Thanks to suggestions made on my previous (and first concept) I have muddled through to a new design. This new design will utilize the space I have been able to expatriate from the house for train use. Without further ado, here is the new plan. As you might notice, I only have the main line in place. Just a reminder about some of the things I am aiming to include: <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Continous running<LI>Diorama through the living room<LI>Tunnels (I think kids love watching them disappear in one place and reappear somewhere else)<LI>Short Line RR theme with an interchange to a class 1[/list] A couple of things that I know I want to add is a three or four track train yard,probably along the north wall to service the grain/corn syrup facility. I have also toyed with turning both ends of the loops into reversing loops. I also would add passing sidings in several places like the mountain pass, by the corn field, and maybe on the outside of the corn processing facility. I live in Cedar Rapids and right in the heart of downtown is a huge Quaker Oats cereal plant, so lots of grain cars come in and out. Right next to Quaker Oats is a Cargill Conr Syrup Facility, it receives semi truckloads of corn and sends out tank cars of corn syrup. I would like to include the corn syrup facility with my layout. The Quaker Oats facility would be too large for this setting (unless I want to take up the whole thing). Bry [ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BryGy ]
Glad to see you managed to get trackage rights over a larger area Looks like 3rdPlanIt cad drawing with easemsnts (easement good) - Canyou refresh our memory? Is this HO or N?
Sorry, its HO. I have been thinking all day long about where to add a train yard and a couple of passing sidings. thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Bry
What about two narrow double ended yards in the double track section - change it so there are two levels there (they don't have to be seperated by much) Use the lower for a three track staging yard and the upper can be sceniced and used as a classification yard - have a yard lead that connects to the engine service area. Alternativly use the engine service area for a yard instead and you can put the roundhouse a bit further around the corner to the right.
For continuous running you can get a lot more mileage by using a folded figure 8. My dad showed this to me 40 years ago and has been incorporated in all my layouts since. I even used it on my latest with double track and it presents a 4 track mainline across the front of the layout. see http://www.trainboard.com/userphotos/wfp.jpg Note the green and blue for east and westbound tracks. The left side has the over under passage for the folded fig 8. Also note the lead to the turntable passes close to the roundhouse. I saw this setup at a show and it saved lots of space. I agree with other comments about stacking the sidings/yards along the north wall. Good luck
