I realized immediately that adding the additional track next to the reverse loop that the train lengths shortened, so that gone.
Greg all very good points, perhaps I should simply remove one reverse loop and add an additional rail down by the TT and this could be used to hold some cars but also be used as a passing siding.
floridaflyer I was going to add structures and service rails once the mainline was in. The reason I’m doing the mainline first is I can cut the roadbed from 3/4 plywood and lay them in line on the benchwork. I have found with the past couple layouts that what looks good on a plan doesn’t always work on the benchwork so what I’ve found works is getting a solid mainline which would include bridges, deep trestles, turntable in place and then start moving structures around until they work.
Seeing as I’ve done this same setup with the raised rail crossing the lower rail on my last layout so I feel pretty confident with the elevations so I’m pretty confident I can make the grades work, although I do understand your concerns. I don’t think the rail crossing over the bottom effects the grade so much but more that reverse loop connecting back up on the bottom and the left side reverse loop track.
I know what the benchwork will look like for the room as its already put together and layed out on the floor.
Choops I’m DCC, wiring is very simple. I prefer to have a continuous run, good point with always seeing both sides of the train. Whether I have a reverse loops or not is not a deal breaker but the passing siding are perhaps more important.
I’ve seen comments about ‘raising’ the rail and I know you are looking for a 4" separation, but have you considered ‘lowering’ the other rail? Might make the benchwork a little more complicated, but it might be possible. Raising one route 3" and lowering the other 1" might help out with the vertical curves at the turnouts. Just a thought.
Exactly what I was thinking Robert. Basicly the grid benchwork is 0 elevation ie water level and build up from there a few inches for semi level terrain where lower rail would run through then the higher rail is not 4 inches above 0 elevation but more like 6". Hard to explain but yes I know what you mean. This is why I like to get the mainline laying on the 0 elevation then start raising with 1x2 risers screwed to benchwork, I then raise and lowerand it eventually comes together.
not sure what your expectations are based on your changes. Seems like you would be happy with
just couple trains sitting on the layout, sitting in sidings when not running
two trains running in opposite directions or one behind the other?
a stable of locomotives to lead them (or do you just want the TT to turn an engine)?
minimal but some industrial switching
mainline scenery
I agree with others that there may be little advantage to having any reverse loops. The ultimate destination for the trains is the siding with the turntable. The siding allows an engine to be put on the opposite end of the train to run it in the reverse direction. The TT allows steamers to be turned as well as storage for locomotives.
I see you’ve added an extra siding near the turntable as well as two crossovers. I think you need the extra siding but see little value in the crossovers. I know it sacrifices siding length, but I’d suggest the the track leading to the TT be between the 1st and 2nd turnouts of the sidings so that an engine can reach both the 2nd and 3rd sidings (starting from left). assuming the leftmost siding (#1) is usually clear, an engine may back out onto the main, using siding #1 to get to the opposite end of trains on sidings #2 and 3.
Again, I think you can use an additional siding on topmost outer track.
As already mentioned, I think you will want additional industrial spurs throughout the layout. They don’t need to be bunched up as you had originally, but some can be. Again, a freight could switch cars on trailing spurs, can be reversed at the turntable and retrace it’s path switching the remaining spurs.
not sure what your expectations are based on your changes. Seems like you would be happy with
just couple trains sitting on the layout, sitting in sidings when not running
two trains running in opposite directions or one behind the other?
a stable of locomotives to lead them (or do you just want the TT to turn an engine)?
minimal but some industrial switching
mainline scenery
I agree with others that there may be little advantage to having any reverse loops. The ultimate destination for the trains is the siding with the turntable. The siding allows an engine to be put on the opposite end of the train to run it in the reverse direction. The TT allows steamers to be turned as well as storage for locomotives.
I see you’ve added an extra siding near the turntable as well as two crossovers. I think you need the extra siding but see little value in the crossovers. I know it sacrifices siding length, but I’d suggest the the track leading to the TT be between the 1st and 2nd turnouts of the sidings so that an engine can reach both the 2nd and 3rd sidings (starting from left). assuming the leftmost siding (#1) is usually clear, an engine may back out onto the main, using siding #1 to get to the opposite end of trains on sidings #2 and 3.
Again, I think you can use an additional siding on topmost outer track.
As already mentioned, I think you will want additional industrial spurs throughout the layout. They don’t need to be bunched up as you had originally, but some can be. Again, a freight could switch cars on trailing spurs, can be reversed at the turntable and retrace it’s path switching the remaining spurs.
Greg just to make sure I’m on the same page as you, when you say near sidings your saying sidings like passing sidings or sidings where cars may be left correct? I’m of the believe that any industial service rail needs to come off a siding which is connected to a mainline or branch so that the mainline or branch doesn’t get its traffic haulted.
i was chastised once for confusing siding and spur. My understanding is a (passing) siding has turnouts at both ends allowing one train to pass another. A spur has a single turnout and provides a location for cars to be (un)loaded.
The mainline would be blocked while a car is being switched on a spur without a siding. Presumably this would be done while no other trains are scheduled on the mainline at that time or are stopped at a nearby siding while the cars are switched and until the local clears the main at a nearby siding.
A siding (or run around) would be needed if the spur is facing the engine. A trailing spur allows the engine to pull a car paste the turnout and push the car into the spur. I assume a train moving in one direction would switch the all the trailing spurs in that direction and a train moving in the opposite direction would switch the remaining spurs, as needed.
I know I’m a bit slow coming back to this but work tends to get in the way as well as the change of season, yardwork etc. I managed to get the elevations to show on the plan. If I click anywhere on the plan it shows the Grade but I’m not exactly sure how to display grade for the jpg.
Good point. It looks to be just over 2’. That would be minimally enough for me, but it would be quite a tight fit for a lot of guys. Might want to angle that aisle corner on the left loop.