What is your dream layout?

Mine would to have been to put my dads layout integrated into a new one that has much more space and benwork to make it larger. I attempted that when I moved into my new house. It would have fit sort of but ended up not getting put in. It just didn't fit right. Also since it was wired in DC it would have almost needed to be rewired and some areas rebuilt so that it would be comapatible to DCC. So I took some basic ideas from it (a few name places and industries). I came up with this new design after many changes and about 5 years of designing and planning. The second pic is the layout my dad built. It would fit on one end of my plan being 10' in length.

 

Mine would be a freelanced RR that moved all kinds of freight but its bread & butter would be timer and finished lumber. It would be a point to point with some type of interchange that would go off to resemble a destination with another RR. There would be a major lumber mill at one end of the layout and at least one log reload on the other end of the layout. I would even include a logging line so I could run my shay and dis connects.

 

Wow! Man I have to say you have taste! I love all these areas too. I am wanting to do Victorville and Barstow. Maybe the Cemex Cement plant in Victorville.

 

I've been working on this plan for years. I'll describe the default plan as it stands.

The railroad is fictional, and I haven't been working much on its development recently as I focus on designing a non-US prototype. The latter isn't intended for modelling, though. Anyway, the layout I designed assumed a US setting, diesel era but not modern.

Realistically, I'd never consider anything other than N scale, double deck, not even scenically sincere. Even in a full basement, I need that length of mainline. With infinite space, I'd up the scale, go single deck and once through the scene. But that's approaching Northlandz in required dimensions.

Let's assume a room about 32' square. This excludes the adjoining workshop and crew lounge.

In that space, as I said, double deck. Both levels are like an E but with two peninsulas. Only two, because of deep shelves and 4' aisles. One side section is the transition between decks. This is the part I've designed in the most detail, because it's so critical that it work right. It's sort of a partly visible helix, with the mainline passing through several times as it climbs a mountain. There would be an access space in the mountain. Actually, the mainline climbs and then goes back down, both using the same area of the layout though not the same track. I suppose with that length, the easy side of the mountain crossing (~2.5%) would only pass through the visible side twice. The steep side (~4%) would only have to pass through once. Why such a grade in this space? Because helper operations would be a big feature. The layout's designed to force them. The necessary climb makes double-decking no extra trouble. The easy side requires more typical helper operations. The steep side would be like SP or DRGW (6-unit midtrain helpers? Why not?) This reminds me: the majority of manifest and unit trains would be around 40 cars. A few would be 60-80. A yard big enough to readily handle the standard mainline trains. Mostly single track with sidings.

One major purpose of the layout is to display - no, to justify owning - no, to *require* a large diesel roster.

Another is that it has to represent its (fictional) prototype in correct scale. Or, more accurately, correct selective compression. The mainline length cannot be compressed beyond an allowable fast-time factor. This shows the purpose: an operation-oriented layout, not meant for show running. And, in fact, not designed with any thought of operation by less than a full crew.

I've recently been pondering the ideal way to do double-decking. Previously, I'd assumed both decks were operated standing, with the upper deck located as high as possible and with fold-up steps to work on it. But this offers an inadequate view of the lower deck. I want to look into the scene. This implies shifting both decks lower and using swivel chairs to operate the lower. Only problem? The need to put chairs (and legs) below the lower deck eliminates the space for the necessary staging level. (Note that I don't count non-sceniced decks in a layout's deck count.)

There are some other problems with this plan, which is mostly very rough at the moment because I didn't want to go to the effort of exact track planning for a layout this big when I could already see some deficiencies. Some are holdovers from previous plans. For example, for many years, the standard mainline train length was to be ~25 cars, extra-long 40-50. Lengthening those doesn't just require more space (it's what drove the plan up to its present size) but changes the balance of layout elements. Some things that worked well in earlier plans don't now. And I'm struggling to figure how to handle a basic problem: how to get a good view of trains that long.

Only recently have I realized how big this layout really is. The square footage is large, but not among the world's largest. However, considering this is N scale and double-deck, unlike most large club layouts... in terms of usable layout area in scale, it's bigger than the NEB&W, Hudson Delaware & Ohio, or PRR Northern Division!

 

Since I have a rather large club layout to run on I am very content with my home layout which is 3'x10' and a 16"x7' extension. I have a 6 track hidden staging yard, double track main line and ample places to switch. I like watching train traffic and switching operations so this configuration suites me nicely. There's also plenty of scenicing opportunities as well. I am building it "jigsaw puzzle" style so I can swap out era specific structures and vehicles as I have never been able to narrow down which era of the Southern Pacific I like best. GS-4's and AC12's don't look right next to the Bloody Nose scheme, Kodachromes, and a Bicentennially painted U25BE.

 

First choice: Colfax to Truckee over The Hill, including snowsheds, the Chinese Wall, Donner Lake and the Hwy 40 Rainbow Bridge at the summit. I have Colfax so far:



Second choice: Colfax to Nevada City on the Nevada County Short Line. This would be the old Nevada County Narrow Gauge that survived WWII and was updated to standard gauge, becoming a subsidiary of the SP. Power would be black widow RS-3s and GP7s. Six axle diesels would be prohibited due to load limits on the old Bear River bridge:



Most likely: A pile of "N-Scale Railroading" and SPH&TS "Trainline" magazines at my computer desk. :tb-frown:

 

I pretty much have what I want.

My next adventure will be to figure out how to add a classification yard.

The only change I'd like to make, is to put it in doors and add the classification yard.

 

I was shocked to not see steamdonkey on here in this thread, But i can cover both of us maybe...:tb-biggrin:
I am working on my dream layout right now. Steam, Logging and coal from the West Virginia state in the area of where i grew up in. Lived in a area where the Cass scenic railroad and the interchange of Spruce and the other sides of the mountains where there were coal mines and a coke plant and more timber logging and pulp plants. My fun is a space issue. But i can have fun making the plan, right? I just hope to live long enough to see it completed!:mcool:

 

I'd like to model a full urban passenger network. Streetcar/LRT operation at the core, frequent suburban operations beyond that, and some long-distance destinations at the far end of the layout.

Prototype would almost certainly be freelanced since this cross-section is a basic hallmark of modern civilization. All of the small layouts I've worked on thus far have been Japanese, but given a large enough space I think at some point I'd want to include scenes of American, Australian, and/or European flavor.

 

dream layout

Well this thread has caused me to just doodle some things up to have some fun. I have quite a bit of sit around time with no computer or practical means of getting anything really worthwhile done with taking care of my two girls. So a scratch pad and a pencil and my I Phone map program with photos is helping flesh out the track plan. room size will be clear span or poles in the aisles about 50 x 50(we are dreaming right?) N scale, double deck, helix up and down between the decks representing the long(uninteresting, flat, pretty straight) run between the two major portions of the layout. Major feature on the lower deck will be Sheffield yard of the Southern Railway, and the Reynolds aluminum facilities north of the yard. The second major portion of the layout on the upper deck will be Decatur, AL and all of it's heavy industries along the river. Industrial modelling on a grand scale. And all within a mile or two in real life. I am going to start laying out some basics in xtrack when I get around to it but I will scan some of my sketches and get them up.

 

The Denver Road

Wow, great thread!

I think this is something that model railroaders think a lot about. And some, as we are seeing, are making it happen. I think most folks factor in space and time and money and try to "guestimate" how much of each they will have when they are able to begin the dream layout. I've learned a lot over the years from fellow model railroaders and the two things that seem relevant here are: (1) don't build a ridiculously large layout and (2) componentize and start building structures and rolling stock for the dream layout, even if your current layout is smaller/different. Maintenance issues are often ignored when designing the killer huge dream layout and unless you have an ops crew to take advantage and help out, keep the size manageable. Rolling stock and structures will be able to be reused for the most part so that's a good way to be "ahead of the curve" when you do start the dream pike.

Having said all that, I've sketched many versions of my dream layout over the years and of course it is fun to make it super size. One of my favorite designs I've done so far fits comfortably (meaning, large aisles and work area) in a 20x24 room. Basically, a double-deck "E" with quasi-mushroom features for staging. I am a firm believer in staging and any layout I have will enjoy lots of it.

The setting is BNSF circa-2000 +/- 5 Years, depicting the ex-Fort Worth & Denver line between Fort Worth and Amarillo, TX. Will likely also include part of the ex-ATSF transcon around Amarillo, and also possibly parts of the ex-ATSF Texas division between Fort Worth and OKC.

The lines modeled are heavily focused on moving mainline trains, especially long coal drags, but also including several regular intermodal and manifest trains and many grain extras. I will use pretty extreme modeling license to add some operational interest in some areas to have more locals for ops sessions. Following are a few notable features:
-2 Large Cities (North Forth Worth/Saginaw and Amarillo)
-2 Mid-Size Cities (Wichita Falls and a combined/morphed Quanah/Childress)
-6 Small Towns (Decatur, morphed Alvord/Bowie, Vernon, morphed Memphis/Clarendon, morphed Pampa/Borger on the transcon, and Gainesville on the Texas div)
-2 Autorack/Intermodal facilities (Alliance and Amarillo)
-Several Large Grain Elevators
-Carbon Black Plant (Pampa/Borger)
-Coal-fire power plant (Vernon)
-Roadrailer Yard (Saginaw)
-Rock Crusher (Decatur, moved from nearby Chico, TX served by UP)
-Turntable (ATSF Amarillo Yard)
-Amtrak (Fort Worth to Gainesville and points north to OKC)
-Trinity Car Manufacturing Facility (Saginaw)

Regarding number of trains...
-FW&D line hosts 12+ mainline trains on average per day.
-Add'l 2 "Turns", 6-8 locals, and 8-10 transfers
-Transcon hosts 80+ trains per day. Probably will shoot for about 1/5 of that or so basically on a staging loop, plus a handful of trains destined for ATSF Amarillo Yard.
-Texas Div hosts 20+ trains per day. Probably will have 8-10 on a staging loop plus a handful of trains destined for Alliance or Saginaw.

 

I've never wanted anything too big. I know myself too well, and I don't think I'd ever finish it.

That being said, my dream is to model the NWP/California Northern circa 1992-93, from American Canyon to Willits. Maybe over to Suisun if space permits. I'd have to do a lot of selective compression, but I'd have the Brazos Bridge, Schellville, Petaluma, part of the Russian River, and then into Willits.

Now to just find the house!


Right now I'm working on plans for a club and their possible new space of 44' by 30'. Its so much space I'm having trouble coming up with ideas! So those that want a lot of space, sometimes it's not the greatest asset!

 

layout

Hey 50 feet is long enough for a yard right?



Left of the yard will be points west, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, the Pride transloader etc. The north branch off the left yard lead is the line to Birmingham(in real life it comes off the south side but we cant have everything. It will continue around behind the runway and occupy the far right benchwork. The benchwork immediately to the right of the yard is the former Reynolds aluminum facilities in Sheffield Al. There is an oval helix at the bottom of the yard to elevate to the second deck. The helix will represent the main from Sheffield yard to Decatur Al. At the top of the helix the line will split with the main running to decatur and points east to the right and the major industrial branches with huge complexes will be to the left.

 

Good Lord! My mind is failing to process how incredible that would be...

As for my dream layout? Well, might sound a bit odd, but I would model the CSX Line from Sanford FL to Lorton VA. As some of you may know, it's the path of the far from illustrious Auto Train.

Unfortunately, I grew up in the 90's, which meant romantic train travel was dead. The Auto Train is the best train memory I have, and I would love to model it's run.

To top it off I would model it true to nature, and have the majority of operations take place 'dark'. Lit isles (along the floor) and plenty of building lights, moonlight (simulated of course)... pretty much everywhere one would expect to fine lights

Layout size around 2000sqft in a dedicated basement complete with a pool table and flat screen in the crew room

Hey, don't look at me like that! this is dreaming we're talking about A kid's allowed to dream lol

 

For now I'm dreaming about a layout instead of my Silver Valley RR modular layout. I'm thinking about a stationary layout.
In Model Railroader Jan 2010 there was an article by David Markowitz, Fiddletown & Great Divide RR. This article based on the late John Armstrong design from Jan 1962, "To Hardscrabble, the hard way: a track plan".
I'm dreaming with AutoCAD to "bent" this Armstrong design into my room.

Wolfgang