hope this works, this is my first time posting pics and diagrams. Starting layout here is what room looks like, specs on size, and some "starter" track plans. any suggestions? Right now all I have is pax trains ........Read my posts for my story. EVERYTHING IN PICS WILL BE GONE, cleaning out entire area, bookcase, desk etc, all gone thanks Zephead
My first thought is this: what is your goal for your model railroad? Do you have a time/locale setting in mind? What kind of operations are you looking to have--continuous running, switching, some of each? Scale? Track? Kind of rolling stock? What background do you have in the hobby? Is this to be your first layout? Is it your intent to fill the entire space? If so, you could be looking at a multi-year project. Are you ready to commit to a major undertaking such as this? How long will you be in this home? Also consider that the space is carpeted; this could complicate construction somewhat, since carpeting and messy work like cutting wood and drilling/screwing don't get along well. And it looks like one edge of the space is open to the floor below; this could also be problematic for layout design, as it gives you no wall against which to attach benchwork or a backdrop. Not to mention that a spiral staircase will severely limit what you're able to haul up to this level, unless there's another way up. Answers to these and other questions to come should help shape the project for you. As I tend to tell a great many people embarking on large-ish layouts for the first time, think long and hard about things before pulling the trigger; it could spell the difference between a lifelong hobby and a short-term waste of money.
Thanks for input, as I stated in first post "read my story" in past post, let me know what you think. Time and money not a problem and gonna be living here at least 24 more years. Thought about edge of layout problems( trains taking a dive into my living room lol) solved that. just looking for mainline help. again read my past post. If interested in helping get back, "public" or "private" post is fine thanks again, zephead
Good to see you moving ahead with your layout plans. I have no constructive criticism for you. Or perhaps any real suggestions at this point. Do allow me to share with you how many times my dad and I set down to design that perfect, dream model railroad. In highschool, I took a class in mechanical drafting following up the next quarter with architectural drafting. Having some knowledge on how to scale things I set out with my dad watching on to draw that perfect layout. We drew up the plans, partially built... YUCK, that wasn't it. Trashed the plan and the layout and started over. I wasn't sure who was going to win out the trash can or the layout. We weren't. Heck, that isn't what we wanted....what WERE we thinking? Darn, that won't fit there. Hell of a reach dad, that isn't going to work. Why did you decide on this dratted tight curves...son! I think by now you can share and see the fun (fun?) we were having. Oh, and how many times did this happen? Sorry....I lost count. I think we emptied the trash can three different times before we settled on a seemingly workable plan. I did say seemingly, yep I did. Sigh! Now, if you are disillusioned and think I now have the perfect layout. Nope! It's in a metal shed of all things...and...I did that all by myself. No room in the Inn, as in mobile home coach I live in. In the first place it isn't my place to tell you what to do or how to do it. I will say this, most layouts are loopity loops of one kind or the other. The other option is a point to point. Either one will bring you satisfying railroad operations if built correctly and well thought out. The emphasis I chose for my own railroad was I wanted my equipment and track to be laid out so railroad operations would be realistic and as prototype as is possible. Era? I like the late 40's through to the mid 60's. Running equipment right up to the time BN and SF merged but stopping dead short of running any BNSF, stuff. Die hard Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande rail fan. Running a mix of most western railroads. There are finger pointers, boo hoo'ers and those avid critic's who sill scoff at anything but their own way. Nonsense. It's your layout and you are building it for your enjoyment. I don't care if you run three track Lionel or the two rail O-scale. The rule is, "It's your railroad, you make the rules and number one is to have fun", Jim 157. Never mind those that think they are better then anyone else because they grew up out of (playing trains) no longer doing model railroading. Like it's some childhood phase and they matured or something. They'd be denying their inner child. While the rest of us are maturing model railroaders or railroad modelers. DA's. We don't play with trains we operate our railroads. The only thing in life we actually have some control over and can escape to when the rest of the world...hurts. You are going to have fun, laughs and even jeer at yourself for doing WHAT? Hours and loads of fun ahead. :closedmouth:
Thanks buddy for words of encouragement, but soon gonna give this all up, not trains, just gonna build tables unload all my boxes of track sets and see what happens.
Zephead, Can you post an inventory of the track parts you have purchased already? Part # and number of pieces would be good.
right now what I have from my own purchase and gifts, are multiple sets of V-series:11,12,13,15, all the str8 (9") from passeneger set display track, 8 #6 turnou.........wait why, if you want to design something, don't limit to what I have, if I need more of something I will get it, money was not the problem, space was, now that its just me and the missus( and she gave me a room and said "have fun") so my loft in my condo is my new man cave. In other words you design something that has a double crossover (don't have that yet) I'll get one, just as long as it fits the space I have, read my other posts if you want "my story". My problem is mainline, I designed a main terminal I'm happy with, its after that, what to do? Right now I keep coming back to a "out and back" type of plan. Any thoughts would help. Zephead....Mike C
Zephead, The biggest issue with designing a layout with Unitrack is the fixed geometry of the pieces so knowing which pieces you already have would allow me to use compatible pieces. The attached shows how you can use the space for decently long straights for stations for your passenger trains and all of the curves are 15 - 16 19/64 with a double main. Room for yards and reversing loops. If you look for my build thread you will see a very strong similarity to my layout which is all Peco C55 using flex track. Track & Objects 20004, N Kato Unitrack 20004. Straight 9 49/64". (concrete) (double track) 31 20012, N Kato Unitrack 20012. Straight 7 21/64". (concrete) (double track) 6 20023, N Kato Unitrack 20023. Straight 4 7/8". (concrete) (double track) 5 20042, N Kato Unitrack 20042. Straight 2 7/16". (concrete) (double track) 1 20181, N Kato Unitrack 20181. Curve radius 15"+16 19/64", angle 45º (concrete) (double track) (superelevated) 13 20182L, N Kato Unitrack 20182L. Curved transition radius 15"+16 19/64", angle 22.5º (left) (concrete) (double track) 7 20182R, N Kato Unitrack 20182R. Curved transition radius 15"+16 19/64", angle 22.5º (right) (concrete) (double track) 7 20210, N Kato Unitrack 20210. Double crossover 12 13/64". 15º 3
If you really want a list of everything I have no problem, I understand the box sets come with a fixed radius, but I thought my next purchase would be there new V-17(wanted to see it) it has a 19' radius there biggest yet, or I could use flex for sweepping mainline curves and leave the others for hidden parts or other areas. I don't know hence my mainline problems, but like I said if I need it I will get it. Thanks again for your interest. Zephead......Mike C
Mike, It would be difficult to proceed any further without some feedback on what I presented. Do you want a double-main? Passing sidings? Do you want reversing loops? Dimensions of the space surrounding the staircase would be helpful especially if you want to go with 19" radius. Knowing what pieces you have already purchased makes designing the layout without wasting parts.
very nice, is it all one level? I would also extend that return loop over stairs, more space and longer mainline for a smaller station. Very nice indeed
Is this room a standalone loft? Or are there doorways to other rooms? Because if you've got that staircase you could run all the way around and not do dogbones at all. It'd be a little tricky building a narrow shelf across the front of the window, but it's quite doable.
The stairs are the only way up, no other doors, don't understand your concept. Whats your idea? Right now still working on my passenger terminal
It would make more sense to have since Xovers before & after the yard lead rather than a double Xover before it. Otherwise you'll have to do backup moves from outside main to get to the yard. Besides a double costs way more than 2 singles!
Mike, I think the suggestion is to have the track go all the way around the entire loft so that you can run long passenger trains. Based on your original diagram, the other third of the loft is the rest of your man-cave. You could do a double main all the way around but would have to take in to consideration the heights of everything along the walls.
