OK I finally made up my mind and decided to stop playing with layouts on the computer and build one. I dont have any pics up yet I only cut some wood and built the legs. The benchwork will be “L” girder with a middle shelf. Sitting on top of the L girder is going to be the 4 sections of the main layout. This will all be bolted together so I can disassemble the layout when I move. I should have a good part of the bench done tomorrow I will take some pics and post them.
Here is my proposed track plan. The module part is only there for reference and will be worked on laters. If any one can see where I can improve on this plan let me know, I have not fully decided on this plan.
The layout will be 5 x 9, if any one has some good layouts for this bench size please post them for me. I wanted to incorperate an automated trolly like setup on this but it seems that I have too much track on this plan to make that happen and look good.
East is the town, West is the industrial section divided by a backdrop (blue line) and in the north will be a mountain tunnel.
Please let me know what can be done better in the plan. I am new to building still even tho this will be the 3rd attempt at a layout.
I am not seeing how you switch to the top track in the intermodal yard. Are there turnouts missing ? It looks like you have a lot of potential for switching and industries. Have fun on the construction. I take lots of pictures so I can remember what each phase looked like. Of course I am 4+ years and still going on my construction.
The switch that puts a train into the intermodal module or the other industries on the east side of the layout is on the west side at about the 6’ mark and also at the very north. Go straight through the turnout and you head there take the turn and you go around for another lap. I took alot of pics of the last 2 South Massey RRs that I built and this one will be no different.
I think jbinkley60 was talking about the uppermost track on your intermodal modules, it’s completely separated from the rest of your trackwork.
I have another question though: What’s the purpose of the return loop track crossing over near the center of your layout?
I printed your plan and studied it, and I can’t see the point of having a return loop in that direction, unless you plan on running a train from your storage tracks and returning it back to the storage tracks without entering any of your other three stations.
As a point-to-point layout it works fine from the storage tracks to any of your other stations, or from the stations to your storage tracks, but there is no way of getting from one station to another since there’s no runaround track for the engine. Unless you plan on backing the whole train into the station…
Your only runaround track outside the stations is the double track curve at the bottom, but your track plan and tunnel scenery makes me think it’s not planned as a runaround.
How do you see yourself operating the layout? Just wondering…
The uppermost track on the module is for the DC trains when it is used as a module in a layout. My club has alot of modules with crossovers on them and they asked me to not put one on my module when I build it.
The purpose of the return loop is to simply turn trains around. It was suggested to me to put a wye up at the module but the module is not built and may not even go there when it is so I dont want to comit that addition when it is not part of the actual layout.
The storage tracks could become industries. I have not yet decided on what will actually be on my layout and what will be my customers. I am hoping for some uses for my intermodal stuff (hence the module) and maybe some coal service to the power plant or a steel mill. &n
I think it’s a nice plan with a lot of potential, my only concern is the return loop. Both the intermodal yard and your two stations on the right side of the layout enter the main loop in a counter-clockwise direction, and trains running in that direction can’
OK most of the framework is up and done. Some of you may notice that the design is the same as the one for my second layout. This time the framework is 1 foot larger in both directions for a total of 4’ x 7’. I need to add 2 more braces to the lower shelf area and then another trip to the local HD for some ply. I am not going to build the 4 modules until I get the cut ply for the tops that way I can make the frames fit the ply with no overlap or excess frame showing. I am going to pick the smallest piece lengthwise and width wise and match them all to the same then rout the overlap off. Maybe not a perfect 5x9 but close enough. I will not be building the Intermodal module to attach to the layout, I dont have the room to add it as the track plan is drawn now. I dont even know if I am going to keep this plan or not. Comments and critiques always welcome.
I started my first layout as a 5x9 and found I was very limited to scenery and room for the rail industries. My layout took a turn to your plans design of an L shape and that helped alot then I realized I needed more so came the next plan and again of course I found the plan had no real purpose and finally came up with what I have now. Saying all that I think just through my own experience you may find once you get going on this that you’ll find your short on realestate for you industries and scenery. You may want to take another look at your plan and narrow down what you absolutely want like maybe 2-3 industries , bridges , tunnels, rivers, figure out if you want end to end or continuous run and industries breaking off of main line.
And an after thought would be to rather than have the 2 sets of storage tracks on the left ans right maybe add one industry on the right off the main .
Wickman, thanks for the comments. I would love to build the entire layout in this room but I am a military hubby that has to move around when my wife gets stationed in a new location. This is the main reason I am doing a tabletop type layout over an around the walls layout. The 2 sets of storage tracks will eventually be an industry or 2 I just have not decided what I want to put there yet. I found out last night that I wont be able to place the layout where I wanted to so the module will not be able to go as I have shown on the track plan. Now I am thinking that one of the storage tracks would make a very good link to a module and allow me to expand my layout onto it. If I keep that part at NMRA standards I could attach it to any module or even a whole modular layout. Mainly I want to go with round -y-round for those days that I feel like vegging (they happen alot BTW) But watching trains go round and round for hours gets to be boring so I want to be able to also expand into operations and give my trains purpose. I may just scrap this track plan all together and start over but I have not decided on that one yet.
OK sorry for no updates I have been too cought up in building and other stuff. On a good note I was presented with my Golden Spike Award yesterday in my local club meeting . Not a whole lot done but here it is. I built some shelves in the benchwork for storage, put a floor on the framework in the front, and built the 4 frames that will be the table top. Right now I am working on the mounting for the table to the framework. Next will be a rack that will hold some cars for display. I have decided to wire each table module individualy with a plug, that will go to the main wiring on the bench, more on that later. Enjoy the pics, comments and questions always welcome.
2 parts of the table top bolted together.
One table top module’s framework. Simple box/frame design that is strong and lightweight.
Here is the shelves I made. Great place for some storage.
Here is the “floor” I put in the front of the framework. It will hold a TV, DVD player and the DCC unit for the layout.
. Not a whole lot done but here it is. I built some shelves in the benchwork for storage, put a floor on the framework in the front, and built the 4 frames that will be the table top. Right now I am working on the mounting for the table to the framework. Next will be a rack that will hold some cars for display. I have decided to wire each table module individualy with a plug, that will go to the main wiring on the bench, more on that later. Enjoy the pics, comments and questions always welcome.
