Opinions on this layout.

[stang_crazy]

So i think i got my layout for the most part the way I want it. Some of the inside areas and sidings might change some for certain industries.

But wanted to get opinions as to if theres something that should change right off the bat or if something should be added in. Would like to hear some feedback.

Even if ya think its a total disaster lemme know lol.

This is HO scale, everything is 24' radius with the exception of a few 22" radius's that are there shortly after a few of the turnouts, all turnouts are #4's

The one thing i am thinking my self that needs to be changed is there area in the yellow box, this was supposed to be a yard, but think i need to redo it because it looks like hell the more i look at it. (any ideas on this one? would like a 2 track or a 3 track yard that you can enter at each end.

the demensions are 12' long x 9' wide 30" all the way around. The top and left hand side are up against a wall. The right side and bottom side are out in the open.

Thanks Mike,

 

[ICG/SOU]

I'm not an expert, but things that stick out to me:

1) The rail at the top is too close to the wall, but you can click on the rails and shift the whole thing down some
2) what is the function of the inner loop? What is the function of the outer loop? Where the crossovers are, the loops may be too close together to run trains at the same time.
3) On my design, I found a yard to be easier constructed on an outer loop, since there is more space for the turnouts. You could increase the spacing between the middle and outer loops, and totally eliminate the inner loop. You could start the yard at the top and carry it around the curve and down again.
4) Not knowing what your vision is, I'm kinda lost in looking at it.

 

[stang_crazy]

I'm not an expert, but things that stick out to me:

1) The rail at the top is too close to the wall, but you can click on the rails and shift the whole thing down some
2) what is the function of the inner loop? What is the function of the outer loop? Where the crossovers are, the loops may be too close together to run trains at the same time.
3) On my design, I found a yard to be easier constructed on an outer loop, since there is more space for the turnouts. You could increase the spacing between the middle and outer loops, and totally eliminate the inner loop. You could start the yard at the top and carry it around the curve and down again.
4) Not knowing what your vision is, I'm kinda lost in looking at it.

To answer your remarks & questions.

#1 yeah i noticed the top being to close. East fix there.

#2 The 2 main loops are just that, for doing that basic running, of at least 2 trains at once. As far as the rails being to close i was wondering about that my self. May need some adjusting there.

As far as the very in loop goes, it was set in place to be able to get to the industries and yard easyer. But the more i look at the very inner loop and the so called yard the more i think it needs to be redone to.


As far as vision. i was thinking of a grain facility, a small steel company that gets items in or ships out on train or even a scrap facility that gets scrap from other industries around the layout. Ill mainly be running hoppers, gondolas. I do have some all purpose flats for semi trailers and a few auto racks i would like to incoperate somehow.

I think ill reconfigure some things on the above layout and repost that.

Thanks for your input though.

Mike

 

[Rico]

Another thing is the crossover to the inner loop. If you're running a freight in to do switching it can run around on the siding and get out but a through freight or such would have to back out?
With the above points noted you're off to a good start!
You'll find other options and change things as you go, that's how it works.
My new layout is made for more mainline running also.

 

[E. McKeesport & Allegheny]

I am assuming that your layout would fill the room wall-to-wall. If it was me, I would eliminate the inner track on the left side and that would give you a space for a long staging yard with four long tracks coming from a switch at the top and leaving the yard through a switch to the inner loop at the bottom.

Your outside track runs so close to the wall that you wouldn't have any room for indutries or buildings with a spur to service them. I would also eliminate the track outlined in yellow. You could have an engine servicing facility in this area.

When I designed my layout, instead of using a drawing I just started laying out the track to where it suited me. I had my layout in my head.

I am now planning on tearing everything out and building a layout similar to the one below:

 

[Selector]

This is just my way of helping you to establish firmly what you are going to be happy with in the long run. If we both agree that this is an iterative process, that you don't have a list of givens already hard and firm, and you are still willing to be fairly plastic in your approach, I would offer the following observations:

If.......big if...you will be content to run two trains counter-direction to each other on the two outer loops, and you don't mind trains that turn, go straight on tangent tracks to the next corner, curve, and then straight again, ad nauseum, and know that you won't be tired of this approach to running trains in a year's time, then you have your layout plan 85% done.

If......if...you understand the cautions of those who respond to threads such as these about building in some dynamics and variety, including in the orientations of tracks, and why it should be done, then you are having some doubts about this plan.

If.....if..you feel something is missing, or that there might be a potential wrench in the works that won't manifest itself until six months from now, then you are doing the right thing by opening up your deliberations about the plan to us.

So, with all that in mind, I feel that there are some problems and some inefficiencies:

First, the yellow boxed area you have wondered how to fix: Why does it look the way it does currently? What were you thinking about (be honest!) when you drew it that way? What need or impulse led you to include it? Could the space be used better? Does anything need to be there at all, maybe some parallel storage tracks or an industry?

Secondly, inside your inner arcing track at the very top of the diagramme: do you have anything in mind for this vast expanse? It seems like space wasted to me without some form of designation for it.

Thirdly, is it really necessary for your overall plan to have three essentially concentric loops? Could you ditch the inner one, solve your yellow box problem, and just have a classification yard, some storage, some urban development, a servicing facility for engines, a larger industry, a farm,......?

Fourthly, by eliminating the inner loop, you also get rid of your tightest curves...this could be a real pat-on-the-back decision in about two year's time when you decide you want a DDX or some huge hog because it gets under your skin in a big way and you get one to run on your layout. Or maybe you'll succumb to the desire to have a big steamer for Sunday excursions. Big steamers look a heck of a lot better on wider curves, and their long passenger cars tow better.

Fifthly, you'll get more easy industrial track to manage tight to the close bench edge where smaller industrial switchers can manage the tighter curves and turnouts. You will find yourself using the #4/4.5 (better) in the areas of industry close to where you will want them, and it will open up the outer two mains to turnouts in the #6 range which will open up your layout even to big brass steamers. In fact, if you use #8 turnouts, you'll get very nice transitions on crossovers.

I would have crossovers that go in both directions, either as a double crossing or as two crossing that mirror each other every where you have them so that trains running in either direction on either loop can do a facing point crossover.

I'll stop at this point because I have said a lot...hopefully not too much.

-Crandell

 

[stang_crazy]

thanks for all your input guys, its helping figure a few things out, some i did on my own the more i stared at the layout.

So my next question would be what would be the best turnout for the bigger locos say at least a 6 axle. Also Selector mentioned the DD40X i actually do have one.

thanks Mike

I will update the thread once i revise the current drawing.

 

[E. McKeesport & Allegheny]

I am replacing all of the #4 turnouts on my layout with #6. I picked up 18 of them from one seller on eBay. 6 are Pico, and the rest are Atlas. My Superliners and Auto Racks don't like #4 turnouts.

I might be wrong, but I don't think a DD40X Centennial will make it through a #4 turnout.

 

[UP2CSX]

Mike, Crandell and Mikey have both pretty much said it all. As far as turnouts, you have enough room to use #6 turnouts and you should unless you are really pressed for space and then only in a yard or industrial spur. A DD40x will haven enough problems on a #6 switch let alone a #4. For information on space saving yards, seach here for "compound ladder" and you'll see how to get more tracks off a different type of ladder.

 

[stang_crazy]

Ok so ive totally gone back through it & now its getting the point where im starting to be confident in it, I have added all the spurs ect for industries, but will later. THe only thing im not sure about is if the yard is gonna work so i thought id ask.

Heres a new pic

 

[DaWolf85]

much better. where the new yard is, you had a weird looking s-curve that probably not even a 40-foot boxcar with good truck rotation could get through, let alone a passenger car or DD40x or really anything worthy of note

 

[stang_crazy]

yeah i really started to dislike the first one, ive actually changed the yard some more with the suggegtion from another user here.

so that way you can get in & out of the yard at both ends.