Finally !!! After nearly a year of coming up with plans and changing my mind more times than I care to admit, I have a plan for my layout that I like.
I’ve been on this forum for a while now, and have listened to advice given to others, and even offered some of my own. Many of you have offered tips and advice that I tried to incorporate into my own plans. Now, its my turn to offer up a plan and see what comments you folks might have.
First off, some basic information about my layout…
Name : IslandView Railroads, a fictitional railway company that owns and maintains tracks, leasing trackage rights to operators like VIA Rail, GO Transit, etc. Scale : N Room size : 6’-9" by 8’-3" Design origins : freelance Layout type : 2-deck around-the-walls with a 2½-turn “no-lix” (or room-sized helix). Minimum curve radius : 18"; except the reversing loops which are15". Maximum grade: 3%; but most are 2% or less. Turnouts : Peco medium. Control system : DCC controls are planned; but the actual system has not been selected. Theme : contemporary Canadian passenger and commuter rail (1990-?), with the possibility of some tourist steam trains. Benchwork : 1x4 ladder-frame (or equivalent) with extruded foam deck (minimum 1" thick).
Notes :
The elevations shown are as measured from the lowest point on the lower deck.
The benchwork edges have not been determined yet.
Due not just to a lack of space but also of interest, I have not included any staging.
The swing-away section does indeed have the tracks passing on it five (5) times at five (5) different elevations. This will require some careful engineering and benchwork; but I believe I have a solution. The swing-away section will be like a screendoor with “shelves” attached to it, on which t
Thanks Bob; but I was hoping to pick the brains of the wonderful people here (like so many others have before). I know the people here (from their postings) and I believe most have wonderful ideas and insight. Perhaps they’ll see problems I’ve overlooked, or will see a solution that has eluded me.
Tim, this will be quite a project. Should keep your nose to the grindstone for quite some time. It looks very interesting, and should be fun to operate.
Two observations: your lower level ‘yard’ (lower left), if that is what it is, could use a couple of crossovers or runarounds. Secondly, your roundhouse appears, for my tastes, to be very large for the space you have. BTW, you and I have done a common thing; wrapped the main around the house. There’s nothing really wrong with that, but the tight clearances on yours would make it look like it was all part of a service facility, and not a main passing close by. My suggestion is to find a way to reduce the roundhouse, maybe to three stalls…?
You have the bottle neck at the top. Good for you. Will keep your head clear during ops.
I keep coming back to the reverse loop on the lower track. I can’t figure out why it is there. It’s not like you need extra place for a train to go and it makes it hard to reach into the corner. EDIT: OKay now I get it. It’s the only way you can turn around the train. DOH!
Am I missing towns ore are you just having the two–one on level one and one on level four. What’s on the tracks in between? Other than run from level one to four what will the trains do? Or is the openness the point?
Tim,
WOW!!
You’ve put a lot into that plan. It looks great. Make sure to use better quality building supplies, track and swithes. You have a very in-depth empire there. It would become un-manageable if reliability were an issue.
It sure looks good to me. Are you going to conceal levels 2 and 3 at all? The passing siding on level two would sure look good out in the open but there is not much vertical room between 1 and 2. I suppose you could hide part of 2, bringing the passing siding into view as a “higher elevation” of 1 then going back to concealing the rest of 2. Level 3 could be concealed behind a fascia for 4 and still be easy to reach.
I am just brainstorming on what I might do. Your plan looks great for point to point passenger service. Have you calculated how many scale miles of mainline you will have? Did I figure right? 25 + scale miles from loop to loop? That is a lot of ballasting.
Crandel (Selector) …
The area you’re talking about (lower left, level 1) is actually for the platforms of an urban passenger station (kind of like Walther’s Union Station). It is not actually a yard. I have little to no interest in yard operations so I didn’t include any.
The roundhouse (lower left corner, level 4) is only an approximation. It will probably change slightly as I build it. The length of the tracks for the roundhouse are only guess-timates. I designed for 9 tracks; but I only really need 6, so I have room to play, so I’m not overly worried about it now. I included a “programming track” there just in case the DCC system I get requires one. If need be, I can move the “programming track” down to Level 1 and use the stub siding of the passenger station (lower left); or add in a new siding for it.
Chip (Spacemouse)…
For now, I am focusing on the track plans. I’ll fit other structures (towns, buildings, terrain, etc) in and around the tracks. I do like having open areas as well. I’m not a huge fan of layouts that are crowded with buildings and other structures – I want to focus on trains and the terrain they run through more than re-creating cities and towns. Since I am running passenger trains, I realise I’ll need towns for the passengers to live/work in and travel to. That is why I have not yet determined the edge of the benchwork – that allows me to still add in those elements.
Scott (Trainfreak409)…
Thanks. I was inspired by the photo you can see in my railimages site of the Agawa Canyon; and by the fact that I have a great view from the window of my layout room (a view of the Island of Orleans, just east of Quebec City).
Bukwrm…
On Levels 2 and 3, I am thinking of adding a few tunnels just t
That IS impressive! I think with the commuter/passenger operations, staging probably isn’t as big of a deal as if it was freight. Is the passenger service running as a closed system? In other words no AMTRAK or cross country trains sets? I didn’t see an era but imagine it’s modern times. Do you think a roundhouse is really needed? With a more modern theme, I could almost envision a modern engine service facility, with looong fuel tracks and sanding, ready tracks, and maybe just a engine barn for those units in need of more work, and then a long facility for the maintaining and repair of the passenger cars.
I think that will be a very cool layout for some long passenger trains, some push-pull operations. Wow. You will have to keep a running picturtorial of your progress.
The best thing I like, is you are a N scale modeler [tup][tup]
given your obvious preference for running long passenger trains with little else going on i’d say you’ve designed a near perfect layout . N is great for wide open spaces for trains to run through even on a fairly narrow shelf . it’s gonna look great
you might consider adding a passing track on level 3 , although operating may be more challenging without it (which is a good thing)
the turntable . hmmm . as far as i know neither GO or VIA were using turntables in the 1990’s , and for sure aren’t using them now . GO runs their trains from say burlington to toronto with the engine at the front of the train , and then just runs it backwards going from toronto to burlington . i have no idea what VIA does but they’re certainly not using the old CPR turntable , mainly because part of that is now the Steam Whistle brewery http://www.steamwhistle.ca/heritage.htm [:D]
you might also re-consider staging (not sure where you’d put it though!) , having 3 or 4 trains already made up in staging rather than just running them around the loop and heading back in the other direction would give more of a sense of there being a world beyond the layout . to me that’s what staging is all about . it also makes the layout busier if you don’t have to make up and break down the train at the beginning and end of each run , but rather park it in staging and immediately bring out another train . but the layout works without it , so get building and post pictures [:)]
Yes, I am thinking of adding a passing track there as well. It and the one on Level 2 could even be used for a small station.
The jury is still out on that; but thanks for the suggestion. You are helping to tip the balance. [;)]
I have been on the GO Train (the Oshawa-Toronto leg) several times so I know what you’re talking about.
As for VIA Rail and Algoma Central … I don’t know.
In any case, none of those companies actually own the tracks, IslandView Railroads does. The turntable/roundhouse would be their facilities which they could lease out to other companies — such as Quebec Central; Charlevoix RR; Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield (which does have a manual turntable ( I should post pics)); etc.
[quote]
QUOTE: you might also re-consider staging (not sure where you’d put it though!) , having 3 or 4 trains already made up in staging rather than just running them around the loop and heading back in the other direction would give more of a sense of there being a world beyond the layout . to me that’s what staging is all about . it also makes the layout busier if you don’t have to make up and break down the train at the beginning and end of each run , but rather park it in staging and immediately bring out another tra
Could you go down a half level from the bottom level and put some staging there? I really need some on my wee oval, something I wish I had thought of before[banghead]
I really like what you’ve done Tim, I’m in HO and would certainly like to do something similar one day.
As for going down under Level 1 for staging … mmm … I would need at least 6" of clearance. Each run around the room at 2% grade gives me a change in elevation of about 5½". That means I would have to go around the room at least 1½ full turns just to reach a staging level. Once there, wouldn’t I need a reversing loop, or would trains just drive in/back out and use there reversing loop on Level 1 to turn around ? I’m not really convinced that I need to have staging, given the lack of space and the effort needed to put it under the lower deck. Perhaps I’m wrong…
that reminded me i once considered the algoma central or algoma eastern as possible layout themes , and i have a book about each of them . “The Algoma Central Railway Story” by Dale Wilson , published by Nickel Belt Rails (1984) and “Algoma Eastern Railway” (1979) (same author and publisher)
the ACR book may be of some interest to you even though it was published years before the era you’re interested in . it’s been years since i read it but flipping through it just now i see it has some good maps and loads of pictures of steam and diesels , some in colour . nice paint scheme on the diesels , gray with a large maroon stripe and yellow nose and accent stripes . whenever i see models ot them at train shows or hobby shops i get a bit of an itch [:)]
Yes, they do have a very nice paint scheme. I have one a loco in their colours.
I have lots of photos of the entire line, so I can reference them for design ideas. I know that the ACR has one of the largest wyes at its northern terminus at Hearst. Somewhere I read its the world’s largest; but I can’t be sure. What was interesting is that in a couple places, the line crosses lakes that have very soft bottoms (virtually bottomless lakes). To cross them, they used “floating” tressels. The friction between the mud and the pilings kept the bridge from sinking. As of May 2004, they had only 2 of them left, the rest had been replaced by causeways. It was a little un-nerving to look out the window while crossing these tressels and see water only a few feet below the tracks.
After some more thinking, I’ve re-designed the layout a bit. I hope that the changes will make operations more interesting. The changes have eliminated a 3% grade; and have incorporated trackage that offers greater visual appeal and scenicking potential.
To recap … some basic information about my layout…
Name : IslandView Railroads, a fictitional railway company that owns and maintains tracks, leasing trackage rights to operators like VIA Rail, GO Transit, etc. Scale : N Room size : 6’-9" by 8’-3" (205.7cm x 251.5cm) Design origins : freelance Layout type : 2-deck around-the-walls with a 2½-turn “no-lix” (or room-sized helix). Minimum curve radius : 18" (45.7cm); except the reversing loops which are 15" (31cm). Maximum grade : 2%. Control system : DCC controls are planned; but the actual system has not been selected. Theme : contemporary Canadian passenger and commuter rail (1990-?), with the possibility of some tourist steam trains. Benchwork : 1x4 ladder-frame (or equivalent) with extruded foam deck (minimum 1" thick).
Notes :
The elevations shown are as measured from the lowest point on the lower deck.
The benchwork edges have not been determined yet.
Due not just to a lack of space but also of interest, I have not included any staging.
The swing-away section does indeed have the tracks passing on it five (5) times at five (5) different elevations. This will require some careful engineering and benchwork; but I believe I have a solution. The swing-away section will be like a screendoor with “shelves” attached to it, on which the tracks will be laid.