The P & E could be mirror-flopped without otherwise altering the plan.
I have it on good authority that the designer’s head was accidentally working backwards that day, and left a nice big door space in the wrong bottom corner. Call it the Southern Hemisphere version, because everybody knows that trains run the other way down there.
My votes:
By scale:
#1 N: River Valley. I just like it, and room for expansion is a nice bonus.
#1 HO: Kinesube Utsube Line. Good design, and a nice drawing too.
#1 G: Some kinda traction line…I forget the name now. You know, the one with the B. Those big trains would really be a hit with nonfanatic visitors, too.
Overall:
#1 - Kinesube Utsube Line
#2 - River Valley
#3 - Progressive Rail. I like this switching plan, and it’s a good place to take a nap, too.
The Kinesube Utsube and Snover & Port Fuller standout. Both layouts look like they would be easy to maintain in that everything is within reach. Another nice characteristic is the lower quantity of track in each scene. I especially like how the Kinesube Utsube does not crowd the room.
Twin peaks(This one has potential in the mountains to run logging trains I think up the grade to a clear cut on top , At the least it would look neat climbing a train through the woods.
There’s some great project layouts here. The Johnstown and Altoona walks away as my favorite, but I’m biased as an N scaler. The River Valley is also a great twist on the “big square table in the middle of the room” concept.
Here’s the rankings:
N scale - Johnstown and Altoona, with River Valley a close second.
HO scale - The Coal Branch. I look at that and I think of how magnificent it would be to take the exact same plan and lay N scale track instead. Great flow, lots of scenic opportunities there, even in Humongously Oversized…
G- scale, if one must run G scale indoors, a traction layout is a grand idea. I liked Koester’s modular G scale rig… Short line running lends itself to Ginormous Scale.
Best overall
Johnstown and Allentown. You HO guys can NEVER do that in a spare bedroom.
Coal Branch - A great track plan that would be even greater as an N scale project.
River Valley - Again, a great twist on a table top layout. Great use of the space.
Thanks for hosting this, Spacey. I hope the MR editors aren’t shy about contacting the creators of these designs. They are all worthy of note.
Both of the first two have continuous running and a long branch line. For a space this size I think that represents a good combination. The third one is a nice around the walls layout.
HO: Progressive Rail … in my opinion the clear winner … it attempts and succeeds at portraying the sometimes difficult and unique aspects of prototype operations… much like Lance Mindheim’s Miami CSX layout which also doesn’t have a runaround, the prototype rail company has found a way to make it work… my layout based on the CSX Bethlehem Branch operates prototypically by exclusively using push-pull setups to make it work and i find the Progressive Rail setup to be of great interest to me
They were all early diesel or Steam layouts so I didnt like that at all. I also really did not like any of the HO designs at all. They were all boring in my little opinion
I see you looked really closely. The first one was late 90’s NS/CSX and the second one was Modern day Norfolk Southern. Next time show us how it’s done.
"This layout is based on prototype track plans and prototype operations by Minnesota shortline Progressive Rail (PGR) in their Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville, MN, ca 2002. "
First, kudos to all the N-siders who used the larger space as an opportunity to enlarge the ratio of scenery to track, and not fill the room with the usual spagetti bowl.
N-scale first - Altoona & Johnstown [bow] - however I am NOT going to be the one who has to make all those trees.
HO first - Kinesube Utsube Line - and I loved the fact that there was nary a duck-under in sight.
G first - Guess who? But hey, I did G on a shelf layout once (though no where near that size) and man that takes cojones.
I am not fishing for anything. Dont let my short posting history fool you to believe I have no right to opinions. I personally did not like any of the designs is that alright??? If not I will lie to suit you and say they were all fantastic
LOL! Good one, Vic! I’ didn’t think of that. But a mate of mine who has a layout based on a tramway in Tokyo has done it - http://japanese-trains.com/setagaya/ [:D]
And thank you for the compliment. Seems we both like each other’s entries.
Good idea. I’d be up for it. Hopefully so will the other contestants.