Well, I am ready for the critics. I am over 60, retired, and this is my second large layout, the first one in HO scale. The plan was drawn with the Atlas RTS program. I am using RTS for reference to see if things will fit reasonably well, not as a shopping list. A track diagram of the layout I am building (planning) is below, and am asking for any input and-or comments, good or bad. It is being built in sections or modules, although there are no standards or desire to interface with anyone else’s modules. It is being built this way so it can be moved, if we move. The room is 24 by 9.5 feet. Grid lines are 12 inches. Mainline curves are 18 inches minimum, wider if there is room for them.
Modules 1, 2, and 3, plus the coal mine module at the far right, are complete, track wise, and have been operating with some scenery and buildings finished or in work. At present the modules are packed up because we were expecting to move, but things fell through.
This layout started as a pre-drawn plan from MR. Modules 1 and 2 were from a switching layout plan called “Two track plans for an L-shaped space” from the booklet called Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader, on page 16. This is the second time I have built this plan as part of a larger layout, so I really must like it. The plan is modified of course. The biggest modification is a wider table section on module 1 so I could add a yard in front.
There are quite a few notes on the plan itself and I hope you can read them. I was able to read them on the one I posted as a test. The two staging tracks at the upper right will be extended farther to the left to hold a complete train each. The coal mine module can be positioned at any corner of the room (the entry track is the curved turnout at the top as shown) and I am starting to think about putting it above module 1. The new Wye that is going behind module 1 is being thought of as a passenger terminal right now. 60 foot passenger cars will be used, and I am going to test t
With so many levels, your plan is a little hard to follow. Here are some odds and ends from another over 6-0 person:
You mentioned that this will be your first layout in HO and you also mentioned 18" and even 15" radius curves. I will bet you came from N scale. With the amount of space you have I would try to stay away from anything less than 22" radius and shoot for much larger whenever possible. At our age, good operation - minimal derailments - should be high on the priority list.
At your doorway you should try to pack the tracks together as close as possible so that you minimize the width of the duck-under. Right now the width of this area looks to be 14" wide once finished. With 3 tracks you should be able to get this down to 8" or so. By the way, you did not say what your zero elevation was going to be.
South wall - Module 2: I see a gray track at +4" decending into a yard at +2" within 4 feet. This would be at least a 4% grade - not something you really want to have for a main yard lead.
I assume that tracks C & D are actually some negative elevation value and descend off of B close to the south wall.
I don’t understand the reason for the pink (+8") track. It joins what should be level track at 6". The black siding on the West wall is 6" and the coal mine in also black so it is at 6" too - right? This would make the track on the North wall level - right?
I did a quick search for your ore dock but I could not find it. Are you sure that this structure is 12" high (87 scale feet high) from dock level or is this supposed to be from water level (which would be quite a bit lower)?
In any case, I would double check you grades and clearances. Some places where you have tracks crossing at different levels may not actually have the clearance you expect. This is especially true i
Thanks for your comments. I hear your concerns, and yes, I did come from N scale. I will try and address your comments at each point, and my philosophy with them.
1- Right now the curves in the lower left are 18R and operate flawlessly. I used code 83 snap-track here to make sure. The mainline curve at the upper left (NW) will be no less than 18R. The space here is tight and if there is any way possible to make it larger, I will. The really tight curve will be the inside of the wye at the upper left, and that is a concern for me. I know my freight equipment and locos will handle 15R because I have done some testing before I started all this.
2- Doorway. The lower two tracks are on a swing bridge scene that is mounted on the lower part of a Dutch door type structure that swings inward. The upper bridge will be a lift up. Zero height is about 45 inches from the floor so I can have 18 to 24 inches between lower and upper modules (the coal mine).
3- Grade down to the yard. That is a sticky point and the grade was built just as the plan called for, but the yard was added. This is already built and you are exactly right. That is why I decided to add the curved turnouts to the other end of the yard at the top, and the upper end, inside track, will be the yard lead for classifying cars. That grade you mentioned is the steepest.
4- Staging. Actually, tracks C & D are the same level as the two B track ends. The space between the two B ends will be a town of some sort, TBD at this point, and I am open to ideas, although it will probably be straight forward. The staging track lead, from C & D, will connect in to it somehow.
5- The red track behind the pink track is a grade up to the coal mine module, point A, from a +6 elevation on module 1. The pink track is estimated to be at +8 inches when it diverts from that grade on a #6 or greater turnout. I like to see trains just run sometimes, so that track makes a twice around the room run possible.
I’d be concerned about the grade at the bottom of the blue yard to the turnout on the red track. That’s a 2" elevation change in what appears to be 3’. Thats a 5%+ grade and with such a steep grade you’ll need some vertical easements - a foot each leaving only 1’ for the grade proper meaning you’ll need more than 8%! If your modeling a logging railroad this might be reasonable but I think this is a deal breaker for what you’ve drawn.
Don’t worry about the negative comment. ALL comments are welcome. Thanks for taking the time to add yours, and I hope to get more…negative or positive. That’s part of learning, which never stops.
Well, I am ready for the critics. I am over 60, retired, and this is my second large layout, the first one in HO scale. The plan was drawn with the Atlas RTS program. I am using RTS for reference to see if things will fit reasonably well, not as a shopping list. A track diagram of the layout I am building (planning) is below, and am asking for any input and-or comments, good or bad. It is being built in sections or modules, although there are no standards or desire to interface with anyone else’s modules. It is being built this way so it can be moved, if we move. The room is 24 by 9.5 feet. Grid lines are 12 inches. Mainline curves are 18 inches minimum, wider if there is room for them.
Modules 1, 2, and 3, plus the coal mine module at the far right, are complete, track wise, and have been operating with some scenery and buildings finished or in work. At present the modules are packed up because we were expecting to move, but things fell through.
This layout started as a pre-drawn plan from MR. Modules 1 and 2 were from a switching layout plan called “Two track plans for an L-shaped space” from the booklet called Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader, on page 16. This is the second time I have built this plan as part of a larger layout, so I really must like it. The plan is modified of course. The biggest modification is a wider table section on module 1 so I could add a yard in front.
There are quite a few notes on the plan itself and I hope you can read them. I was able to read them on the one I posted as a test. The two staging tracks at the upper right will be extended farther to the left to hold a complete train each. The coal mine module can be positioned at any corner of the room (the entry track is the curved turnout at the top as shown) and I am starting to think about putting it above module 1. The new Wye that is going behind module 1 is being thought of as a passenger terminal right now. 60 foot passenger cars will be us