to return to it’s original track With the double track running closely parallel, why don’t you use a double-slip switch,( instead of a single slip switch)? From the photo of the be I assume that the supporting legs are 2"x2". Is the floor wooden , or concrete? Are the bottoms of the legs attached to the floor with metal L braces ? From the photo, it appears that there are no L braces holding the legs to the floor. All my layout legs are screwed to small pieces of 2"x4",(which are screwed to the wooden floor). I happened to have several old 4 drawer cabinets, that were all of layout height. These afford not only secure support, but plenty of storage space. At present, I am completing a "roll around work bench, that will slide under the layout, when not in use. My 24’x24’ HO layout consists of 250 yds. of code 83 track, 110 switches, 3 wyes, and 6 reverse loops, divided into four DCC Digitrax Power Districts. It has many possible routes for trains to travel. Bob Hahn
You say that the weight of the table will make it secure ! ??? I added one leg (that was not braced), to my braced 2"x4" leg system, and sure enough, I kicked it, and it no longer supported
I see many areas of potential concern, from an over-reliance on switchback industry areas to a lack of staging or storage to the overall schematic (as someone noted) to access concerns for construction and maintenance. It seems to me that grafting on a locale and concept after developing the track plan is a more difficult way to approach a layout design.
In that much space, there may well be better alternatives, but if your client(s) are happy, best of luck.
Guys, thank you very much for your inputs. The floor is concrete and the whole table will be freestanding (no bolting to the floor). The whole structure is wide enough and heavy enough for this, final leveling will be done at site.
As for the layout design, I greatly appreciate your observations, and I’m back to the drawing board! I will have someking of reversing system. I already have 2 automatic reverse modules (one from digitrax and the other from MRC). Switchback shall be avoided. As soon as this changes are made I’ll post the plan. But I should also consider this: This is a public layout that should run by itself, only with a person to make sure everything run smooth and a security guard. Thing should be kept simple, this is not inteded for operations (not to much model railroaders down here anyway…). Staging is designed but not drawn… I’ll have in my next plan.
If it’s intended for public display and automated operation only, then I’d definitely be considering a very different track plan.
Also, most experienced layout builders would choose a benchwork scheme that reduces the number of legs and moves them away from the aisle, especially if there will be a lot of spectators moving around the layout. L-girder and open-grid in some combination would probably work better and might use less material than what you have drawn. An excellent resource is How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork by Linn Westcott and Rick Selby.
