Layout without a plan.

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
21

Though I had a concept for the present Yuba River Sub when I began building it 10 years ago, I did not have a detailed track plan. I only knew that I had a 24x24’ area in my California Basement (garage) to work with. I knew that I wanted large radius curves–34-36" for my big steamers, and interrupted grades not exceeding 2.4%.

The idea was that of a non-parallel double track mainline similar to SP’s Donner Pass route, and I wanted a total rise of 18-20 inches from “0” elevation in the main yard to the summit of Yuba Pass. So I built the framework, installed the foam baseboard, got my WS 2% risers and went to work. There were a few ‘trial and error’ incidents during the building, but all in all, it turned out to be ;very much what I had envisioned.

I’m happy with it, so far. The only thing I didn’t envision was enough staging area, but that’s being taken care of this summer when I get back to work on it.

Tom

22

I will also be working with out a formal track plan, but pretty much everything else will be planned. Era, setting, time, railroad, layout size, layout construction, control, track etc. However, as the OP and a few others, I will more or less lay the track however looks good, flows well, and leads to good operation. Some track items will be pre-planned, such as main rail area in town consisting of the main line and siding with dead-end spurs at each end. One spur will hand the team track, the other spur will handle the coal & lumber supply, and between the two on the opposite side of the main line is the passenger depot/freight house.