I am redoing my layout and I would appreciate any comments on the design. The plan is below and is basically a large over-under, figure eight with a locomotivie servicing area on the left end and an open space at the right for entertaining.
The area is 32 feet long and I want to keep the curves as gradual as possible because I like to run long engines and what them to look good. I am truing to keep the right side shelf narrow so we have room for the bar and other stuff.
I just bought the Atlas double-track bridge and will use it as a gate into the open area. I am trying to think of ways to use the shelf and corner areas on the right. In the area below the turntable to the left I want it open or a hatch so I can take care of problems.
I greatly appreciate any suggestions. This forum has always been a great asset to me. Thanks!

I like it...deal me in for the next game!

Sure, I'll comment. I'm jealous. So much space to play with.

Love the interior bar/poker area. Now that is a man's basement!

John

John.

Looks like a fun layout!

Personally, I would do away with the double cross-over. If you used two sets of turn-outs instead of the double cross-over, you could use the area between the sets of turnouts as an area where trains could pass one another.

One question that I would ask, is there a reason that you opted not to have a triple main line around the whole layout?

I love the large sweeping curves.

Jim

John, If I still lived in Colorado I would love to come over to check out what should amount to a really great layout and room.

I your design is extremely well thought out. It looks like it will provide a lot of pleasure.

Of course the only beer to drink would be Durango's Steam Engine Lager.

Very good plan. I would like to see more tracks at the turntable area. You took time planning this as it is very functional.

Thank you all for your comments. Jim I agree that the double-crossover is overkill but I think they're cool. Double-track is plenty. I can let two trains run while I do switching in the turntable area or at one of the other locations.
I am thinking of having a hidden yard under the turntable area where I can park more trains. I hate having to use "Mr. Hand" to move equipment on and off the layout.
I hate to disappoint everyone but the most alcohol my wife and I drink is wine.
I also plan to add a popcorn machine to the bar. I may want to have a foosball table that I can roll under the layout when not in use. I just want to find one where you don't have to bend over so far. I'm 6'4".
The main features I wanted are: large radius curves, double-track, room for a turntable and roundhouse.
I was thinking of using the OGR building flats along the wall and get a bunch of Miller Engineering animated signs. I think they would be fun to watch.

I like the layout.
I assume that the crossings in the middle are one over the other with the turntable area on the lower level. How high is the lower level?
How do you gain access to the left hand loop? (I hate duck unders.)
Is there a place where you could have an interchange junction?

I like the layout. I do believe you need a longer lead into the yard though. As it is you will have to back onto the main to switch cars. With that really long extra loop on the left side, you ought to be able to reconfigure that area so that your sidings come off of that extra loop and give you a much longer lead so as not to "foul the main" while you are switching.
.....
Dennis

So, when can we expect to see some pics!

Jim

John,

How about making yard switching possible without interesecting the main? This would allow you to easy operate trains in different "zones" so to say. This would be especially helpful if you are running with only one or two people.

Alex

I like the design that you have come up with; and I have a few questions. The switch by the bridge that turns to the inside, where is that going? Some freight or passenger yards? What are all those engines going to pull when the leave the service area?

And by the way, add me to the jealous list.

As above, a longer lead on the yard would be good.
I notice the track on the far left is very close to something along the wall.
Watch out for wide details on cars/Engines hitting there.
Also, what is the extra switch at the bottom rt. for? No track on it's alternate route yet.
Wish I had that kind of space!

Looking good so far.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Russell,

Very nice indeed...I would add some more tracks by the turntable and as Dennis said I would increase that yard lead alittle. Again that is a very nice layout looks like it will be alot of fun.

I have to say that I no little to nothing about track design, but am always interested in seeing what others are doing, so when I finally arrive at the design stage I may have a better understanding of how to do things.
I think it looks like a grand layout with great curves and adequate switching, and I like the simplicity of being able to run several trains at once without possible collisions and confusion of whats going where, but what is the track elevation? It appears that you will have difficulty accessing the yard on the back wall from 13-14 feet away.
This may be a mere scenario that doesn't happen often, but suppose you and the boys have a long Friday night of card playing and a few drinks, unless you have a head in that area, you and the boys are going to have to duck under going in and out of there all night, I imagine at 6-4 that will get old quick.
As for the corner by the bar, maybe you could squeeze in a siding and have a couple of trains hauling drinks out to the fellas at the card table from the main line. That would be cool.
In the end, I think the duck unders would be a small sacrifice for what looks like a nice track plan. Good luck! Show us some photos.

Again thank you all for your comments. Here are some responses:

- I think the yard lead into the turntable area is sufficient because it is only meant as an engine servicing area so the lead only has to handle the longest locomotive. The inside loop track is meant to be a passing/storage siding to hold one or two trains not running on either mainline.

- For access to the bar/card table area I would remove the 40" Atlas bridge in the lower right. If removing the bridge is cumbersome I may have it tilt up like Susan Deats' husband has done. For access to the turntable area I am thinking of using a duckunder leaving the lower left area either open or installing a hatch.

- I am thinking that the turntable area would be the upper area with the underpass being the track coming from the lower left to the upper right.

- The empty switch, to the left of the bridge, would eventually lead to a hidden yard area under the turntable area to hold more trains/cars.

- I am thinking that the upper layout would be someting more than 42" high so it would be higher than the bar and able to be seen. I am thinking a 10" difference in height for the crossover area.

- As for how to enter the turntable area I have tried to use other approaches but the one I have chosen seems to be best especially since I want to position the turntable and roundhouse for optimum viewing. I would like to add more track to the turntable area but I need to find a way to do that and still have a hatch for access.

These are my thoughts. I want to start construction soon so I would still love to hear further comments. Thanks again!

John, Your the man!

I think this is a seriously good design, allowing for long trains. My only criticism would be forget the card table, increase the bar size, and bet on train races.

 
Have you considered a "reverse loop/loops", so the train/trains can be made to travel in both directions (like the real ones did)?

If this is included, I probably missed it.

 

 

quote:

the underpass being the track coming from the lower left to the upper right.

Does this mean that you would need six bridges for the tracks going over?

Mark, as for the six bridges I was thinking that area would be normal land with a tunnel underneath for the lower tracks. I would have to rethink my switch placement for the passing siding so it wasn't in the tunnel.

Dave, I agree that reverse loops would be nice but I don't see a way to include them and keep the wide curves and open space. Maybe I could incorporate one into the future hidden storage yard under the turntable area?

Thanks!

Well we just returned from taking our son back to college in CHEYENNE, WYOMING! I keep hoping he will find a part time job working for the Union Pacific on the steam team so I can get a cabride someday!!! So close but so far!

quote:

I think the yard lead into the turntable area is sufficient because it is only meant as an engine servicing area so the lead only has to handle the longest locomotive. The inside loop track is meant to be a passing/storage siding to hold one or two trains not running on either mainline.

I wasn't talking about the lead into the turntable. You have three long sidings to the right of that and the lead into them is only about half the length of any of those sidings. If you are to do any switching around with cars that fill one or more of those sidings, you will have to back out onto the mainline to do it.
.....
Dennis

Dennis, thank you, now I understand your point. You're correct that the lead is short but I wasn't planning to use those sidings for freight cars except for the coal hoppers to supply the coal dock. Those sidings are for locomotives being services. So far I am not planning any large, visible freight yards, there isn't enough room for that plus keep the broad curves and openness I want. I plan to have some small industries in the right half of the layout. Plus a hidden yard under the turntable area to store cars. Thank you again for your comments.

I like your layout! Reversing capability would add a lot to operating session IMHO.
The first one looks easy enough to incorporate: At the far left side. come straight down, then curve (gently) to the right, connecting in at the switch below the card table. the other reverse loop would be a bit trickier due to curves around that corner and potential issues with the grade. But if you pulled the loops at the top left down just a skosh, it would ease the curve and maybe present enough room to have that reverse loop leave the main at the far left at the top of the straigh, that should give suitable seperation to mitigate the grade issue.

just my 2 cents

quote:

So far I am not planning any large, visible freight yards, there isn't enough room for that . . .

I see. Well then I would get rid of the bar and the card table and create a humongous yard and town etc. You can do your drinking and card playing upstairs.
.....
Dennis

quote:

Originally posted by meixel:
Dave, I agree that reverse loops would be nice but I don't see a way to include them and keep the wide curves and open space. Maybe I could incorporate one into the future hidden storage yard under the turntable area?

Thanks!

I am making quite a few assumptions here so this may not work. Just after the bridge in the lower right were you have what looks like 2 switches add a third. Run that line, in elevation, behind what looks like a post, the bigger bolder square, up to the outside line next to the large rectangle on the left. That would give you 16-18 feet to go up 8 inches. Steep but it would serve the purpose.

Moed321, thank you. Yes I am thinking of using the empty switch on the upper track just left of the bridge to get to the hidden yard. It would swing right towards the top of the drawing and then left under the turntable area. The grade would be somewhat steep but I think it would work.
You are correct that the white rectangle is a post and I need to keep the track from being below it because it would start to block a passageway below it.