Start of my trackplan

Israel Jan 26, 2005

  1. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    Ok guys,

    I'm sitting here sick as a dog at work :( , playing around with figuring out a track plan for my layout, playing is keeping me feeling alittle better.

    I know I want to do alot of operations on my layout but I'd also want to have the option to just let trains run. The one thing I want with continous running is for you to not be able to tell (see the loops) and I'm having a hard figuring out how to do it. (Mostly because my brain is so foggy right now) :(
    Ah I hate being sick.

    Well here is a shot of my start.

    [​IMG]

    Israel

    [ 26. January 2005, 18:26: Message edited by: Israel ]
     
  2. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Nice space.

    The yard along the left side has enough room to be a "Diamond" shape making all tracks the same length.

    /Wouldn't it surprise the heck out of you if your boss posted ordering you to get back to work?
     
  3. rsn48

    rsn48 TrainBoard Member

    2,263
    1
    43
    What scale? If you have older MR's check the "Bedroom series" of layout plans, I'm assuming HO.
     
  4. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    It's going to be N-scale.

    Diamond shaped??? I'm new to MRR'ing so there's alot I don't know.

    Yeah it would surprise me if my boss did post "get back to work"


    Israel
     
  5. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    I'm not home or I would make a picture of one.
    Draw a line parralle to the bottom ladder of left hand turnouts at the top of the yard.
    Can anyone find a picture?
     
  6. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    Steve,

    In your earlier post you said left yard, did you mean the yard to the right, that runs north-south. I think I understand [​IMG] what you mean if it is that yard your talking about.

    Now I wish I was still at work [​IMG] . I don't have Xtrkcad here at home. Home computer ain't smart enough for it. :(
     
  7. BillN

    BillN TrainBoard Member

    15
    1
    14
    I take it you just have the space, and nothing built.
    Some folks on here like the "design my layout" threads. First step would be to post your "givens and druthers".
    What railroad, area of country, era, type of operations, DCC or block control, etc.

    You have the Conrail symbol, so perhaps that answers some of the questions already?
     
  8. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Oooops, yes, the right hand yard.
    (I was posting from work also) [​IMG]
     
  9. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    @Bill,
    Ok where to start.
    Correct on the have the space, nothing built.

    I'm not really looking for people to build my layout just to give some pointers that would make things operate better.

    It's going to be a totally free lanced Conrail line with the possibly of running CSX and NS engines. That's what I see around here so that's what I want on my rails.

    I'm up in the air about what to do about DCC. I want it, but don't know if I want to wait till I get it to start building or build it and then add the DCC in later. [​IMG]

    I'm looking to do frieght operations basically from start to finish. (logs to a lumber mill to a furniture factory to freight terminal. coal and ore from mines to blast furance to rolling mill to machine company, Etc. etc...). And to have a way to just let trains run.

    I want two decks, the lower deck is the plan I'm working on right now. I want that to be heavily urbun. I've seen alot of great examples on Rail image.

    @Steve,
    I understand what your talking about. Took a couple of minutes of staring at it then [​IMG] , I understood.

    Thanks for the help.

    [ 28. January 2005, 15:27: Message edited by: Israel ]
     
  10. BillN

    BillN TrainBoard Member

    15
    1
    14
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,734
    653
    Israel-

    Doing something I enjoy, when I'm feeling lousy, always helps me along.

    As has already been mentioned, now is when you should take your time. Keep sketching. Rearranging. The pieces of that puzzle will slowly fall together.

    I see some good potential so far. Keep us posted on further evolutions!

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  12. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    Ok posted another shot of the work in progress.
    I'm starting to think that it'd be a good idea to scrap this and start again. I'm having a hard time picturing this as a city, because right now it's looking like a few buildings scattered about
     
  13. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    I think to envision it as a city you need to envision operations first.

    Where are the cars coming from?
    What are they carrying?
    Where are they going?
    Once they have unloaded / loaded in your city where are they going with what?

    On the Grey and Grandure I envision trains coming in from wherever
    droppinig off incoming at the interchange and picking up out going.
    A geep will pick up the incoming and bring it into the yard at Grandure.
    The local switchers will break them up and the geeps will haul the various cars to and from Grey, (the industrial area).
    Later the geeps will haul out bound up to the interchange.
    All of that in my Phase 1 3X7 foot area.

    Don't forget to include a loop of track for constant running. Even though you are not interested in it visiters want to watch them run.
    Hope that helps

    [ 29. January 2005, 02:38: Message edited by: Grey One ]
     
  14. Fluid Dynamics

    Fluid Dynamics TrainBoard Supporter

    869
    0
    20
    I don't know if it was mentioned yet, but you owe it to yourself to read John Armstrong's book: _Track Planning for Realistic Operation_. It explains the hows and whys of prototype trackwork, and how to model it while making the best use of your layout space. This book made a big difference in my own layout design philosophy.

    For designing a yard, this link really helped me understand what a yard really needs, and does not need:

    http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html
     
  15. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    I keeping looking at that book when I'm at the LHS. Guess I'll go run and buy that today.
     
  16. William Cowie

    William Cowie TrainBoard Member

    2,113
    22
    38
    Israel, sounds like a great concept. First, I have a question, though. What software did you use to design your layout?

    How high do you plan to make the trackwork? With anything over about 50 inches, duckunders become less of a pain. I just discovered that as I was constructing mine. I leave junk spanning the aisles and I actually have no problem ducking under the junk [​IMG] Reason I ask, is that would make for a nice "railfanning" loop!
     
  17. Israel

    Israel E-Mail Bounces

    50
    0
    14
    I'm using Xtrkcad to design it.
    I'd prefer not to have duckunders. I tend to be a bull in a china shop. I'm always bumping into things.
     
  18. BALOU LINE

    BALOU LINE TrainBoard Member

    1,916
    142
    39
    I think we must be related...
     
  19. Mark_Athay

    Mark_Athay TrainBoard Member

    310
    0
    19
    If you'r planning on a 2-level layout, I'd strongly suggest steering away from a helix, and instead "climbing the wall" along the back of the layout. It looks like you have 32 feet (WOW!) of wall space for climbing. You can either build a double track, or if you use DCC you can run a single track as long as you have a turn-around on both the upper and lower levels.

    I'm just "finishing off" the design to my layout. I've spent several years working on it off and on, with the last few months working on the yard. I'm finally to the point with the room AND the design where I can start building in a month.

    Good luck and keep us posted with your design. I just wish I had as much as room as you for my layout.

    Mark in Utah
     

Share This Page