I have just gotten back into this affliction after a 20+ year absence. I currently have the standard 2 loop 4x8 HO up and running, but have gotten tired of watching things go in small circles, but at least, I have trains running [:D]. I have been through numerous revisions and sizes, and think that for the space I have available, and around the walls will be the best plan overall (until I get a bigger room). Well 45 plans and a months later, I think I have now gotten something that works for me.
Since I am from Virginia, and have spent much time in Blacksburg along the coal routes of the New River Valley along the Virginian and Norfolk and Western trackage, the fictitional short line will be called the New River Valley Railroad. It is going to be built in a 9’10" x 10’10" room in a kind of doughnut pattern. The operating pit will be in the center, it will have a duckunder, and I will be the only operator. The mainline has a minimum radius of 25" and No. 6 turnouts. The sidings have a minumum of 22" and No. 4 turnouts. I plan on using code 100 flex as much as possible. The layout will be an around the walls of no more than 2’ deep.
I currently have 5 diesels and a 4-8-4. I’m looking to run smaller cars and shorter trains, due to the space limitations. I will be staying in HO.
The main points of interest:
Coal Mine - NRVRR is built on mining - bottom
Yet to be determined Industry - middle right side
Loco Depot and Station on top right side of plan
Town on top left of plan
Small mining town to left of mine
Entire left side of plan open for whatever
It has come a long way since I started this journey, and I think I have just found the right plan for my room. Comments and gotchas from the pros are welcomed.
The pic is probably too small, so you can see a larger one here. <
Looks good to me. Run with it! I lived in Virginia in the early to mid sixtys, in Williamsburg, on Nelson Drive. I had to leave there to go to Germany. That sucked! Got sent from there to El Paso, Texas in 69. Sand and rocks. From there to Louisiana, Where I am now. I model KCS equipment myself, and been told that I do it well. My signature pic shows an example of my work. Yhe decals aren’t decals at all, but images printed on onion skin paper, cut out and applied with white glue. Hope you have as much success.
very nice design and layout for a single operator…I do have one suggestion, and i’m sure many others will echo it…STAGING STAGING and STAGING!.
Your idea doesn’t allow for storing of any trains not running or the creation of a “world outside” of your space for trains to enter and leave your modeled area. My recommendation would be to add a second level below your main level to allow for staging of trains, maybe use one of the moutain areas to allow for ramps up and down from staging. This way trains can come from staging and loop through your entire layout, and end back in staging.
Jeff, thanks for the kind words. After working so long and hard on this, I am ready to run with it.
Mike, I completely agree with the lack of staging. I thought about another level for staging, but I never could get an answer to the question of “what is a workable distance between levels?” So, if I were to plan for staging on a lower level, given the lack of size of the room and the grade I would want to keep under (2.5%), what would be an acceptable distance to drop down from the main level? To just stage trains, how much would I need?
Edit: Oh yeah, I really do not have the room for a helix.
So, if I were to plan for staging on a lower level, given the lack of size of the room and the grade I would want to keep under (2.5%), what would be an acceptable distance to drop down from the main level? To just stage trains, how much room would I need?
Could you sneak a couple of hidden staging tracks along the “top” of the plan? Maybe have a junction at the upper left of the plan for the coal trains to diverge onto?
I’ve got a couple of ideas that you might be interested in. I’ll work on them and post the results tomorrow. You’ve got a really good plan here.
As to the lower staging level, you’ll need 4 inches ust to clear everything. In reality, you’ll need more though. You need 0-5-0 swtcher (hand) room. I’d say an absolute minimum of 8 inches, 10 would be better.
Like I said, I’ll throw some ideas at you tomorrow. If you don’t care for them, thats cool. It’s fun just to throw ideas around and bounce them off of each other, you know? [8D]
OK, I’ve got some ideas to throw at you. The most obvious is a new staging level under the main one. There isn’t a ton of room to work with so it’s a two track staging setup (the two inside tracks) and a pass-through on the outside. Pretty basic. All curves are at least 22 inches, many are larger. The inside track is close enough to the operator (you) that cars can be switched out to create new trains so you never have to see the same train twice if you don’t want to. Here it is;
Click to enlarge
Now for the upper level. I had to make changes to get to the lower level obviously. Those are on the right of the plan. I also noticed a few other issues that needed addressed. There were several “S” curves created by turnouts coming off of curves. The coal mine had several that I fixed by adding some car length straight track between the curve and the turnouts. The yard was a bit more difficult. The runaround behind the passenger station had to go. I couldn’t make it work. The yard itself is one track smaller, but I was able to add a RIP track (Repair In Place = repairs made to damaged cars that don’t require the car to be removed from the rails). The RIP track can have just about any type of car on it and constantly generates business. While fiddling with the yard I was able to lengthen the lead, though I couldn’t get it off of the main. One other thing, this plan does not provide a way to turn loco’s or trains, so you are limited in that respect. With the new lower level, you could pull to the inside track and let the 0-5-0 switcher turn loco’s I suppose. I thought about adding a turntable in place of the yard, but that’s up to you to decide. Anyway’s, here’s the upper level;
You know, I puddled around with a staging yard, just like your design, last night. I think I had 4 tracks instead of 3. Funny how that works. . . . I’ll hit you with my email address; I do use RTS 7.0, so the files would be helpful.
An 0-5-5 switcher, now that is funny; it took me a bit to get the meaning.
I will look at this in depth tonight when I get home. I guess I should get back t my real job now.
Looks great. I have a similar layout in a similar sized and shaped room. I also decided to locate my time period in the mid 1950’s so that I wouldn’t have to worry about big long cars.
You might have trouble with your 4-8-4. I have one (a BLI Santa Fe 3757 – by far, my fave locomotive) and it’s been one of the biggest disappointments of my layout. I managed to keep my turn radii to 22" and it’s TOO TIGHT for the 4-8-4. It derails regularly. Bummer.
I’m also working on a lower staging area like you. Also, I don’t have the room (or the patience) for a helix. Let me know how your layout goes…Looks like a great start…
If you tighten the guage (move the wheels closer together on the axles) just a SLIGHT bit, it might let your loco clear the curve. Also, if you can get the axle to “float” a little, side to side, that can help too. To do that you can either thin the backs of the wheels, or you can shave the frame where the wheels rest against. Work slowly and carefully! A little goes a long way! And be sure that it doesn’t float so much that the drive gear becomes disengauged as it floats.
I have kept my mainline minimum radius to 25" and the turnouts to #6 for just that reason. My current layout has 22" on the outer and 18" on the inner with #4 turnouts. The 4-8-4 doesn’t really like the inner loop; it runs well on the 22".
I looked over the plan some tonight. The only thing that gets me is the grade required. To drop 8"-10" in the space I have is going to be interesting. At a 2.5% grade, is would be about 400" of track to get down 8". The total width of the longest side of the layout is only 130", so you’re looking at completing a circuit around the perimeter just to get to staging, and then another to come back up. I think the correct term is a nolix???
At this point, I am open to more suggestions on how to drop 8"-10" in the space I have.
Chris - It looks like you have used Atlas RTS to design the layout. Remember take a minute and post your final design on www.Layoutdepot.com for everyone to see and download in the future.
As the track is decending you only need to clear the bottom of the top deck (4 inches). It’s the far right side of the staging level that would be more at 8". I didn’t figure the grades exactly as I was only trying to give a general idea of one thing that might work. You could take the cutoff on the outside left and move it around the bottom to gain some length. The one on the inside would be a little tougher to move, but you could gain a few inches by shifting it further up the siding. The point is, you only really need 4 inches to pass under another track, then you’re at the bottom level. It can continue to drop from there in order to reach your magic 8 inches. [8D]
Peter, not a problem. I’ll be glad to give back to the community that has helped me along on the journey.
Philip, thanks for reminding me that I ONLY have to clear the 1x4 brace. I’ve been working on this plan for so long that I cannot see the forest for the trees. I’ll study some more and post back a new plan.
I know what you mean,…4 inches might as well be a mile sometimes!
EDIT: I shifted things around a bit and gained some more room for the grades, plus I set the coal mine at a slant, which I think adds some visual interest. Here’s the revision;
I can shoot the .ral file your way if you want. I don’t know if the others I sent you helped or not, but if you want this one, it’s yours for the asking.
BTW, if you got 4 tracks on the lower level, go for it! You can’t have too much staging!
