Starting over need advice and help.

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello, My Name Is Donald. I have been on this form for quite a while, and have ask many question and got the help I needed. For that thanks to all. Now I need you guys help again. I’m taking my layout out and starting over. I model the L&N in Eastern, KY between 1975-1985 in HO scale. I have a room of 16’x16’ feet with a 3’ feet door in the center of the room. My old layout was mostly main line running with one siding about 10’ feet long, a yard with 4 run through tracks a 2 stub end track and a turntable. The yard was about 12’ I had a 10 feet peninsula that came out into the center of the room. Here the only 2 industries was located. a coal tipple on one side on a power plant on the other side. There is a 27" radius 3 1/2 turn helix that went ti a staging yard (very handy).

Now the problem. I’m in the planning stage of the new layout. I’m having planning blockage. I work on CSX on the Rockhouse sub out of Hazard, KY and pretty much know how I want my scenery to look. My problem I’m trying to get my track plan to realistic, which is taking away from my layout. I set down to plan and draw out the layout, then start changing because I don’t think it’s realistic. I have read about every book article and magazine that I could find about planning a plant and about modeling the coalfields.

I like to model a branch line with 3 or 4 tipples (maybe a couple of single car loadouts and a couple fast loaders If there is room). I also like to model a couple of other industries. Like a logging company, Ammonium Nitrate loading facility, exc:::. I haven’t really thought about the other industry yet. I also like a small yard.

I like to keep the minimum radius to 24" to 27", the switch minimum #6 on the main and #4 around the industries. I also like the layout to be pictures friendly. With all the information given could someone please help me plan my layout.

Thanks for any

2

Was the L&N part of the Family Lines during that time?

3

Uh-huh, sure was! CSX was created in the mid-80s, and Fanily lines was created mid-70s.

4

I’ve had the same problem fitting everything in. What did I do? Cut most of it out! Sounds drastic, but it will provide better operation, better scenery, easier construction, and less problems and maintenance down the line. I’m researching a C&O layout through Delray, MI in the late 60’s. I wanted a yard (Rougemere) for blocking trains, a produce terminal for switching, Fort Street Union Depot to justify passenger trains, the Detroit side of the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, and working junctions through Delray. What I ended up with is a near scale, fully working junction through Delray and a pretty realistic FSUD for appearances. What I gained in cutting out the yard and produce terminal? Less turnouts to maintain, less turnout decoders to buy and install and operate, less structures to build, a bunch more scenery to make the trains seem more to scale, longer trains, more (and more prototypical)passenger switching, better grade through the tunnel, and more room to move around in the center of the layout.

In short, sometimes less is a lot more! Think about using carefully selected LDE’s and you might like what you get. Build it in modules (or sectionally) so you can change things easier.

5

del ray is right. Draw. make choices. Draw. Make choices. Get close and post it here.

Heck, post it here when you get stuck.