I need feedback.. My wife has agreed to help me build a modular L-shape layout. I could hardly believe it! Anyways, she wants it to go in the basement. I'm going to use foam core board, and plywood as the benchwork, on 2x2 frames/legs for easy transport, and strength. All track will be Atlas code 55, with customline turnouts, with ground throws. Foam WS roadbed, min rad of 20", easements, and superelevation on most curves. I need a few more industries, but this layout is built to RUN trains. I want double track, in places, and wide graceful curves. I also want to run 85"+ long equipment, of which I have plenty. #6 is min turnout, and if #8's come out...... Anything I should know about my rough plan? The main will be doubletracked in most areas, and if you can't read the fine print from Paintbrush, I need to move the intermodal yard. Dunno where, but mountains next to the intermodal yard is too unprototypical. All modules will not be wider than 12", and 18" is preferred. In my plan, *NOT TO SCALE! * there are wider areas, but no reach over 24". Here's a pic, but if it doesn't work, click my link below.
Can you say, "typo city?!" 24" max module width, 85' rolling stock... like usual the pic won't show up... Click my link below, hit 'Projects and Trains' and go for the L-shape plan at the bottom.
Good start. Could you elaborate on doors/windows in the room, access via duck/crawl under, scale, etc. Care should be taken in the decision to do a duck/crawl under access. From experience the walkaround and simple duck under are greatly preferred.
Cool deal mate. I would stick the double track section from mine siding, past the IM yard and to the main yard. This will give you the ability to work the yard and the industries with the main line free to run trains.
I will put in my basement, in the center of which is my hot water heater,a nd furnace. I have 22.5' squ. to play with, and approx 10x16 or so.. Well, 8x16, and no duckunders, 36" layout height, for my short wife, and my 6' frame to sit in a chair and comfortably watch the choo-choos run. The basement is finished, and the benchwork will be 2x2 construction for legs/frame. I thot about using an 'every-other-module' frame technique. That is: make one module with legs, and one that bolts to it, like a bridge section,a nd the next with legs, etc, to cut down on construction costs. Also this will make transport and teardown easier, as it will be lighter. Also, this doen't need to support lots of weight. Those Kato locos of mine aren't THAT heavy! I mentioned I think the IM yard should be moved. Any suggestions as to where?
I have a new pic of a new trackplan I made today. Check it out below in my link, click on Projects & Trains, and click the "Layout 1" pic. Lemme know what you think! It's 110K, so be patient.
That's the best so far Hemi. If you are going to right hand run, then the mine is a facing point spur. This could cause a problem getting hoppers in and out. You could put in a cross over, or flip the mine, so it's in the lower right hand corner.
The leading / trailing point switch problem can be solved (and even added in other areas) with a simple siding. We have both leading and trailing sidings on the Wind River that I operate with other HO'ers. For new operators, we let them work only the trailing points, for more experienced engineers, they can do both leading and trailing within the scheduled time for switching. Also, for a bit more variety, consider making your double track mainline a folded fig 8. This would allow longer runs and the over under section could be hidden in the mountains. With this concept, you could have double track on both inside and outside of benchwork and give twice the running distance with little or no additional tablework.
You are getting good advice Hemi. My thoughts go more to the portability because that is high in my requirements these days. How many or what size will your modules be? I presume you have planned this to be around the wall rather than an island in order to use your space to best advantage but then with your planned height do you have a duck under thought or a removable section to get into the middle or maybe you have a stairway leading into the middle whatever?
I am not totally understanding this trailing/leading sidings very well.. could someone elaborate? BTW, I haven't planned a mine, just an IM yard, staging yard, sawmill*for my 7 MT centerbeam flats*, grain milling, and maybe a team track. I would like a fig 8, but this is designed for portability. Modular, 2x4-6' modules, and it is built in a basement. Maybe around the water heater/furnace, or off to the side, nominal dimensions are 8x16'. I plan on snaking curves in the mainline, esp. in the mountain/trestle area, not boring straight shots on all 4 sides. Robin, I need to be able to disasemble the whole deal maybe every 3 yrs or so, I work for Uncle Sam in the Air Force. *Can't get much more patriotic than that!!* I plan to build the benchwork at a height comfy watching while sitting. This keeps supply costs down, rliability and portability up, and makes it easier to build. I also will build it in a fashion that I buld a module w/ legs, and bolt a module w/o legs to it, and on the other side, a module w/ legs. That'll also keep costs down. *Do you see my theme?? * That provides for a simple duck/crawl under, at almost any point in the layout.The backdrops will face out from the inside.
Ref Facing/Trailing (we say Facing here in the UK) A facing spur is one the train could just drive into without changing direction, a trailing spur it would have to back into it. The logistics of switching facing spurs get quite difficult, as the loco ends up between the train and the cars on the spur. With a trailing spur switching is far easier as both your train cars and the cars on the spur are the same side of the loco. HTH
IC now... I will run in the ouside main LH, and inside main, RH trains. I see your point.....Good catch! Any more??
OK I get the picture now Hemi. I know what it is like to move. The longest I lived anywhere in my life is 9 years.Now I am retired so built what I thought was my dream layout but now we plan to downsize our home in 4 to 5 years so am scrapping the layout to build one with portability so I can take it with me. Just like you are doing.
Yep, Uncle Sam will have me moving every 2 or 3 of 'em... Robin, to overuse *again!* the oldest cliche` in the book, 'You go, girl!' I am building on the concept of continuous running 2 *long* trains in opp. directions, and the KISS principle... Keep it simple, stupid! Does anyone see funky 's' curves that could derail my long equipment? Any other problems that may crop up in my trackwork? Smooth, sweeping wide curves will alleviate stringlining, and derailments, but the best tracklaying in the planet is worthless with a badly planned area of trackage....
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by HemiAdda2d: [QB]Does anyone see funky 's' curves that could derail my long equipment? Any other problems that may crop up in my trackwork? [QB]<hr></blockquote> It's hard to tell without an exact scale drawing, but watch the right hand yard ladder. I good trick in an area like this is to let the ladder flow into the curve. I'll try ascii art: This is a good way to do it so the ladder is made up of all left hand turnouts: -----\ ------\ -------\ --------\ \ The other way has a right hand and then a left hand: -------\ --------\ ---------\ --------------- Is that sort of clear? - If not I can whip up a pretty drawing for ya. Rob
I see the idea. maybe I can mod the plan to show a better flowing curve, and the yard throat integrated into it. Good ideas! Thanks!
I am just wondering how accessible that the yard is from the operators pit. Are you operating the layout from the center via a duck under or from the perimeter. As well what height are you planning to build it at? This can have a significant impact upon accessibility. The higher the layout the less reach one has. I have followed a very similar plan to yours in my home layout and it seems to work well for me nonetheless.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Grantha: I am just wondering how accessible that the yard is from the operators pit. Are you operating the layout from the center via a duck under or from the perimeter. As well what height are you planning to build it at? This can have a significant impact upon accessibility. The higher the layout the less reach one has. I have followed a very similar plan to yours in my home layout and it seems to work well for me nonetheless.<hr></blockquote> Oops!! I should have read this thread more carefully. The answers to each of my questions were already posted. Based on your information the layout should work reasonably well. As for my home layout it is operated from the inside and not the outside like yours.
Yep, I guess I already answered all those ?'s. Grant, I will have accessibility from the inside, because I'm only planning an 18" back drop,a nd max 24" module width. That drawing is not to scale. Colonel, How did you get my pic to post? Dangit, I sure couldn't.... If I make a revision to that plan, and email it to you, can you post it for me? I can also post it to my yahoo album, and link it. Not to be such a big nitpicker, but my name is Jeremiah, or Jeremy... Not quite Jerry...
