First I’d like to thank everyone that has helped me get to where I am. That includes everyone on the forums. If not directly answering my questions then you’ve added some helpful posts I’ve read somewhere in the forum.
Here is another revised track plan. I’m thinking my layout will represent a town serviced by the ICRR. Basically the train comes through drops off and picks up and then heads on (to hidden staging). I have not added a bridge or body of water yet as I think that can be located after eveything else is in place. I appreciate anyone and everyone adding their comments. One question I’d like to know is if I’m heading in the right direction or am I really missing the boat?
Givens: HO, Digitrax Zephyr, Room size, duck under or lift out/swing gate, bench work shown is complete, small train lengths (freight 12-14 pass. 6-8),
Druthers: Illinois Central, steam engines, 40s-50s, location: Midwest-Illinois- west central IL, continuous run (the longer the better), switching (more of a drop off pick up) coal mine & coal drag, some type of town represented, stock yard & cattle cars, place for train meets (passing siding), bridge (with water under it), tunnel, diesel engines, passenger train, passenger station, hidden staging
Info:
HO scale Atlas code 83 flex with some sectional track
Max radius 32"
Min radius 22"
Turnouts Peco insulfrog #6
Bench work 50" (to the top of 2" foam)
Aisle width is not a problem as I’ll be the only one using it 99% of the time.
The blue walls are walls of the basement that cannot be moved or
The main line on this layout - the oval with 2 passing sidings - looks like it will do what you want. Using a 32" radius on the main will allow you to run big engines and 80’ passenger cars.
The loop with staging tracks doesn’t look like it will work very well for what you want it to do. Half the trains are going to have to back out of the staging area to travel counterclockwise on the mainline loop. The others will have to back in. Some of the staging tracks look to be a little short, and all of them appear to be less than 5 feet. This is about half your mainline passing tracks. So unless you double up the trains in the staging, you’re not running as long a train as you might want. Doubling up will require even more fussing to bring trains in and out.
One suggestion is to take the lead into the staging area and curve it around to rejoin the main in the 1b area. You can then have a double ended staging yard of about 6 tracks along this track. Trains can enter and leave easily in both directions. It will make for a longer duckunder to get into the layout and you’ll have to move the mainline up a little in the 1b area to acommodate the staging area and scenery to hide from the station at 1b. But I think it will meet your desires better.
I new I would have to back trains out of the staging which doesn’t seem to be too big of a deal. Maybe someone that has to do this could comment on likes and dislikes? I also thought about having staging as you suggest but that would make for a duck under for sure. Are you suggesting that I do away with the reverse loop all together and just have the hidden tracks? Due to advice on duck unders I’m going to try and avoid it but if I have one I have one. As for the staging tracks themselves I realize some trains would need to be broken up and I thought this might provide for some more switching possibilities. I’ll go mess around with putting in your suggested staging. Thanks for the reply!
Wow! This is so much better than your last layout. Just a few first impressions. I’m actually about to leave.
You have room for more if you want. You can put a sizable yard where the passenger station is if you choose.
The staging tracks are pretty short. You can get some lenght my moving the throat throught the wall to the north. It doesn’t take any more time or money to repair a big hole than a small one.
I don’t see the need for the loop around staging. It’s not bad, just I don’t see the point.
The cattle are is hard to get to. It’s like a time-saver experience.
I have to agree with spacemouse. you don’t have to add more, but you could if you want to.
As one who runs coal drags frequently, (just put together a new unit) i would move the coal mine out of the corner or maybe just arrange it for run through trains. that would give you great operations right there.
A yard or a station… or maybe both and move the station.
my last thought is wheather you are using 32" curves because you like them or because you’re running long rigid steam engines. If it were me with this space i would tighten up a little. but like everyone else here will probably agree it’s your layout. Enjoy!
Spacemouse - I’ll have to find that post about having staging and yards and reread it. The staging tracks wouldn’t be a problem making them a little longer. The loop is just for changing direction. I was going to use the hidden staging track to back into the cattle yard.
sfrailfan - the 32" curves are for the passenger train I would like to have. If I had to pick I’d have a station over a yard.
If the loop is just for turning trains around, you might consider a wye instead. Run one leg into the area at 1a and the other into the staging area. You could only turn engines with that, not whole trains in the space you have, but more of your staging area could be freed up for longer fingers.