Well after retireing from the military and having a"little" more spare time I have been looking into getting back into the RR game. After looking aroung forever I was playing around with SCARM and came up with this plan. The idea is to run Amtrack in the inside loop and a frieght on the out side loop. Go ahead and beat me up as I relly would love the feedback.
Welcome back to the hobby! And first off, a hardy hank shake and a big “THANK YOU” for your service!
I didn’t see a plan attached to your post, and I’ve never used SCARM, but as for running trains, if your running “modern” equipment, make your radius as wide as you can. Both modern freight, and passenger equipment can struggle with the typical 24" that they all reccomend as a minimum. 28" or even 30" is much better.
Mike.
[#welcome]
Been there, done that…
As a LION, I would set things up and then take them down and move them around while I was disovering what I was doing and why I was doing it. Let it grow on you, and it will tell you how it wants to grow.
ROAR
Welcome aboard [#welcome] and thanks for your service. If you’re just now retiring from the military, you’re probably younger than many of us. I’m 67 and just retiring from my own private-sector job.
What scale are you thinking of? There are lots of great options in all of them. If you can, I’d recommend finding some train shows to attend. These will give you a lot of ideas. My best advice to those just starting out is “plan before you buy.” Consider carefully how each item will fit with your scale, era, location and interest.
Well to answer some questions, I was looking at N Scale as it allows for more milage in a smaller space. I have been looking through all the plans that are here and around the web and have taken a few ideas that I like. I have been using the SCARM program to plan a layout that could accomidate what I am looking for. If I could figure out how to post a picture here, then you could see what I’m going for. Now that I work for BNSF, I see alot of potential everyday to put in my layout. As an old model builder and wargammer, detail is a big thing to me so I know that I’m in for a long build…
Ok now that I figured this out here are two layouts that I have messed around with… Comments and advice is welcome.
[URL=http://s145.photobucket.com/user/Unknown_Soldier_photos/media/biglayout.jpg.html]
[URL=http://s145.photobucket.com/user/Unknown_Soldier_photos/media/1stlayout.jpg.html]
Take two…Damn Technology thing…
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r202/Unknown_Soldier_photos/Train%20Stuff/1stlayout.jpg
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r202/Unknown_Soldier_photos/Train%20Stuff/biglayout.jpg
One of us needs to do some more figuring this out. I was unable to view your track plan.
I like the first one. Very traditional. The yard coud use some work. Run around or AD track just seems too short, no drill track, and the switchback to the loco service area wastes a lot of yard capacity.
The second one is more interesting. I don’t understand the wye track in the upper left, nor the purpose of the double crossover in the middle of the main yard.
I think eventually you will want the two tracks to connect so a crossover or two might be in order.
[#welcome]
Make sure that you also check out the N-scale forums. That is where you will find lots and lots of N-scalers. Most people here are HO.
Not that that is a bad thing.[swg]
well, i was liking the bigger layout as well. the wye was for possible expansion as well as turning engines around. As for the cross over in the yard, i put it there on a whim…not really sure if it will stay. Still in the planning stage for the benchwork and such but its coming along…thanks for all the advice and ideas.
Hi Ghost,
I have Privately Messaged you… if you want to read it, click on “messages” to the right hand side of your page, otherwise welcome back to the hobby and enjoy the ride!
Regards from Australia
Trevor