I really need help. A few years ago, I started my layout. I was a complete novice then and so used a track plan from LifeLike’s basics for begginers. I now hate it. It is on a 4x8 sheet of plywood with benchwork. I want to start over. I would like to have a nice double track mainline as long as possible with a boxcar loading dock on the layout, a few other random small industries (haven’t decided which yet) and possibly an intermodal yard. I am focusing on 1980’s onwards for my era. I freelance but I am picky about it being realistic, even if it doesn’t exist. I have 6ft 3/4 inches by 11ft 2 inches. I tried to post a diagram with the current setup, but I am not sure it worked. Black lines are rail, and those big blue blocky things are a paper mache grade that crosses over the mainline, but no track is currently on it. There is a little extension, but it is a shelf with warped wood. Any new trackplan contributions or ideas would be really welcome. Let me know if you need more information about anything.
Edit: Anyone know how to upload a downloadable file on this post?
A couple of questions. What scale? What type of file are you trying to upload to the forum?
If I understand correctly, you can’t upload a file directly to the forums. The best way to post a diagram is to set up an account in a file hosting service like Imgur, transfer the image into Imgur, and then copy the link from Imgur into your post by clicking on the ‘mountain and sun’ icon above the text box and pasting the link into the pop up window.
I will qualify my suggestion by stating clearly that I am a computor dinosaur and I still struggle with posting images, so I can’t guarantee that my method will work for your ‘file’, but it works for me.
If you can have acces to all sides of the bench work, you could devide that 6’ with a scenic backdrop/scene devider, and have all of that 11’ for nice long trains. That 6’ width would make for a nice wide radius on each end, in any scale.
Maybe start by drawing your space to scale, and see what you can come up with.
Ho scale. I tried to upload as a word document and pdf, but neither worked. I have tried googling track plans, but nothing was really even close. I need help to come up with something to meet my specific situation. Will try imgur.
Here it is. The 10" doesn’t give you a lot of room for bigger structures. Would you be satisfied with point to point operation or are you someone who want to see his train go round and round?
I want a double track mainline, if possible, that would go around. But, I want bridges and tunnels for scenic variety, and a way to disguise the fact that it is going around and around. The more sidings I can logically squeeze in for extra operation, the better (for me). I also have plenty of space for another deck, which I think will drastically enhance the mainline’s illusion of length.
Honestly - I think you overestimate the space you have available and seriously underestimate the space requirement for a helix. The minimum radius you should consider for a safe operation is 24", which means that helix will eat away a 4´2" by 4´2" footprint from your space.
Helixes have always been huge space eaters. It helps to have an area where they can go that might not otherwise take away space from important parts of the layout.
My suggestion is to think about what you want and the space you have.
A 4x8 limits you to an absolute max of 22" radius, practically something more like 20" radius (if you don’t want the track right on the edge of the layout) and much less than that on the inside main of double track. The inside main will be at or below the suggested minimum radius of larger equipment.
You want intermodal trains. Intermodal trains use LOOOOOOONG cars and LOOOOOONG locomotives. Long cars and long locos work better on wider radius. If you have really well laid track and everything is tuned and smooth, yes you can get really long cars to work on a tight radius. If its not high quality then there is a large potential for problems. On tight curves long cars and engines need wider track spacing. You will need at least 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inch separation on curves below 24" radius. Longer cars and longer engines work best on longer switches. I would suggest #6 switches if you are operating intermodal trains through them, definitely #6 switches if you will be shoving intermodal trains through them.
Yes, I know, everybody wants the 150 platform stack train with 3 SD70’s pulling it. However one of the first concepts of track planning is the Harry Callahan rule: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
Looking at what you want to model and the space you want to do it in, may I suggest a change of scale? A few years ago, MR did a N scale project railroad, which featured a double mainline track, an intermodal yard and some industries to switch. It lacked a staging yard to act as the origin or the destination of trains, but that could be easily incorporated into the layout as well as your room.
The project layout´s handle was “The Salt Lake Route”. It was a roughly 5 by 9 ft. affair with breathtaking scenic features - and a bridge, which is on your list.
The best use of that space would involve dismantling the 4X8. And then I would think in terms of a donut-style layout using the inside, outside, and backside (against the walls) of the donut. As in the conceptual not-to-scale sketch below.
An HO helix is likely not practical in that space. Two physically unconnected decks might be possible.
Some folks have allowed part of a layout to extend over the hood of the parked car (of course, the car must be out of the garage for construction and full operation).
Thank you for all the comments! I am very much prepared to dismantle the 4x8, and I have the MRR magazine with the salt lake route, will see if i can find any ideas.
They are very crude and primitive, I know. These are illustrations of the VERY basic shape, no staging, hidden trackwork, etc. All corners would be rounded. I expect the final result to deviate quite a bit from these scetches. My hope would be that the upper deck would be the same shape as the lower, but I only illustrated the lower deck for clarity. Feel free to offer modifications or other advice!
I could go for triple deck too, although I would have to do some reworking on the other stuff mentioned in the article to make it fit my criteria and space.
Sorry, it doesn’t fit in your space. It’s a 30" minimum radius in the helix. That’s about 5½’ across in all dimensions once you allow for supports and clearances. It would take up nearly half of your space just for the helix, unless you have more area than you’ve told us about.
The plan you cite from MR is 272 square feet. You have about 70 square feet. That layout is four times the size of your space. Until you get real about space, you’re spinning your wheels.
Likewise, the other sketches you posted don’t seem to be realistic about space – especially the space needed for turnback curves broad enough for the modern locomotives and intermodal equipment you wish to run in HO.
Either the dimensions you gave us in the beginning are way off or you need to reset your expectations substantially.
