Hi, I am new to this forum. I need some help on planning a 2 ft by 12 ft layout. I want to have some good swicthing action and a urban type setting. I have Boston & Maine and New Haven as my roster. RS3's and a S1 engine. Does not have to be prototypical. I just can't find a good plan so far. Thanks for any help.
Help me with layout plan
- Thread starter gmoore
- Start date
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pcarrell
Just a guy
It's highly unlikely that you'll find a ready made plan that will truely make you happy. You'll always be building someone elses dream if you go that route. You know exactly what it is you want, so why not build YOUR dream?
The next obvious question is, do you have any design software? There are several free downloadable packages that will help insure that you can actually build what you design (that it will actually fit).
The Atlas RTS progam is limited, but it's easy to use. you can download it here: http://www.atlasrr.com/righttrack.htm Make sure you register it to unlock all of the tools.
There's also a more powerful, but a bit more difficult to use tool called Xtrakcad that can be had at: http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
These tools should help a bunch.
And when designing your own layout, there's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from other track plans. One place to start might be here: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site2/Track Plans.html
The next obvious question is, do you have any design software? There are several free downloadable packages that will help insure that you can actually build what you design (that it will actually fit).
The Atlas RTS progam is limited, but it's easy to use. you can download it here: http://www.atlasrr.com/righttrack.htm Make sure you register it to unlock all of the tools.
There's also a more powerful, but a bit more difficult to use tool called Xtrakcad that can be had at: http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
These tools should help a bunch.
And when designing your own layout, there's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from other track plans. One place to start might be here: http://www.trainplayer.com/Site2/Track Plans.html
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If I had a 12'x2' shelf layout........I'd probably do exactly what you're planning on. Switchers and mostly heavy industry.
I'd say a dual track main, maybe 3 track main, with numerous sidings, and at one or either end, a large sorting yard......and maybe staging so that trains can be "brought in" and sorted in the yard, then switched to the industries.
And I'd throw in a fancy bridge over a river just because I think a 3 track main trestle bridge would be fun
xtrkcad is great, too. Use the tutorial on it! I didn't but I catch on things pretty quickly. I'd use the tutorial again though if I was starting over.
I'd say a dual track main, maybe 3 track main, with numerous sidings, and at one or either end, a large sorting yard......and maybe staging so that trains can be "brought in" and sorted in the yard, then switched to the industries.
And I'd throw in a fancy bridge over a river just because I think a 3 track main trestle bridge would be fun
xtrkcad is great, too. Use the tutorial on it! I didn't but I catch on things pretty quickly. I'd use the tutorial again though if I was starting over.
SpaceMouse
Fun Lover
pcarrell
Just a guy
If thats all your looking for, I have a few that I've done that might be of interest.
This is a 2x6 bent yard in N scale.
A small intermodal port in N scale (1.5x8)
Here's a 2x8 N scale yard with several customers on a switchback (could be a port scene). It could benefit from being extended to the right with a longer tail for switching.
And this was one that someone else designed.
This is a 2x6 bent yard in N scale.
A small intermodal port in N scale (1.5x8)
Here's a 2x8 N scale yard with several customers on a switchback (could be a port scene). It could benefit from being extended to the right with a longer tail for switching.
And this was one that someone else designed.
SpaceMouse
Fun Lover
Phillip,
I think the engineer that designed the prototype for that one needs to visit his local AA chapter.
I think the engineer that designed the prototype for that one needs to visit his local AA chapter.
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