Need some help with a little redesign.

[Motley]

Well, after running trains on my layout, my infamous figure 8 loop isn't so great after all. I don't think I can make the crossover bridge scene believable, and really serves no purpose.

Yes, I know you guys warned me about this, but I had to have it. Now I see the light.

So I'm gonna get rid of the loop and simplify a little bit, and have more room for scenery and town, roads, etc.

I made some changes and need some input, ideas what to do?

Old layout:

New layout

Comments, suggestions, help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Rico]

I think that looks much better now. Less is more as they say.
It helps to draw it out with a program that lets you run trains over it on screen, Xtracad and the like.

 

[Motley]

Thanks Rico.

Here is another version, let me know what you think?

 

[BIG-D]

um where do the tracks by the coke oven go to?

 

[Motley]

um where do the tracks by the coke oven go to?

Boy, you don't miss anything do ya? LOL Sorry, that extension room layout has already been updated. Moved the coke oven (green) over to the left and now have some yard tracks there. Let me know if everything looks ok there?

I'm still thinking about the loop, I might just leave it alone since it's already built and would be alot of work tearing up tracks.

I think I can make the bridge crossover scene believable with some clever scenery. I plan on making some hills, rock outcroppings, etc.

 

[lmackattack]

your design has alot of potential. but IMO is currently a little cluttered with track...One thing I see that looks a little to much is the stub end yard tracks. if it was my design I would swap the yard and coal mine with each other, make the yard a few tracks less so that you can fit in more scenery and add a runaround at one end. if done right you may be able to hide them from each other with trees and such? Also that upper inner loop seams useless to me. I would change that area for more scenery or add a few more dead end spurs to a industry. you have 2 sidings that allow for 2 trains to travel in oppicite directions/pass each other. as long as the sidings are the same size you dont need to make one longer than the other. In reality I see this layout as a singe track main with 2 passing sidings, local freight runs with 4 axel locos to access the industrys. but thats just me. I think you have a very good start and have plenty of industrys to work with...

 

[Motley]

Thanks for the input Trent.

Ya I don't think I can move the yard over, then I will not have full access to it. The coal mine tracks have under the track Kadee uncouplers. Same with the intermodal yard tracks (left of the coal mine tracks.)

The more I think about, I'm just gonna keep what I have built already.

I appreciate the input though.