Look a bit south on the west coast. BNSF and UP both operate in Portland, OR. You could run a model of UP 4014 in present day modeling, taking some liberties with the running of a Big Boy in that area.
As you probably know, in the Seattle area, any BNSF tracks today were primarily Great Northern and Northern Pacific in the 1950s. The historical societies for those railroads probably have a lot of information for the area, including track charts industry switching guides, etc. Much of that will be restricted to members, of course.
But historical USGS topo maps publicly available and are great for an overall arrangement of tracks. There are various map scales available for different periods. Not the easiest website to use, but worth the effort to learn.
http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/maps/TopoView/
For specific track layouts, Sanborn insurance maps are great, although they become less accurate after about the 1920s/30s. These are online as a paid service, but many local library systems have free access for those with a library card (typically for their own state’s records only).
Either of these would give you a good start to narrowing down specific areas.
Byron
I did find one route map that seemed to indicate the Grand Canyon Route for Sante Fe went all the way up to seattle. I did want to keep my time period 40’s to 60’s , diesels , and late steam. I guess it doesn’t matter where I choose to model and what engines are on it , my train 
But I do like the idea of making it more realistic operationally. The original plan that i was thinking about the Central Midland operationally probably wouldn’t be all that fun just to watch trains go round and round lol
Edit: Maybe by connections on other trains, but not in Santa Fe trains or on Santa Fe tracks. Nothing says that it couldn’t happen in your world, that’s what’s great about model railroading. But it didn’t happen in the real world.
After years of reading the M.R. forums, this particular post prompted me to join in. While new to the forum, I have been an active model railroader for many years. Like so many others, my first experience with model railroading was the Lionel Christmas present left under the tree.
I started modeling for real in the early 70s. At the time I was living in Aspen, CO. Caboose Hobbies was always a stop whenever visiting Denver. I have completed five layouts. Each was one dismantled when we moved on to other homes. My scale choice has been HO. I remember brass track & fiber ties. Technological improvements have made modeling much more enjoyable for me. It is possible to build a layout that is pretty much bullet proof if one is willing to spend the time.
My first two layouts were built in garages. Space was not a problem, but being removed from the house was an issue. My next two layouts were in attic or loft spaces - neither spacious nor comfortable.
I doubt that there are many track plans I have not studied. The HO29 Central Midland always interested me and became a favorite of mine.
In June of 2004 my wife and I retired and moved into a new home that just happened to have a spare room that could house both our hobbies - computer/photography for her and MRing for me. Best of all - HO29 would just fit.
The point of all of this is that I am delighted with the layout. I have to disagree with the nay-sayers. I do not find the plan too track dense, the grades too steep or the curve radii too constricting. I also enjoy being able to work the yard while having the other trains doing the loop-de-loop.
I did slightly modify the plan, but my railroad is for all intents and purposes HO 29. It has give me 10+ years of fun and still provides me with more things to do.
I hope my photographer/wife can capture some of my RR. for you to see.
[:-^]
BTW Chas,
What exactly is HO29, Don’t believe I have ever heard of it.
Johnboy out…
Atlas HO Track Plan #10029 which was in their Plan Book #13 Seven HO Step By Step Layouts. http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10029.htm Also known as the Central Midland.
I have been looking at a lot of track plans. The Basic area I have roughly 10’ X 22’. This plan has caught my eye as soemting that could work with some modifications.
http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2011/02/red-rock-green-river
Shotgun Lebowski…
Just noticed your most recent post. I am glad you are still considering HO29. You should be able to build it in the space you have. One side is just a tad longer that 10’. I am talking about inches, but they are critical. If you decide to go with it, I can make a few suggestions with regaard to spots where I had problems.
I much enjoyed building the layout. In fact, I have spent the past three days working on it. It is a layout that continues to keep me engaged. None of my others did this so well. I will look forward to seeing what you decide.
Chas 80
You may be aware of this, but that’s actually an On30 (sometimes called On2½) track plan, so although the track gauge is the same as HO, many other elements are about twice as large (or four times in area). It is mislabeled on the artwork. Track-to-track spacing and other dimensions would need to be adjusted.
So you could probably accomplish more in the same area in HO, but this plan would be a relaxed approach in HO. It’s not exactly a match with the interests you outlined earlier, but it would certainly be buildable. And of course, a lot depends on whether your 10’X22’ area assumes aisles all around or is bounded by walls (as is the published plan).
Yeah , I see it labeled differently in a couple spots. I’m still defining what I want to do, and looking at pictures to find things I want to model. I’d like there to be the ability to just let trains run if I want, but then also have some puzzles for switching built in.
That’s an insane amount of detail lol!!! Are you fully done or still working on parts of it?
Shotgun:
Thanks for noticing. Yes, there is a great deal of detail in my version of HO-29 and one of my reasons for choosing this particular plan. It was small enough so that one person, me, could build it in a reasonable amount of time and then focus on detailing and operating the layout.
The photo my wife so kindly posted for me was taken about three years ago. I am constantly removing some structures and adding others. Today I am reworking a street located next to the paper mill and brewery. In the recent past I lowered the main control panel. Why I chose to mount it as I did made no sense. Perhaps I was thinking of future projects.
Doing this provided me with enough space to add a small station in the place where the panel was. I also was able to add another yard track along the front edge of the yard. I had to lower the car card holder, but no problem.
The entire layout is lighted, buildings have interiors, and I have attempted to remain true to the time period ’58-’63. The Southern RR serves as my prototype choice, but the layout exists in a fictional place.
The layout runs on D.C. I am happy with that. I understand it. For previous layouts I used toggle switches and tortoise switch machine. This time I went Atlas - electrical components, under the table switch machines. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The track is all sectional. Again I am a happy camper because I have kink free curves for the first time in my layout building. Turnouts too far to reach are activated by buttons located on the control panel. For the reachable yard turnouts I used Caboose Hobby ground throws.
Anyway - I continue to be busy enough and do not foresee running out of things to do.
Chas 80
I’ve got an NCE Power Cab and Have decided to go that route. A lot of my older locomotives won’t really make sense to upgrade but we are talking about late 80’s DC engines, and nothing i’m really attached too. I have a bit of space so I am planning on taking advantage of it as much as possible.
John
I’ve been tossing around ideas with Anyrail. This version isn’t totally baked but curious what people think.
Google drive makes your plan tricky for others to view with this forum’s software, unfortunately.
I see a location or two on your plan where you might have potentially troublesome s-curves. For “donut”-style designs, I like to try to use all areas: inside, outside, and against the wall. This very rough sketch is not to-scale, but gives an idea.
In your same space, I would personally prefer some kind of a walk-in design, like the very rough sketch below. Some access hatches would be needed for maintenance or derailments, but it’s nice not to be required to duck under all the time (in my view). Adding a double-sided backdrop can create independent scenes.
Good luck with your layout
Byron
What’s the best way to attach images? I have tried my google drive and also my one drive, same results.
Google does not give you a link that ends in .jpg. Photobucket does, I have done in Flickr, but I’m not sure how I did it.
Instructions are here
Another half baked one i’ve been playing around with for a few days…
