It has been many years since I have done a train layout, so I am start fresh again. I have a room that is 13’ 6" 15’ to work with. I was thinking I wanted something I could easily convert to to level later when the bottom is done or something. This will be a HO scale layout. So far my wife and I know we want mountains, and it to Fall time a year. As for Era, probably the later years. I need advice and Ideas in all areas, as I working on drawing a sketch of the layout, but, my creative side took a vaction. So any help would be great.
North side is 15’ with a 36" window 4’ from the left side.
The south side has a door 7’,4" from the left side.
Other than that room is open.
Your situation is very close to mine, except I have two doors. I also wanted mountains and my first plans took up most of the floor space with narrow isles.
I opted to go with a around the room layout with a helix in one corner. I am so glad I did as I love the room to move arount my train room. left the helex area open, just scabbing a track around it as I got my track plan up and running, then built the helix and starting now on the upper level. This way I can have an upper and lower yard, mountains, high bridges, and room for industrial complexes later.
Its like designing a house, it starts with good benchwork for a foundation. design your open grides ( if you use them) to be moved later account of unforseen changes not apparent as you build your empire. What I mean is no screws where you cant get to them in an easy manner. Every board and screw can be removed, moved, adjusted ect without much effort.
As far as track plans 101 track plans is a great help, lots of info to read and ideas to incorporate into your layout. Perhaps as you look at it you can get some info to designing your own layout. To me and just my personal openion mind you, I enjoy creating my own track plan, And yes I had a lot of brain fade and lots of paper in the trash, but I kind of like the result.
I was an avid boater and model railroading has the same falts, One allways wants another two feet in lenght, no mater the lenght of the boat or RR empire.
To me its easier to get the track plan then build the benchwork, to others the opposit.
My last layout was in a room 9’ X 14’ so I built the layout in a double figure eight…it was ok but I had to install manways within the loops so I could get to stuff in the middle of the layout…Chuck
Around the room is what I was thinking, but have not figured how deep to make it. I was thinking 24" and on the two ends may use a 36-48" for a turn around and helix.
Around the room is a great idea and opens up a whole realm of possibilities. (Right now, I have a 4 x 8’ with a side spur that runs off the table with that “potential” in mind.) It’s nice to hear that your wife is supportive of the project, too.
As far as the width, 24" is probably as deep as you want to go. If you go deeper - like the 36-48" ends you were talking about - make sure that you can “comfortably reach” all aspects of your layout. Otherwise, you will need to plan in some access ports or openings to work on things. (30" is the common number thrown out for maximum reach.) Getting it down first on paper first, so you can visualize it, will help in thinking those things out.
I don’t know how much experience you already have on building layouts. Since you have access to a computer, I might suggest that you go to the Atlas website and download their FREE track layout program demo called RTS (Right Tracks Software.) The website can be accessed at http://www.atlasrr.com. (Look for “Downloads” on the left side of the screen. You’ll have to register in order to download the program. The file is only 1.7MG so it should download fairly quickly.)
Now, RTS is somewhat limited in what it can do. But it can help you try out some of your layout ideas so that you can see them first. There are other better layout design software programs out there (e.g. CADRail, 3rdPlanit, RR Track, etc.) but you’ll have to pay for those. The nice thing is that you can download demos of them to view and try out. on your home computer.
Don’t know if that’s helpful or not. Keep us posted on your progress…
I’m back on the forum after a couple of years. CadRail questions got me started. I’m starting a new layout in a new house, so will be having a lot of fun. Looking over your conversations I can see I will have lots of expert advice and help.
I’ve got about 5 years experience in 3PI (it does great in designing module construction and other benchwork… I start from scratch and use the power of the 3D rotation before I cut a single piece of wood). I’m now playing with CadRail.
With over 40 years of computer software experience I can offer some software advice of my own because I see others are struggling with making a decision on which software package to use. The answer is… one package will probably not solve ALL your problems. You have a lot of money invested in the layout and equipment, so a few bucks invested in software will pay dividends later. Don’t be afraid to invest in the learning curve. You have learned patience from just enjoying your hobby. So if you like one package over another and it solves your problems, then use it.
My question: does anybody have some CadRail figures for Peco turnouts to add to the CadRail library… the dimensions for the turnout builder would suffice.
If you know your way around the software, the parameter files for XtrkCad - an open source project - should have the Peco turnout data you are looking for.
For others, XtrkCad, being open source, is a good, free software download for designing your layout (see http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage). Runs on Linux and Windows, and has been made to run on OS X with some serious tweaking. XtrkCad doesn’t do 3D, and is not as simple as the Atlas product, but does have extensive, up-to-date track libraries because of continuing contributions of users. Learning curve appears to be typical for these packages; doing the tutorial first is necessary to avoid an exercise in frustration. I use the Atlas for quick and dirty practicality checks, and the XtrkCad for more advanced designs, or designs I want to publish or share.
I think that if you are in the beginning stages of working on a layout, you should start by reading my beginner’s guide. It takes about 10 minutes and you can click to it from my signature.
An exercise in showing off how to be the smartest guy in the room:
Make sure you do not block off the heat vents (say by building a storage cabinet or chest of drawers over them). How does this room get air-conditioned? If you have central air then any plan that lets the heat circulate will do so for cool air too. If you need the window for an air conditioner, then it will have to be clear. Whatever you think is a comfortable height, plus any grades up/down, cannot equal the height of the window unit at that point on the wall.
Now more seriously:
I commend to your attention Model Railroad Planning 2007 (and all previous years - back to 1995 I think). This is a collection of tips and full layouts featuring possible answers to various design problems. You will find some cool ideas and some that just don’t strike your fancy and some that will answer a problem you face.
BTW, do not be afraid to build a small layout designed to be fit in as a part of a future larger layout. 4’x8’ and 2’x6’ are good sizes for modules to test some technique.
Find out if you like industrial switching vs continuous loop operation. Do you want speedsters - and the associated very-broad-radius curves and flat profiles - or slow-moving trains where you can see all the locomotive parts going back and forth, viewed at different angles as the track climbs hills and rounds curves?