My First layout: Sunset Valley

[MuskegonRR]

Hello all..... I look forward to picking everyones brain as I venture into a new realm of Model railroading with building my own layout. I have several years experiencing operating on layouts and am ready to start my own.

I have quite a bit of space to eventually expand into but want to start with the first section. The goal is a large HO scale layout that represents a Main Line service, with several fairly decent local services as well.

I will get to the overview a bit later..... First I am having a hard time getting my thoughts on paper into the computer with Xtrak or other softwares.

I have included 2 pictures of the first section I want to work on. (could not get them to attach so posted them)

The goal of the first section is to have a Passenger terminal that must be reversed into. I also would like 3-4 industry stops that are off the main on a local. The local also will eventually be the lead in to a steel or iron works.

After drawing it out, and reading the forums I realized that exceeded the 30" rule so have redone the bench-work template. I can use an area that is 8' long and 4' wide on the "east" side but need to constrict to 2' on the west side do to a furnace I will go around.

Not sure if this is enough to go on but any thoughts, or advice would be great.

The section will be against a wall and have room for another 4' section Eastbound for the Ironworks and steel mill. The end of that section will "bore" though a wall with a mainline portal, and a hidden portal inside one of the steel works buildings.

 

[LoudMusic]

XTrack is a lot to wrap yourself around if you're not familiar with various software design programs. But it's worth getting comfortable with if you plan to lay a lot of track.

So far you're not including much track for the space so you should be able to make it work without too much trouble, though I see a few modifications already. The stubby ends of your various tracks don't appear to have enough room for a locomotive and a car, even considering very small equipment.

I think a lot of members will balk at your excessive switchbacks, but I think they add to operational interest. Maybe there's a happy medium.

This appears to be a very large module, or diorama currently. What does the greater plan include? Will you be having multiple passenger terminals around the layout? What kind of rolling stock will you be using? Do you wish to include grades? Any situations where the tracks will cross each other with elevation? Will you have places to turn your locomotives or trains around?
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[MuskegonRR]

well to give a quick glimpse at the set-up here is the North end of my basement:

Each small square is one inch, and larger is one foot.

Now here is the first section where I would like it placed.

From here the layout will cut through a wall and then have a staging area an go out the other side.

 

[LoudMusic]

I'm really surprised no one else has chimed in . . .

It looks like you've got lots of space. Does the plan include closing the loop around the furnace? If not you may want to consider ways to turn a train around for continuous running. With that in mind, there isn't much train running to do in the 4x8 space you're starting with. Even if it's just temporary you might want to consider a couple more sections just to have somewhere for the trains to go to and return from while outside of this initial piece. A pair of simple teardrop reversing loops would take care of it, and you could make those with 18" radii without having to go too far from this section.
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LovelyWendie

 

[Selector]

Just as an observation, in your first diagram, you won't be able to get anything more than a medium sized diesel or very tiny steamer past that upper left turnout, and still get to the passenger station. When you are designing a track system, always take into account the operational side of it. What do the trains do, and how long are they going to be typically? Well, for a given length, you need tails past turnouts on a switchback type layout, as yours is, to accommodate those train lengths.

Crandell

 

[LoudMusic]

A rudimentary XTrack attempt.

I placed some RS-3s, 40' box cars, and various other freight around the tracks. Everything is unlabeled to make it a mystery You can see a loco and box car can't even make it past the points on the tails.
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[tooter]

Hi Loud,

Switching layouts are really cool, but it looks like you'll only be able to shunt one car around. I'm also going to be pressed for space so I'm going with short engines and rolling stock to be able to make the switching yard more roomy and useable.

Had you considered a turntable? It can add a lot of variety to a small layout. I have two that I'm going to use that are long enough to hold one short switching engine and two short cars. They can be used for both turnarounds and runarounds in a very small space!

Greg

 

[MuskegonRR]

Thanks for the comments. Looks like I will have to work my switching in another way.... still thinking that out. Below is the plan for the Main/Staging/Mole Yard, the yard is in the back room and trains will tunnel through off to the final destinations.

The lower two tracks are a Steel/Coal pass-thru track, the main goal is to allow loads of coal to always go to the steel plant, and then come out as full loads from the coal mine on the other side.

The eventual layout will continue further down into the rest of the basement. What I am now debating is the "empty space" in the area between the two sides being built into a peninsula to accommodate a local switching area in town servicing 3-4 businesses and also a back in passenger terminal.

Looking for any suggestions, and I will post some of mine again later: