If space were not an issue (and it is), I’d go with broad, sweeping curves…a four track mainline and several bridges.[:D]
I had to take the combo, but on this one I think most people will.
- Broad curves
- long straight sections
- two track main (but some single with sidings, not listed)
- lots of yard
- lots of switches
- tracks that disappear
- and some bridges
This is the recepie for the layout I’m building.[:D]
various. i plan on having a little yard if i can. also i plan on having at least 2 mains going through. i want to have a hill or something for the train to go through but i don’t know if that will happen, probably not for awhile yet. this is all goign to be on a 4x8 layout. i want to have a lot of straight sections so i can get a good shot of the trains.
ya i forgot to add sidings. i want to have a yard in the corner or something and if that means cut down on industries fine by me. just won’t be as much fun. i know i’ll have at least one industry, a ADM grain elevator and then i’ll have a depot some where.
My current layout under construction has the follwoing must have features
2 track mainline
1 stone arch bridge
Staging
Waterfront
Branchline
I elected not to have a yard, have a fairly simple plan that I’ll complete, and to keep the number of switches down to a couple dozen.
Enjoy
Paul
Tight curves around buildings, lots of sidings for industries, small yards for freight shuffling, and the trolley line IS the mainline.
You’re right! I modified the poll to add a combination of #'s 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8, undoubtedly the most popular. Still, it’ll be interesting to see who feels differently![8D]
Thanks, I was hoping you would catch that, this should be fun.[8D]
This is a great place to try using the bulleted list, it turns out pretty.
Combo of 1, 3, and 6. My layout is “complete”. But if I had unlimited space (or at least a “good size” space for modelling), I would have broad, sweeping curves, a few tunnels,and a couple of long straights. Multiple mainlines would traverse this fantasy layout. Ahhhhhh…
My layout is a mix from some of the above.
I’ll start off at the yard
Heading “south” from the yard you cross the diamond that allows the MEC access to the yard. You go up a 3.5% grade around a left hand 22" curve. Level track for about 3 feet around another left hand 22" curve
You then go down a gentle 9 foot long 1.5% grade.
Around a 30" left hand curve followed by a 22" left hand curve both hidden in mountains.
Level straight track for about 8 feet.
Then down 3.5% grade around a 24" you guessed it! a left hand curve.
At the bottom,level track for 2 feet.
An almost 180 degree 22" left hand curve through a mountain, crossing under the mainline, past the wye and another diamond for Conrail.
Up a 3.5% grade around another left hand 22" curve.
You then enter the yard again through a left hand curve on level track to start all over again
Gordon
Mine are:
Broad Curves
No straights; N&W had very few, except the long one across the Swamp (that was long enough to make up for not having straights elsewhere.
Two track mainline, except the helper grade which has three
Two yards.
Multiple mine spurs
Some bridges/trestles
While my layout is nice, and does a lot of what I prefer in a model railroad, it’s still pretty small, and definitely not my “dream layout”. If I had twice the space (24x50 or so) my new layout would include:
- long, straight mainlines.
- Broad curves (36" and up).
- at least a scale mile between towns.
- towns of realistic length (passing siding length for small towns, at least a mile for big towns)
- a division point yard at each end of the layout, to give operators a sense of “going someplace”.
- one track mainline.
- lots of mainline with nothing around it but scenery.
- the ability to run long trains of 35+ cars.
- a good sized passenger terminal.
Disappointed we can’t vote for more than one category.
My list of must have items when I designed my railroad were:
1 - Wide aisles
2 - Long mainline
3 - Single track CTC with space between sidings twice as long as a train length
4 - Enough swithcing (mines, towns, etc) to satisfy those interested
5 - Plenty of staging
And I was able to get them all in.
Those are some very interesting elements that SuperChiefFan kind of missed putting in the poll, I have all of those elements planned for my layout.
I took the combo. I enjoy modeling passenger trains based on the PRR on the NEC.
Sorry Clinchvalley–there were some key elements that I left out in the interest of space. I pretty much typed what was at the forefront of my thinking. You have some great ideas however, most notable the long mainline and switching activity for industries/towns.[:D]
I do not have alot of room however, one end of the plan will be in the hills (Logging, mining quarrying etc) and the middle probably will be intermediate industries and the other a Harbor with a small city. I hope to have at least a single track Main with 2 branches going into the middle valley and end hills to get the raw materails down to the factorys for goods and services.
There will be at least one broad curve somewhere and perhaps a double tracked section from Intermediate to City. The yard will be placed on this to sort cars coming and going. The Valley and hill way freights will begin and ternimate here. Through trains sent thru from Intermediate town to end city and back.
That is my concept.
Lee
Actually SuperChiefFan, there are a couple of things that could have been left off the original list, like 3 and 4 track mainlines, I’ve never seen anyone model those, maybe because they are kind of rare. And, bridges almost don’t count, since they are almost like track, and nearly everyone has at least one.
Please don’t take those comments the wrong way. I liked the poll, and was the first to jump in. I know that its hard to think of everything on the spot when writing one.
In the end, the comments that the poll provokes, may provide the most valuable reading for anyone thinking about designing a layout, and for that I say Thank you for thinking it up in the first palce.[8D]
No offense taken. Yes–triple, even four track I’m sure are rare. My dream track plan would have a triple track main though. Heavy on the passenger service. Of course with DCC you could eliminate one line, but for me the extra main would serve as a huge smile inducer![:D]
Hey SuperCheifFan, I just thought of something that I’ll bet you’d really like, if you like pasengers, and 3 and 4 track mains. THE NEW YORK SUBWAY SYSTEM !!! Now that’s cool, and they do a lot of that. They use the center track or tracks for express service. By configuring the platforms differently, some stops are local only, while others serve both express and local. Ever been to New York?[:D]
PS got your email, and replied