Layout problems ...

[HO_Greg]

I’m going to try to re-work the track plan in N scale just to see what I could do differently. So far the comments have been fantastic and have really helped me narrow the scope and refine the vision.

I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that I may not be able to do all I want using HO – I could easily do a point-to-point layout but getting that return loop in the space I have is become more and more problematic. Not impossible, but I think I’ll have to make more compromises than I want to.

I’ll post more after I take a quick pass at an N scale layout in the same space, along with posting the givens and druthers.

Thanks,

Greg

[Texas_Zephyr]

Having a way to turn trains gives you more opportunity to do things. I don’t think it’s a requirement but it is nice to be able to turn them around so everyone doesn’t think my railroad is just a NASCAR track with everyone always turning in the same direction.

Is your concern that trains travel in the same direction every time (very easy to fix, just runaround the train and flip the direction switch on the powerpack) or that the engines always face the same way (entirely prototypical for a shortline branch)?

I was going to say the same thing. Just run around the train, grab the caboose (if you have such things) and spot it aside, couple the loco to the train, pull the train up and couple the caboose on the other end and ta-da the train is heading the other direction. In fact, that could be one of the interesting main intent “things” you have the opportunity of doing.