Want to comment on my layout?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi all-I welcome any constructive comments you might have on this layout. It’s not totally done, but I think done enough to get some input. Here are a few thoughts that went into it:

  1. Scale is HO
  2. Overall size of the table is about 11 x 9 feet.
  3. There are two main tracks - capable of running two trains simultaneously in opposite directions.
  4. Radii for the main tracks are 22". I’ve built easements into the turns (as I learned from this forum).
  5. Radii on the spurs/siding is 18".
  6. Turnouts are intended to be Atlas #6 (on the mains) and #4 (in the yards).
  7. Grades are intended to be no more than 3%.
  8. The shaded picture shows roughly where the tunnels may go (obviously will have some better shape).
  9. The other picture shows the centerlines of the track a little better. I hope the drawings are legible.
  10. The upper LH and RH areas are TBD future industries (spurs not yet drawn in).
  11. It’s for my 7-year old son and I. I want to him to be able to reach most of the layout. He thinks it’ll be real cool to have to crawl under the table.

Please let me know if there’s anything that doesn’t look quite right. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

2

I’m not really an expert on layout design, but I’d say it’s a good start- looks like it would be good for realistic operation and switching, it has an engine terminal, and isn’t too crowded with track. But if you plan on having passenger trains with full length (85 foot) cars, auto racks, or larger locomotives, you may want to increase the radii of the main line curves, as longer equipment tends to look and operate much better on 24" or bigger…
Hope this helps[8D],

Dave

3

two things.

  1. How do you get in and out? is the outside also an edge or a wall?

  2. You can’t build a layout for a 7 year old. You can build a layout and a 7 year old may have some interest and it can be fun, but, 99% of building a layout will not be of interest to a 7 year old. You may also by amazed at how fast they lose interest in running trains. This is not to discourage your efforts, but to encourage you to have realistic expectations.

4

Looks like a great start!

underworld[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

5

Simple, fairly elegant in its simplicity. If operation beyond basic running around in loops is desired it could use a run around track for the upper industrial area (inside loop on lower left). It could also use a couple more industries. Perhaps at least a switchback on the one spur in the center.

6

Hi all-

Been a few days, but I want to thank you for your comments. To close the loop on your questions/comments:

“24 inch radius?” > Agree, but I need to draw the line somewhere. Simply running out of room.

“How do you get in?” > We climb under the table. I think (hope) it’ll be about 20 years before this is an issue for me.

“Is the outside edge a wall?” > The upper and right sides are against walls.

“Can’t build a layout for a 7-year old.” > It’s quite possible he’ll lose interest and move on to something else. But for now, he’s really engaged. We have a small layout going now and he’s very good about handling/running everything. I’m sure there will be Hot Wheels in the layout, but that’s OK. I started when I was about his age.

“Run around track” > Agree, I’ll add it.

“More industries.” > Yup, the upper LH and RH corners are still TBD. Most likely something will be added there later.

Thanks again.

7

its good, but in my opinion it could be even better! [:)]

I think you could do better with the space you have…

I see a few design issues that will probably come back to haunt you.

The corner behind the loop is unreachable from the center “open space”…thats not good.

(assuming that is a true corner, with walls, and not open to the rest of the room…)

speaking of which…what areas are open to the rest of the room?

the crawl-under will get very old very fast…I would lose it completely. there is no need for it.

what kind of trains so you want to run? modern diesels wont like the sharp curves…

you should design curves as wide as humanly possible, you have the space for much wider curves.

let us know what parts of the room have access…could you maybe post a drawing of the whole room? showing what areas the layout can occupy, and what parts need to remain open…

I have been designing a trackplan for a similar sized room…but in O-scale! even so, im keeping my minimum diameter to 42" radius! gotta do it…the trains I want to run to run demand it.

you should choose a minimum radius your equipment will be happy with (and not the tightest possible it can handle! [;)] then design your layout with that minimum as an unbreakable rule.

that works much better than making the curves really tight because of design you think you want…if that curves need to be too tight, then the deisgn isnt the right design.

the curves should dictate the layout,

not the layout dictates the curves…

Scot

oh! here is the evolution of my trackplan…it started out really bad, but im up to nine virtual versions now, and im really liking it! actual construction is still a few years away! [;)]

[url]http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/On2layout/inde

8

If I read the plan correctly, the outside track (farthest to the right) on the right side of the plan is lower than the inner track (labeled as an incline). Will you be able to reach that outside track if it’s adjacent to the wall?

9

Hi,

My sons (7 and 5) really enjoy playing with our 4x8 HO layout. I’m not sure if they’ll find lasting enjoyment and interest in the hobby, but at this point, they seem to be hooked. I think the following were critical:

  • Thomas and Friends! They love to recreate and extend their favorite Thomas adventures.

  • It’s not just about running trains. They’ll often play without touching the train controls. E.g., setting up a derailment scene, and then bringing in the cleanup crew. Or, pushing vehicles around the layout. Good to have piles of “stuff” around too, like ballast and scale lumber, for them to manipulate. The foam table top also allows for “digging” :slight_smile: With a few expections, it’s hard to do any permenant damage. (My younger son now has his own O scale layout, which is a bit easier for him to manipulate, and a bit more durable.)

  • DCC! This was huge, especially on a small layout.

  • Manual turnouts. Removing the remote controls made operations much more hands on; exactly how they like it!

  • The boys were actively involved in the construction of the layout, and they take pride in it.

  • I try to get the “show stopping” work (like installing decoders into Thomas and Friends) completed when they’re doing something else (like sleeping,) as to not interrupt the fun.

-tom

10

One suggestion: Passing siding. I’d add a couple of passing sidings where you could store an entire train instead of having to make one up and tear it down in the switchyard. Kids like to be able to just RUN!!

Mark in Utah

11

To Scottychaos and any other folks tempted to do the same in similar situations: blocking the electric panel - even with a roll-away - may well be contrary to building code, which includes the National Electric Code. I don’t have it in front of me at the moment, but I strongly recommend checking it.

Dante

12

Again, thanks for the comments. Couple things:

FYI the walls are along the top and right edges in the layout. To make a long story short, I have access to the left and bottom edges, but cannot extent the overall size of the layout.

Scot: Partially agree w/ the curve discussion. Agree that the larger the curve the better, but I just didn’t want to always be turning. I wanted to get some straight sections and large sweeping curve sections. I’m reasonably confident my equipment will handle the 22" curves OK. (I set up a test track already to check.) I tried several bent dog bone type layouts to avoid the duck under and I just wasn’t liking it.

Tom: The description of how your kids are playing w/ your trains is exactly what I’m seeing. As mentioned previously, we do have a layout now that by boy is very engaged with. The other day he and his buddy were at the table for 4 hours non-stop. Didn’t even take a break for the bathroom.

Mark: Passing siding. Yup, just not drawn in there yet.

Thanks.

13

Dante,

I hadnt considered that!

thanks, I will check that out before I begin building!

Scot