This is my plan for my HO layout. Please look it over and give me some feedback. Two major curves are 22" rad. The complete layout is 11' X 9.3'. Thanks for your help.
Hummm! I like the plan but I think you are going to want wider radius curves. It all depends on what type of train equipment you want to run. Today's six axle locomotive's Ie. SD 70's, aren't going to like your tight radius curves. Also, your full length passenger cars won't like the radius and will streamline, jumping or pulling up and out of the tracks. For this plan: I would suggest you stick with four axle locomotives and Athearn's passenger cars, the shorties. Minimum radius should be 24" and I would encourage you to push out to 30". If you don't have the room and want to run four axle diesels and small 2-6-2 stoves your layout will suit you just fine. You need to know your limitations and build accordingly. Have fun!
This is a late 50's early 60's layout in which A steel mill was using 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 and early D on the mainline. A depot but no thought of passenger at this time. Most of the rolling stock are shorter versions. I should think of the future progression of my road. Thanks Rick for the advice. Yermo Bruce LOL
Yermo Bruce, I thought you had disappeared. Good to know you are still out there. Hey, have fun with that layout. You are good to go. RoundHouse now Athearn put out some shorty passenger cars that just might be the right thing for you.
A couple of thoughts: (1) Minimum radius depends on the kind of equipment you want to run. 22" is fine for pre-modern era -- 40' frieght cars and 2 axle diesel trucks, or for logging, mining, old industrial, etc. themes. In your space, you should be able to work in 24" if you want, but first you need to decide on your theme. (2) You have a reversing section on the right hand side of the plan, but just that one. So once you reverse directions with a train going clockwise and get it going counter-clockwise, you can only reverse it again by backing through the wye on the left side. Either add another counter-clockwise to clockwise reversing section, or drop the idea of reversing sections (other than by using the wye) altogether. If it were me, I'd eliminate the one you have, which would enable me to elevate the rear part of the loop to at least 2" above the front part -- which will help separate your scenes. (3) You have no passing sidings to use as run-around tracks when switching. Maybe you just like to watch 'em go, but if the operations bug ever bites (and it probably will if you stick with this), you won't be able to do much switching on your layout. I'd add at least one crossover to make a passing siding or a runaround in the largest yard area in front, and another one somewhere on the right hand end of the rear part of the continuous loop. Then you're well on your way to a nice operating scheme for when you tire of just watching trains go round and round. You can make up trains in the front yard, left side, run them around for X laps until you arrive at the other passing siding rear right, switch that "town", and return to the main yard.) (4) A couple of your turnout locations may not be reachable. Anything under a 30" reach is workable, but a maximum 24" reach is better. Move turnout locations slightly, or use powered turnouts and magnetic uncouplers. Bottom Line: My first reaction is that this is a nice plan for a 9 x 11 room, and needs just a few tweaks to give you years of enjoyment. I think perhaps you're just a bit heavy on track-to-scenery ratio, but then I'm a scenery oriented guy who likes simple track plans and lots of visual interest.
So what's wrong with backing? Lots of prototype train movements involve backing. Or this can be an "out and back" layout. Originate in the vicinity of the wye, run around clockwise until you reverse it and run back to the vicinity of the wye. For turning, use the wye.
I posted on Friday but it didn't post????? First of all I said 22" when it was 24". I will not increase that radius. My basement layout is in an area of 24X30 and with suggestions I have made some changes. It is know 13X10. The top and right are against walls. The left and bottom are to open area. This is depicted in a 50's - 60's era. The town of Sterling IL. which was a hardware Mfg area with many factories and a steel mill along the banks of the Rock River on the south part of the down town. There were three railroads in Sterling. The CB&Q (freight), the Chicago Northwestern (passenger & freight) and The Northwestern Steel & Wire RR ( their own 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 Baldwins for company use (run until 1983). My avatar shows one working. So I could model all the way up until 1983 and steam would be OK. As for track and turnouts I bought at auction of a hobby shop all that I will need but it is at my storage building and not sure but believe it all to be standard and the turnouts #6. I could use some help. I have just picked up a DCC set up and engine but most is DC. How would I wire this to take advantage of both.
