I've posted a pic (sorry for the quality) of the new layout I'm trying to design.... It's 9x9 HO Scale and will be walk-in and meant for continuous running and an out and back... The controls will be DCC. I realize that the yard may have to be reconfigured to allow space for the turntable and roundhouse but I'm trying to determine if the basic design is workable or not... The design is meant to leave plenty of room for scenery and enough for track for light industry on few sidings as well as a town (on the right side). Any comments and ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
Over all it looks ok. You probably know this but: The turnouts are not to scale The curves in many areas are not practical / workable. I don't know much about HO but the yard seems a little short since you have the ability to run long trains but not make them up in the yard.
Here's a few changes to your plan to add a little more operation to your layout. You need a siding near your yard so you can make up your trains easier. As you can also see realigned the yard. so you can move the siding switch further away from the turntable. Plus moving the upper end of the siding reduces the grade of the track going under the turntable. Also moved the siding along right wall to front of the loop so you don't have to reach so far to throw the switches.
Smallbore, I'm not sure the tunnel under the yard will work. I'm guessing that at where it enters on the left side it will run about 70" or less to where it curves under the turntable. You'll want a clearance height of at least 3" - I'd say a bit more given the difficulty of access. So you'd be dealing with a grade of at least 4.3% through that section. Unless you're going to limit the size of the consists or will always double-head you may be pushing your luck through here.
Thank you fellas. I like the changes you made, Cajon. They make good sense. What I have in mind is to run short trains of 4 cars or so. Most of my freight cars are 40 footers and my locos are 4-6-0 and 0-6-0 and some smaller diesels. This way the trains won't look too long for the layout and will be able to handle any grades. I've kept the curves to 18 inch radii or larger which is fine in HO. They may look a little tight with some equipment but it's a compromise I have to make unless I want to go to a point to point layout....
Ther's no reason you caln't run your layout point to point w/ some switch jobs and then run other ones around the whole layout to "get in the way".
Yes! That's the idea actually. They'll be some switching on point to point but also continuous running just because I like to see trains go and go....
A minor point, but I think you'll be happier if you increase the size of the throat of the walk-in by 6" or so.
Unfortunately, the curves don't permit much expansion. That said, there's no need for 20" on one side when there's 18" on the other.
Cajon's suggestions look quite right. One point- you have a tunnel under your turntable. Is there going to be clearance? I don't know what goes on structure wise under it since I have not done one yet.
