Ideas needed
- Thread starter quadmx72
- Start date
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.
Yes. Do you want to run trains for the sake of running trains or do you want something that simulates car movements on a real railroad?
You have a nice space there to work with.
No problem,Im very good at learning from other peoples dollar
I appreciate all the help,thank you.I have alot of time into the bench and i can already see that track laying is going to be exhausting.Well here's another pic with tonights changes.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
lmackattack
old school
with that size your stuck with..
A. Ho scale dog bone with very little space for track plan
B. A nice sized Ho scale switching layout
C. A small N scale layout that could have potential
A. Ho scale dog bone with very little space for track plan
B. A nice sized Ho scale switching layout
C. A small N scale layout that could have potential
Selector
Well-Known Member
How long is the shelf? You could have an elongated folded loop with a hidden lower half-loop running below the top portion above it in a hill. There would be room for a yard in the middle with a through track occupying the shelf. You could add some switching industries almost anywhere.
Depending on the actual dimensions, you might be well advised to go with N scale.
Could you post a diagramme of your space and its configuration? Also, it would really help if you settled on a theme, or had a good idea of what you want to see on your layout. Anything unsettled before you begin to pay for things often ends up costing you dollars for no great pleasure or learning...except that you goofed.
-Crandell
Depending on the actual dimensions, you might be well advised to go with N scale.
Could you post a diagramme of your space and its configuration? Also, it would really help if you settled on a theme, or had a good idea of what you want to see on your layout. Anything unsettled before you begin to pay for things often ends up costing you dollars for no great pleasure or learning...except that you goofed.
-Crandell
quadmx72
Member
I got the "OK" to build it bigger
16X7
please give me feedback on what I have so far.
keep in mind that not of the track is secured or connected as this is a rough draft.This is just main line so far.Also,where the track crosses there will be a bridge.I have to put my triangle pieces in the corners of the center operator's area too.thanks
Chad
16X7please give me feedback on what I have so far.
keep in mind that not of the track is secured or connected as this is a rough draft.This is just main line so far.Also,where the track crosses there will be a bridge.I have to put my triangle pieces in the corners of the center operator's area too.thanks
Chad
Last edited by a moderator:
Beachbum
Member
Yes. Do you want to run trains for the sake of running trains or do you want something that simulates car movements on a real railroad?
You have a nice space there to work with.
quadmx72
Member
Im thinking about making the yard smaller,seems like the yard and turntable take up alot of room.
Right now i have a long continuous running main.
I want a hill and tunnel on the near left side in the photo.A bridge will go over the turntable track.I dont have much for industry,i will have to purchase something.
Im focusing on the track.this is my first layout so its getting kinda overwhelming.I will be using high density foam for the grade I need to get the track to bridge height.
thanks
Right now i have a long continuous running main.
I want a hill and tunnel on the near left side in the photo.A bridge will go over the turntable track.I dont have much for industry,i will have to purchase something.
Im focusing on the track.this is my first layout so its getting kinda overwhelming.I will be using high density foam for the grade I need to get the track to bridge height.
thanks
West Virginia Midland Man
Member
Space good. Trackplan bad. You have at least one place in the lower right hand corner of the plan where a train could potentially plunge to the floor. Also, the track has not been properly connected, so what you have there may not fit.
The yard area is good. I'd start there. Call it a marshalling yard if you like, where some commodity is collected. That also explains the turntable/engine facilities. I'd consider relocating them to the RH corner along the front of the layout though; it appears you have room there and the turntable is only 9". Moving the engine facilities allows more space for both scenery and industry in the center area.
The line extending into the center, just to the left of the yard area has potential as well; it screams branch line. I can see hopper loads of coal coming to the marshalling yard for distribution further down the line or cars of logs coming down to be made into lumber.
I'd connect all of the trackage properly and see exactly what fits before I went any further. If you don't, I can foresee potential problems.
The yard area is good. I'd start there. Call it a marshalling yard if you like, where some commodity is collected. That also explains the turntable/engine facilities. I'd consider relocating them to the RH corner along the front of the layout though; it appears you have room there and the turntable is only 9". Moving the engine facilities allows more space for both scenery and industry in the center area.
The line extending into the center, just to the left of the yard area has potential as well; it screams branch line. I can see hopper loads of coal coming to the marshalling yard for distribution further down the line or cars of logs coming down to be made into lumber.
I'd connect all of the trackage properly and see exactly what fits before I went any further. If you don't, I can foresee potential problems.
Beachbum
Member
Ok, first let me say that nobody here is on your case about trackplans, etc. It's just that beginners tend to do the same things over and over again and more experienced modelers have hopefully learned better / more satisfying ways of doing things. It's a bit of a waste to build a layout without good planning just to get tired of of it and tear it up. (I ought to know, I'm on about my 12th layout right now...)
That being said, take a look at the HOG (Heart of Georgia) beginners layout. It's a good plan that easily modified, offers realistic operation, and looks like it would be a good fit (aside from the turntable) for your layout.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/
That being said, take a look at the HOG (Heart of Georgia) beginners layout. It's a good plan that easily modified, offers realistic operation, and looks like it would be a good fit (aside from the turntable) for your layout.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/
Indeed, as had been pointed out, you have a great space but you're basically using it for a yard, roundhouse, and then some track that loops over other track. Any track that comes closer than two inches to the edge of the layout or, worse, overhangs that pit, needs to be redone or eliminated. As has also been said, you need a vision for what you want your railroad to do. What part of the country are you going to model? Any specific railroads? What era - modern, transition, steam? Do you like having towns and industries or do you just want to watch trains run through hills and tunnels and across bridges? At least read http://www.chipengelmann.com/trains/Beginner/BeginnersGuide01.html to get an idea of what we're asking about. It's a short read but it will help you focus on why you want a model railroad other than sitting there watching trains.
Beachbum
Member
And if you do just want to watch trains run by, look into what's called a "railfan's layout". Basically you have a central, highly detailed model of your favorite railfanning location with a good deal of hidden staging. With enough staging, you can have a boatload of different trains run by your "location" once per operating session - quite like sitting trackside.
My HO switcher is operations oriented while my current N-scale layout will be more of a railfan's layout since I don't like doing a lot of switching in N.
My HO switcher is operations oriented while my current N-scale layout will be more of a railfan's layout since I don't like doing a lot of switching in N.
Excellent move. I don't want you to feel like we're all dogpiling on you about your layout being all wrong. It's just that you have a lot of space to work with (I'd kill for it) and, once you have an idea firmly fixed in your mind of what you want from your layout, it's a lot easier to get into details. Anything we point out as an error is because we've all done it...and it usually cost us a lot money and time to fix. If you don't have to relive all our errors, you'll be a happy model railroader and we'll have a new friend. I can't tell you the number of folks who have come here with the beginnings of a great layout, took the wrong track (so to speak), and finally gave up in disgust after blowing a wad of dough. You're already going to blow a wad of dough, so you might as well do it right.
quadmx72
Member
Excellent move. I don't want you to feel like we're all dogpiling on you about your layout being all wrong. It's just that you have a lot of space to work with (I'd kill for it) and, once you have an idea firmly fixed in your mind of what you want from your layout, it's a lot easier to get into details. Anything we point out as an error is because we've all done it...and it usually cost us a lot money and time to fix. If you don't have to relive all our errors, you'll be a happy model railroader and we'll have a new friend. I can't tell you the number of folks who have come here with the beginnings of a great layout, took the wrong track (so to speak), and finally gave up in disgust after blowing a wad of dough. You're already going to blow a wad of dough, so you might as well do it right.
No problem,Im very good at learning from other peoples dollar
I appreciate all the help,thank you.I have alot of time into the bench and i can already see that track laying is going to be exhausting.Well here's another pic with tonights changes.
Beachbum
Member
Designing a good plan ahead of time makes track laying much less tiring. You'll always have to do some mods and tweaks even with a good plan, but they should be minimal.
Your revised plan looks much better, but I do not understand the operational purpose of that inner loop - the one where the curves are hanging in the air. It also looks like you have a reverse loop toward the top of the photo. You need special wiring for a reverse loop.
Your revised plan looks much better, but I do not understand the operational purpose of that inner loop - the one where the curves are hanging in the air. It also looks like you have a reverse loop toward the top of the photo. You need special wiring for a reverse loop.
quadmx72
Member
I have pieces cut to install to the bench where the track hangs in the air.
The section of double track left of the yard I thought would be a scenic railroad rides with steamies with the shed on the far end to house them.the near shed is for the diesels.
I have a Digitrax Zephyr DCC, is the reverse loop a really bad idea?
otherwise it wouldnt hurt my feelings to change it again
thanks,
Chad
The section of double track left of the yard I thought would be a scenic railroad rides with steamies with the shed on the far end to house them.the near shed is for the diesels.
I have a Digitrax Zephyr DCC, is the reverse loop a really bad idea?
otherwise it wouldnt hurt my feelings to change it again
thanks,
Chad
irocinblue89
Member
I'm kind of new here too, but take a hard look at the tracks close to the edges. The gentlemen on here warned me mine were to close. I thought on my small 4 x 8 my son and I are messing with that "I will never loose an engine... blah blah". Well guess what, my 2 week old genesis sd70 mac is now in pieces. R.I.P. I loved that thing. I would start by moving the inner ones away from the edges.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)