I’m still getting used to the program so I can’t seem to get the 2nd level to show. Staging will be under the centre and have a wye out to both sides so trains can go either way.
The cut off, I thought I’d have a coal mine one side and a industry the other with a loads in empties out double track will be there.
Bypassing a good portion of the mainline run is one of Armstrong’s big no-no’s. An alternate route is one thing, like the SF through Cajon where the new route was built to a lower grade and became the preferred route for one direction, but chopping off the whole penninsula?
Ken, congrats on the possible newfound space. Have you considered positioning two peninsulas from opposite sides of the layout? That might be more interesting. Just a thought…
I would double track the left hand end so you can orbit two trains. You might want to put the industries on the peninsula and that would let you run across the base while the local had the main blocked doing station work.
If you start with a schematic plan based on your operational wants (what trains going where), it drives your track plan design (caution: both wants and design will be subject to many changes and compromises inspired by the bolts and jolts of available space!).
For example, if you want trains to move in a staging-mainline-staging, or a staging-division yard-staging operation plan, a once-around the room design will fill the bill quite nicely… and have a nice only-travel-through-the-scenery-once benefit as well.
If a more on-the-layout operation format is desired, such as a staging-terminal-town-town-terminal-staging sequence; then more mainline length will be needed, probably in a double-loop-around-the-walls (with or without peninsula) or an around-the-walls-double-loop-dogbone arrangement. The dogbone concept can have the advantage of eliminating those pesky duck-unders or complicated lift-ups.
