Hello guys I’m back. After a 3 year hiatus not having a layout I am back and ready to resume building my layout. Life stuff happens, and I had to sell most of my trains, so gonna have to start all over.
To give you some context, 3 years ago I moved into a new home. This layout is in a spare bedroom 12x16 will be around the walls with entrance duckunder.
HO Scale code 83
12’ x 15.5’
Min radius 36"
Track height 42"
Era 1999-Current
D&RGW, UP, BNSF
location is Moffat Line Middle Park, CO to Cheyenne, WY
I had already started on the benchwork 3 years ago. And I have decided to change the plan a bit. Decided I don’t want to deal with an access hole for the large loop.
You might be able to fashion a gate or liftout to open up your layout to the access hole, which would eliminate the need to duck. The reason I propose this is because I think you should stick with your first plan. It looks more unsymetrical, seems to have more operation potential, and just overall appears more realistic and prototypical.
The solution to a duck under is a well constructed lift out or lift up. My new layout will have one to enter the layout area, and one to go from the layout area to the workshop area.
Those nimble enough can duck, those not so nimble can lift up and walk thru, they will not need to be traversed to operate the layout.
My new layout plan does not have any space wasting turnback loops against walls (the curves will be big, such a loop would require an 8’ x 8’ space), and as you view the layout, West is always to your left, East is always to your right. The layout will go along the walls, all the way around the room, with two peninsulas out into the room.
So, since the stairs do not come down in the center of the room, you will have to “get inside” the layout to enter the room. A situation I have no trouble with.
There are no reverse loops on the layout, but you can turn a whole train - there will be a wye on the mainline which feeds a 20’ long staging yard.
Thanks, I appreciate all the feedback on this. I believe I can deal with the entrance duckunder as I am a small guy.
My other layout at the other house was just horrible, access holes everywhere.
The reason I reduced some of those operating industries, turntable, etc. is I prefer seeing long trains running through mountain scenery. I can just manually switch trains out with 5 finger.
I also plan on building a table in the middle for dcc system, program track, and storage for trains.
This is the benchwork I have now, so just need to cut part of this out.
You can still have a duck-under and not get a skinned back. The idea is to sit on a computer desk, or some other rolling, chair/stool, and use that to scooch under the benchwork. Stand up on the other side, or raise what you’re sitting on for a better view.
Aside from that (and I have had either a duck-under or a lift-out on all my four layouts to date), you have a fair whack of unused space. I would find a way to at least have a ‘turning eye’ type peninsula running from left toward the centre of the room. Otherwise, I really have decided that around-the-room layouts give me the most enjoyment and he longest runs…
Keep in mind that when you enter your layout, you often do so with something in your hands (e.g. that expensive and fragile steam engine…). A hinged liftout is a bit of a pain to build, but it really makes it much more easy to enter without damaging anything. Visitors will prefer a liftout for sure. We have a duck under at the club and it’s a pain!
That was the problem I had. Its one thing to just squat down andmove forward,try doing it with your hands. full. Then fast forward a coulpe of years and ask your body to do it.
I like the first track plan more than the second one. That first track plan has a lot more visual interest. If you lay the turnouts carefully, you will have little need to use the access hole.
Did you give up on modeling the Coors brewery (I recall that from your earlier posts)?
I drove by it years ago and it was pretty impressive, and would make an interesting and unusual scene.
Cound me in for not using duck unders. I had that one my 1st layout and it was annoying. Thje 2nd one is more open without one.
I like what you did with the foam cutout. Do you still have enough reach? You want no more than 2’ of a strech. Doing that without a step stool is critical.
Ok here is the latest trackplan. I added a staging track, moved the coal mine next to the flood loader. And I made more room for Cheyenne Depot Station.
The longest reach will be 31" and I’m comfortable with that.
I cut out the big loop section on the benchwork. Here is what I got now. This is the upper right corner.
Welcome back Michael! Good to see that a new layout is on the way.
I remember the old plan. Lots of popups at first that you reworked to make pretty functional, and you did western scenery very well, IMO.
IIRC, you run big modern diesels and occaisionally some big steam. And industries tend to be larger too, since they are made from modern kits.
I think your chosen plan is very good for the space, which is limited given your druthers. You need broad radius curves, IMO, and a walk-in plan would simply not allow that in your given space.
Given that its a duck under in a small space, I would want an area for a small workbench under the layout, so I wouldn’t have to pop in and out of the layout just to do some quick work on equipment. I would build the layout fairly high, about 54 inches, and place the bench under the layout’s narrowest shelf, which is on the left side.
As another has mentioned, use of a rolling chair would be helpful, so I would want plenty of space in the middle like you have planed. I would refrain from adding any type of peninsula to the middle pit.
Looking forward to following your iterations and progress. Thanks for sharing.
Edit: Just taking a quick look at the track arrangement, I think some of the angles you used for turnout frogs are pretty aggressive and unrealistic for #6 frogs. You may have plenty of space to fit what you want where you have it, but I think some of the turnouts your drew would require more linear inches than what you have drawn.