:tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin: Today brought an unexpected surprise - my wife, out of the blue, told me that I should use half of our downstairs family room as layout space. The room measures 23'x21' overall, with a fireplace in one corner, exits to both the garage and rear patio. Up to now, part of the room has been the domain of our teenage son, the rest is just open, unused space. Allowing for 3' to walk from the garage door to the stairs, I'll have roughly 10'x17' to work with, AND still have room for two recliners, a TV, and a usable fireplace. The perfect room to entertain fellow railroaders! Wife has a place to sit and read while I'm playi.., err, working, without being on seperate levels of the house. Everybody wins!!! Now to start sketching out track plans... Woohoo!!!
Tracy, can you give us dimensions of everything? Do you need access to that patio door? Inquiring minds wanna know Mike
Here's a very, very rough idea of what I'm thinking. We rarely use that patio door (we have a large deck above, patio is never used), so my intent is to leave enough room, 18"-24", to duck under the layout to gain access to the door. That wall is 23' long. The shorter wall is 10' (external wall to hallway). Features I have in my head at this point: - industrial flats along right-side wall, switching yard in front of those - possibly a turntable near hallway - small town, yard on left side, near garage door - coal mine (already built) in extreme left corner by garage door - high view block (forested ridge?) hiding tracks in front of patio door - single-tracked all the way around with passing sidings in key spots - some switching opportunities, but uncomplicated
I'm liking this alot! Thoughts? Suggestions? I can salvage enough turnouts/switches from the current layout, the bridges, and of course the structures.
You're telling me you're not going to run a track along the wall in the hallway to connect the new with the old? Doesn't have to be but a single 2" wide railing type thing.
Congrats! I'm glad to hear your land acquisition officer is doing such a great job! Remember to let me know when you need a spare set of hands to help.
You bet... Now that I'll have a NICE room, I can actually invite people in without shame... :tb-tongue:
Reality check I was in my new room Sunday evening, visualizing where things would be, trying to map out the reality of the situation. Everything looked great until my daughter asks "Where is the treadmill going to go?". No problem, we'll put it where the "old" layout is. "I'm NOT exercising in the laundry room, I like to watch TV while I'm walking!". Wife seconds the motion, CRAP... Ok, I'll fit it in here somehow. Mental magic starts to happen, then wife asks "How will you bring in firewood?". CRAP, I didn't think about that. The wood pile is on the patio. Ok, ok, I'll have to rethink this. Stayed up late last night, had a new plan worked out, Right Track crashed before I saved it, lost three hours of work. Turned the computer off and went to bed. Started over tonight, and came up with a plan that I like even better. It gives me a little bit of point-to-point, with roundy-round for those times when I just want to turn 'em on and let 'em run. All curves are 18", with one exception where I go from 18" to 15" then back to 18". I also plan to work in a couple of passing sidings and some industrial spurs at various points around the "loop". Might drop a couple of tunnels too, bisecting the loop. Thoughts? Suggestions?
I think I've settled on a final track plan, and I'm REALLY liking it. The "feel" that I want is that of northern Minnesota, specifically the North Shore area - heavily forested, with extreme, rocky coastline. The green areas will be forested hills, with the darker green being HIGH, I'm thinking 18 inches or more, to prevent seeing across the layout. I plan to put a couple of roads going over and around the hills. A quick tour, counter-clockwise, starting in the extreme lower-right corner, where the turntable is: 1. Turntable with 3-stall roundhouse. I've always wanted to include one, but could never seem to "fit" one in. I think this one fits. 2. Next to the turntable is Northern Power, a kit that I already own. 3. Along the wall will be flats, including Mistere Meats. I plan to throw some other random structures into this area, yard tower, various sheds, some houses, etc... 4. Exiting the yard area into a wye, with a swampy, marshy area in the middle (inspired by one of GrampysTrains recent photos). 5. My lighthouse, perched about 8 inches above track level. On highway 61 north of Duluth is the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel. In this photo, replace the highway with railroad tracks and stick a lighthouse on top, this is the intended look: 6. The spur sticking out into the water will be my Sam Cahoon's Fish Pier 7. A small town, including my Water Street Freight Depot. Assorted houses and shops. 8. Tunnel through high mountain view block 9. New River Mining Company, a kit I already own and have assembled. 10. Tunnel through view block 11. Larger town with yard 12. Grain elevator
