A new layout any ideas welcome


TexasAndy

New Member
So I tore my old layout down 4 years ago because of life changes and now I have decided I would like another one especially since I'm pretty happy with a nice collection of rolling stock and locomotives. I managed to Ebay much of my Chessie System stuff which is now disappointing to me since for whatever reason the manufacturers just don't make much Chessie. I have a track plan and a basic idea for bench work a 4X8 with 1X4's used in a simple griwork and a 2" foam topper to keep it light. I would like to have folding legs to keep it portable so any ideas you guys have there would be great. I shall share the track plan but I may modify it slightly if I'm not happy with how it looks. I already have most of the stuff I need in terms of trackage (Unitrack) and DCC because I salvaged most of it from my previous layout. I had an NCE PowerCab setup I upgraded with a SB3a Smart Booster but I recently purchased a Digitrax Zephyr to compare it against which I'm using on a temporary layout just to run some trains. I would like to also try a MRC Prodigy Express 2 but just about everyone is sold out right now. My track plan will be below and I welcome any and all ideas at this point. I have lots of time on my hands right now because I am undergoing Chemo and on medical leave from work for 2 months and possibly longer. Take care everyone and appreciate any suggestions you might have.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/17323835@N08/37133648040/in/dateposted-public/" title="KatoTrackplan1"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4339/37133648040_a5041afd46_z.jpg" width="640" height="279" alt="KatoTrackplan1"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
See if I can't get the image to post
37133648040_a5041afd46_z.jpg
 
My track plan will be below and I welcome any and all ideas at this point. I have lots of time on my hands right now because I am undergoing Chemo and on medical leave from work for 2 months and possibly longer. Take care everyone and appreciate any suggestions you might have.
I just happen to be also sitting in a chemo treatment room right now, but not for myself.

I can't tell how tightly that track fits into a 4x8 space, but if there is any extra space at all, I would tilt it just a few degrees to avoid long straight tracks along long straight edges of the benchwork. I would also try to move the third track (top inside track) somewhere else to get it away from the bridges. As it is now, whatever is under the bridge has to take a sudden turn to keep from running into that track. Finally on the bottom set of inside tracks, I would reverse the turnout (20220) to eliminate that "s" curve.
 
Andy:

I don't see any crossovers to get from one track loop to the other.

Also, I would forgo the bridges since any terrain feature that justifies a bridge would take up a lot of real estate. Maybe just several small culverts, instead of bridges) and a creek?

My 2 cents worth.

Greg
 
I don't see any crossovers to get from one track loop to the other.
I thought that at first too, but then I finally noticed a double crossover center bottom.

I think two separate crossovers, one on either end of the bottom straight, would be a more functional solution.
 
I really like the plan that is in Horseman's post (above). While I am anything but an expert on track planning, I tend to agree with what Horseman inferred about removing the double cross over and having cross overs at either end of the layout.
 
Double Xovers are maintenance headaches for the real & model RRs & they cost more than double Xovers. put single Xovers to the left of switches to the 3rd track. You also need a siding/runaround near whichever spurs are the yard. Turn the other one into an industrial switching area.
 
Iron Horseman:

That double crossover was sure hidden at the bottom of the layout. Yes, a second one would add more to operations and running trains.

Greg
 



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