ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Could you point out problem areas of this layout and how it might be improved?
This is my first "real" layout and I am trying not to be overly ambitious. It starts with the existing Timesaver, can grow around the room with one track, then add passing tracks.
(Click on the image to enlarge it.)
This is the first cut of an HO layout for an existing 13x14 ft room.
Immovable Constraints
Main electrical panel (possible swing bridge instead of duck-under?)
support post
two doorways
Time Period: 1920 to 1942
Area : rural Western Massachusetts
Minimum radius: 26 inches
largest car: 85ft Pullman (6 cars)
Motive power: PRR steam (4-8-2 is largest) and a GE 44-tonner
Operation:
Continuous running option
some switching, incorporate the existing 12"x 80" Timesaver
marshaling yard is optional
Must-have structures
Amherst station 1 (brick)
Amherst Station 2 (wooden)
rock crusher
Farmer's supply
No engine service facilities, (any room for a 12" turntable?)
My one suggestion would be a slight change to your rock crusher / farmer's supply sidings to give you a little more room to maneuver or have a greater number of rolling stock parked in the siding. The way you have it makes it difficult to get in and out of the farmer's supply with much parked at the rock crusher. It can be modified to make it a bit simpler and roomier getting pieces in and out of there.
Of course, I have no idea the intimate specifics of what you'll be doing on those sidings so a change may not be needed or wanted. Just the thing I saw that I would personally change.
This is simular to the size I have available. Because of logistics I have a little more room available that I may not use. I am not as "track oriented" as your plan is, I'm more "back woodsey"... it will be very interesting to see how your pike works out.
Back-woods layouts are great - they allow sharp curves and scenery. If you disregard the yard (which will be added last), it is a simple once-around with a passing siding and Timewaster. Here it is with the yard stripped away.
You mentioned a steam locomotive. As designed a steamer is going to have to either back up out of yard or back up into the yard. For steam there really needs to be a turntable. One in the yard would solve 1/2 the problem. Maybe on that short spur heading toward the electrical panel. On the lower level for the other 1/2 of the problem, maybe on the other in-side of the curve from Rock Crusher, or perhaps you could squeeze an 22" radius wye into the lower right corner.
Also as designed it is a single train layout. Switching either industrial area blocks the main and there is only 1 passing track. One loco could be working the yard while a train is running, but that isn't really a train.
I will start with two engines facing different directions. A cassette could take care of reversing but you are right, a turntable would be nice. When I hid the yard like in the 2nd image, there were two areas under the yard on the right side that could hold a 12" turntable - one near the door at the end of the yard, and the other in the bulge. Also on the right is enough room for two long staging tracks if two curved switches or one #4 switch are installed in the lower right - I do not mind building them.. False fronts would hide the staging rails until the yard goes on top.
Yeah, the switching fouls the main. That is intentional. It is possible to have 3 short trains running which must wait for each other. I like the micro layouts on the site www.carendt.com/ That Timesaver is built on a 12" wide door, and the run-around has just enough room for a passenger car. The Vermonter comes through Amherst, and the platform is large enough for 1 car of the 6 car train.
Taking all the good suggestions, here is the proposed plan. It is broken into stages allowing me to slowly build in operations.
Stage 1: Small timesaver
Stage 2: wrap one line around the room
Stage 3: add 2-track main, staging track, and turntable
At this point, everything is on the same level. easy peasy.
Stage 4: add grade up to marshaling yard.
OPTION: expand into the next room and put the yard there.
Stage 1
Stage 2: Add 1 track around the room
Stage 3: Add 2-track mainline
staging tracks, turntable, and prepare to expand into the next room (23 feet!)
Stage 4: Add upper-level marshaling yard OR expand into the next room
