New Train Room Started!!

[loco]

Hello All,

I've been moving, and moving, and yes, moving into a new home. Got most things somewhat unboxed. Still have a ways to go, but this last weekend I started on my NEW TRAIN ROOM!!! It's been a bit over 20 years since I had a room to set anything up. But now the time is here. I took a few photos and even got on the computer to draw out the room with a small free cad program. (update; I purchased CadRail 9 yesterday as I think I'm going to need a TON of help coming up with a layout). I hope you all can get an idea of the room as it's got some "features" that I'll need some help planning around. I'm excited as all get out!!

1. This is a diagram of the overall room. It's an upstairs room (271" by 171") with a small alcove (37" x 100") the ceiling is a bit sloped in on the sides with stair case going down. I used XTakCad and then exported a bitmap. (Big learning curve this weekend)

2. This is a photo with my daughter, she was a big help putting in the flooring. Which, BTW is a laminate hardwood 12mm with a 3mm foam/rubber backing over the 3/4 plywood. Yes, it's a bit spendy and I would have been just as happy to leave the plywood, but the wife wanted a finished look as it's going to take a long time to get the room going and this way we can still use for other things. So who am I to argue! Besides, it will give a pro-looking finished (hope my modeling can match!). And naturally I'll just have to be a bit more tidy with painting and such. But that's cool too.

3. This next one is looking into the room from the stairs and my daughter is no longer in the upper left corrner. You can see the slop of the ceiling on each side.

4. Next we rotate a bit more to the right and see the alcove and the window.

5. Next is a shot of the stairs going down and the banisters. I figuter I can run track above the staircase and just do a slight duck as you come up into the room. (Notice the set of Trix Box Cars and a few other goodies in the corrner?)

6. And last we have a photo of the stairs going down.

Please feel free to comment - I'll be taking ALL SORTS tips, ideas, thoughts you all might have.

OK, let me get some basic data to ya all:

1. Scale is HO

2. I will be modeling Union Pacific during the transition era - freelance based on prototypical. Not sure on the exact dates yet. But thinking anything pre-1960. I have Big Boys, Challengers, GP 7 & 9's, EMD SD7's, F7's, PA's, SW7's, NW's, H15-44's, Veranda Turbines, a Coal Turbine, 0-6-6 Sadle switcher, and a few others I can't remember as they are boxed up still.

3. Digitrax DCC.

4. Would like to use Iowa Interstate and KCS as a branch/interchange line and thus the main would be in the midwest and running west.

5. I’ve got some design elements in mind: a coal or ore mine/plant, John Deere plant, sock yard and a meat packing plant (Walthers Chapion Meat Packing), a engine servicing yard (I have a 132 Walthers turn table), a military base, a grain (Walthers ADM) plant, one city, and a smaller town, or two.

6. Would like to have a two line main that can be looped for continuous running and also point to point.

7. Thinking of a two shelfs, and or maybe a third for extra staging. And that means a helix.

8. I like puzzle track works (if that makes any sense). I just joined a RR Club and they do alot of operations and it is KILLER fun. So that's got to be included. So with the track workings and running big steam, I've just about figured to use Fast Tracks for building turnouts. They look killer and operations are key so I'll do what it takes for solid track performance.

I want to do this first layout as best possible - taking all your insightful recommendations and not making costly mistakes. Not going to be penny wise and pound foolish. If it takes longer for me save a few bucks to get the better item, so be it.

Ok, well, that's about all I can think of right now. Oh, most everything is up for debate so please don't hold back. Former Military, the sharpest knife cuts the cleanest!


Here is a diorama I was working on a while back ((some of you might remember it))

 

[loco]

Crap, them photos are to big....

 

[loco]

Ok, that's better. That last photo of the Turbine was taken outside. WAY better for photo than the other two which are inside. But heck, still learning about the camera too. (There just ain't much you DON'T have to learn about when building a RR - good thing they don't actually eat something to run! LOL)

 

[loco]

Some more info:

1. Going to be building my own bench work, thought about the custom order deal, but want to go with L-girder. I'll be sure to put leveler padded feet on them.

2. I want to super elevate the main curves. With that in mind, has anyone had a problem using the WS foam for the road bed? (Got one reply from another forum that it was not a problem, just want a bit more input) I'm not opposed to using cork and with buying a huge roll, it might be more economical.

3. Spline or plywood sub-road?!?! Guys at the Club say Spline, but gads. I've also looked at how Joe F. did his. Not a bad option, but that's a lot of work and not sure it would be worth it. Still undecided.

4. The mains will need big curves to look right - no question. I've run the BB's on tighter curves, they make it ok, but way not cool looking. So I figure 28 min on the main - with bigger being better. But on the branch (s), I'll only be running the GP's, SD's, or smaller steam.

5. Would like to have the helix be open on a portion of the curve. Not opposed to use an oval either, heck might have to if I have three levels.

6. The aisles don't have to huge, not planning to have more than two or three folks. I'm not small, but this is not going to be a club running sort of thing. Just need to have room for my rolling mechanical stool! That way I can roll down the stairs in fine fashion

7. Not sure of the brand of track, leaning towards Micro Scale.

8. Going with Inter-mountain 33 metal wheel sets. Will need about 1000. And K-D's naturally.

OK, back to putting in more floor!

 

[UP2CSX]

Looks like a great train room, Loco. My first take is an around the room with two blobs on the ends by the stairs for a loop and the alcove for a staging area. Looks like you have plenty of room for 28" curves and still have continuous running. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

 

[loco]

Humm, well, was hope to see what YOU could come up with UP2CSX

So, in any case, here is the room drawing I did in CadRail 9 today.... let see how that works uploading.

Ok, no DFX files eh? Ah well. no worries. I did manage to get about half the room floored today. It stated to rain and that don't work well with the table saw outside!

 

[jbaakko]

Wow that is one NICE room!

 

[Rico]

Wow, nice space! Better not get any paint on the floor while modeling or the wife will revert the room to something else!
You could build a pretty decent layout and with no duckunders if you had a single track bridge against the wall over the stairs.
I like Jims idea about the staging in the alcove, that or a dispatxhers desk.

 

[loco]

There is plenty of room to traverse the stairs without any ducking. Was thinking of putting in a huge bridge so when you came up into the room you would see large expansion bridge. Kind of like walling in a deep canyon... just thinking here....

 

[loco]

I finished up the flooring yesterday! Sure makes the room look bigger. After reading Track Planning for a Realistic Operation (again) I'm going with a single main line.

Been thinking of the overall layout design - still lost on that. I have figured out how to put curves with the radius that I want in CadRail. I put a few circles in with a 30" just to get a feel of things.

 

[UP2CSX]

I'd urge you to think about the around the wall concept rather than fill up the room idea. You'll find it much easier to build, scenic, and operate and you can get a long mainline. The big layout will cause you nothing but grief trying to reach all those parts of the layout that are about a foot too far away. The more space you use filling up the room with the layout, the smaller you'll make the room feel. An around the wall layout with a nice valance, fascia, and backdrop will really add to the beauty of the room (and wont cover much of the hard work you did in the floor).

 

[loco]

Not sure if I mentioned it, but the around the walls is where I'm heading. It's just a pain learning to use Cad as I've never used a cad program before. And I was thinking that the helix could be 30" the I was looking at different spots it could go. Been reading tons, signed up on the Layout Design Special Interest Group. And will hopefully get some input. Right now this is my weakest link in the process. And I'm sort of going wacko wanting to run some of my motive power that I've had in boxes for three years!

 

[loco]

Here is my very basic and preliminary around the walls design. Taken me a while to get the hang of using a cad program. No yards yet, but I did put in an interchange into the alcove. It will be a sight duck-under, but I'm good with that. I'm thinking of putting in an oval helix within the peninsula to get more main line. The yard would seem natural to be located on the south wall. But heck, what do I know, never done any of this before!!!


http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/Ahmenra/TrainLayout10-19-2008.jpg

 

[Airslide]

im really digging it. im not really in the position to critique or give much advise, but I am particularly fond of the wye. the alcove is a very nice charming feature of the room. id like to see what you ultimately do with that.

 

[DaWolf85]

I, for a layout of this size, would use HO scale cork for the main line track bed, N Scale cork for sidings, and nothing for spurs. Also, try, when designing the plan, making the main line, then the industries, and then do whatever you need to for industrial trackage. This ends up looking realistic if done correctly. Use pristine gray rock ballast for the main line, whatever looks good for sidings, and cinders or whatever you have left over for the spurs, and use very little ballast for the spurs. Flex-track or hand-laid turnouts offer the best flexibility in track plans. Easy-to-build (with dimensions and stuff) hand-laid turnouts are available from Central Valley Model Works for $11.95-$12.95 each, and probably from other places as well. Flex-track turnouts are available from Micro Engineering and I'm sure lots of other places. A bridge over the stairs would be very cool but you might need to do some structural modifications, depending on how wide the space is. A yard right in front of the stairs might be cool, because you come up the stairs, and right in front of you is a big, busy yard. I see you already put in an interchange, good. You might want to have a 3-4 track yard there to simulate a really busy interchange. You could make it stub-ended and then run it up to a mirror to make it look twice as long as it really is. Putting a light grade on one part of the layout might add to operation, you did say you had a lot of motive power, you could use some of it as helpers.

 

[loco]

Thanks for all the comments! The sub-road bed has been "penciled" in for cork, the foam is out. Been busy with real life of late, but I've managed to do some more work on the computer. Here is my latest (and most certainly not the last) design.

The mainline has #8 turnouts with #6's in the yards, min 32" radius curves. I've come to realize how much space this takes up! I need a bigger room This is just the top level, thinking of a helix to drop down to a second level.... the yellow lines are the basic outlines of the bench work. Keep in mind this whole cad, design thing is, well, driving me insane. I've had to start over many times, as things just would not line up or I had to change things. One comment I've received is that it's a bit "square" and it is, I'll put some mild curves and such once I get the hang of things.

I know the south yard needs a ton of work - I'll be studying up with some of the magazines and books to make sure everything that's needed for servicing is blocked in...

Again, all comments welcome and don't spare the rod

 

[loco]

Well, I thinking that peninsula is going to take to much room.

Was messing around last night and came up with a dual main with the helix in the northwest corner. It's a jumping off point. I'm getting better at using the program and putting the "limited" ideas in my head on to "paper"

The mains use #8 turnouts, 32 min rad, and the scale is 12" per box.

Thanks for the bigger Interchange idea, going to expand that.

So far I'm feeling better with this double main. And after watch some DVD's of UP Turbines with my daughter, well, I just GOT to have them pass each other. (key word is PASS, not head on lol)

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff13/Ahmenra/TrainLayoutDoubleMain11-04-2008.jpg

 

[PartsMan]

Seems like the alcove is the perfect place for your wye, to me anyway.
BTW I would kill for a room like that for my hobbies.
Keep posting your progress!

 

[loco]

Thanks Partsman, and I have

Anywho, I've tried to put a wye in the alcove, but it's only 37" wide and keeping with a 32" min radius for my bigger loco's, it's looking like a nice interchange with a bit of switching. While the lower level (not show yet) will be some staging. It will have to have a duck under, but I'm cool with that as the upper level will be around 48" (not sure yet). The whole thing will be a "sit down and roll around" on "command" chairs as you follow your train.

I've even been toying around with wiring up the chairs with wireless head sets and such. And naturally the "obvious" next step would be to motorize the chairs.... but I digress...

 

[DaWolf85]

YOU think you need more room?
Try building a 6 x 3 layout like mine.

Honestly, how long are these trains you will be running? That south yard looks pretty long to me. I don't think you need to, or should, run trains larger than 30-40 cars AT MOST. That might even be too long for a layout of this size.

Our space is always inadequate. Never try to make it so unless you have about 6,000 square feet to work with.