I am planning a 40" by 80". I would like some feedback and some new ideas. 2% grades Some 9 3/4 " curves
What era, and theme is the layout? Are you running Large steam or diesel locos, they dislike tight radius turns. no hope with 10inch! Its very 1 directional, everything points to clockwise out of the spurs, there is only one way in and out on all spurs, maybe try to have another so 2 trains can go in opposite directions. Maybe run 3 lines similar to the main 3 from the inner line on the bottom of the drawing, running parallel to the other 3, so you have another option? It looks busy, looks good! But remember you don't have to fill all the board with track to have a good layout, leave space for buildings, and some scenery. Also leave a little clearance from the edge of board to track, for 'disasters' that may happen, derailment, and loco hitting the floor can be expensive!
The crossover on the right side of the drawing (between side-mark "25" and "15" would work better (and what looks like an "S-curve") if it was moved up so the inner mainline switch would be on the curve and changed to a left hand switch. Equipment would flow through the crossover more readily. Also at the botton of the drawing you have another crossover, which is okay, but move the curve track, immediately to the right of the crossover, a little more to the right so the straight track between is as long as your longest engine and rolling stock. You could use a passing where the yard enters the main if you intend to run more than one train at a time. This siding should be long enough to switch the yard while another train is out running on the main. Keep working on it, you have a good start of what could be an interesting layout. Buzz
N Scale, Modern, Southwest Yes, the space is a little tight. I did add space around the track for the foam inclines. Can I go 3% grades to save space on inclines??? I wanted 2 mainlines (1 twice around) a small yard and a couple industries. Any Ideas? I can scrap the plan and start over.
Loco, I think its pretty neat, except you have some very nasty s bends that you REALLY want to eliminate. Nice continuous running and staging though. Gonna be hard, with that space, to remove the S bends and keep the layout even close to what it is in the pic.
Now I have 14" curves on the outer mainline and the inner mainline has 12.75" and 11". The 2 turnouts and 2 spurs are elevated 1". Any better?
That switch in the top left corner is going to be difficult for a train travelling clockwise on the inside track to take (S bend). The think the S bend just after that switch is gentle enough to not cause major grief though. At the bottom center you have an s in the center mainline. I assume thats a restriction of the software and you'll actually use more of a straight line from the curve to the switch?
